Affordable Zero-Emission Fail-Safe Electric Dump Valve Actuator

Lead Proponent

Linear Motion Technologies (LMT) Canada

Project Objectives

This project will design, fabricate, shop test and field test a zero-emission, affordable, and fail-safe electric dump valve actuator (EDVA) to replace existing pneumatic valves. In the oil and gas sector in Canada, pneumatic devices account for approximately 20% of methane emissions, and are used to provide process control over flow rate, pressure, and temperature. They work by varying the size of the flow passage way.

The EDVA design will be simpler, require fewer parts and reduce installation costs as it is based on technology not currently used in the oil and gas sector. The EDVA will reduce the electric demand with its low power actuator therefore improving endurance from solar panels.

Expected Results

Relevant to all oil and gas sites as pneumatic dump valves are ubiquitous in the industry (there are approximately 130,000 pneumatic dump valves in the oil and gas sector in western Canada) providing opportunity for replication and adoption.

Anticipated Environmental Benefits: Significant potential GHG reductions estimated to be at 3.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) after year 5 of deployment in the Canadian oil and gas sector, contributing to the overall emissions reductions of Canada.