“The opportunity for proponents to utilise the gas regulators manufactured by Pietro Fiorentini is becoming even more compelling,” says Mr Anderson.
Not only is Pietro Fiorentini an established manufacturer of gas components that have been suitable for use in gas transmission over the last 60 years, but they are also ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited and certified to manufacture components to EN334 and ASME 16.5 standards.
“The recent expansion of gas usage in Australia by householders, industry and power generators alone has been phenomenal, placing a much larger demand on existing Class 600 transmission infrastructure,” says Mr Anderson.
“This expansion is expected to grow even further with the introduction of a carbon tax and with natural gas being deemed a transitory energy source, migrating from high CO2 producing energy sources to low or zero CO2 producing energy sources,” Mr Anderson says.
There is clear evidence in the field that points to an ever growing need to have proven Class 600 gas regulators to process larger volumes of high pressure and high temperature gas.
“As the existing regulators are ageing or made redundant due to design constraints and safety concerns, the opportunity is there for the proponent and its design engineering consultant to recommend a gas regulator that will perform reliably at higher pressure and temperature settings,” explains Mr Anderson. “That’s where we step in.”
The product range of Reflux piloted gas regulators manufactured by Pietro Fiorentini are able to withstand the maximum Class 600 and inlet pressure of 10,200 kPa (102 Bar) and temperature of gas at 60 degrees Celsius simultaneously, without causing the functioning of the regulator to deteriorate or age prematurely. This design standard enables the proponent with a quality regulator to achieve the largest of required pressure drops in a single cut. The availability of a silencer also enables it to comply with inherent noise level restrictions.
“The Reflux 819 regulator flangings are manufactured to ANSI B16.5, which makes replacing any existing regulators with similar flanging possible without major changes to the pipe work. The Reflux 819 has fail open and fail closed models. They are used worldwide in both large and small pressure reduction stations, and main gas supply skids into gas-fired power stations,” added Mr Anderson.
The company also guarantees a minimum 20 years’ supply of spare parts for the gas regulators.
Their current list of clients is impressive including Siemens, GE Alstrom, Petronas, Petrobras, Shell, Gas France, APA, Dampier Bunbury Pipeline and Epic Energy.
For new sites and existing site upgrades the Pietro Fiorentini Reflux 819 gas regulators offer compelling commercial and safety reasons to be considered by proponents, design engineering consultants because unlike many traditional pressure valve manufacturers that need individual bodies for the over pressure shut off (OPSO) and monitors, the Reflux valve body has an extra port that can be fitted with the extra safety device.
“This modularity feature has a ripple effect on lowering the initial installation costs in many ways, so the proponent is able to reduce the time required to get the payback and on the initial investment or refurbishment costs. This is achieved by reducing the onsite pipe work, smaller skid size, smaller site carbon footprint and the extra valve body costs. You just can’t beat it,” said Mr. Anderson before adding, “It’s also important to know that when the Reflux 819 is fitted with an OPSO device in the same valve body, with an accelerator pilot, it is certified as a safety device under the EN334.”
