Technology in the
Mountain State
West Virginians are designing
and manufacturing groundbreaking technology for a
variety of industries and uses that
will have far-reaching impacts
from under the Earth's surface
to beyond its atmosphere.
While West Virginia has more often than not been defined
by its role as an energy producer, the Mountain State is more
than just coal and natural gas. Its citizens have a long history of
standing eye to eye with obstacles, and their resolve to overcome
challenges has instilled in them the tools and instincts that
characterize innovators and entrepreneurs. They have a drive
to succeed, and when there is no road to follow, they blaze a
new path and make their own success.
This natural tendency toward innovation is likely one of the
reasons why three West Virginia companies—Aridea Solutions,
Aurora Flight Sciences and TMC Technologies—are creating
ground-breaking technological advances for industries like
natural gas and aerospace. Their products are being designed
and manufactured in the Mountain State and will have farreaching impacts, from pipelines underground to the International Space Station and beyond.
Aridea Solutions’ Pneumatic Actuated Valve System
A demo version of Aridea Solutions’
pneumatic actuated valve system.
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west virginia executive
Internet of Things technology, or IoT,
was the concept that inspired the start of
Aridea Solutions, a West Virginia-based
company that aims to deliver solutions
for managing environmental assets while
protecting natural resources. One such
soluti on, the pneumatic actuated valve
system, reduces response time to potential leaks along secluded pipelines, as well
as costs associated with operating natural
gas pipelines.
“On many pipelines today, the valve
systems use manual actuation, which
requires long response times that can be
detrimental to people, property and the
environment,” says BJ Evans, co-founder
and managing director for Aridea Solutions. “In the unlikely event of a leak or
explosion, our remote actuation system
Alicia Elkin
can help bring situations under control
more quickly, thus reducing damages.”
Valves along isolated oil and gas pipelines are expensive to operate due to lack
of power and communications infrastructure. The pneumatic actuated valve
system utilizes IoT—the development of
the internet in which everyday objects
have connectivity—and low-power microcontrollers that enable the activation of
valves via the internet.
According to Rob Moore, director of
engineering for Aridea Solutions, the pneumatic actuated valve system uses either the
high gas pressure already present in the
lines or a solar-powered compressor to
store the air needed to activate the valves.
Once the necessary air or gas pressure is
available, the system allows a remote user