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Actuated Valves Learning Journey
This learning journey on actuated valves from control and automation expert Frans Martens is aimed at technical professionals working in or for the process industry.
The learning journey is aimed for instrumentation, operation and maintenance engineers at both operators and service contractors, as well as manufacturers.
The journey is split up into four courses:
- The first course covers the fundamentals, the things you must understand and be aware of when working with actuated valves.
- The second course dives deep into the details of the hardware and accessories used on actuated valves.
- The third course focuses on the actuation of valves, using different actuator types and configurations. This course includes a number of sizing exercises.
- The fourth course explains the process of control valve sizing calculations. It explains the different types of severe service conditions that may be present inside the valve trim and how those conditions determine the most suitable valve style. Here too, sizing exercises are included.
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Course 1: Actuated Valves: the Fundamentals
After this course, you...
• are familiar with actuated valve styles; the working principle of each valve style and their key components, main characteristics, and advantages and limitations,
• will understand the concept of valve criticality and what should be done to minimise the probability of valve failures,
• have become familiar with the requisition process for an actuated valve,
• will have learnt which information you should provide to a manufacturer so they can make you a technically complete proposal,
• will understand about the documentation that should be supplied with an actuated valve and know which EU directives are applicable,
• are familiar with the scope and steps in the valve acceptance testing process and have learnt how these should be specified.
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Course 2: Actuated Valves: Accessories & Hardware
After this course, you....
• are familiar with the design choices in valve body design and how these are determined by piping classes,
• have seen how to design to minimize internal leakage and fugitive emissions,
• understand the design details of valve trims for different flow capacities, their characteristics and suitability for different applications,
• can recognise a trim design with stem retention,
• know the different packing systems available on the market,
• understand the methods for valve speed control, why it is done and the associated difficulties,
• have learnt the working principle of a valve positioner, and how a positioner is used to remove the deadband,
• seen the function of a regulator, stem retention design and the different configurations of solenoid-operated control valves,
• have become familiar with the purpose and methods of valve diagnostics and asset management.
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Course 3: Actuator Sizing
Coming Soon Q1 2025
After this course, you....
• are able to recognise the different actuator movement types, and the type of operating medium used
• understand the need for stored energy for safety-related functions and how that can be achieved
• recognise the different actuator components and how they work together to provide torque or thrust
• are able to explain the basics of actuator sizing, relating to the valve style and application
• have a basic understanding of the need to apply safety factors in the design and selection of actuators
• can perform actuator sizing and selection exercises, based on real-world applications
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Course 4: Control Valve Sizing and Selection
Coming Soon Q1 2025
After this course, you....
• are able to explain how process data and piping geometry determine the valve flow coefficient
• recognise the different flow conditions that exist inside the valve during its operation
• know which correction factors apply to the valve sizing calculations and how they are determined
• recognise the different severe service conditions that may exist inside the valve trim
• are able to interpret the outcome of the valve sizing calculations and how they determine the possible valve styles
• are able to perform control valve sizing calculations and selecting a suitable valve style, body size and trim capacity
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About the Instructor
Frans is a control and automation engineer specialised in field instruments, control valves, valve actuators and the electrical aspects of instrumentation. He has acquired his knowledge and experience during his 35 years of working for Shell in upstream oil and gas, LNG, chemicals and refining.
As a Principal Control and Automation Engineer at Shell, Frans was the technical focal point for control valves, actuators and field instruments, including vendor selection, type acceptance testing and product acceptance. He regularly provided in-house and third party training courses and authored a number of Shell Engineering Standards called DEP’s.
Since 2017 Frans has been working as an independent consultant and regularly provide specialist professional training on a wide range of instrumentation topics.
