Smarter Valve Maintenance Delivers Measurable Savings and Better Process Control
Critical digester control valves had become a recurring maintenance challenge for a pulp and paper mill, requiring annual rebuilds, crane rentals, lockout procedures, and significant labor costs. An evaluation of key process loops identified valve performance issues affecting extraction flow, digester level, digester pressure, and makeup white liquor flow, limiting the level of control needed for optimal operation.
The mill upgraded to Emerson Fisher™ CV500 and Fisher V300™ control valves equipped with FIELDVUE™ DVC6200 digital valve controllers and adopted ValveLink™ diagnostics to assess valve health based on actual operating condition. The installation delivered $120,000 in annual maintenance savings, eliminated full valve rebuilds on eight installed valves, removed routine valve removal and crane expenses, and improved flow, level, and pressure control on critical digesters. By transitioning from schedule-driven maintenance to condition-based maintenance decisions, the facility improved reliability while reducing overall maintenance costs.
The mill upgraded to Emerson Fisher™ CV500 and Fisher V300™ control valves equipped with FIELDVUE™ DVC6200 digital valve controllers and adopted ValveLink™ diagnostics to assess valve health based on actual operating condition. The installation delivered $120,000 in annual maintenance savings, eliminated full valve rebuilds on eight installed valves, removed routine valve removal and crane expenses, and improved flow, level, and pressure control on critical digesters. By transitioning from schedule-driven maintenance to condition-based maintenance decisions, the facility improved reliability while reducing overall maintenance costs.