Rosenberg, Texas, USA – FW Murphy leaders broke ground for an exciting new expansion for the organization. The new facility is slated to be 86,000 square feet and house the organization’s CS&S team as well as a majority of the production lines. The building will have five conference rooms, two break rooms and three test rooms. Plans call for the building’s completion in 2020.
Tulsa, Okla, USA – FW Murphy Production Controls is pleased to announce the C5, the newest addition to its Centurion line of controllers. The C5 continues the line’s evolution since the initial introduction of Centurion in 2004. With significant product enhancements, this newest natural gas compressor application controller puts users in the driver’s seat with diagnostics that reduce troubleshooting, improve communication and enhance data management. With Centurion C5, you have the knowledge to manage your system more effectively and ensure your settings optimize your performance. Some features of the C5 include: Diagnostics – Comprehensive diagnostics offer insights into how your system is running from big problems to simple wiring issues. Reduce troubleshooting downtime with improved system feedback. Communications – Gather intelligence from the systems you want via multiple serial ports including CAN communications to take advantage of new engine ECU capabilities as well as Wi-Fi for wireless access to your information. Future-proof & backward compatible – Designed with a significant modern approach, C5 joins the Centurion family adding diagnostics, operator assistance and enhanced communications. Use this new version to update your current application controller, and it will be ready to grow when you are. Our entire Centurion lineup gives you more choice and scalability. World-class qualifications – By meeting stringent certifications and harmonized international standards, C5 is engineered to meet the high standards you expect and rely upon out in the field, wherever you do business. The C5 will change the way you look at asset management.
Tulsa, Okla, USA – FW Murphy Production Controls will share industry-leading products and in-depth knowledge during the 2017 Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable. The event, held May 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provides the natural gas industry with cost-effective training programs focusing on engine and compressor maintenance. FW Murphy Production Controls will exhibit in Booth 531 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The company’s Training Trailer (www.fwmurphy.com/trailer) will be on display along with the company’s flagship products EICS®, IntelliSpark®, AFR and VRU Pro™. In addition, FW Murphy’s new MLS Series magnetic level switch with test function will be on site. FW Murphy also will present the latest in industry training during EGCR’s daily classes. Included in the Electrical and Ignition Systems training track, FW Murphy subject matter experts will speak during the Ignition Systems Roundtable as well as present on EICS, Modern PLC Controllers and Instrumentation & Troubleshooting. For more information about EGCR, go to www.egcr.org.
SARASOTA, FL–(Marketwired – Dec 6, 2016) – Sun Hydraulics Corporation (NASDAQ: SNHY) completed its acquisition of Enovation Controls, LLC’s Power Controls and Vehicle Technologies lines of business on December 5, 2016. Enovation Controls, LLC is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Hydraulics Corporation.
“The acquisition of Enovation Controls is consistent with our strategic vision to further develop profitable growth,” said Wolfgang Dangel, Sun’s President and CEO. “Enovation Controls advances the electrification and digitization of products across the Sun Hydraulics platform while diversifying our end markets. Furthermore, Enovation has a talented team of experienced electronic, software and sales engineers with an impressive track record of new product development and technical innovation. This acquisition and various other growth initiatives are intended to preserve Sun’s history of superior profitability and financial strength.”
“Today marks an exciting new chapter as we welcome the Enovation Controls team into the Sun Group,” stated Dangel. “The current management team will remain in place creating continuity for Enovation’s on-going success. The company will operate on a stand-alone basis and sell products under its distinct brands of Murphy Controls and Zero Off. Enovation is a natural fit for Sun and we look forward to the continued success of both companies.”
About Sun
Sun Hydraulics is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves, manifolds and integrated package solutions for worldwide industrial and mobile markets. For more information about Sun, please visit our website at www.sunhydraulics.com.
About Enovation Controls
Enovation Controls is a leading global provider of electronic control, display and instrumentation solutions for both recreational and off-highway vehicles, as well as stationary and power generation equipment. For more information about Enovation Controls, please visit our website at www.enovationcontrols.com.
As many of you know, Enovation Controls signed an agreement and announced last Monday, November 7th, that Sun Hydraulics Corporation was acquiring the Power Controls (PC) and Vehicle Technologies (VT) lines of business from us. In this process, they also acquired the Enovation Controls and Murphy brand names as well. Sun Hydraulics will maintain Enovation Controls as a separate standalone company. They have immense respect for the success and growth of Enovation Controls and the Murphy brand.
Kennon Guglielmo and Jinger McPeak will be the Co-General Managers of this new standalone unit of Sun called Enovation Controls. Several other of the current senior managers will remain in place under their leadership. We all, including Sun senior management, feel this structure will ensure they will remain largely the same business units we have built them up to be and they will continue to thrive on a solid growth trajectory. The acquired company will consist of approximately 300 employees located around the globe in the United States, England, Germany, India and China.
Closing of the transaction is expected to be in the first week of December, and Kennon and I will continue post-close as Co-CEOs of the Natural Gas Production Controls (NGPC) business that serves the gas compression market and the Engine Controls and Fuel Systems (ECFS) business. The NGPC business will go to market under a new name – FW Murphy Production Controls, and ECFS will go to market under the familiar EControls name.
The NGPC and ECFS businesses we are keeping will be held under a holding company called Genisys Controls, LLC. However, FW Murphy Production Controls and EControls will be the primary entity names promoted externally in the marketplace. There will be strong continuity in Genisys with most of the senior leadership remaining unchanged. We are truly excited about the future of Genisys, and we will continue to grow as a strong and profitable company. We will also continue to take market share and resume our revenue and profit trajectory while continuing to invest in new products and platforms. Stewardship has always been very important to, and deeply rooted in both the Murphy and Guglielmo families. All of us believe this is the right thing to do for the long-term success of the company.
Sun is a great catalyst and home for these two business units and we are all excited to watch them continue to thrive. The following are some excerpts from Sun’s press release including a couple of quotes from their CEO, Wolfgang Dangel and Co-CEO of Enovation Controls, Frank Murphy:
Sun Hydraulics Agrees to Acquire Enovation Controls, a Leader in Electronic Control, Display and Instrumentation Solutions.
Acquisition Positions Sun in New Markets, Expands Opportunities for Growth and Customer Reach.
“With this acquisition, Sun acts on its commitment to our customers and shareholders. Our strategic focus is on innovation and complete system solutions. Enovation Controls’ premium products support this focus and are an excellent fit with the Sun brand,” said Wolfgang Dangel, Sun’s President and CEO. “The PC and VT businesses are highly successful. They operate in some of the same industries Sun currently serves, while providing diversification opportunities in markets such as marine, power systems and recreational vehicles. Enovation Controls’ products will complement Sun’s current offerings in mobile and industrial applications as hydraulic systems increasingly incorporate electronics.”
“Enovation Controls, co-founded by Frank Murphy III and Kennon Guglielmo, is among the fastest growing and most innovative electronic control and display companies globally,” continued Dangel. “The acquisition of the PC and VT business lines provides Sun attractive new brands with proven appeal, including the highly respected Murphy® brand, while infusing Sun with fresh ideas and expertise.”
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Enovation Controls,” said Murphy, co-founder. “We have a deep respect for Sun Hydraulics. It is clear they share our commitment to addressing the needs of customers who build systems requiring both superior performance and reliability while incorporating cutting-edge technology. We are proud of the innovative company our team has built, and we are confident Sun will continue our strong tradition of stewardship given its reputation for leadership, global presence and resources.”
Sun will maintain Enovation Controls as a separate standalone company, with Kennon Guglielmo remaining involved on the leadership team. The PC business will continue to provide electronic control systems, displays and customized instrumentation panels for power units, generator sets, off-highway equipment, and engine and pump instrumentation. The company’s VT business will continue to provide electronic controls and infotainment solutions, solving complex problems in the recreational and off-highway vehicle and marine markets. The acquired company will consist of approximately 300 employees located around the globe in the United States, England, Germany, India and China. Enovation Controls’ two other lines of business, Natural Gas Production Controls and Engine Controls and Fuel Systems, will operate as a newly formed company not owned by Sun.
About Sun
Sun Hydraulics is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves, manifolds and integrated package solutions for worldwide industrial and mobile markets. For more information about Sun, please visit our website at www.sunhydraulics.com.
About Enovation Controls
Enovation Controls, LLC is a leading global provider of sophisticated digital control systems for gaseous fuel engines and engine-driven equipment focused on the vehicle and energy markets. The company combines the wide-ranging control and display capabilities of the Murphy® brand with the extensive engine control expertise of the EControls® brand. As a leader in the natural gas market, Enovation Controls’ develops systems-based solutions that are high technology, mission-critical systems utilized in many markets including: commercial vehicles, natural gas compression and liquids, off-highway, material handling, agriculture and both recreational and commercial marine. With a global installed base of over one million engine control systems, their brands are recognized for providing innovative, ruggedized, integrated turnkey solutions that combine proprietary software platforms and customized hardware.
This article was previously published in the January 2016 issue of The American Oil & Gas Reporter. It is reproduced here with permission, by Corinne Westeman.
Unscheduled downtime in oil and gas production operations is a double whammy that results in lost revenues and added costs to repair problems, which erodes bottom-line margins. But in times of low commodity prices especially, any equipment failure or downhole operating condition that disrupts the flow of hydrocarbons to the sales line can be a profit killer. Consequently, operators are zeroed in on improving the efficiency and economic performance of producing assets in all types of plays.
The key metric is cost per barrel of oil equivalent produced, and although every producer has contingencies in place to deal with the unexpected, a well failure is not an option. This is particularly true for resource plays with multiwell pads, where one problem can take production from four or more wells off line and potentially upset operations at downstream processing facilities.
Right on cue, the latest innovations in production technology–from mechanical downhole tools to digital well site monitoring and analysis software–are designed to maximize efficiencies and production flows while minimizing cost and preventing well failures. The VRU Pro™ from FW Murphy is designed specifically for monitoring and controlling the smaller-horsepower compressors used in vapor recovery operations. Certified for Class I, Division 2 hazardous area operations, the controller is configured as a flexible, off-the-shelf solution that requires no programming customization while enabling advanced features such as automatic starting and speed/recycle/capacity control.
Vapor Recovery Controller
Vapor recovery applications are expected to increase markedly in coming years as a result of ever-more stringent emissions restrictions on tank batteries and other production facilities. But vapor recovery also is being driven by the compelling economic proposition that oil and gas companies potentially can turn a regulatory compliance requirement into a new revenue stream by capturing the value of tank vapors, which are often high in Btu content.
“Recognizing that vapor recovery is an emerging market, we talked with oil and gas producers to get feedback on what was needed to optimize the performance of vapor recovery units in the field,” says Roel Rodriguez, product manager, applications solutions for FW Murphy, which is headquartered in Tulsa. “We realized that one of the biggest needs was an electronic controller specifically for VRU operations.”
In response, he says FW Murphy’s engineers went to the drawing board to design the VRU Pro™ for comprehensive signal monitoring and control for the smaller-horsepower rotary screw, scroll and single-stage reciprocating compressors associated with VRU systems. The technology is certified for Class I, Division 2 hazardous area operations using either AC or DC power, Rodriguez points out. Equipped with 18 fit-for-purpose fixed digital, analog, thermocouple and frequency inputs and nine field-effect transistor and analog outputs, he says VRU Pro is rated to operating temperatures of -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The controller provides a highly flexible, all-in-one solution that the operator can buy off the shelf and set up himself however he likes, whether using an electric motor or natural gas engine, or a rotary screw or reciprocating compressor,” Rodriguez details. “Unlike many programmable logic controllers, it requires no custom programming.”
The flexibility is built into the controller’s software architecture by a platform that enables the user to select from a number of preconfigured compressor equipment options using a tactile keypad and backlit 3.8-inch monochrome LCD display. It features CAN J1939 engine communications with a closed-loop proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithm for monitoring and control.
At its base functionality, VRU Pro uses a transducer to monitor tank pressures and automatically start and stop the compressor, according to Rodriguez. The controller keeps the compressor in a ready-to-start condition until tank pressure reaches the preset level. At that point, it starts the compressor to recover the vapors and draw pressure back down to the set point, when it then turns off the compressor. However, depending on the type of compressor and engine package, Rodriguez says the system has the optionality to facilitate a variety of advanced control capabilities, including automatic speed, recycle and capacity control through three-way PID monitoring of suction/discharge pressures and engine loading.
“Not every compressor package has these advanced control options, but the feature sets are built into the control panel and are configurable by the user though the keypad,” Rodriguez remarks. “The controller uses PID to monitor and compare a particular feedback such as suction/discharge pressure or motor current/manifold pressure against a set point value. It continually calculates a correction factor to keep key parameters at their set points to maximize the performance of the entire vapor recovery system.”
This short video highlighting the EControls brand and our San Antonio facility was shot by Manufacturing Marvels and aired on the Fox Business Network on Thursday, February 27, 2014. We would like to extend a sincere thanks to all who participated in the process.
View the video by clicking above, or going to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbCAHMJ78ko
This article was previously published in the August 2013 issue of The American Oil & Gas Reporter. It is reproduced here with permission.
By Darrell Schmitt and Thomas Martino
As producing and midstream companies work to reduce emissions in compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, the challenge becomes maintaining continuous compliance while maximizing the operational and economic performance of equipment and assets.
For engines operating in gas compression and production applications, as with those in other oil and gas applications, electronic engine control systems are the key enabling technology for achieving the dual (and sometimes competing) goals of optimizing performance while lowering emissions.
State-of-the-art engine integrated control systems (EICS®) are engineered to continuously maintain engine performance at optimum levels while achieving ultralow emissions, even with changing operating and fuel quality conditions.
By integrating all key engine operational controls in a single user-friendly system, the technology is designed to generate and maintain operational efficiency throughout the life of the engine and its systems, allowing operators to meet emission regulations while optimizing output and saving time and resources. The engine control modules (ECMs) of the newest EICS technology integrate components that manage: Ignition and timing, Air-to-fuel ratio, Speed governing, Diagnostics, Efficiency, and Regulation and reporting with local/remote user interfacing.
The technology can be packaged for performance to include the ECM; an air/fuel-management, electronic fuel control regulator (D-EPR); an air/fuel management mixer; electronic governing, suction/discharge pressure-based speed control; capacitive discharge ignition; and a color graphic display for operator interface and diagnostics. For emissions control, an integrated catalyst/sensor package can be added to the EICS performance package at any time.
By combining these key components into a single system, EICS technology is designed to save costs and labor associated with installing and calibrating separate products. The system is preconfigured, precalibrated, and dyno-tested for a specific engine model, which is done using various combinations of engine load, speed and fuel quality. When these targets are manipulated and held constant, target tables can be developed that include multiple air/fuel set points and ignition-spark tables.
Normally, when the instruments are supplied separately and then configured to work together, more often than not, they tend to “fight” one another. But integrating all the components within a single “smart” controller ensures that all functions and instrumentation work in harmony and in accordance with the operating and emissions performance requirements. Some original engine equipment manufacturers have come to this conclusion after trying to create functional systems with separate component parts. More so than any other major part, the engine must operate correctly or the operating performance will suffer, and/or the emissions coming out of the engine exhaust stack will increase, thereby adversely impacting economics. Incorporating all the functionalities of the component pieces into one integrated system not only improves efficiency and performance of the engine, but also allows advanced diagnostics capabilities on the entire control system.
The integrated packages come complete with all necessary mounting hardware and harnessing, and require minimal onsite setup, so that the operator can install the system and be ready for startup on the same day. Unless there is a diagnostic problem, the operator does not need to be on the site while the EICS runs, and he can monitor its progress and operations remotely thru an RS-485 communications connection.
The EICS uses a color graphic display as an operator interface that includes diagnostic fault codes and messages that immediately tell the user if and what the problem is, and guides him toward a corrective solution quickly, which ultimately saves both time and money.
Complying With RegulationsAlthough fairly new to upstream oil and gas compression and production operations, EICS technology has been applied in other industries for years in engine systems for fork lifts, power generation and off-road equipment. The latest EICS systems are purpose-engineered for the atural gas compression industry, but have been developed utilizing the same proven technology base.In nonattainment areas such in Harris County, Tx. (encompassing the Houston metropolitan area), new compression equipment entering service must meet a lower emissions standard of 0.5 grams of nitrogen oxide and 2.0 grams of carbon dioxide per brake horsepower an hour (bhp/hr), in most cases.
The EICS emissions package has been designed to meet these standards so that it can be used to maintain ultralow emission rates for a sustained period in nonattainment areas. However, even the most reliable piece of equipment eventually will require maintenance or repairs, just as any other engine system does. But if, for instance, an operator needs to replace an oxygen sensor, he will not have to retest to see if the engine is meeting emissions, because the system already is precalibrated to achieve those preset targets.
The EICS performance package was designed with fuel efficiency in mind while not sacrificing engine power. In field testing, a standard compressor engine equipped with EICS technology and the EICS emissions package is designed to operate in areas that need to meet 0.5 gr/Bhp an hour NOx and 2 gr/Bhp an hour CO2.
Even though some production companies will not need to meet nonattainmentarea emission standards, the technology was designed to optimize the performance of an engine to have better uptime by reducing downtime and lost production because of diagnostic issues.EICS offers automatic speed control, based on either suction pressure or discharge pressure. A target set point is developed to enable the engine to efficiently operate at varying rpm (from a minimum to a maximum target) to maintain a given pressure. That equates into extended runtime, eliminates excessive downtime, and translates to extended engine life. Because of the reduced downtime, there are fewer trips to the site.
When an EICS-equipped compressor engine is used on wells with fluctuating pressures, the system will adjust the engine speed automatically to compensate for those fluctuations, and will maintain the pressure within the limits set. If the EICS operates within those set points, the system will continue to run and production will go smoothly. The system offers an automatic speed control mode, which reduces shutdowns.
Optional Emissions PackageFor maximum emissions control, the EICS emissions package can be added to include the catalyst/sensor kit (including a post-catalyst oxygen sensor that includes a temperature monitor) to operate at optimum performance of the catalyst’s “sweet spot.” This metal substrate device has a specific wash coat of precious platinum based metals–the “secret sauce”–that absorbs and releases oxygen in the catalyst area. When the exhaust coming from the engine flows across this material at a specific temperature, it causes a chemical reaction that splits off oxygen molecules, so that what comes out of the exhaust is as close to clean air as possible.
The EICS catalyst is loaded heavily with precious metals and a wash coat specifically designed to be used with the system to optimize emissions performance. The EICS controls the fuel and air mixture to the engine through a dithering strategy of the fuel. It richens and then leans the fuel mixture through the fuel control system so that the catalyst can absorb and release oxygen as designed.
The EICS also has the capability to work with bifuel applications using field gas as the primary fuel. For instance, the engine can be started with propane, then once the field is operating and begins flowing natural gas, the EICS can switch to controlling the fuel coming out of the well.
The operator does not have to program this option beforehand in most cases, and once the natural gas fuel pressure reaches a certain critical point, the system automatically switches over. The EICS has to recognize a change in fuel quality through a switching device, which automatically adjusts maps to maintain engine operations.
Artificial LiftEICS technology is being used not only with compressors in gas fields, but also in artificial lift applications in oil fields. Houston’s Diverse Energy Systems is using the bifuel application on EICS packages it operates in conjunction with its FlowFast™ jet pumps in unconventional wells in North Dakota’s Bakken/Three Forks horizontal play, as well as in conventional vertical wells in Texas.
The company had a few issues with the application initially because of improper installation, but the system has worked well otherwise. Diverse Energy Systems estimates that the bifuel application saves its customers $10,000-$16,000 a month on diesel and electricity costs (as much $192,000 in annual savings).
The company primarily uses Caterpillar 3306™ and 3406™ engines. The EICS system allows the engines to burn high Btu associated gas–up to 2,250 Btu–with little to no conditioning of the gas, giving operators a viable and versatile new option to flaring that can provide considerable cost savings in locations that have no electricity or cannot use diesel fuel or flare associated gas.
Produced gas sourced directly from the well is not stable and Btu levels can fluctuate significantly, causing erratic engine performance and increased maintenance and repair costs. Diverse Energy Systems is overcoming this challenge by equipping its field gas-fired engines with an EICS.
By combining numerous engine control and optimization capabilities into a complete integration package precalibrated for the specific engine model, the EICS enables the engines to accommodate wide variations in fuel composition and speed/load ranges without the need for manual field adjustments. It maintains efficiency even in the toughest jet pump and gas lift applications, while ensuring emission compliance, which is further enhanced by reducing the volumes of flared gas in a lease site.The system’s built-in communication capabilities, air/fuel ratio control, and diagnostics functions all provide key benefits for Diverse Energy Systems’ customers.
An EICS can be installed by one person in only a few hours. Once in place, it requires little maintenance and can be monitored remotely, freeing operators to focus more of their time on core value-adding activities.
With emissions regulations expected to continue to tighten and production costs increasing, integrated engine control is becoming ever-more critical to the economic operation of compression and production equipment. The technology has been developed to increase engine efficiency without losing power, reducing and monitoring emissions, decreasing downtime during production, and reducing costs and downtime.
The technology will continue to evolve to provide effective and autonomous control of engine performance in even the most demanding applications, including meeting emission regulations in nonattainment areas.
Darrell Schmitt is the EICS product sales manager at FW Murphy, responsible for the air-fuel ratio, EICS and ignition product lines. Schmitt has worked with operators and users around the globe since 1978 to assist in applying monitoring, protection and control technology to improve the operational efficiency and emissions compliance on spark-ignited, reciprocating, internal combustion engines. Schmitt now is focused primarily on applying state-of-the-art industrial ignition systems, air/fuel ratio, and integrated control systems for spark-ignited gaseous fueled engines.
Thomas Martino is the FlowFast™ jet pump product manager at Diverse Energy Systems. This role provides him the opportunity to deal directly with clients to bringing them reductions in lease operating expenses, increased production, and in general, solving problems both on the surface and down hole. Martino started his career in 1989 in natural gas compressor packaging. His 24 years in the oil and gas industry have been spent learning, operating and maintaining reciprocating oil field equipment.
TULSA, OK, February 19, 2013- FW Murphy continues to find success with its Engine Integrated Control System (EICS®). Designed and tested for specific spark-ignited, natural-gas-fueled engines, EICS integrates key components for engine optimization including ignition systems, air/fuel control, speed governing, interface and diagnostics, sensors and, harnessing into a single Engine Control Module (ECM) making it a complete package. By combining these products, the EICS saves money and man-hours associated with the installation and set-up of separate components.
“Historically, operators have purchased and installed each component separately, dedicating a huge amount of resources to calibrate each device to work with their specific engine” said Rick Harris, Director of Marketing, Natural Gas Compression (NGC). “With EICS, all the components have been integrated into one package and calibrated specifically for your engine, ensuring your engine will run at optimum performance.”
The EICS was designed and tested to work with specific engine models. FW Murphy conducted extensive dynamometer testing to ensure each specific engine will run at optimum performance across all loads and with varying BTU without the need for manual field adjustments. By completing this testing upfront, operators can be certain their site will pass required testing without the need for pretesting to get dialed in or the need to make adjustments later.
“In the field it can be difficult for operators to identify which component triggered the initial alarm,” said Harris. “The benefit of the EICS is that all the components are integrated into one box which sees everything, and can identify the root cause of the malfunction.”
For operators facing emissions regulations, the EICS system offers an optional emissions package which can be added to EICS systems after the purchase.
The success of EICS was showcased when Exterran, a Houston-based global market leader in full service natural gas compression, was presented with a significant challenge. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a regulation that would require about 8,500 units in the company’s North American fleet of natural-gas-engine-powered compressors to include emissions-control equipment. After extensive research into potential retrofit solutions, Exterran selected (EICS) to meet emissions-compliance and performance-optimization needs for impacted compression equipment.
“Due to the material impact of that proposed EPA regulation — and because, in our opinion, other currently available equipment was insufficient for keeping equipment in continuous compliance under changing operating conditions — we turned to FW Murphy,” says Mike Wasson, Director of North American Fleet Services at Exterran. “We heard about how they had been doing this successfully on similar engines and were interested to see if their EICS product could provide the same long-term and credible solution for the possible EPA regulation that we were looking at.”
While emissions compliance was a driving force behind the decision to implement the EICS for Exterran, the potential for increased engine efficiency and optimized equipment performance was equally influential. Since piloting the first EICS-equipped compressor in September 2010, Exterran and its customers have realized emissions-compliance and performance benefits from the FW Murphy product — and the packager, expects additional advantages as the equipment accumulates run time.
“We’ve seen a lot of things in our EICS-equipped engine packages to get us excited about the future in terms of engine management and emissions controls,” says Ray Purtzer, Exterran Vice President of North American Fleet Services.
Besides increased fuel efficiency, Exterran anticipates that the EICS features will deliver improved uptime when facing load swings and changes in natural gas well flow conditions that would typically shut down an engine. “I see us being able to address a portion of the unscheduled callouts related to low suction pressure, which equates to more uptime for our customers,” says James Harrison, Technical Field Services Manager for Exterran.
By combining key components into one package, the EICS saved Exterran cost and labor associated with the installation and calibration of separate products. “It’s probably a 15 to 20 percent savings in labor hours versus if we had to install each component individually and the engine control systems weren’t all integrated,” says Harrison.
When developing the EICS, FW Murphy leveraged its existing ignition system, which features a capacitive discharge ignition system and uses Smart Coil technology to measure and display kilovolt (kV) readings required to fire the spark plug in each cylinder. By measuring the kV readings, the EICS provides comprehensive engine diagnostics and prognostics.
When operational issues arise, the EICS simplifies and streamlines troubleshooting by monitoring all integrated system components. If an out-of-limit event occurs, the EICS can pinpoint the malfunction. The advanced diagnostics eliminate the need for operators to test and troubleshoot each component separately, resulting in reduced downtime and service costs.
“The EICS makes the engine run better, and when the engine runs better, we have less downtime and less repair costs involved,” Harrison says. “The EICS diagnostics allow us to quickly troubleshoot issues, thus saving us downtime in the field, keeping the compression services online for our customer. We think there’s a lot of opportunity for better performance. I also think we could see a lengthened life cycle between engine overhauls, which would equate to bottom-line dollars.”
The FW Murphy EICS product line will be showcased at the EICS at the East Texas Oil Expo, March 6-7 in Longview, Texas. The East Texas Oil Expo is the largest expo of its kind in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. The EICS will also be showcased at the Gas Compressor Association Annual Expo & Conference, April 14-17, 2013, in Galveston, Texas. For more information about the FW Murphy EICS product line, please contact us at 918-317-4100 or visit our web site at http://www.fwmurphy.com/eics.
This short video highlighting the Tulsa facility was shot by Manufacturing Marvels and aired on the Fox Business Network on Thursday, January 24, 2013. We would like to extend a sincere thanks to all who participated in the process. View the video by clicking above, or going to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IHOqHquIjo
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