Solenoid Valves For Offshore Cleaning Systems

  • Solenoid Valves For Offshore Cleaning Systems
    Solenoid Valves For Offshore Cleaning Systems

The latest solenoid valves from Parker Hannifin form an integral part of the safety system installed in a fleet of High Pressure and Ultra High Pressure Water Jetting Units from Denholm MacNamee Limited. Developed in conjunction with Norson Power, the ATEX compliant solenoid valves enable the water jetting units to be used safely in Zone II areas in offshore locations.  

The solenoid valves are fitted to the Denholm MacNamee water jetting units to allow suitable connection to the Offshore Platform Yellow Alert Shutdown System, so that in the event of detection of an explosive gas by the platform gas sensors the power to the valve can be disconnected; in turn this vents the safety system air to atmosphere thereby preventing a potential explosion.  

Denholm MacNamee specialises in the supply and operation of high pressure water jetting equipment for pipe and tubular cleaning, as well as ultra high pressure water jetting units for the surface preparation of steel structures and the removal of corrosion and damaged coatings. This equipment can be used in both onshore and offshore locations and in such diverse industry sectors as refining, oil and gas, ship yards and power generation.  

When the company required an ATEX approved electrical solenoid for its latest fleet of HP and UHP water jetting units they approached Norson Power, the Aberdeen based specialist in hydraulics and fluid power. As a certified distributor of Parker products, Norson’s experts were able to recommend the latest in valve technology to help meet Denholm MacNamee’s stringent build requirements.  

Brian Ritchie, Operations Manager of Denholm MacNamee Limited, explained, “At Denholm MacNamee, we take the safety of operating personnel and our equipment extremely seriously. With our latest fleet of water jetting units, we needed to make sure the pneumatically operated safety systems could be vented immediately. We asked Norson to provide us with a solution to this problem, and, together with Parker, they recommended the latest generation of Parker Solenoid Valves, which were ideal for our needs.”  

The Parker products used by Denholm MacNamee include both 24V DC and 110V AC Exd solenoid valves, enabling operators to select the correct voltage setting for their location or platform, and making the units fast and simple to install.  
The ATEX approved valves are used to control pneumatic safety systems so that if potentially explosive gas is identified by the platform gas detection system, then all power to the 24 and 110V circuits is immediately cut.  The valves vent the air within each safety system to atmosphere, allowing pneumatically operated fuel valves to close, cutting off fuel to the unit’s diesel engine and shutting the engine down in a safe and controlled manner.  

The stainless steel valves offer a zero maintenance solution in safety systems, reacting quickly and reliably in the event of an emergency shutdown, while being extremely robust and resistant to corrosion. This makes them ideal in offshore applications where the aggressive nature of the environment and the contaminants found can be extremely destructive.  

Andrew Rettie, Business Development Manager for Denholm MacNamee commented, “We needed an ATEX approved valve for our unit’s safety system as it would need to be used in Zone II hazardous environments. Knowing Parker’s global reputation for the supply of safe, reliable and quality products, the valves supplied to Denholm MacNamee by Norson Power have proved to be an extremely simple but vital part of our new fleet of HP & UHP water jetting units, delivering consistently dependable results.”