Recently, Xcel Energy, a large energy company in the United States, selected the Sofis Power Wrench portable actuator as a tool to combat fatigue in manual valve operations. The decision to use the Power Wrench portable actuators was based on an evaluation carried out by a committee of engineers, ergonomic specialists, and operators to address operational, worker-centric process safety principles.
As a result of the evaluation, Xcel Energy considered the strategic use of equipment to overcome fatigue and physical operator stress during manual valve operations. A specific operation involved a valve on a newly constructed high-pressure valve set that required ~220 revolutions to actuate and often required actuation multiple times per day. Manual operation of large valves induces strained or fatigued arms, hands, shoulders, and backs, increasing the risk of injury and missed days of work. An on-site demonstration of the Power Wrench portable actuator found that using the Power Wrench allowed operators to operate these valves safely and quickly, reducing stress on the operators.
Courtesy of Sofis.