Thermal shutoff for large pneumatic actuators

Assured Automation's FireChek thermal shutoffs have a resettable memory shape alloy are designed to shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs and are designed for batch and continuous process systems.

By Assured Automation September 2, 2015

Assured Automation's FireChek thermal shutoffs have a resettable memory shape alloy are designed to shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs and are designed for batch and continuous process systems. Courtesy: Assured AutomationAssured Automation’s FireChek thermal shutoffs have a resettable memory shape alloy are designed to shut down a pneumatic control system when a nearby fire occurs, or when the ambient temperature reaches 135, 150, or 165 F. When the FireChek senses excessive heat from a nearby fire, it is designed to immediately closes the air supply line preventing the air from feeding the fire. FireChek is designed for batch and continuous process systems in the oil refining, paper manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceutical and power plants.

The FireChek responds to heat rather than flame and is designed to secure pneumatically operated process line valves in their fail-safe position for both on/off and throttling applications. The shape memory element senses the ambient temperature and, through a phase induction change, produces the force and motion to trigger the FireChek. 

The FireChek is available in three configurations:

FireChek is directly mounted between the pneumatic supply and spring return actuator via two NPT threaded connections. While the FireChek itself is extremely well suited for the vast majority of pneumatic actuators with 1/4-in. air supply input ports, the FireChek with Quick Exhaust and FireChek Plus can be used very effectively on larger pneumatic actuators.

The FireChek with Quick Exhaust provides a larger exhaust port. When the emergency operation is triggered by excessive heat, the actuator exhaust air is diverted to a larger port by the quick exhaust valve. This allows for the spring return actuator to move to the failsafe position much faster.

The FireChek Plus Pilot Valves assembly combines the FM approved FireChek thermal shutoff with a SIL Class III pilot valve, either with or without a solenoid operator. The FireChek Plus assemblies are available with either a piped connection to the actuator, or with a NAMUR mounting interface for direct mount of the pilot to the actuator. FireChek Plus models are available for actuators with port sizes from 1/4 to 1-in. to accommodate most pneumatic actuators.

Assured Automation

www.assuredautomation.com 

– Edited by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering process sensor and actuator products.