An emergency shutdown system or ESD is a system that is used in hazardous areas to prevent situations that could have catastrophic effects economically, environmentally, or operationally. They are designed to minimize the consequences of emergency situations, such as injury to personnel or damage to equipment, by protecting against things like leaks, escape of hydrocarbons, fire outbreaks, and explosions. Emergency shutdown systems can be found on oilfields (oil well heads), oil and gas processing plants, gas and steam turbine power plants, and boilers.
Read on to learn more about how emergency shutdown systems work in different applications and how temperature and pressure switches are used within them:
How do emergency shutdown systems work?
Emergency shutdown systems work by determining when there is a critical condition within a system and then activating to quell possible leaks, explosions, or other types of major malfunctions. The activation of an ESD may include:
- Shut down of part systems and equipment
- Isolation of hydrocarbon inventories
- Isolation of electrical equipment
- Depressurization or blowdown
- Emergency ventilation control
- Closure of watertight doors and fire doors
For example, when used in an oil well, the emergency shutdown system is in place to prevent the pressure from bursting through the wellhead if the pressure within the system exceeds a preset limit and becomes overpressured.
Similarly, the pressure inside a boiler can increase above safe levels and cause the boiler to explode. In this system, both the pressure and temperature of the steam can trigger an ESD activation when they exceed a preset value.
When used in power plants, emergency shutdown systems are triggered by a few different things. In one application, once the temperature of gas exhaust reaches an unsafe level, an ESD will shut down the turbine producing the exhaust to lower the overall temperature of the system.
How are sensors or switches used within emergency shutdown systems?
Temperature and pressure switches are used in emergency shutdown systems to monitor the pressure and temperature setpoints. When the set point is reached CCS DUAL-SNAP® switches “snap” open or closed to activate the ESD using Belleville disc springs to ensure accurate and immediate action every time.
These switches are installed within the emergency shutdown systems for components like compressors, pumps, turbines, or computer control systems that send a signal to trigger a shutdown. Pressure and temperature switches used in emergency shutdown systems need to be extremely reliable and durable to ensure the system activates when needed.
What CCS products can be used within emergency shutdown systems and where, specifically, can they be used?
CCS creates pressure and temperature switches for all types of safety and emergency shutdown systems. From boilers to oil and gas wells, CCS DUAL-SNAP® switches provide the utmost reliability and accuracy so you can be sure your industrial safety systems operate without a hitch no matter the situation or application.
Using Belleville disc springs instead of traditional constant rate device technology, CCS DUAL-SNAP® switches do away with the wear and tear that can cause setpoint drift and activation malfunctions. In the case of emergency shutdown systems, those malfunctions can lead to serious operator injury and extensive damage to equipment. This is why it is best to choose a switch you know will work when needed.
Here is a selection of the best CCS temperature and pressure switches for use in emergency shutdown systems:
Pressure
The 6900GE gage pressure switch and 646GE gage pressure switch in stainless steel or aluminum can both be used within emergency shutdown systems while the 6900PE and 646PE specifically work well in oil and hydraulic applications.
Temperature
For emergency shutdown systems in need of temperature switches, both the 6900TE and 646TE can be used.
To learn more about CCS switches and sensors designed for emergency shutdown systems, take a look at this page or contact us directly.