The Best Available Technique that is revolutionising Breather Valve Testing
Professionals at work today in industries as diverse as chemical manufacturing, fuel storage to biogas production are highly aware of emerging responsibilities towards protecting our planet from the catastrophic results of climate change for future generations.
These dynamics are driving a better understanding of where fugitive emissions are coming from and that doing nothing about resolving leaks is no longer an option. Governments across the globe are rolling out legislation to fine organizations that do not monitor for leaks and fix problems quickly.
Leak detection and repair is now a fundamental challenge for all operators storing volatile liquids and gases. This isn’t a small problem either and it affects all of us. Leaks of fugitive organic compounds affect our health and cause adverse weather events drive up insurance premiums and the cost of everyday consumable items.
Investor power is also a primary driver for change. Shareholders are asking companies to publish their environmental impact and how they are achieving sustainability. This isn’t greenwash either, it is possible to reduce leaks from a tank breather valve by a factor of 20 following a service. Measurement of the leak rate before and after service documents that huge reduction in leakage, and so demonstrating and improvement in site safety and retention of profits. A true win/win
So, data is everything. There isn’t much benefit to an Operators share value if these huge savings are not recorded and published. This is where Assentech comes in with over 25 years’ industry experience in tank storage and fluid transfer technologies.
Currently, Assentech supplies products from quality manufacturers located across the Globe. Always focussed on delivering quality solutions with focus on the environment, site safety, operating efficiency to protect assets, improved profitability, safeguarding stakeholder confidence and evidence compliance.
“’Buying once, buying well’ is a familiar phrase with Assentech customers who are encouraged to evaluate their product selection by understanding the technical specifications of premium products and not base their purchase decisions solely on price.
Assentech firmly believes that quality products have lower cost of ownership and protect the environment better than the false economy of buying cheap equipment. Located in Cornwall, Assentech also has two satellite offices based in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. The level of specialist expertise and comprehensive service comes completely unrivalled and reflects the quality and reliability of its team members who are committed to providing clients with a unique set of benefits to which they cannot find elsewhere.
Assentech’s core strength is our comprehensive understanding of breather valve functionality and legislative compliance. We provide our customers with technical support that gives agency to informed decision making regarding best practice in management of ageing plant.
We are extremely proud to be certified by a UKAS accredited company to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Our enviable reputation is the outcome of our core strengths which are to provide specialist engineering services, environmental solutions and safety equipment for process industries dealing with flammable, hazardous or corrosive substances.
Our main objective is to help clients achieve regulatory compliance, reduce emissions and optimise their production processes,” stated Debbie Pearce, Director.
Assentech Management is also represented on two International Standards Committees, with Ewart Cox currently writing an environmental annexe for API2000.
In recent news, Assentech has just launched its new valve test bench. An innovative technology that is automated and uses AI to produce repeatable and calibrated test results that stand up to scrutiny by all the Regulators. Bringing standard test times down from over 20 minutes to just over 2 minutes the benefit is not missed by all of the valve manufacturers. Aligned to the test protocol of API2000 International Standard, both vacuum and pressure ports are tested. An instantaneous, traceable and irrefutable API2000 Test Report is generated which includes verified flow curve, set point and leak rate as well as QR code labelling to simplify asset management and retrieval of test data.
An unfortunate reality on many tank farms is tank collapse that is dangerous and disruptive. It is also quite common and is almost always caused by lack of understanding by the Operators. A breather valve or also known as a PVRV (Pressure and Vacuum Relief Valve) protects tanks and vessels from overpressure and vacuum conditions. It opens when the internal pressure exceeds a set point, allowing excess pressure to escape, and opens again when the internal pressure drops below atmospheric pressure to prevent collapse. It’s widely used in various industries to maintain safety and prevent equipment damage or product loss.
With the focus on the environment, Assentech has spent 8 years of R&D to develop Vent-Less which is designed to check functionality, sealing and performance of individual breather valves on both vacuum and pressure ports.
“Vent-Less will provide a full leak and functionality test in less than two minutes as well as measure the volume leak rate at a prescribed operating pressure such as 75% or 90% of set point.
This technology is revolutionising tank storage facilities and is unique to the world providing a best available technique to quantify, monitor and reduce emissions for environmental reporting, ESG metrics and providing valuable data for net zero analytics,” said Debbie. You can find out more here – http://www.assentech.co.uk/automatic-mobile-smart-test-bench-for-breather-valves-pvrv-prv-vrv-improve-efficiency-and-reduce-emissions/
Vent-Less was recently used by a customer from an anaerobic digestion waste to energy facility who was looking for ways to defend pending enforcement by the Environment Agency following complaints from the public about excessive odours. After Assentech measured the methane leak rate of the vents they removed and replaced, the results were outstanding. The reduction in valve leak rate dropped from 90cfh (cubic feet per hour) to 0.08m3 per hour at 90% of set point. Reducing the gas cloud from exch valve on site from the size of 200 double decker buses of leaked emissions to 0.2 of one bus per year. IPCC calculations this reduction represents a reduction in environmental impact cost from £62000 to £57 per valve per annum. Vent-Less also provides valuable data for defending Regulation 61 enforcement notices.
Please try our free to use methane emission calculator that is available on the home page of our website http://www.assentech.co.uk/anaerobic-digestion-biogas-pressure-and-vacuum-relief-valves-with-flame-arresters/#breatherventleakagebiogas
This platform gives a clear illustration of the financial and environmental impact of methane leaks.
For more information, see below.
T 01726 844 707
info@assentech.co.uk
http://www.assentech.co.uk/
