Safety Flash
Failure of proportional valve in saturation chamber control
Failure of proportional valve in saturation chamber control
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 27/23
- DivingInspection and MaintenanceMachinery and EquipmentPressure Systems
- Functional safetyIncident investigationMechanical failurePressure systems
- Inspection and maintenanceSaturation diving
- Pressure vesselValve
- Competence and trainingEnergy and process isolationOperating and work proceduresPreventive maintenance
Summary
A proportional valve feedback fault interrupted saturation diving, without injury or equipment damage. Automatic safeguards isolated the line and transferred control to a manual valve. Unauthorised dismantling obscured the origin of potentiometer damage; debris was also found. Lessons address manufacturer-led maintenance, critical spares, training and testing before diving resumes.
Classifications: Functional safety; safety instrumented systems; SIS.
Classifications: Incident investigation; accident investigation.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Saturation diving; sat diving.
Classifications: Pressure vessel; pressure vessels.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Summary
A defective proportional valve interrupted hyperbaric chamber pressure control, while debris and unauthorised dismantling complicated the investigation.
IMCA SF 27/23. Themes: diving, inspection and maintenance, machinery and equipment, pressure systems.