Automation Improves Running of Oil and Gas Storage Terminals

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Design must include implementing safety procedures for loading and unloading of products to transport systems like rail, tanker trucks and ships. These include the use of fail-safe digital control valves and emergency shutdown systems to prevent potential ignition sources. Proper grounding permissive interlocks can be used to avoid static electricity build-up and lightning hazards.

The right Actuation Technology for Oil Terminals

As this facility was a fast track project, Auma India was brought in as the technology provider for automating flow control valves at the marketing storage facility. The company apart from being solution providers also were responsible for supplying, commissioning, troubleshooting and maintaining the electric actuators for this project. About 324 of the company’s explosionproof actuators were installed at various places for automating valves and providing 24/7 operations at the facility. These actuators are connected to the DCS through the Auma India Master station (AIMS).The distance between the control room and each field actuator is typically around 1.4 km.

The AIMS uses a Modbus TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the host system (LnTAS –provided by M/s L&T) and Modbus RTU protocol for the field actuators. It has a builtin standby support, which actively takes up the responsibilities of the AIMS when it is non-functional or unavailable to ensure minimal downtime at site.

Benefits of using AIMS in Crude Handling

Use of a standard solution for this project would have required the use of six such AIMS in redundant loop topology i.e., two AIMS for each loop. However, Auma India offered a unique feature where the same master station can provide concurrent loops without sacrificing the speed of communication or need of additional AIMS units.

For the Vishaka project, the actuators used are connected in loop topology in three concurrent loops to a single AIMS. Additionally, an option of a separate additional push button station was added to the actuators meant for the dyke area. These were all designed to satisfy the ‘MB Lal Committee Report’ safety requirements for dyke area applications.

* First published in PROCESS India August 2013

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