Liquids and Gas Handling · Liquids and Gas Handling W elcome. Or perhaps, welcome back, as we...

Liquids andGas Handling

The magazine for process engineering professionals

Eliminating the problems ofspraying viscous productsAchieving the perfect seal

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Watson-Marlow Pumps Watson-Marlow Tubing Bredel Alitea Flexicon Tel:[email protected] www.watson-marlow.co.uk

In tough timeswe will saveyoumoney!We saved one company£87 per day inwasted chemicalusing a 520peristaltic pumpin place of theirdiaphragm pumps.

� Accurate and reliable metering

� Dry prime every time - assuredchemical dosed

� No flow fluctuation due to air supply

� NEW! Profibus control giving youdirect network connection

LIQUIDS AND GAS HANDLINGwww.liquidsandgas.co.ukSuite 4, Stamford HouseNorthenden Road, SaleCheshire M33 2DHTel: +44 (0)161 374 5615Fax: +44 (0)161 374 [email protected]

Editorial: Mark Simms BScTel: 01732 [email protected]

Production: Sarah CurlTel: 0161 374 [email protected]

Advertisement Manager:Steve BeardTel: 01268 [email protected]

Germany/Switzerland:Eisenacher MedienTel: +49 [email protected]

Rest of the WorldGeorge BennettTel: +44 161 374 5615 [email protected]

Internal supportClare HaymesTel: 0161 374 5615 [email protected]

As a controlled circulation journal,Liquids and Gas Handling is sentfree of charge to individuals in theUK who meet the terms andconditions of the publishers. Toapply for free regular copies, writeto the Circulation Department:

PO Box 85, SaleCheshire M33 [email protected]

To those not meeting the termsand conditions, the magazine isavailable on UK subscription at acost of £25 per year (4 issues).Single copies are £7. Overseassubscriptions (airmail) are as

follows: Rest of Europe includingEire £35 (single copies £9); USA$70 (single $19); Elsewhere £38(single copies £10).

Liquids and Gas Handling

Welcome. Or perhaps,welcome back, as wereintroduce a once highlyregarded title with a new

impetus and a revised focus. Liquidsand Gas Handling is the rebirth of themagazine that carved a niche for itselfin the process market – LiquidsHandling. A lot has changed.

The new Liquids and Gas Handlingaddresses a need to look beyond thegeneral processing aspects of theindustry, and to focus more on theequipment that actually handles theproduct, gas or liquid.

We also noted a need for amagazine that explores genuinesolutions to the problems facingtoday’s manufacturers as they struggleto boost productivity, increase qualityand maximise their return oninvestment, in sectors of industry thatbecome more competitive every day.

We saw, too, that the focus on theoriginal title purely on liquids was nolonger representative of the industrythe magazine served. So we havebroadened that focus to encompassgas handling as well.

Finally, we noted thatincreasingly stringenttraceabilityrequirements,directives andregulations such asATEX, PED, HACCPand WRAS, and theimpact of the newSafety Integrity Levels are all issuesthat industry is struggling with, andwhich need dedicated coverage. Sowe hope you’ll enjoy this first issue,and find the new magazine useful andinformative.Mark Simms Editorial Director

[email protected]

A new chapter

ContentsWINTER 2009

10COATINGS

Spraying even coatingswith viscous liquids

14PUMPSViscous fluids

22SEALSAdhesive sealing

16VALVES

Valve control heads

18BALL VALVESSelecting ball valves for alternative fuels

24

SEALSLaminar sealing rings

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS INDEX10 Pumps & Systems16 Valves & Actuators20 Plant Safety22 Seals & Gasets26 Sensors &

Instrumentation30 Energy Efficiency32 New Products

FEATURES10 SPRAYING VISCOUS PRODUCTSThe AccuCoat heated spray system improves on traditionalviscous coating methods

12 MAINTAIN-IN-PLACE PUMPSA revolutionary design turns a day-long maintenance operation into a 30 minute job

16 VALVE CONTROL HEADSHow do you reduce energy and waste in environments where hygiene is critical?

18 BALL VALVE SELECTIONWe look at selection criteria for ball valves for use withalternative fuels

20 INCREASING PLANT SAFETYWe examine the advantage of combining rupture disk devices with safety relief valves

22 ACHIEVING THE PERFECT SEALModern adhesive technology overcomes an ancient and ever-present problem

26 RELIABILITY IN PROCESS PIPELINESA unique design of thermowell offers key benefits in process pipeline installations

CASE STUDIES14 SUB-ZERO HOT CHOCOLATEWhat does it take to dispense a welcoming hot drink in sub-zero ambient temperatures?

24 OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY SEALINGLaminar sealing rings play a pivotal role in the extraction ofvital natural resources

28 BEYOND THE PURCHASE PRICEPrice was far from the only factor in selecting flowmeters for achemical supply system

30 ENERGY EFFICIENCYHeinz will slice more than 4% from its energy consumption inthe next three years

4 Liquids and Gas Handling

5Liquids and Gas Handling

...INDUSTRY NEWS...

As Guernsey’s only water company,Guernsey Water is tasked withsupplying high quality drinkingwater to over 24,000 households

and businesses. Nearly 66,000 people relyon the company’s daily output of about 12million litres – a figure which risessignificantly during the summer months,when the island’s population is boostedby tourists.

The company’s St Saviours watertreatment plant was built in the late1940s, originally using the chemicalcoagulation and rapid gravity filters. Asubstantial upgrade in 2004 led to theintroduction of ultra-fine membranefiltration. The membrane filter systemat St Saviours comprises four banks offilter modules, together with theirassociated valves and control unit. Itoperates completely automatically, usingcompressed air back-pulses to clean thefilters every 15 seconds.

When the system was first installed, itperformed much as expected, ensuring ahigh flow rate of quality drinking water fordistribution to Guernsey Water’s customersand load-balancing service reservoirs, withminimal maintenance requirements.

However, after about 18 months’ operation,the system’s purging valves began to fail,resulting in much higher maintenanceoverheads and unacceptable levels ofsystem downtime.

The existing valves were butterfly typeunits. Festo recommended that they bereplaced with actuator-driven pinch valves.The type specified by Festo have a typicaloperational life of 10 million cycles –

equivalent to more than eight years’ use withthe duty cycle employed at the St Savioursplant.

Further recommendationsFesto also recommended using non-contact end-position sensors on all the pinch valves, toeliminate the effect of drive shaft wear, and the

installation of a suitable cabinet to help keepthe solenoid valves clean and dry. Furtherrefinements included removal of theunnecessary air lubrication system, theaddition of a number of Festo quarter-turnactuators and switch boxes, a new 10-inchbutterfly valve for water flow control, and anadditional high performance silencer tofurther reduce the sound of exhaust air.

Festowww.festo.com/gb

Performance enhancing

Adissolved air flotation(DAF) sludgedewatering systeminstallation from GEA

Westfalia Separator has helpedHutchings and Harding not onlyreduce waste disposal costs butalso potentially generate incomefrom a new revenue source fromtheir raw material.

DAF systems use air tocreate microbubbles to whichthe solids attach and float to thesurface to be skimmed off. “Oneof the disadvantages of suchsystems is the cost of disposalof the very wet waste,” explainsDavid Cawdery of GEA WestfaliaSeparator.

Hutchings and Harding is arenowned and long establishedtannery producing chamoisleather from sheep pelts. Thecompany utilises a DAF systemto recycle and clean the waterused in the processing of skins.“The largely liquid DAF sludgewas previously transported offsite to landfill and it was thesecosts that we were asked toreduce,” says Cawdery.

Liquid/solid separationspecialists at GEA WestfaliaSeparator UK prepared systemdesigns and costing projectionsfor reducing the amount of DAFsludge for disposal byapproximately 45% to produce

weekly disposal costsavings. The system theydesigned is based upona UCD205 highefficiency decanter thatis reliable, compact and simpleto use and maintain. DAF sludgeis fed to the decanter using aSeepex pump, designed forhandling a high volume of fattysolids.

The installation includes aspecially designed chemicaldosing unit from Biochemicathat supplies regulated amountsof polymer chemicals that helpbreakdown the solids and liquidsin the DAF sludge to effectimproved dewatering rates. The

dosing rate is easy to adjust andtogether with decanter controlsensures the acceptable ‘dryness’of the end waste product.

“Now that the equipment isinstalled and working atproduction capacity we areseeing an actual 90% reductionin the DAF sludge, through thesystem,” says John Ettling,Managing Director at Hutchingsand Harding. GEA Westfalia Separatorwww.gea-westfalia.co.uk

Sludge reduction pays for itself

High reliability replacements for butterfly valves in air scourging system

Guernsey Water’s treatment

plant at St Saviours, looking

over the dam spillway

One of the new pinch valvesinstalled by Festo

View of one of themembrane filters

WATER INDUSTRY...


...INDUSTRY NEWS...

Real time process control for foodmanufacture has come a significantstep closer, thanks to pioneeringresearch work at University College

Dublin into viscosity measurement techniques forcharacterising the flow and mixability of highlynon-Newtonian fluids. At the heart of theresearchers’ experiments is the TorqSensetransducer made by Sensor Technology, whichmonitors the constantly changing flowcharacteristics of materials as diverse as tomatoketchup, chocolate, pasta sauce and chicken tikkamassala as they are mixed.

Ireland has become one of Europe’s foremostmanufacturers of processed ingredients and readymeals. Many foods are presented in a sauce or aswhat physicists could describe as a neo-liquidand can be produced in a process-typeenvironment. But to date real time control hasbeen virtually impossible due to the non-uniformnature of the food, which may containparticulates, fibres, vegetables, meat, nuts,raisins, biscuits, etc. “Real time process control isvital if food processors are to achieve the ultimatein product quality,” says PJ Cullen, who leads the

research team. “To achieve this the sensorhas to be pretty special to detects the changeswith sufficient sensitivity, yet be robust enough forregular wash-downs and general industrial abuse.Of course it must not compromise hygienestandards and regimes either. We tried a numberof sensors and TorqSense stood out as by far thebest at meeting all our needs.” TorqSense uses

Surface Acoustic Waves techniques to providenon-contact monitoring of instantaneous rotarytorque, allowing accurate modelling of theinstantaneous load changes. TorqSense embracesall the advantages of SAW technology, includingno load imparted to the drive mechanism underinvestigation, a broader signal bandwidth thanother analogue based technologies andelimination of electronic interference.

Uniform mixingPJ and his colleagues have simulated foodprocessing techniques in a number of differentlaboratory rigs, one of the most used being ahelical ribbon mixer similar to those employed bymanufacturers for mixing ingredients together.Often the key requirement is to mix sufficiently toachieve a uniform dish, but not to waste time andenergy by over-mixing.

“We do this by monitoring the torque on themixer's shaft, as it will move to a steady state(within the characteristics of the given recipe)once fluid uniformity is achieved," says PJ.

Sensor Technologywww.sensors.co.uk

IN BRIEF...FOOD PROCESSING...

Nitrogen gasgenerator orderParker Domnick Huntershowcased its latest MIDIGASnitrogen gas generator at thisyear’s Gulfood exhibition andreceived its first order with afurther 10 on target, just onemonth after its launch. Theupdated MIDIGAS rangecontinues the momentum ofthe successful MAXIGAS rangeand offers several benefits tothe user including improvedperformance, and better flowrates and purity.

Parker Domnick Hunterwww.parker.com

Brooks acquiresKey InstrumentsBrooks Instrument hasacquired Key Instruments, aflow meter manufacturerwhich offers precision machineacrylic flow meters, mouldedplastic flow meters, glass tubeflow meters, electronic flowmeters and flow control valvesfor medical, industrial, water,chemical and laboratoryapplications.

Brooks Instrumentwww.brooksinstrument.com

Supply order forfloating LNG plantAtlas Copco has won a multi-million USD contract to supplysix turboexpander compressorsfor a new type of applicationrelated to liquefied natural gas(LNG). The customer, Norway-based KANFA Aragon, will usethe equipment for the world’sfirst floating natural gasliquefaction plant. LNG-FPSO(Floating Production, Storage,and Offloading) can safelyprocess and store natural gasextracted from a nearbyoffshore site until it can beoffloaded to an LNG tanker.

Atlas Copcowww.atlascopco.com

Food researchall washed upInnovative sensor technology holds the key to delivering improved ingredient mixing capability


...INDUSTRY NEWS...

Rotork Skilmatic EHelectro-hydraulic valveactuators haveprovided a successful

solution for the provision ofreliable emergency valveoperation on a slurry pipeline inone of the world’s most arid,inhospitable and remotelocations.

The Atacama Desert in north-east Chile is traversed by aneighty kilometre pipeline ownedby the mining companyCompañia Minera del Pacifico

SA. The pipeline carries ironslurry from the town of Copiapoto the port of Caldera, fromwhere it is exported.

The Rotork actuators havebeen installed at the UVS-1emergency plant centre, half wayalong the pipeline and in themiddle of the Atacama Desert.Here, the annual rainfall is ameagre 12mm and the ambienttemperature fluctuates between -15°C in winter and +40°C insummer. Three Skilmatic EHelectro-hydraulic actuators have

been installed to operate ANSIClass 1500 ten-inch ball valves.

The actuators providedouble-acting on-off control forthe valves, under remote SCADAsystem supervision. Theinnovative Rotork Skilmatic EHdesign comprises an integratedcontrol module, a hydraulicmanifold and a power unitconsisting of a motor, hydraulicpump and reservoir.

Protected by a waterproof,dustproof and explosionproofenclosure, the actuators’

electronic functionality benefitsfrom Rotork’s IQ intelligentelectric actuation technology,providing configuration,diagnostics, fault indication andposition indication by means of adigital visual display and non-intrusive, two-waycommunication with a hand-heldprogrammer. Rotork Fluid Systemswww.rotork.com

Water worksHayward Tyler has delivered high integrity gate valves for London’s water ring main

WATER TREATMENT...

Solar powered actuatorsSLURRY PIPELINE...

Hayward Tyler Services, part of theHayward Tyler Group, hassuccessfully delivered a new HighIntegrity Gate Valve (HIGV) to

Hampton Water Treatment Works in London.During the late 1980s and early 1990sHayward Tyler manufactured and delivered atotal of 38-off 1,800mm High Integrity GateValves to various Thames Water Utilities Ltd(TWUL) sites for the 80km longLondon Water Ring Main, ofwhich 31 were installed and onewas stored as a spare. The ringmain ensures that drinking wateris maintained and distributedaround London. Along the lengthof the main are strategicallyplaced ‘pump out’ shafts andstored water shafts where wateris pumped directly into the localdistribution systems.

It is at these shafts that the HIGVs arelocated within the main. In 2006, Hayward Tylerwas contacted by several contractors with regardto the possible supply of some new HIGVs for anextension to the existing ring main – BrixtonWater Treatment Works to Honor Oak Reservoirand a new pump out shaft at Hampton WaterTreatment Works. Hayward Tyler made the

valves to the samespecifications as theoriginals, as required by TWUL.

Hayward Tyler completednegotiations with the twosuccessful contractors, Black &Veatch (Hampton) and MorganEst (Brixton/Honor Oak) for the

refurbishment of the original spare valve and thesupply of four new valves.

The refurbished valve was delivered to sitein March 2009 with the first ‘new build’ valvebeing delivered in May 2009. The remainingvalves will be dispatched in Autumn 2009.

Peter Gilman, Project Engineer, HaywardTyler Services commented: “Working in theHayward Tyler Heritage Product Team, we are

able to react quickly to customer requirements.We can supply like-for-like replacementequipment and spare parts for Hayward Tylerproducts spanning more than sixty-five years.Our success in securing these contractsdemonstrates our continued commitment tocustomers both here in the UK and worldwide.”

Hayward Tyler Services provides a variety ofoutage, repair, overhaul and test services forpumps, compressors, power turbines, gearboxes,motors and other high speed rotating equipmentfrom a wide variety of manufacturers andindustries. Hayward Tylerwww.haywardtyler.com


Applying thick coatings to food productsis challenging. Minor temperaturevariations can turn into major waste –ruined product, scrapped batches, and

lost production time. And coating methods suchas enrobing and panning are often imprecise,messy and difficult to adapt to different products.But with AccuCoat from Spraying Systems, all ofthese problems are overcome, and this heatedspray system offers many other benefits besideswhich can help to improve quality, increaseproduction time and lower operating costs.

Key to the system is its precise temperaturecontrol, ensuring the liquid temperature ismaintained not only in the tank but all the way tothe target. An AutoJet spray controller monitorsmultiple temperature sensors in the hot water

circuit that surrounds the liquid lines, andautomatically adjusts to maintain the desiredtemperature. Liquid lines and spray nozzles arefully jacketed, and air lines can be heated toensure the coating flows evenly through thesystem without burning. As a result, waste andproduction downtime due to coatings that are toohot or too cold are eliminated.

Coating with minimal excessAccurate spray placement is ensured by cyclingthe automatic spray nozzles on and off. Thesystem controller ensures the proper volume is

dispensed when the target is in the sprayzone. Unlike high pressure spray

systems where misting,overspray and bounceback result in waste ofcostly ingredients and

excessive clean-up, the lowpressure AccuCoat system coatsthe target with minimal excess.

And an even coat with minimalwaste means less maintenance

time, lower labour costs, andincreased production uptime.

The specially designedmanifold can contain up to 16nozzles to provide low pressure,intermittent spraying at speedsup to 180 cycles/min. For

maximum spray precision, aheated manifold with VMAU variable spraynozzles allows independent control of liquid

pressure, atomizing air pressure and fan airpressure. The AccuCoat heated spray systemautomatically adjusts for line speed changes, soproduction lines can always operate at peakefficiency. Multiple batch modes can be preset,eliminating the need for operators to makemanual spray adjustments and minimisingchangeover times.

Options for the system include tank agitationto ensure consistent mixing of coatings,automatic tank refill and automatic tank cleaningto reduce manual labour, and heated airatomising to help ensure constant liquidtemperature all the way to the target.

To meet food industry requirements,AccuCoat uses a sanitary design, beingconstructed from FDA compliant materials. It hasalso been designed to be easy to dissassemble forcleaning.

The AccuCoat system can be used in a widevariety of food coating applications, in every casehelping to improve quality and productivity.Spraying Systems sees typical applications inspraying chocolate, sugar slurries and glazes onbaked goods, spraying chocolate on ice creamdesserts and inside ice cream cones, spraying oiland butter coatings on bread, crackers and cakesfor browning, spraying butter on sandwiches, andspraying other food coatings, ingredients andbarriers that are solid or viscous at roomtemperature.

Spraying Systemswww.spray.com

The latest innovation fromSpraying Systems is theAccuCoat heated spraysystem, which thecompany says improves ontraditional viscous coatingapplication methods toensure a uniform coating

PUMPS & SYSTEMS... SPRAYING VISCOUS PRODUCTS

Eliminating the problems of spraying viscous coatings


THINK ABOUT ITT...

Jabsco Hygienic Rotary Lobe & Flexible Impeller PumpsYou receive a large order from your key account which requires a quick turn-around. The system you are currently running needs to be cleaned, sterilised and back in operation quickly to have any chance of meeting the orders deadline.

How do you achieve this...? Think about ITT...

ITT Jabsco Rotary Lobe & Flexible Impeller pumps are designed with this in mind. They meet the most stringent hygienic standards and are certified to the European Hygienic Equipment Design Group In-Place Sterilisibility (SIP) and cleanibility (CIP) protocols. Being able to sterilise and clean in-place means your system can be back up and running quickly and hygiene isn’t compromised.

Jabsco is part of ITT Industries, the worlds premier and largest producer of pumps, systems and services to move and control fluids.

For more information visit www.jabscosanitary.com

The company claims this innovative pumpis the biggest leap forward in progressingcavity (PC) pump design for 30 years andis an extension of Mono’s popular

Compact C Range. The EZstrip has beenspecifically designed to provide a quick and easyway to disassemble, de-rag and maintain a PCpump in-situ, eliminating the costly maintenanceand down time that servicing can often cause.

Commenting on the launch of the EZstrip,Simon Lambert, Mono’s general manager forEurope, says: “We surveyed our customer base in

the waste water industry to find out whatcommon problems they were facing. Theoverriding response was that ragging wasbecoming a serious problem, primarily becausemore and more unsuitable items are finding theirway into the sewers. Current options available to

engineers are limited, time consuming and insome cases unsafe. Our aim was to produce apump that would minimise plant downtime andmaintenance and with the new EZstrip pump wehave more than met the challenge. Once weaddressed the ragging issue we realised thepotential of this product to minimise the time andcost involved in every aspect of maintaining a PCpump. On average, the EZstrip can reduce themaintenance time needed to replace a rotor,stator, coupling rod and drive train by 95%. Theaverage time to completely strip down a pumpand replace the drive train elements is one fullday; the Mono EZstrip reduces this to just a 30minute job.

“Many of our customers can’t believe that it ispossible to de-rag and maintain a pump soquickly,” continues Lambert. “So we haveproduced a video, which is now posted on ourwebsite. This shows just how easy the EZstripmakes de-ragging and maintenance of a PC pump– using just spanners and an Allen key.”

According to the company, the 2-minute videohas become a surprise hit, featuring on numerousindustry websites and e-bulletins as well as onMono’s website. Nichola Somerville, Mono’sgroup marketing manager, comments: “Thereduced maintenance time offered by the EZstripis so revolutionary, it’s almost unbelievable whichis why we needed to produce a videodemonstrating how quickly it could be de-raggedin place in real time. Take up and viewing of thevideo provides an indication of the impactthat EZstrip is having on the industry.”

Mono NOVwww.mono-pumps.com

Mono NOV has launchedEZstrip, a revolutionarynew pump, which can be‘Maintained-in-Place’(MIP), turning a day-longmaintenance operation intoa simple 30 minute job

Mono NOV has won a 12 month jointframework agreement with YorkshireWater to supply progressing cavity

pumps, parts and ancillary equipment. Yorkshire Water, the main subsidiary of

Kelda Water Limited, supplies 4.7 millionpeople and 140,000 businesses in theYorkshire region with 1.24 billion litres ofdrinking water every day. With more than 700

water and waste water treatment works, 120reservoirs and 40,000 miles of water andsewerage pipe, Yorkshire Water also collectsand treats in the region of one billion litres ofwaste water each day returning it safely to theenvironment.

Mark Viner, UK Sales Manager for Mono,commented on the new agreement: “As aleading specialist in both water andwastewater treatment applications, Mono hasover 75 years experience designing pumpsystems and packaged solutions. Thecompany understands that providing the rightsolution can play a key role in improving boththe efficiency and performance of any process.

“We were selected for this joint frameworkbecause our innovative product ranges, whichoffer high performance solutions that minimisemaintenance and deliver significant savings interms of both costs and energy use, and welook forward to working with Yorkshire Water.”

PUMPS & SYSTEMS... PUMP MAINTENANCE

Mono wins Yorkshire Water supply framework

Revolutionary design for maintain inplace pump


Tel: 01993 778373

E-mail: [email protected]

www.knf.co.ukSAMSON CONTROLS (LONDON) LIMITEDPerrywood Business Park, Honeycrock Lane, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5JQ.Fax: 01737 765472. Email: [email protected] Internet: www.samsoncontrols.co.uk

Call 01737 766391 today for further details

We’ve got just the right cure for your problem and it comes in two forms: Type 3249 and 3347SAMSON Valves. Indication and usage are for aseptic production in the parmaceutical and food processing industries.

No side effects.Guaranteed.

SAMSON CONTROLS (LONDON) LIMITEDPerrywood Business Park, Honeycrock Lane, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5JQ.Fax: 01737 765472. Email: [email protected] Internet: www.samsoncontrols.co.uk

Is valve selection givingyou a headache?


For many, hot chocolate is the perfect endto a day’s skiing or snowboarding. Yetproducing a perfect cup from a vendingmachine is far from an easy task in sub-

zero temperatures. To maintain beverage qualitythe dosing pump required to deliver the correctmeasure has to provide a consistent flow rate. Ataverage temperatures this isn’t an issue. Howeverat the low temperature of a ski resort thechocolate syrup becomes highly viscous and theflow rate is compromised.

For a standard pump this presents a problembut for the British pump manufacturer Verderflexit was easily solved by a modification to one of itsOEM panel mounted peristaltic pumps. TheM2000 is a high flow rate model and based on apatented, seal-less design. This ensures goodhygiene as only the tube – in this case dovetailsection silicone tube suitable for high temperaturefluids – comes into contact with the chocolatesyrup.

The Verderflex OEM range is already noted forits high suction capability. Even on standardmodels a pump will lift a liquid, such as water, byas much as 8.5m. However for this vendingmachine application even greater suction wasrequired. This has been achieved on the M2000unit without altering the flow rate by the fitting ofa modified autoclavable cartridge. No internalbackflow on this pump ensures accurate dosing

without slip providing repeatability of typically±0.2% and metering capability of ±2%. Thanksto the inherent benefits of the Verderflex OEMpump and the company’s ability to tailor themodel to suit the application, the vendingmachine manufacturer can guarantee the qualityof its beverages, whatever the ambienttemperature.

OEM pump optionsThe Verderflex OEM range of peristaltic pumpsnow accounts for 78% of its manufacturer’s salesturnover and given the many features and benefitsof these products it’s easy to understand why.They are available in a choice of styles from highlycompact to the large and robust for arduousapplications with wide-ranging motor, tube andflow rate options. As a result these pumps are

specified for diverse applications from precisedosing of surgical instrument disinfectant to thedispensing of heavy duty printing ink.

The Verderflex OEM pump is based on apatented, seal-less design which ensures that onlythe tube comes into contact with the fluid. This isimportant as it limits the possibility ofcontamination and controls chemicalcompatibility problems. The simplicity of thisdesign makes tube replacement exceptionallyeasy and quick. Maintenance is also minimised bythe pump’s ability to run without any additionallubrication.

No internal backflow on the Verderflex TubePump ensures accurate dosing without slipproviding repeatability of typically ±0.5% andmetering capability of ±2%. Its gentle pumpingaction allows it even to be used for shear sensitivesolids and liquids that can be damaged or alteredby the action of other pumps. And as the pump iscapable of self-priming it can also handleproducts that are likely to ‘air’ or ‘gas’.

Another benefit is the product’s high suctioncapability. This allows the pump to lift a liquid,such as water, by as much as 8.5m giving greaterflexibility in system design.

New to the OEM range is the easy tubeloading stackable peristaltic pump that is ideal formulti-channel pumping, sampling and analysisand other laboratory research applications. Withthis in mind its components are made fromacetal, polyamide and stainless steel. Designedfor simple and trouble-free use this pumpprovides flow rates from a few millilitres upto 1.3 l/min.

Verderflexwww.verderflex.com

What does it take todispense a welcoming hotbeverage in sub-zeroambient temperatures?Verderflex has the answer

PUMPS & SYSTEMS... LOW TEMPERATURE VISCOUS LIQUIDS

Sub-zero hot chocolate


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SKF (U.K.) Limited01582 490049 www.skf.co.uk

Spandau pumpsl High operational safetyl Quick and simple installationl Low maintenance requirementsl Quiet runningl Flexible immersion depths

Contact SKF today for furtherinformation


In pursuit of efficiency goals, companies areprepared to invest heavily in new plant andequipment. However, in many cases, realsavings and improvements in efficiency can

be achieved relatively simply and at relatively lowcost by focussing on cutting energy usage, and byreducing product wastage. With valves, pumpsand fans used widely in food and beverageproduction, the possibilities for energy savings areconsiderable.

Take compressed air, for example; itsgeneration is equivalent to about 10% ofindustry’s total electricity usage, rising to 30% insome sectors. This highlights why companieshave compelling reasons to pursue energy savinginitiatives in this area. However, one area ofpneumatic energy saving potential is still largelyunexploited: improved process valve controltechniques. These can lead to reducedcompressed air use through the adoption of on-actuator or in-actuator pneumatic solenoidvalves.

At present, the majority of pneumaticallypiloted valves on production and process linescentralise pneumatic control around valve islandsin a control cabinet or enclosure. Thisarrangement means that the pipework carryingthe pilot pressure to the actual valve from thevalve island can travel for many metres before itreaches the valve head. As a result, the ventingcycle of the valve’s operation will exhaustproportionately more air than is necessary.

The solution to this problem is from withinBurkert’s types 1066, 8631 and 8692 valvecontrol heads ranges. Developed for use in thefood, beverage and pharmaceutical industries,these units provide a decentralised method ofopening and closing of process valvesautomatically, eliminating the need for thewasteful venting of control air normallyassociated with pneumatic tubing between theprocess valve and its related control solenoidvalve. The control heads integrate electrical and

pneumatic control components as well asposition feedback units and, optionally, an ATEX-approved version or field bus interfaces for AS-Interface or DeviceNet.

They are mounted directly above the valvebody, and, because there is little or no distancebetween the actuator and the valve that it ispiloting, there is no air bleed: it is sealed. Withthis system the pressure feed goes directly intothe valve head and the control signal is suppliedeither from a local closed loop control sensor orswitch; or from a PLC/machine controller via acontrol bus – AS-Interface or DeviceNet – ormultipole (parallel) directly into the valve.

Reducing air usageSimilarly, adopting digital positioners with integralsolenoid valve control heads for regulatingmodulating process control valves willautomatically lead to air savings, as these willnormally ensure zero-air use in their stable state.The traditional technique of process valvepositioners incorporating pneumatic flapper-nozzle systems means that air is being bledconstantly, even when the valve is at rest. Thiscan average the equivalent of a 0.75kW (or one-horsepower) in compressed air for every ten totwenty valves in operation; a large process sitecan therefore be using a vast amount of energy,unnecessarily.

Choosing the option of an embedded PIDprocess controller, working in conjunction with thepositioner, provides a fast-acting, decentralisedcontrol loop in combination with the associatedprocess sensor. This arrangement also reducescomplexity and saves unnecessary componentsand wiring.

Where the problem is wastage rather thanenergy reduction, this can be improved greatly byaccurate monitoring of process fluids, using new,innovative techniques of pH and conductivitymeasurement, as provided by Burkert’s new8201 and 8221 units. With probes made to the

highest standards of surface finish, and with theuse of glass-free, food quality materials, theopportunity now exists for measuring andcontrolling process lines during all phases ofproduction and cleaning.

An example of this is the robust, enamel-based pH electrode on the 8201pH sensor, whichis able to stay in process, even during CIPpurification. The ‘fit-and-forget’ design of the8201 pH measuring system saves users bothtime and cost, by removing the requirement forsensor withdrawal, cleaning and recalibration.The non-breakable sensor also obviates theproblems of fracture with glass sensors; while itsenamelled stainless steel finish provides thehighest levels of non-stick performance formaximised hygiene whilst pH values aremeasured.

In common with the 8201, Burkert’s 8221conductivity sensor is also designed for CIP, evenduring steam sterilisation. This feature allows thesensor to provide the time and cost savingbenefits of phase detection across all transmittedmediums, including aggressive cleaning agents. Italso guarantees transparency of the process at alltimes, and protections for the user againstexpensive errors in respect of what fluids arebeing conveyed.

The ability of both the 8201 and 8221 unitsto stay in place over long periods means thatrequirements for recalibration becomeinfrequent, decreasing manual intervention anddowntime. Moreover, there is the extra assurancethat wastage through process uncertainty orincorrect operator actions may become a thing ofthe past. Additionally, combining these types ofsensors with a transmitter incorporating data-logging hardware and software delivers theoptimum in performance and productassurance.

Burkertwww.burkert.co.uk

The cost-down pressures inherent in all processindustries mean that plant operators are consistentlyrequired to improve efficiency, while ensuring repeatableproduct quality. Moreover, these objectives have to beachieved within the required environment of highhygiene standards, where reliable assurance of cleanand cleanable pipework and equipment is paramount

Save energy and reducewaste in process plants

VALVES & ACTUATORS... VALVE CONTROL HEADS


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When choosing a shut-off ball valvefor natural gas vehicles (NGV) orcompressed natural gas vehicles(CNG) applications, the first

consideration should be certification. Is the ballvalve you’re considering certified in the locationsthat your product will be operating? If not, youshould consider a different ball valve. Certificationrepresents the minimal requirements for a givenapplication.

Most certifications are given for either lowcycle life (‘service’) or high cycle life (‘manual’).You will need to specify which category yourapplication requires. The lower number isintended for applications where the valve will beshut off or cycled only when maintenance isrequired, while the higher number is intended forapplications where the valve will be shut off orcycled during normal operation of the product.Most certification cycle requirements – alsoreferred to as industry standards – areconsiderably lower than actual marketrequirements as determined in the field.

Beyond certification, there are at least threecritical design issues that anyone selecting a ballvalve for alternative fuels applications shouldunderstand. These issues concern the design ofthe stem, the ball, and the seat. In addition, thereare numerous choices to be made concerning thematerials of construction. The objective is tomatch design choices in these areas with theapplication. Failure to do so may result in leakage,which can be both costly and environmentallydamaging.

In a ball valve, there must be some means ofensuring that the fuel does not leak from the stem

seal. The most basic and primitive technology is aone-piece packing that encircles the stem. As apacking bolt is tightened down on the stem, thepacking is crushed, filling the space between thestem and the housing. The tightness of thepacking bolt must be calibrated for the maximumrated pressure, for example 69 bar. Because thepacking material creeps over time, the packingbolt may have to be tightened periodically. Inaddition, if pressure exceeds the original usagepressure, the packing bolt may have to betightened to create a seal. With all the occasionalretightening, it is possible that the packing boltwill bottom on the valve body, at which point thepacking will need to be replaced. This basicpacking technology requires frequent inspectionand adjustment. Unfortunately, to the untrainedoperator, it is not always clear when adjustment isrequired. Also, pressure from the packing boltrequires greater actuation force so long handlesare the norm on ball valves employing thispacking technology.

Manufacturing tolerancesWhile this packing technology has somelimitations, it is relatively inexpensive because itrequires less critical manufacturing tolerances.Packing made from PTFE or thermal plastics canwithstand chemically aggressive conditions butthey do not perform well in applications wherepressures may vary as part of normal systemoperation.

The alternative to a crushed packing is an O-ring. Like the one-piece packing, the O-ring fitsaround the stem, filling the space between thestem and the valve body. However, unlike the one-piece packing, an O-ring does not requireexcessive pressure from the stem’s packing bolt.Rather, the O-ring is energised by pressure in thegas stream. As pressure in the gas streamincreases, the O-ring deforms and the tightness ofthe seal increases. Conversely, as pressure in thegas stream decreases, the O-ring relaxes. Becauseit is elastic, the O-ring changes shape to make thenecessary seal. The O-ring provides flexibility forapplications requiring high pressure, lowpressure, or a broad pressure range, such as acylinder on a natural gas vehicle, where pressuremay drop from 310 bar when full to 34.4 bar asit nears empty.

A proper stem design with an O-ringconfiguration requires a back-up ring or someother mechanism that will contain the O-ringunder high pressure. If the O-ring is permitted to

extrude beyond its specific bounds, the O-ringmay be sheared during actuation; it will make thehandle of the valve difficult to turn and the valvemay leak.

O-rings and back-up rings are made ofdifferent materials and have different properties.O-rings are elastic. They should deform easilyunder pressure but spring back to their originalshape when pressure is relieved. By contrast,back-up rings are harder and should carry agreater load. Typically made of a fluoroplastic,such as PTFE, a back-up ring should deformunder pressure but less so than an O-ring, and itmay not resume its original shape after thepressure is relieved. The objective of the back-upring is to fill space and thereby define theboundaries of expansion for the O-ring. Both theO-ring and the back-up ring should be made oflubricious materials so the stem may move withease during actuation.

Since the O-ring must remain elastic under alloperating conditions, special attention should begiven to the upper and lower temperature ranges.When selecting the proper material, considerfluorocarbon FKM for temperatures up to 232°C.It is resistant to many chemicals and displaysexcellent high-pressure capability. For the lowertemperature range (down to -53°C, considerBuna; however, Buna is sensitive to somecontaminants in natural gas. Newly developedmaterials – ultra-low temperature fluorocarbons –are based on fluorocarbon but provide low-temperature performance down to -53°C; they arestable and resistant to chemical attack.

Ball valves employ either a floating or trunnionball design. In a floating ball design, the ball is notfixed inside the housing but, rather, floatsbetween two seat seals. In the shutoff position, itseals against the seat on the low-pressure side,pushed downstream by a positive pressuredifferential. If the pressure differential increases,the ball will move farther downstream, increasingthe effectiveness of the seal. The position of theball is variable depending on pressure andtemperature. Such is the floating ball valve’sprincipal advantage: In most conditions, it adoptsa position advantageous to an effective seal.

The trunnion design employs a ball, but it is notfree floating. Affixed to the upper and lower partsof the ball are vertical cylinders, which are thetrunnions. The unit fits into a space in the valvebody and cannot move along the flow axis. As theball rotates to the open and closed positions, itglides on the trunnions, which are fitted with a

How do you select for ball valves for alternative fuel applications?Peter Ehlers of Swagelok looks at ball valve considerations for alternative fuel service

VALVES & ACTUATORS... BALL VALVES


bushing or bearing. The ball still seals against aseat on the low-pressure side, but the trunnionsbear most of the load and protect the seat. As aresult, the trunnion design can perform well in high-temperature, high-pressure applications. Underthese same conditions, the free floating ball designcould transfer too much load to the seat, causingdamage. On the other hand, trunnion designs fallshort in very cold, low-pressure applicationsbecause the design is not free to compensate forcontraction and stiffness in the seat.

If designed well, both the free floating andtrunnion designs will have low actuation forces. Inthe trunnion design, bushings fitted to thetrunnions distribute bearing load evenly over alarge area. If the bushings are made of a hard,lubricious (low friction coefficient) material, suchas PEEK, turning the handle will be virtuallyeffortless, even under high-pressure conditions. Inthe free floating ball design, the seat is both theseal and the bearing. Ease of actuation dependslargely on the lubricity of the seat material and thesurface area. A large seat area ensures that theload will be widely distributed and actuation willnot be difficult.

For a seat to be effective, the materials ofconstruction must be consistent with theapplication. One very effective seat material isPEEK or filled PEEK. It demonstrates greaterstability and consistent characteristics over the fulltemperature range (-53°C to 232°C ). It is harderand tougher than other seat materials, andrecovers well from damage that may be caused bycycling, throttling, or contamination. In addition, ithas a low friction coefficient for ease of actuation.

Seat designs also differ according to themethod used to apply pressure to the seat. Whilethe fluid stream itself provides the primary force togenerate the seal, additional force may be neededto allow for a wider range of applications. Thisforce comes from added components used in theseat design. In the crush-type design, loadingforce comes from the end screw. When it istightened and set in place, the end screw

squeezes the seat against the ball. There areseveral inherent difficulties in this design foralternative fuel applications. First, pressure fromthe end screw is static; there can be no means ofincreasing the pressure once it is set.

The crush-type design depends on the loadcreated by the original set conditions. In alternativefuel service situations, the crush-type design mustdepend on the elasticity of the seat – its capacityto rebound toward its original shape – to make theseal, which may not be sufficient for an effectiveseal. Without manual adjustment to the end screw,there is no way to increase sealing force.

Correcting for damageA second difficulty is that the crush-type designwill not apply enough pressure to correct fordamage to the seat. Therefore, when the media isaggressive, as in a CNG application, cycles may belimited to one or two before the seat will need tobe replaced. In alternative fuel serviceapplications, seats are exposed to aggressivemedia at high velocities, so it is imperative thatvalves contain mechanisms for compensating forthe inevitable damage. Damage to the seat mayresult from: • Debris in the gas stream• Hydrates, which are crystalline structures inthe gas stream caused by pressure drop • Throttling, which occurs when the valve isneither fully closed nor open, and • Cycling the valve under high pressure, whichmay cause an irregularity on the seat.

Pressure is the main means of compensating fordamage to the seat. If the seat is made of PEEK,filled PEEK, or another moldable material, it willtend to further deform and reseal under sufficientpressure from the ball pushing downstream.

The energised seat design constitutes asignificant improvement over the crush-typedesign. It employs either a spring or O-ring –inserted between the end screw and the seat –which becomes a ready source of dynamic energyand supplies an augmenting force that is

generated by the differential pressure across theball. In the case of a high- pressure seal, the O-ring or spring will provide pressure in addition tothe gas stream’s, ensuring a better seal underthese tough conditions. And in the case of adamaged seat, the dynamic spring or O-ringprovides extra load to create a seat seal, enablingthe valve to accommodate a few more cyclesbefore the seat will have to be replaced.

While it will compensate for moderate changesin temperature and pressure, the energised seatdesign does not perform well on the outer limits ofthe temperature and pressure range for natural gasapplications.

The live-loaded design is an improved versionof the energised design. Working under the sameprinciples, the live-loaded design employs both aspring and an O-ring to create load on the seat. Italso uses the differential pressure across the seatto generate more sealing force. Live loadingprovides more performance over the energiseddesigns and is highly effective in compensating forwide variations in temperature and pressure. Onthe outer limits of the temperature and pressurerange for natural gas vehicles, the live-loadeddesign performs admirably. Below -29°C, thespring may lose its elasticity but the larger forcegenerated by the differential pressure across theO-ring provides sealing force to the ball or the sealand enables a load to be transferred to the seat. Athigh temperature and high pressure the O-ringand the spring work together to provide adequatepressure to make this difficult seal.

Regardless of the design, seats must bereplaced periodically. The cost of seat replacementshould figure into your choice of a ball valve.

In reviewing key issues with regard to thedesign of the stem, ball, and seat, keep in mindthat the primary failure mode is always leakage.Other matters may come into play, but whatis most important is a leak-tight seal.

Swagelokwww.swagelok.com

BALL VALVES ...VALVES & ACTUATORS


PLANT SAFETY... RUPTURE DISKS & SAFETY RELIEF VALVES

Geof Brazier of BS&B looks at the advantages ofcombining rupture disk devices with safety relief valves

Technologies combine to deliver increased plant safety benefits

ASafety Relief Valve serves an importantfunction in protecting pressurizedprocess systems. To provide furtherprotection, the combination of a relief

valve with a rupture disk device is used to isolatethe relief valve inlet from the process media. Thiscombination adds service life to the relief valvewhile preventing process leakage (important fromsafety, conservation and financial standpoints)

Isolating a safety relief valve with a rupturedisk device prevents process from coming incontact with the safety relief valve under normaloperating conditions (see figure 1). The rupturedisk is used at the inlet of the relief valve actingas a barrier between the process and the valve.This barrier stops the process from entering themechanics of the relief valve, which keeps therelief valve from coming into contact with causticmaterials. The rupture disk also protects fromhighly viscous materials that risk potentially“gumming up” the relief valve.

Another advantage is that the rupture diskbarrier keeps process fluid from leaking into theatmosphere. On conventional safety valves, APIstandards allow for an orifice size of F and smallerto have the maximum allowable leakage rate of40 bubbles/minute (approximately 6 CuFt per 24hours and 2,190 CuFt per year). Unchecked, thisleakage seeps into the environment, losesexpensive product every hour of every day eroding

profits, or requires the installation of a means toeither recover or handle this leakage as waste.Rupture disks stop the leakage to protect theenvironment and to protect plant profits.

When rupture disks are used to isolate safetyrelief valves (figure 2), the rupture disk is first toopen in the event of system overpressure; thevented process fluid then contacts the safety reliefvalve, which releases the fluid if the pressure isexcessive. Once the pressure drops to a safe level,the valve reseats itself and continues to protectthe system.

Further advantagesBesides zero process leakage, other advantages ofusing a rupture disk at the inlet of a safety reliefvalve include:• Allows safety relief valve to be ‘tested inplace’ – When a rupture disk is used to isolate asafety relief valve, the valve can be field tested inplace. With a suitable reverse buckling rupturedisk installed at the valve inlet, the safety reliefvalve can be tested on the spot by one man witha portable pressure source. To accomplish thiswithout opening up the process piping, air,Nitrogen or other acceptable fluid is injected froman outside source into the chamber between therupture disk and the safety relief valve inlet. Thetest pressure is increased until a popping actionis heard from the valve. The test pressure

observed shall be within the set pressuretolerance of the valve. Upon removal of theportable pressure source, both the rupture diskand relief valve are ready to immediately resumeservice. • Valve life is extended – Safety relief valve lifeextension is a major advantage of using adisk/valve combination. The rupture disk acts asa solid barrier between the valve and the process.The disk prevents product buildup from adheringto mechanical components of the valve thatotherwise would affect valve performance andsafety of the pressurized system. Since theprocess fluid will not come in contact withinternal surfaces and components of the valve, itwill remain in pristine condition until called uponto relieve pressure.• Longer periods between major overhauls –Because the valve internals are not normallyexposed to process contamination, they remain in

“like new” condition, allowing longer periodsbetween major overhauls.• Less expensive valve material can beused – The large initial cost of a safety reliefvalve can be reduced by ordering the valvefrom less expensive metal and isolating itwith a suitable rupture disk. As an

example, if the process fluid requires thatHastelloy be the preferred material ofconstruction for continuous contact,use a carbon steel valve with Hastelloytrim combined with a Hastelloy rupture

disk device, saving over halfthe cost of the valve.

A question posedoften is when to use arupture disk by itselfand when to use arupture disk combined

with a safety relief valve.The benefits of using only a rupturedisk begin with cost. Rupture disks are

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3


RUPTURE DISKS & SAFETY RELIEF VALVES ...PLANT SAFETY

significantly less costly than safety relief valvesparticularly when constructed of exotic materials,and require little to no maintenance. Anotherbenefit includes the quick burst of the rupture diskmaking it a first consideration when a potential forrunaway reactions exist. Safety relief valves, bythemselves, will not react fast enough to protectfrom the pressure of a deflagration or a detonation.Also to consider is that some liquids may freeze orcause icing under rapid depressurisation causingblockage within a safety relief valve rendering itineffective. Highly viscous liquids, such aspolymers, may not relieve fast enough through asafety relief valve and create a danger of pluggingthe valve.

Individually, a rupture disk is an excellentchoice for overpressure protection when processcontents are inexpensive, non-hazardous andenvironmentally safe or when hazardous materialcan be released to a safe recovery or wastestation. With the availability of rupture disktechnology capable of a 100% operating ratio andsuperior process control technology, the benefits ofrupture disk devices can be fully realised.

A rupture disk and relief valve combination willbe the unrivaled choice when a leak tight seal ofthe pressurised system is needed combined withthe conservation of product within the pressurisedsystem (figure 3) because the system contains acorrosive, hazardous or expensive substance. Theinstallation of a rupture disk device upstreamserves as a barrier between the process fluid andthe relief valve. The disk prevents product buildupfrom adhering to mechanical components of thevalve. Since the process fluid will not come incontact with internal surfaces of the valve, thevalve will remain in pristine condition until calledupon to relieve overpressure.

The benefits of rupture disk isolation to a reliefvalve can also be applied to the downstreamdischarge connection of the valve. When

discharging multiple relief devices to a commonheader this technique will prevent potentialcontaminants reaching the downstreamcomponents of all the relief valves connected tothe header. For relief valves whose set pressure isinfluenced by back pressure, rupture diskdownstream isolation will also prevent themomentary back pressure from an active reliefdevice from affecting the performance of the othervalves connected to the header system, therebymaintaining the intended safety of each of thepressurized systems connected to the header.

Even when the process fluid is not labeled ascorrosive, hazardous or expensive, the argumentsfor the application of rupture disk and relief valvecombinations make for compelling ‘bestengineering practice’ with respect to both safetyand economics.

Capacity requirementsWhen sizing a relief valve, the engineerdetermines the required fluid flow capacity whileanalysing emergency scenarios such as fire, loss ofprocess cooling, or equipment failure. Thecapacity requirements are then entered into asizing equation to determine the relief valve area.In most cases, engineers can select the calculatedrelief valve area from relief valve manufacturer’sdata sheets which present information derivedfrom ASME Code mandated capacity testing.When sizing a relief valve and rupture diskcombination the flow capacity of the combinationmust be confirmed to support the selection of boththe valve and the rupture disk.

A Combination Capacity Factor (CCF) is usedin support of this design safety decision. The CCFis often determined from ASME certified capacitytesting where first the capacity of the stand-alonesafety relief valve is determined and second that ofthe rupture disk and relief valve combination isdetermined. The combination capacity factor is

calculated as the ratio of the rupture disk andrelief valve combination capacity to the stand-alone relief valve capacity. The CCF shall not begreater than 1. If the CCF is unknown, the ASMECode allows for a default CCF value of 0.9 to beused in place of a tested, certified value providedthat the rupture disk device has a certified flowresistance value (KR) of equal to or less than 6. Alow flow resistance value is indicative of a rupturedisk device that provides a clear opening uponactivation.

What about the pressure drop between avessel and a rupture disk isolated relief valve? Theproper function of a relief valve requires that thepressure drop between the vessel it protects andthe valve inlet is not more than 3% of its setpressure. When a relief valve is isolated by arupture disk device, this contributes to the pipingpressure drop. The certified flow resistance valuefor rupture disks that may be ASME “UD” stamped(KR) is used to accurately calculate pressure drop.With many rupture disk devices having low flowresistance values, the pressure drop target isroutinely achieved.

The maintenance of a known pressure differentialacross the rupture disk device in a rupture disk andrelief valve combination is conveniently achieved bythe use of the ‘tell tale’ assembly shown in each offigures 1, 2 and 3. The tell tale assembly combinesan excess flow valve to maintain atmosphericpressure in the space between the rupture disk andthe relief valve with a pressure gage to provide localconfirmation of pressure status. The tell taleassembly is a requirement of the ASME Code as itrelates to rupture disk / relief valve combinations;other monitoring methods, such as a pressure switchthat will generate a remote electrical signal,are permitted.

BS&B Safety Systemswww.bsb.ie


For as long as industry has used pipework,leaking joints have been an issue. That’sbecause even with correctly machinedpipe joints, minute surface irregularities

in the thread flanks are enough to allow liquids orgases to escape from the assembled joint.

To overcome the problem a sealing method isrequired that can fill the spaces, no matter theirsize, by conforming completely to the threadsurfaces of the pipe. One old favourite is PTFEtape. Benefits here include a high-quality initialseal, resistance to chemicals and solvents, andeffective lubrication for the joint. However, theeffect of lubrication can all too easily result inover-tightening of the threads, resulting in stressin the fitting which, in turn, can lead to potentiallyserious breakage.

Not only that, shredding of the tape canreadily clog filters and valves, leading to severemaintenance inconvenience. Pastes made fromoils and fillers are also among the traditionalmethods of sealing the spiral leak paths ofthreaded joints. On the positive side, such pastesprovide some lubrication for the joints, howeverthey have poor solvent resistance, can ooze outunder pressure and do not offer sealing on parallelthreads. And where pastes are combined with

hemp, the whole procedure can be extremely timeconsuming and messy.

Another established method of sealing pipejoints involves solvent-drying compounds. Likepastes, they can provide valuable lubrication, butthese compounds will often shrink during the cureprocess. So, the traditional methods of sealingpipework leave much to be desired.

Cords are in fashionEngineers who have used the traditional methodswill quickly discover the switch to sealing cords isan easy transition. The thin fibres of the cord aresimply wound around the male threads of thepipe for the recommended number of turns andthen cut using the sharp in-built edge of the cord’scontainer. That’s all there is to it – and the joint issealed in seconds. What’s more, the fibres willnot tear or shred to cause blockage. Loctite 55 –the sealing cord from Henkel – can be used oncast iron, steel, brass, copper, chrome, nickel-plated and galvanised surfaces, stainless steeland plastic, and is recognised through CORGICertification approval.

An alternative method of sealing joints withthe added benefit of locking the fittings in placeinvolves anaerobic sealants. Available in both

liquid and semi-solid stick formulas, they cure inthe absence of air – in other words, when the twothreaded metal surfaces are brought together. Theresultant joint is an insoluble and tough plasticseal that will thwart leakage no matter whatpressure is applied.

The anaerobic technology means that anyexcess sealant remaining outside of the threadswill not cure, making it easy to wipe away andreducing the risk of contamination. Furthermore,the formulation of these products is such that anysealant left inside the joint will readily dissipatewithin the majority of fluid systems. And oncefully cured, these sealants resist most industrialliquids and gases.

But there is more: as previously stated there isan added benefit when it comes to usinganaerobic adhesives for threadsealing. Theadhesive technology means the same productalso provides a threadlocking action that stops thesealed joint from loosening when subjected toshock or vibration.

To ensure an anaerobic sealant does all that isexpected of it, the right grade should be selectedfor each application. Indeed, there are six factorsto consider when making the product selection –thread type, maximum pipe size, the fluidresistance required, disassembly requirements,time needed to achieve an effective seal andtemperature requirements. On this last point,anaerobic threadsealants typically resist servicetemperatures from -55°C to +150°C. However,brief exposure to higher temperatures will notimpair the sealing effect.

To help users make the right choice, or todiscuss general threadsealing principles, thetechnical department at the suppliers of suchanaerobic sealants is an invaluable source ofknowledge and advice.

Leaks may have been a fact of life in the past– but that need not be the case. There are up-to-the-minute answers to the age-old problem.Sealing cords are quick, clean and very costeffective. Anaerobic sealants give an economicalway of preventing leakage with the addedadvantage of securely locking joints.

Henkelwww.loctite.co.uk

Colin Chapman of Henkel, maker of Loctite brandproducts, provides insight into how modern technologyovercomes an ancient and ever-present problem

How do you achieve the perfect seal?

SEALS & GASKETS... ADHESIVE SEALING PLANT SAFETY


Once a natural gas or oil well is drilled,and it has been verified thatcommercially viable quantities ofnatural gas or oil are present for

extraction, the well must be completed to allowfor the flow of oil, petroleum or natural gas out ofthe formation and up to the surface.

This process includes strengthening the wellhole with casing, evaluating the pressure andtemperature of the formation, and then installingthe proper equipment to ensure an efficient flowout of the well. This is where a choke valvecontrols the pressure and flow and it is imperative

that the primary scraper ringperforms its function of

keeping the flowregulated and free from

debris. Choke valves are the first primary valveused to control flow and pressure when oil andgas exits the well. In this position the valve isexposed to high velocities and direct impacts frommaterial suspended in the oil, from fine sand andgrit, and sizeable chunks of rock and other debris.It is one of the most arduous applications for anyvalve.

Sealing is a vital element in the constructionand TFC’s Smalley Laminar Rings have beenspecified as the primary scraper ring seal used inthe stem packing and stem plug arrangements.Laminar Rings are configured to create a metallabyrinth, the arrangement of which is dependentupon the severity of the environment.

The labyrinth is created by using a set of threein-springing and two out-springing single

turn rings in an alternatingconfiguration. Manufactured in

Haynes 25 Alloy L605, andwith special interlocking endconfigurations, they providethe ideal scraper ring sealset to withstand thearduous conditions to which

they are regularly subjected.The criticality of keeping

the valve clear of debris iscrucial and failure to do so can

dramatically affect performance ultimately leadingto a failure within the system, which if a blockageoccurs can be catastrophic. TFC’s Smalleylabyrinth scraper ring set provides a thoroughlytested and reliable solution for the petro-chemicalindustries, backed with over 40 years of technicalexpertise from TFC Europe.

The flexibility of the manufacturing processallows virtually any size of ring to be designed intoan application. With standard materials thatinclude Inconel X750, A286 alloy, short leadtimes and a customer orientated stocking policy;TFC is able to position itself to supply the petro-chemical industry with cost-effective solutionswhere reliability matters.

Greg Templeman, Senior Application Engineerof TFC Europe says: “This laminar sealing ringplays a pivotal role at a very crucial time duringthe extraction of oil and gas. Our ability toproduce a range of products, which meets theexacting and demanding needs of the petro-chemical industry who continue to use ourtechnical expertise to help develop new productssuch as the Laminar Sealing ring, makes TFCEurope a trusted and widely used namewithin the industry.”

TFCwww.tfc.eu.com

Laminar sealing rings play a pivotal role in the extraction of vital natural resources

Sealing rings keepoil and gas flowing

SEALS & GASKETS... LAMINAR SEALING RINGS


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In petrochemicals, thermowells are usedwidely in temperature measurementapplications. There are multiple variations oftwo basic types: low pressure and high-

pressure versions. Thermowells are used toprovide isolation between a temperature sensorand the environment, in this case oil or gas. Athermowell enables the temperature sensor to beremoved and replaced without compromisingeither the ambient region or the process. Theservice life of a thermowell is therefore critical andthe mechanical design needs to ensure that theunit can operate under ever increasing flow rateswithin process pipelines.

Fluid (oil or gas) flowing past a thermowellcreates a turbulent wake as vortices form at bothsides of the well. These vortices detach, first fromone side and then from the other, which causesalternating lateral forces on the well perpendicularto the direction of flow. This is known as the VonKarmann effect. This wake frequency isproportional to the fluid velocity and welldimensions. Generally, if the wake frequencycoincides with or comes within 20% of thenatural frequency of the well, the resultantvibration could cause mechanical failure of thewell. Thermowells are usually safe if the naturalfrequency is well below the wake frequency or ifthe fluid velocity continually fluctuates throughthe critical velocity point.

The maximum length of a thermowell for givenservice conditions is dependent upon bothvibratory and steady state stress. The ASMEcalculations (PTC 19.3, 2004) are used todetermine if the selected well dimensions providea well strong enough to withstand the stressesimposed by static pressure, steady state flow andvibration.

ASME PTC 19.3 is not a design standard andshould only be used by thermowell manufacturersto prove that their designs are suitable for theprocess conditions. Up to now, if a thermowellfailed this performance test code, themanufacturer has been left with several options:either to shorten the thermowell immersion, or toincrease the diameter of the thermowell, neitherof which are often very practical or cost effectivefor the end user. Imagine the cost of having toprovide manpower to replace or refit thousands ofthermowells around a petrochemicals plant inorder to shorten the immersion. Similarly, the cost

of increasing the diameter (over-engineering) ofthe thermowell can also be significant if the enduser needs to purchase hundreds or thousands ofthese units for an installation.

The other option used by the majority ofthermowell suppliers is to incorporate a velocitycollar on the thermowell in order to move thepoint of vibration or resonance. This solution isbased on a power industry standard originallydeveloped in the UK, but which was neverintended for use in petrochemical applications.Adding a velocity collar means that thethermowell needs to be manufactured to a veryhigh tolerance (on the collar outside diameter)and that the corresponding nozzle is similarlymachined to suit. This ensures a tight fit so thatno resonance can occur. While this solutionseems to work, the extra costs incurred by themanufacturer of the thermowell usually have to bepassed on to the buyer.

Alternative solutionHowever, an alternative solution is now available.After extensive R&D and independent evaluation,Okazaki Manufacturing Company (OMC) hasdeveloped a unique design of thermowell, theVortexWell, which doesn’t require a velocity collarand is cost effective for the end user in terms ofpurchase, installation and maintenance costs(whole lifecycle costs).

OMC’s VortexWell incorporates an innovativehelical strake design, very similar to the helicalstrakes seen on car aerials and cooling towers.Chris Chant, Business Development Manager atOMC (UK) comments: “By using the latest CFD(computational fluid dynamics) software tovisualise the flow behaviour, we were able toaccurately compare a standard taperedthermowell and our new VortexWell design, whichincorporates a helical strake. What we discoveredwas pretty dramatic.”

In the analyses, the standard taperedthermowell showed classic shedding behaviour asexpected, whereas the VortexWell demonstratedno signs of regular flow behaviour. TheVortexWell® helical strake design disturbed theflow sufficiently to interrupt the regular formationof vortices. Whilst a small vortex was observed inthe wake of the VortexWell this was a localisedstagnation point and didn’t shed. However, themost significant comparison made was with

regard to the pressure fields. As Chris Chantcontinues: “For the standard tapered well design,an oscillating pressure field was observed aroundthe structure. The VortexWell displayed a constantand stable pressure field, presenting no dynamicvariations. As this pressure is the source of vortex-induced vibrations, it can be assumed that theVortexWell would experience a significantimprovement in practise compared to thestandard thermowell design.”

In further tests, this time using finite elementanalysis (FEA) software, OMC discovered that theASME calculations (PTC 19.3, 2004) used bythermowell manufacturers could place significantlimitations upon the safety of petrochemicalapplications. Using the ASME calculations (PTC19.3, 2004) gave the lowest natural frequency ofvibration for the standard tapered thermowell tobe 68.5Hz. However, OMC’s own FEA resultsshowed a corresponding value of 90.3Hz, adifference of more than 30%.

This highlights that the ASME calculations(PTC 19.3, 2004) design rules includeassumptions that can do lead to considerableinaccuracies when designing thermowells forpetrochemical (and other) applications. The riskof a thermowell failing due to under-engineering,or the extra costs incurred by the end userbecause of an over-engineered thermowell, canboth be avoided if the buyer works with areputable, experienced thermowell suppliersuch as OMC.

Okazaki Manufacturing Companywww.okazaki-mfg.co.uk

A manufacturer of temperature measurement products has launched a unique designof thermowell that can easily and safely be installed in process pipelines if a standardthermowell has failed the ASME Performance Test Code (PTC 19.3, 2004)

Innovative thermowell design improvesreliability in oil and gas pipelines

SENSORS & INSTRUMENTS... THERMOWELLS


Maintenance-Free Position & Level Sensors

CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

www.gillsensors.co.uk | +44 (0)1590 613400

Liquid Level Sensors

Liquid Level Sensors

Position Sensors

Position Sensors

Gill liquid level sensors are used worldwide for precision measurement of fuel, oil, water, ink

and a number of very specialist liquids. All Gill level sensors use

capacitive technology with no moving parts, providing

maintenance-free, highly accurate measurement

of the liquid. We can also mechanically custom-package the

level sensor to suit most application types.

Gill position sensors use our own patented induction technology to accurately sense the position of a metallic object, which is mounted to the moving part of the application. There is no physical contact between the sensor and the moving part, so the sensor performance will not deteriorate through use. We have a range of products for linear and rotary measurement and have the ability to customise designs if required.

Industrial Control.

For Northampton based Anitox, price ofcourse is important, but as a globalcompany with products installed aroundthe world, there are other factors to

consider. As a manufacturer of antimicrobialpreservatives for animal feeds and other foodstuffs for human consumption, it is essential thatthe products they source are of high quality andhave the technical pedigree to withstand thedemands placed on them.

One of the strengths of Anitox, is they not only

supply chemicals to the Animal feed industry but,also a patented application process to ensurecorrect functionality every time. Often used inremote areas, functionality and reliability are ofthe utmost importance.

Founded in 1977 by research chemist Dr BobBland, Anitox is based in Lawrenceville, Georgiaand has key regional offices/operational centres inthe UK, Malaysia and Mexico. An internationalcorporation, Anitox is a pioneer in the field ofantimicrobial products, developing and

manufacturing a range of antimicrobialpreservatives for animal feeds, feed ingredientsand foodstuffs for human consumption. TheAnitox product line includes: Termin-8 andMonoprene bacterial control agents, Maxi-Milmilling efficiency program, MonoProp, Punch, andDryProp mold control agents, together with BlueRoyale water treatment and Sorb-It aflatoxinbinder.

Through its Research and DevelopmentCentre, Anitox develops new products which areon the leading edge of technology. The businesshas an international network dedicated toproviding top-quality products which aresupported by the best technical service,engineers, laboratory technicians and customerservice representatives.

Faultless performanceIn a recent project, Krohne was chosen tosupply one of its ranges of Batchflux meters.Richard York, Chief Engineer Anitox said, “wehave these particular anti-bacterial dosingsystems for animal feed stuffs installed at ourCustomer’s plants around the world. The plantsrun 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, so it isimperative that the components we use withinour systems are reliable and provide faultlessperformance and repeatability. We selected theBatchflux 5015C, as it has a high-tech ceramicliner which guarantees extreme long-termstability.

“The device is also renowned for reliability andaccuracy and built using solid state devices,meaning there are no moving parts. The initialpurchase price was slightly more, but when youconsider the downtime, service and replacementparts, this is proving to be a much better solutionand much more cost effective whencalculating the life time costs.”

Krohnewww.krohne.co.uk

In times when hardly a news bulletin is made withoutsome reference to a ‘global credit crisis’ it makes senseto take control of the “purse strings” and manage thebudget. With many comparison.com web sites we caneasily select the lowest price for pretty much anyproduct, but, is price the only factor?

Looking beyond the purchase price

Ultrasonic gas flowmeters for non-custody transfer applications

Krohne has launched the Optisonic V6– the next generation of ultrasonicgas flowmeters for non-custodytransfer applications. The Optisonic

V6 sets new standards in accuracy and cost-effectiveness. It has been specificallydeveloped for applications in the production of

natural gas and for gas suppliers’ city gates andtransfer stations. Its rugged design makes itideally suited for use in extreme environments,such as offshore platforms

Beneath its strong housing is a sensitiveand highly accurate technology. The OptisonicV6 has 6 measuring chords, two of which aresolely dedicated to diagnostic functions, soonce commissioned, it continuously checks theoperating status. The positioning of the chordsin two horizontal parallel planes compensatesfor swirl and therefore provides reliablemeasurement even with turbulent flow profiles.

For the first time ever in a gas flowmeter fornon-custody transfer applications, Krohne hasseparated the information on the flow from theinformation on the diagnostics. This data istransmitted directly to the user via two separatesignal outputs. The diagnostics in the OptisonicV6 reliably indicate deposits, contamination orchanges in wall roughness, allowingmaintenance to be scheduled according to theactual needs of the user.

The meter is available in sizes DN 100 –DN 600, an installation length of 3D and amaximum operating pressure of 150 bar. It iscompatible with commonly used protocols andcan be seamlessly integrated into any existinginfrastructure.

SENSORS & INSTRUMENTS... FLOWMETERS


Heinz will slice more than 4% from itsenergy consumption in the next threeyears at its Wigan factory after signingup for a steam trap management

contract with Spirax Sarco. The decision to opt forthe new contract followed great success with aprevious, one-off steam trap survey, which savedenough energy and treated water to pay for itselfin less than nine months.

The Heinz factory in Wigan is the largest foodfactory in Europe. The 55-acre site producescanned soups, baked beans, pasta and puddingsfor the UK and European market, and its on-siteenergy centre generates up to 140 tonnes ofsteam per hour to keep the canning lines running.

Under the new deal, Spirax Sarco engineerswill survey the site every six months, highlightingany traps that need maintenance from teams atHeinz. Spirax Sarco specialists will spend around10 days on site each year, checking, tagging andrecording the condition of each steam trap.

“When Spirax Sarco carried out the originalsurvey they put in a conservative estimate ofsavings and we ended up saving much more,”says Barry Aspey, the Utilities Manager for Heinz.“That helped us decide to opt for the three-yearcontract. If the new savings estimates are correct,

the contract offers excellent value for money andshould help us reduce our carbon emissions by200 tonnes a year.”

Spirax Sarco has also supplied two automaticpump traps to solve a serious control issue forSembcorp one of the UK’s leading industrialutilities and services companies. The pump trapsprevent the company’s gas heater from stalling,which was previously making it difficult to controlthe gas temperature.

Dramatic improvementSembcorp uses gas to produce electricity in itsown power generation plant on Teesside, as wellas distributing gas to some of its industrialcustomers. The company must heat its gas supplyto 40°C to prevent it freezing as it enters lowerpressure lines downstream. “Since we’ve installedthe pump traps the improvement has beendramatic,” says Development Manager, DrMichael Capstick. “Prior to the new systems beinginstalled the gas temperature varied widely, butthe temperature control is now within 2°C of theset point.”

Sembcorp’s shell and tube gas heater uses lowpressure steam on the shell side to heat gas in thetubes. It handles around 20 tonnes of gas per

hour on average, but demand can vary from justa few tonnes up to 40 tonnes per hour. This typeof variable load can result in a pressure drop oreven a vacuum forming inside the exchanger,preventing condensate from escaping.“Sometimes the condensate backed up until itfilled the whole heat exchanger,” says DrCapstick. “This build-up sub-cooled the systemuntil the only way to reach the requiredtemperature was to open up the steam valve to letthe steam surge in and push the condensate out.”

This cycle led to temperature fluctuations inthe gas, according to Dr Capstick. The gassometimes reached almost the same temperatureas the steam, while at other times it froze in thelower pressure pipes. In addition, the thermalshock caused by pushing sub-cooled condensateout of the heater with a surge of steam put extrastrain on the equipment, potentially causingmaintenance issues in the future. The two SpiraxSarco APT14 automatic pump traps eliminate allthese problems by removing condensate in acontrolled way, regardless of any backpressure.

Spirax Sarcowww.spiraxsarco.com

A Spirax Sarco steam trap contract will help Heinz reduce carbon emissions by 200 tonnes a year

Condition monitoring is key reducing carbonemissions and maximising plant efficiency

CONDITION MONITORINGENERGY EFFICIENCY... CONDITION MONITORING


The Right Connection for Stainless Hygienic Products and Hoses

Speak to our in-house specialist today

Call 01772 323529 www.dixoneurope.co.uk

Dixon Group Europe LimitedDixon House, 350 Walton Summit Centre, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 8AS

Telephone: +44 (0)1772 323529 Fax: +44 (0)1772 314664

Email: [email protected] Website: www.dixoneurope.co.uk

RJT, DIN, SMS, IDF

& Triclamp Fittings

Sight Glasses

Food & Brewery Hoses

Tube OD Bends, Tee’s,

Adaptors & Reducers

Manual & Actuated

Hygienic Valves

Bespoke Design

& Fabrication

NEW HYGIENIC CATALOGUE OUT NOW!

Whether single or system solutions, FLUX pumps,magnetic drive pumps and FLUX flowmetersare known worldwide for high durability, cost efficiencyand maximum reliability and safety.

FLUX – the suitable Solution for each Industry!

Transferring · emptying · circulating · mixing · dosing

[email protected] · www.flux-pumps.co.uk

12 Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6YSTelephone: (01202) 823304 Fax: (01202) 813387

www.tranter.com

Cost effective,

It has to be Tranter

Tranter International AB,


NEW PRODUCTS...

Tyco Thermal Controls hasnow received IECExCertification for its Isopadrange of industrial electric

drum and gas-bottle heaters. Theheaters already carried full ATEX‘system approval’ for the Europeanmarket but the addition of IECExcertification extends theirworldwide sales potential bymeeting the requirements ofcustomers in other regionsincluding Australasia and theemerging markets of the Far East.

Widely used in themanufacturing and processindustries, heaters enable a rapidand more complete transfer ofcontents like waxes, fats andviscous fluids from drums and gasfrom bottles. As a result the

production yield is improved (lessresidue) and power costs forremoval reduced.

Isopad drum and gas-bottleheaters feature self-regulatingcable which eliminates the needfor a temperature limiter andprovides a simpler and safermechanism for control. The unitsand supplementary base heaters,for customers requiring a fasterheat-up time, operate across thebroad ambient temperature range-40°C to +50°C, have atemperature rating up to 120°Cand carry an IP65 rating.

Their ATEX approval andIECEx certification are held on thecomplete supplied system, notjust the components, socustomers can have confidence

that these heaters are ready forsafe deployment in explosiveatmospheres.

Tyco Thermal Controlswww.tycothermal.com

Thinky ARV-310 and ARV-5000 planetarymixers really are theanswer so far as

Intertronics are concerned.

Explains MD Peter Swanson: “Thisequipment is a proven solution tosome of the most difficult mixingproblems ever found in thepharmaceutical and cosmeticindustries. They will non-invasively mix 310g or 5000g ormaterial from low viscosity tosemi-solid or dry particle with in-situ vacuum degassing.”

The Thinky ARV-310 andThinky ARV-5000 are industrialnon-contact planetary mixers forall engineering compounds. Theymix, disperse and degas a widerange of materials in seconds tominutes, in a sealed or lid-lesscontainer such as a jar, beaker,syringe tube or cartridge.

The non-contact mixingprinciple makes it possible toformulate compounds from verysmall amounts such as 0.5ml to

large production scales. Thematerial container revolves androtates in a planetary manner athigh speeds. Centrifugal forcepresses the material outwards tothe inner wall of the containerwhile other forces cause thematerial to move downwards in aspiralling direction along the slopeof container wall. The materialthen moves back to the centre ofthe container and up to the top.

In the field of pharmaceuticals,Thinky mixers are useful forreagent research anddevelopment, the production ofsuspensions, and for the creationof high-performance materialssuch as hyaluronic acid. Intertronicswww.intertronics.co.uk

IN BRIEF...PLANT SAFETY...

PHARMACEUTICALS...

Continuous liquidlevel sensorGems Sensors & Controls haslaunched the UCL-520 Seriesof ultrasonic level sensors. TheUCL-520 Series is suitable fornon-contact applications suchas industrial water treatment,wastewater management,chemical storage as well asmany other challenging fluidapplications.

Gems Sensors & Controlswww.gemssensors.com

Safe monitoring ofstorage tanksProcess and plant engineersresponsible for monitoringstorage tanks required forcritical operations or thoselocated in hazardousenvironments will find theFLT93 Tank Level Switch fromFluid ComponentsInternational (FCI) is nowrated for Safety Integrity Level(SIL) 2 compliant service. Theadvanced FLT Switch reliablymonitors the flow, level andinterface of liquids, gases,slurries, syrups, lubricants,coolants and more.

Fluid Components Internationalwww.fluidcomponents.com

Coriolis meters forlow flow tasksEmerson Process Managementis expanding its Micro MotionELITE Coriolis meter offeringfor low flow applications. Thenew Micro Motion meters arecompact in design andavailable in two sizes, 2mmand 4mm nominal diameter,delivering +0.05% liquid flowaccuracy, +0.35% gasaccuracy, +0.0005 g/cc liquiddensity accuracy for flow ratesof 2kg/h to 330kg/h. Themeters are less than 50mmwide and weigh just 4kg.

Emerson Process Managementwww.emersonprocess.com

Heaters for drums and gasbottles are IECEx certified

The answer for difficult to mixcosmetics and pharmaceuticals


...NEW PRODUCTS

The new SRC couplingfrom Colder ProductsCompany providesmedical personnel with a

new alternative: a tubingconnector that is designed toeliminate potentialmisconnections that can occurwith luer fittings.

In medical settings,accidental tubing misconnectionsto the wrong line or device, suchas an air hose to an intravenousline, can be extremely dangerous

to patients, if not deadly. As aresult, the SRC coupling is anexcellent choice for a wide rangeof liquid media and gasapplications such as blood andbodily fluid handling, and airdriven devices.

“The SRC is a safer smallbore connector for medical tubingapplications,” says Jim Brown,medical business unit manager.“Not only does it eliminate thepotential for dangerous tubingmisconnections with luer fittings,

it has a more secure latch designand allows tubing rotation toprevent accidental disconnectionsor kinked tubing.

“We’ve now added a panelmount option to our SRC line tomeet customer’s requests fittings;it is constructed of chrome-platedbrass to offer durability and anattractive appearance.”

The intuitive design is simpleto use and provides an audible‘click’ for added assurance of asecure, leak-free connection.

There is no twisting required toconnect tubing. Users simplypush the two halves together foran obvious, secure connection. Tom Parkerwww.tom-parker.co.uk

THERMOMETER... AGGRESSIVE LIQUIDS...

No more misconnections or spills MEDICAL TUBING...

Safely transferringaggressive liquids, suchas inorganic acids, basesand salts, requires a

pump with features including non-metallic wetted parts andcharacteristics such as zeroleakage. To meet thesechallenges, Liquiflo havedeveloped their range ofmagnetically driven PFA lined gearpumps which avoid the expenseassociated with pumps made fromexpensive alloys or exotic metals.

Available through MichaelSmith Engineers, Liquiflo PFAlined stainless steel pumps areideally suited to handlingchemicals that are difficult tohandle such as hydrochloric acid,ferric chloride, sulphuric acid,hydrofluoric acid, sodium

hypochlorite, nitricacid and chromicacid. They are also agood choice for highpurity applicationswhere media contactwith metalliccomponents must beavoided.

Among theadvantages of PFAlined stainless steelhousings for these type of pumpsare that they do not suffer fromwicking problems associated withfibre reinforced housings, theeffects of heat entrapment andcorresponding thermal expansionissues are minimised as are theeffects of fluid absorption.

The PFA lining also increasesthe strength and durability

required for process pumpapplications. In addition to theircorrosive resistance Liquiflo PFAlined pumps provide smooth,pulseless flows so they are easy tomonitor and control, also theiraccurate output (within±2%),means wastage is eliminated. Michael Smith Engineerswww.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk

PFA lined gear pumps meetthe challenge at lower cost

The temperature measuringin cold water systems, likeair conditioning, heatexchangers or cooling water

circuits in nuclear power plants,often implicates corrosion onpipelines and thermometers due tocondensation. For thoseapplications, Baumer offers thebimetal thermometer series TB in aspecially protected execution withthermowell and a PVC insulationsleeve directly on the immersiontube.

The TB can measuretemperature ranges from -30°C upto 500°C and conforms to theaccuracy classes 1 (up to 250°C)and 2 (above 250°C) according tothe EN 13190 standard. Theimmersion tube has a diameter of8mm and an installed length from100 up to 100 mm. The case andthe immersion tube are made ofstainless steel, with copper alloy anoption for high temperatures.Michael Smith Engineerswww.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk

Thermometer forcold water systems

Rotary tank cleaner is a polished performer

Acompact and versatiletank cleaning rotaryspray ball which offersusers significant

advantages over traditional tankcleaning spray balls, is the latest

addition to the range of productssupplied by nozzle specialistBETE.

Self-cleaning and medialubricated, the innovative Orbitorrotary spray ball is a patented

design which combines highperformance cleaning efficiencywith extended operating life andreduced life cycle costs. BETEwww.beteuk.com


INDEX TO ADVERTISERSAquameter ..................................... 23Alliance Plastic Parts .......................... 5ASCO Numatics .............................. 17Barnwell ........................................ 25Barton Firtop .................................. 25Belzona .......................................... 31Bürkert ........................................... 36Croft Engineering Services................. 25Dixon ............................................. 31Flux Pumps ..................................... 31

Gill Sensors .................................... 27ITT Jabsco ..................................... 11KNF ............................................... 13Kobold............................................ 29Krohne ........................................... 35Lee Products .................................. 23PVL ............................................... 29Samson Control Services................... 13Serfilco .......................................... 13SKF ............................................... 15

Spraying Systems............................. 17Techni Measure ............................... 29The Millennium Coupling Company ... 23Tom Parker ....................................... 7Tranter............................................ 31Verder............................................. 15Watson Marlow.................................. 2West Group .................................... 15


THE BACK DOOR...

EEF, the manufacturers’organisation expresseddisappointment and concernwith the Low Carbon Transition

Plan. Whilst some concrete measures toboost UK industrial capability in keyareas have been announced, long-termpriorities remain unclear and there is toomuch emphasis on renewable energy atthe expense of a more balancedportfolio.

Commenting on the Industrial Strategy,Gilbert Toppin, Chief Executive of EEF,said: “The strategy finally recognises that

emission targets and subsidies forrenewable energy will not automaticallydeliver the low-carbon industrial base theUK needs. It also sets out some practicalmeasures which will enhance industrialcapability in areas of major opportunitysuch as wave and tidal, offshore windand nuclear power. However, this is only

a small step forward when we needed agiant leap. A more ambitious approachwas needed that would have sent would-be investors a strong message aboutlong-term funding priorities. Unless thisis done quickly, we face the danger ofcompanies in emerging industriesgravitating to other countries with clearerlong-term commitments.”

On the Energy White Paper, Toppinadded: “Decarbonising the powergeneration sector is a critical componentof meeting our environmental targets.However, government plans are overreliant on developing huge quantities ofwind power to meet impractical renew

K economy we need a more cost-effective approach based on a betterbalance between nuclear power, cleancoal and renewables.”

EEF however welcomed governmentdepartments being given carbonbudgets, saying: “It is essential thatimplementation of measures towards alow carbon economy is carried outacross Departments and governmentshould be applauded for leading byexample.”

A low carbon future

LOW CARBON TRANSITION PLANIS A SMALL STEP FORWARD WHENWE REALLY NEEDED A GIANT LEAP

Investigate The unique vertical chord of the ALTOSONIC V12 ultrasonic gas

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Liquids and Gas Handling · Liquids and Gas Handling W elcome. Or perhaps, welcome back, as we...

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Transcript of Liquids and Gas Handling · Liquids and Gas Handling W elcome. Or perhaps, welcome back, as we...