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Sofis valve operation Sofis valve operation
  • Home
  • Products
    • Smith interlocks
    • Netherlocks interlocks
    • Ellis interlocks
    • Key Management System
    • EasiDrive portable actuator
    • Power Wrench portable actuator
    • FlexiDrive remote operator
    • VPI position indicator
    • SiLoC silo loading & unloading
  • Services
  • Solutions
    • Enforce safe valve operation
    • Monitor manual valve positions
    • Operate manual valves quickly
    • Operate manual valves remotely
    • Ensure integrity of critical safety systems
    • Ensure operational efficiency
    • Mitigate effects of human error
  • Applications
  • Industries
  • Customer stories
  • About us
    • Sustainability
    • Certification
    • Sofis: The safest choice
    • Our heritage
    • Vacancies
    • Internships
  • News
    • Download brochures & application notes
    • Sofis Connect newsletter
    • View product videos
  • Contact
Jul 24
Valve line-up during tanker loading

This tank storage leader avoids contamination with locks and a smart key cabinet

  • 24 July 2019
  • Customer stories, News

A tank farm in Southern Europe installed a valve line-up system. Risks of contamination are now eliminated, while the investment was earned back in the first year already.

Manual operations and check lists

Operators performed line-ups by manually operating valves and based on checklists. To avoid unauthorised valve operation, valves were locked out from operation with a padlock and key principle.

The most foolproof solution against contamination

The terminal had experienced contamination incidents due to incorrect valve line-ups in the past. Due to their manual processes and lockout principles they could not monitor or control line-up operations. They reviewed various solutions to improve their operations, including valve position indicators and full automation of their valve operations. Position indicators did offer them the ability to monitor their valve operations in real time but could not avoid unauthorised valve operation. Full automation of their valves offered a very expensive, yet insufficient solution. Actuators are controlled by the control system but can also be operated locally, outside the control of the control system. Therefore, full automation did not provide the fool proof solution they were after.

Mechanical blocking managed by the control system

They found a valve line-up system to be the most robust and practical solution. The valve line-up system consisted of interlocks on every manual valve involved in their line-up operation and a key management system which is linked to their control system.

The valve interlocks regulate manual valve operation. A valve can only be operated when an operating key is inserted. These keys are stored and managed by the Key Management System. The Key Management System issues these keys based on line-up requirements provided by the control system. Once operating keys are returned, the Key Management System confirms the position of each valve to the control system. This confirmation initiates the start of the loading procedure. Additionally, the Key Management System offers new insights to improve the line-up operation. Based on valve operation data gathered by the system, change-over procedures can be further optimised.

About the company

A trading hub in Southern Europe from a globally leading independent bulk liquid storage provider. It has a total storage capacity of over 550.000m3 and stores a high variety of chemical and petrochemical products.

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Sofis is a manufacturer of valve operation systems such as mechanical valve interlocks, portable actuators and valve position indicators. We are the world’s largest interlock manufacturer, providing bespoke design solutions that protect people and property throughout the world. We create smart valve solutions that improve process and operator safety to protect people and the planet.

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