This study collected information on valves, valve maintenance, and management, and developed a software modeling program for water utilities to develop cost-effective valve management plans. The model can find weaknesses in valve systems, identify critical valves and locations for the addition of new valves, and assess the impacts of the reliability of valves on customer outage. Using this model, it is possible to improve the performance of valve systems cost effectively by adding more valves in the system and improving the maintenance program, and thus, the reliability of valves. Includes CD-ROM with the Strategic Valve Management Model.

Due to the lack of availability of proper tools for management of valves, it is very difficult for water utilities to supply water with minimum interruption in case of a water main break. Rules or guidelines for the placement of valves in the distribution system are not well defined, and the impact of valve placement rules on system reliability (i.e., minimizing out-of-service customers) has not been quantified in previous studies. The objectives of this research were to develop a rationale for valve location using design rules to optimize system reliability, to develop an easy to use program to analyze the efficiency of valves on the reliability of isolation of distribution networks, and to develop a computer model to analyze complicated networks and assist water utilities in minimizing interruption of supply in isolating water main breaks. The study provides analysis tools and rules for valve placement to allow water utilities to improve system reliability by reducing the number of customers affected by necessary water main isolations. The analysis tools can be used to identify critical valves and provide a quantitative basis for making cost-effective decisions about valve placement. The report includes a CD-ROM that contains the Strategic Valve Management Model (SVMM). The SVMM was developed to provide utilities with a better tool for valve maintenance and system expansion. The program is used to identify segments in water distribution systems and to simulate pipe and valve failure effects on the system.

The valve industry has become increasingly digitized over the past five years. This revised second edition reflects those developments by focusing on the latest processing plant applications for "smart valve" technology. * Updated information on testing agencies and the latest code changes Contents: Introduction to Valves * Valve Selection Criteria * Manual Valves * Control Valves * Manual Operators and Actuators * New Smart Valve Technology * Smart Valve and Positioners * Valve Sizing * Actuator Sizing * Common Valve Problems * Abbreviations of Related Organizations and Standards

This book explains the decision-making processes for the management of instrumented protective systems (IPS) throughout a project's life cycle. It uses the new IEC 61511 standard as a basis for the work processes used to achieve safe and reliable process operation. By walking the reader through a project's life cycle, engineering, maintenance, and operations, the information allows users to easily focus on their responsibilities and duties. Using this approach, the book is useful as a primer, guidelines reference, and resource manual. Examples provide the added "real-world" experience applications.

Increased automation reduces the potential for operator error, but introduces the possibility of new types of errors in design and maintenance. This book provides designers and operators of chemical process facilities with a general philosophy and approach to safe automation, including independent layers of safety.