April 2001 Bulletin 62.

1:DVC6000(S1)

DVC6000 Series Digital Valve Controllers for

Emergency Shut Down (ESD) Solutions
The operation of many industrial processes, especially
in the chemical and oil & gas industries, involve
inherent risk due to the leaking of lethal or flammable
chemicals or gases. Instrumented Protection Systems
are specifically designed to reduce the likelihood or the
severity of the impact of an identified event, thus
protecting personnel, equipment, and the environment.
These Instrumented Protection Systems involve final
control elements, which are mostly in one position and
are requested to move only when an emergency
situation arises. Typical applications involve
Emergency Shut Down Valves, Emergency Blow
Down Valves, Emergency Venting Valves, Emergency
Isolation Valves, Critical On-Off Valves etc. Because
the final control element remains in one position
without mechanical movement, their dependability is
reduced; that is, the valve may not operate
successfully upon demand. This could cause a
potentially dangerous condition leading to an explosion
or fire and the leaking of lethal chemicals and gases to
the environment.

Fisher offers a solution for Emergency Shut Down

(ESD) valves that uses FIELDVUER DVC6000 Series
digital valve controllers. Using DVC6000 Series
instruments permits partial stroking of the valve to
ensure valve availability and thus avoiding
catastrophic situations. Partial stroking tests valve
movement with a small ramp. This ramp is small
enough not to disrupt production, but is large enough
to confirm that the valve is working. DVC6000 Series W8107 / IL

instruments in ESD solutions also provide

state-of-the-art testing methods, which reduce testing
and maintenance time, reduce initial investment cost,
improve system performance, and provide diagnostic
capabilities.
Features
D Increased System Availability—The simple and
secure method of partial stroking allows end users to
perform more frequent valve mechanical movement
tests. This reduces the PFD (Probability of Failure on
Figure 1. FIELDVUE R Type DVC6030 Digital Valve Controller
in ESD Solution Mounted on a Quarter-Turn Valve
Demand) factor. Because the test procedures are
flexible, they can be conducted at any time, providing
more assurance the system will be available upon
demand. In addition, continuous valve monitoring
through AMS ValveLinkR Software provides
awareness of the valve’s status. To assure availability,
the digital valve controller continuously checks that all
its internal components are functioning correctly.
D102784X012
Bulletin 62.1:DVC6000(S1)
D Reduced Cost of Ownership—Lower base D Verification—AMS ValveLink software provides
equipment cost with considerable reduction in testing the capability for comparing and interpreting diagnostic
time and a reduced manpower requirement makes this data.
solution very economically feasible. DVC6000 Series
digital valve controllers in ESD solutions eliminate the
need for expensive pneumatic test panels and skilled
personnel presently required for testing emergency D Stroke Testing While the Process is
shutdown valves. Running—DVC6000 Series instruments allow a
partial stroke test, which ramps valve travel a small
D Valuable Time Savings—Remote testing
amount. This ramp is too small to disrupt the process,
capability requires fewer maintenance inspection trips
but is large enough to confirm that the valve is
to the field thus saving considerable time. Also, using
working, ensuring safety system availability.
ValveLink software’s Batch Runner to establish an
automatic test routine will provide big time savings.
D Predictive Maintenance—DVC6000 Series
instruments in ESD solutions permit using AMS D Built-In Redundancy—DVC6000 Series digital
ValveLink software to provide Valve Degradation valve controllers in ESD solutions provide an inherent
Analysis, which is important for critical valves in shut redundant pneumatic path. Should an emergency
down systems. This also reduces the amount of condition arise the actuator pressure will always
scheduled maintenance. exhaust, either through the solenoid valve or through
the digital valve controller, to allow the valve to go to
D Valve Stuck Alert—While performing the partial
the safe position.
stroke test, if for any reason the valve is stuck, the
digital valve controller will not completely exhaust the
actuator pressure. This assures that, should the valve
become unstuck, it will not slam shut. The digital valve
D Reduced Wiring Cost—DVC6000 Series
controller will abort the test and, through either the
instruments in ESD solutions eliminate the need for
HART Communicator or AMS ValveLink software, will
position transmitters and separate wiring from the
send an alert indicating that the valve is stuck.
transmitter. Through HART protocol, the valve position
D System Audit Documentation—Using AMS is communicated over the same 4 to 20 mA analog
ValveLink software provides a time and date stamp on loop that provides the valve control signal. A HART
all tests and reports, which is very important for Tri-Loopt, or other HART-to-analog signal converter
complying with the requirements of statutory in the control room can provide a 4 to 20 mA signal
authorities. that is proportional to valve position.

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Figure 2. Partial Step Response Test and Analysis
on an ESD Valve
Capabilities of DVC6000 Series Digital
Valve Controllers in ESD Solutions
1. Partial Stroke Testing—This test checks for valve
movement. An authorized technician, using a
pushbutton remotely located from the valve, can move
the valve to a predetermined value. The remotely
located pushbutton eliminates the need for having to
remove any instrument covers or being near the valve
during the test. The default value for valve movement
is 10% from its original position, but can be custom set
to any value up to 30% to meet plant safety guidelines.
The partial stroke test eliminates costly, labor intensive
testing techniques. The simplicity of this procedure
allows for more frequent testing. More frequent testing
enhances loop availability and increases the reliability
of the system because test intervals are directly
related to reliability. The partial stroke test can also be
initiated with the HART Communicator or AMS
ValveLink software.
2. Step Response Test—Running this test, shown in
figure 2, with AMS ValveLink software provides an
analysis of overshoot, hysteresis, dead time, and the
travel time for each step. Data from this test also can
be used to find the overall valve stroking time. The
step test graph also can be overlaid on previous test
graphs conducted when the valve was new.
Bulletin 62.1:DVC6000(S1)
Figure 3. Valve Signature Test and Analysis on an ESD Valve
3. Valve Signature Test—The results of this test,
shown in figure 3, using AMS ValveLink software can
be used to easily determine packing problems
(through friction data), leakage in the pneumatic
pressurized path to the actuator (through the Pressure
vs Travel graph), valve sticking, actuator spring rate,
and bench set. The Valve Signature test also can be
used to benchmark valve performance by overlaying it
on signature series tests conducted earlier.
Benchmarking valve performance can be used to
determine if valve response has degraded over time.
This increases valve availability and ensures that the
valve responds upon demand.
4. Automatic Testing—The AMS ValveLink software
Batch Runner tool can be used to automate diagnostic
testing. It provides the capability of running multiple
tasks back to back with no intervention. This permits
the user to do other things, while Batch Runner does
the work.
5. Travel Record—The cycle counter and travel
accumulator provide a record of the number of cycles
and percentage of travel accumulated over time.
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Bulletin 62.1:DVC6000(S1)

LOGIC SOLVER 1

SOLENOID VALVE
SEPARATE POWER
24 VDC SOURCES FOR DIGITAL
S VALVE CONTROLLER
AND SOLENOID VALVE
4–20 MA DC

EXHAUST

TRAVEL FEEDBACK SUPPLY PRESSURE

DVC6000 SERIES DIGITAL

VALVE CONTROLLER

E0513 ESD VALVE AND

ACTUATOR
NOTE:
1 LOGIC SOLVER NOT PROVIDED BY FISHER.

Figure 4. Emergency Shutdown Schematic with DVC6000 Series Digital Valve Controller in 4-Wire System

Installing DVC6000 Series Instruments in In both installations a redundant pneumatic path

ESD Systems
DVC6000 Series instruments in ESD solutions can be
extended to any valve style configuration including
sliding-stem, rotary, quarter-turn, etc. with spring and
diaphragm actuators, spring-return piston actuators, or
double-acting piston actuators. An extensive number
of mounting kits for these instruments are available.
These mounting kits may be retrofitted to work with
many actuators produced by various manufacturers.
Two types of installation are possible:
D 4-wire system
D 2-wire system
exists, i.e., the actuator pressure will always be able to
exhaust to allow the valve to move to the safe position.
If the solenoid valve fails the actuator pressure will
exhaust through the digital valve controller. If the
digital valve controller fails, the actuator pressure will
exhaust through the solenoid valve. If necessary, the
solenoid valve can have larger ports to allow the safety
shutdown valve to meet any response time criteria.
4-wire system installations:
D Permit the digital valve controller to continue to
communicate even during emergency conditions (in
demand). This allows the digital valve controller to
provide valuable trending information through AMS
ValveLink software. Being able to record the valve
action is very important for insurance or plant
environment authorities. It proves that the valve did
stroke upon demand.

D Require an additional pair of wires

Installations with the digital valve controller in a 4-wire
system (point-to-point mode) are shown in figure 4. 2-wire system installations:
Installations with the digital valve controller in 2-wire
systems (multidrop mode) are shown in figure 5. D Reduce wiring cost for new installations or no
Installations with the digital valve controller in a 4-wire additional wiring cost for existing installations.
system require the logic solver to provide two separate
sources: a 24 volt dc source for the solenoid valve and D Save an I/O card in the control room
a 4 to 20 milliamp dc current source for the digital
valve controller. In installations with the digital valve D Require a line conditioner that adds a 2 volt dc
controller in a 2-wire system, the logic solver provides line drop
a single 24 volt dc source to provide power for both the
solenoid valve and the digital valve controller. D Require a low power solenoid valve

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 Bulletin 62.1:DVC6000(S1)
SINGLE POWER SOURCE
FOR BOTH THE DIGITAL LOGIC SOLVER 1
VALVE CONTROLLER AND
SOLENOID VALVE

LOW POWER
SOLENOID VALVE 24 VDC LINE
S CONDITIONER

EXHAUST

TRAVEL FEEDBACK SUPPLY PRESSURE

DVC6000 SERIES DIGITAL
VALVE CONTROLLER

E0514 ESD VALVE AND ACTUATOR

NOTE:
1 LOGIC SOLVER NOT PROVIDED BY FISHER.

Figure 5. Emergency Shutdown Schematic with DVC6000 Series Digital Valve Controller in 2-Wire System

Valve and Actuator Selection Ordering Information

To be compliant in a Safety Integrated System, the Refer to the specifications on page 6. Carefully
valve assembly should be of fire-safe design and review each specification and indicate your choice
should meet the design criterion of API 607 and API whenever a selection is to be made.
6D. Butterfly valves such as the Triax, A31D, or 8560
are designed to meet the above standards. If the
When ordering, specify:
requirement is for a full-bore ball valve with fire-safe
design criterion, then Xomox valves may be specified.
Contact your local Xomox dealer. Actuators from 1. Digital valve controller type number
Bettis, El-O-Matic, Hytork, etc. could be selected for
the application. These are only guidelines for selecting 2. Type of system [4-wire system (point-to-point) or
valves and actuators for an ESD application. Should 2-wire system (multidrop)]
you need more specific details, contact your Fisher
Controls representative or sales office.
3. Valve style (sliding-stem or rotary)

4. Actuator (spring and diaphragm, spring return

TUV Certification piston, or piston without spring)
Using DVC6000 Series digital valve controllers for
emergency shut down solutions is under review by 5. Actuator manufacturer (Fisher Controls or other)
TUV product services. Upon certification, DVC6000
Series digital valve controllers can be incorporated into 6. Actuator type and size
Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) that are rated
Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL3). In addition, to achieve a
SIL3 Safety Instrumented System, accepted industry 7. Valve action (air-to-open or air-to-close)
practices generally require redundant final control
elements. 8. Valve failure action (fail open or fail closed)

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Bulletin 62.1:DVC6000(S1)
Specifications, Requirements, and Functionality
DVC6000 Series Digital Valve Controller Max Voltage Drop: 2 volts dc at 50 ma
Type DVC6010 for sliding-stem applications Ambient Temperature: 0 to 60_C (32 to 140_F)
Type DVC6020 for rotary and long-stroke sliding Relative Humidity: 0–95%, noncondensing
stem applications Mounting: DIN rail
Type DVC6030 for quarter-turn rotary applications Installation Environment: Marshalling Cabinet, I/O
All units can be used in either 4-wire or 2-wire cabinet, or Junction Box
system installations
DVC6000 Series digital valve controllers for ESD
solutions must have the Emergency Shutdown Solenoid valve
Application (ESD) option ASCO Model EF8316G303, EF8316G304, or
Hazardous Area: Explosion proof and intrinsically equivalent low power solenoid valve for a 2-wire
safe constructions are available. Refer to bulletins system.
9.2:001 series and 9.2:002 for approvals ASCO Model EF8316G3, EF8316G4, or equivalent
Electrical Housing: Meets NEMA 4X, CSA Type 4X, solenoid valve for a 4-wire system.
and IEC 60529 IP65 Body Size: 3/8 or 1/2-inch
For additional specifications on DVC6000 Series Orifice Size: 5/8-inch
digital valve controllers, refer to Bulletin Operating Voltage: 24 volt dc
62.1:DVC6000 Body Material: brass
Body and orifice selection may vary with actuator
Line Conditioner (Required for 2-wire system type and size, type of media, etc. Solenoid model
installations) number will change if size and body material or
Max Voltage: 30 volts dc electrical ratings change.

FIELDVUE, ValveLink, Fisher and Fisher-Rosemount are marks owned by Fisher Controls International, Inc. or Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
HART is a mark owned by the HART Communications Foundation. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
EFisher Controls International, Inc. 2001; All Rights Reserved

The contents of this publication are presented for informational purposes only, and while every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy, they are not to be construed as warranties or guarantees, express
or implied, regarding the products or services described herein or their use or applicability. We reserve the right to modify or improve the designs or specifications of such products at any time without notice.

For information, contact Fisher:

Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 USA
Cernay 68700 France
Sao Paulo 05424 Brazil
Singapore 128461

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Printed in U.S.A.