New subsea valve actuator combines electro-hydraulic, electro-mechanical elements

Bosch Rexroth is seeking to combine the best of electro-hydraulic and electro-mechanical actuator solutions with its new subsea valve actuator. The actuator works in the same way as an electric actuator, except that the customer provides the electric power to the system, while Bosch Rexroth provides the mechanical force to open and close valves via a hydraulic transmission inside the actuator, said Alexandre Orth, Senior Manager, Sales Industry Sector, Marine & Subsea Technologies, on 1 May at the 2018 OTC. By combining hydraulic and electric, the company has eliminated the emission of hydraulic fluids that occurs with electro-hydraulic actuators. The new actuator is compatible with Industry 4.0 technology, which is designed for 25 years of operation with minimum maintenance, and features a mechanical override that allows valves to be manually opened and closed, Dr Orth explained to DC.