There are many factors that you will want to consider when choosing which flow meter will be best for your process.
Some of the factors that you will want to consider, according to Marcus P. Davis’s article on pumpsandsystems.com, are the application environment, the fluid type, accuracy requirements, and also the parameters at which you will be operating. The article further informs that the temperature, pressure, and flow rate will depend on your operating parameters. It is important to take these factors into consideration to ensure that you get a flow meter that will work best for you.
The movement away from coal-fired power, and towards the cost cutting solution of using U.S. gas is what has majorly driven the gas turbine growth. An article on flowcontrolnetwork.com discuses the rise of gas turbine sales and states that the sales from global gas turbine is expected to reach $87 billion next year. The article also talks about the report for the gas turbine market in the next 5 years. A report published by Zion Market Research shows that the compound annual growth rate will be growing by about 4 percent.
Click here to read the full article at flowcontrolnetwork.com.
A flow computer is a specialized type of computer that uses complex calculations to interpret the data from flow meters and to calculate and record the volume of a particular flowing substance at a particular point in time. Flow computers can be used for gases or liquids and are in demand across various industries. For most accurate and consistent results, flow computers should possess sophisticated programming, a user-friendly interface and damage-resistant hardware components.
Infrared sensors have difficulties measuring refractive information and chemical attributes of certain compounds, and a new method from researchers at the University of Houston seeks to improve the results by adding nanoparticles to near infrared sensing. Improvements here would impact the oil and fuel industries in regards to drilling analysis.
The team has created a process by which near infrared light is reflected off nanoporous gold disks with plasmonic hotspots for localized electric field enhancement. By mixing these gold disks into the compound, a beam of near infrared light, 1-2.5 μm wavelength, encourages different reactions at specific wavelengths. This process combines the advantages of both infrared and near infrared sensing techniques. It requires a smaller sample size to obtain the same measurements and therefore will save on costs and resources for analysis of new oil well drill sites.
Clock here for the full article on Chemical Processing.
Sensors, actuators, and controls systems have been critical and individual to each industrial company. From the control of specific proprietary processes to monitoring the state of a piece of equipment, these systems have solved unique problems for each company. With the entrance of the industrial internet of things, or IIoT, these custom made systems will be developed to accommodate as many applications as possible into each piece. Some new insights to look forward to include;
Much more context to equipment states. What is the ambient temperature and humidity for each piece of equipment? What percent of maximum run speed is the equipment set at to adapt to these conditions?
A shift from reactive maintenance to proactive maintenance. With a schedule of repairs accurate to the number of cycles, equipment can be serviced to continue operations efficiently instead of bringing broken units back online.
Real-time mapping of raw materials, intermediates, and personnel. A more accurate count of what materials are on hand, how quickly the process is running, and monitoring employees for safety will vastly reduce the overhead and liability of processing facilities.
Energy efficiency and sustainability gains are possible with the integration of smart machines, smart monitoring, and smart environmental controls.
Click here for the complete list and full article by Shelia Kennedy.
California is no doubt dealing with an epic drought, and agricultural innovations are working to lessen the impact of farming on water availability. For vineyards in central California age-old business practices have been better at using just the right amount of water when needed, preventing overflow from sweeping sediments downstream. Rain catchment systems above buildings on Jackson Family Wines, and reservoirs on the properties have been able to save enough water to supply the vineyards for more than a year with no additional rain. Recycling winery processing water for irrigation conserves water further. New technologies are helping to more accurately measure exactly when and how much to irrigate a field of grape vines.
New agricultural flow meters measure the flow rate of sap within the grape vines and report when irrigation is needed. This practices saves on excess water used during irrigation, and allows the plants to “tell” the farmer when they need water. Jackson Family Wines has found that quality has improved as grapevines which are over-watered produce diluted flavors.
Click here for the full article by Christopher Skroupa.
Flow meters are common equipment with any system designed to transport fluids or gas from a point of origin to multiple delivery points. Like any type of equipment, normal wear and tear, malfunctioning components, or even things like leaks in the lines can affect the efficiency of the meter. When the goal is to make the best use of limited resources, like in the case of the current water crisis in California, calibration provides several key benefits. Here are a few examples to keep in mind.
Identifying Disparity Between The Standard Flow and the UUT
Calibration makes it possible to identify when a system is performing at reasonable levels. This is accomplished by comparing the rate of flow during normal operation with the results of the flow during what is known as the Unit Under Test or UTT. If the system is functioning properly, there will be little variance between the two figures. When the disparity is outside an acceptable range, that could mean the meter is in need of replacement components. At the same time, it could also mean there is a flaw in the delivery system that is preventing the meter from providing the most accurate readings.
Fluctuation in the Rate of Flow
In order for the calibration to be successful, the rate of flow during the testing must be constant. If something is happening to cause the flow to change in terms of volume or pressure, there could be a problem with the meter. Those fluctuations could also indicate a breakdown elsewhere in the system. Checking the meter to ensure all components are working properly will make it easier to isolate the issue and take action to restore control of the flow.
Detecting the Presence of Dirt or Corrosion in the Meter
The disparity could also indicate that some type of residue has collected in the system and is interfering with the function of the meter. This is most likely to take place when the filtration methods used do not adequately remove contaminants as the water flows through the system. The presence of the residue will create a false reading that may seem to indicate the flow meter is malfunctioning. If the meter is in perfect working order, then checking the system for dirt or corrosion is the next step.
Identifying the Presence of Leaks
Leakage is another issue that can cause the calibration to fail. That’s because the variance between the actual flow and the UUT are increased significantly. Checking the meter and finding no signs of deterioration will prompt a check of the lines used to convey the water. There’s a good chance that one or more leaks will be located and subsequently sealed. Once that’s done, the calibration test will return positive results.
The waste of resources, especially when any type of shortage is occurring, is something that must be avoided at all costs. Choosing to set up a schedule for calibration and having a professional manage the task is one of the best ways to determine if the meter is doing the job and if there is a problem beyond the meter that needs to be addressed. Rest assured that the testing and equipment checking will result in efficient water management that makes it easier for businesses to function and consumers to have access to enough water to get by until the drought is over.
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The measurement of volumetric flow requires a relative degree of exactitude because a failure to this end could result in a breakdown in organizational decision-making. This is why a flow meter is essential for all those individuals and companies who have a vested interest in the functionality of flow rates. Of course, each situation requires unique engineering standards that adapt to the contextual constraints. The type of flow meter you choose will thus depend on a number of different factors, such as type of gas or liquid; minimum and maximum flow rates; whether the flow is continuous or not; and the maximum pressure at the location, just to name a few. It should also be stated that not every situation requires supreme accuracy. For instance, water flowing to a vineyard may only need accuracy of 5 to 10 percent, but for those applications that require a greater degree of precision, the positive displacement meter is probably the best bet, as it is the only device to directly measure exact volume. In the following, you will become acquainted with some of the applications of this nifty piece of equipment.
The Final Frontier of Flow
It might come as no surprise that one of the major users of this product is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), along with many other aerospace and aviation companies. As you can imagine there is a great deal of liquid and gaseous flow to track, so the applications are many. The most notable use of this product is the detection and measurement of the flow of dinitrogen tetroxide, otherwise known as rocket propellant, using the 915 BATRT Field Indicator in explosion proof housing. How else could NASA engineers accurately measure the gargantuan amount of fuel flowing into those beastly ships?
Petro-Flow
It is easy to forget about all the labor that goes into the refinement of crude oils before they are injected into a nation of vehicles. A whole slew of additives have to be pumped into this natural resource, from simple surfactants to corrosion inhibitors. Chemicals, such as these, are injected at high pressures and have to be monitored to ensure accuracy. Because these chemicals vary in viscosity and density, the flow meter must be able to handle a number of different kinds of liquids. That is where positive displacement flow meters come in. Due to the tight spaces between moving parts, this type of flow meter is able to handle the high pressure rating. Without these specially made gadgets, the world economy might literally screech to a halt.
The List Is Too Long
There are too many possible uses to run through here. The list goes on and on. The following are some of the possible applications of positive displacement flow meters:
Hydraulic Test Stands
Batching and Mixing
Lubrication Oil Blending
Wherever there is need for an accurate measurement of volumetric flow, this ingenious trinket will be on call. For more information about the uses and advantages of this type of flow meter, look up a distributor online or in the phonebook. Talking to an expert can help you decide which flow meter is right for you.
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Published in the journal Science researchers have created a new membrane that separates closely related molecules and is far sturdier than others. This newly designed material is bound to lead to lowered chemical processing costs and use in other applications of separation.
Separating chemicals has been estimated to consume around 10 percent of the world’s energy production. In creating fresh water up to 60 percent of the energy cost is used to separate substances from the pure water. This particular membrane is the culmination research starting in the 1990’s and is focused on separating xylenes, an organic compound family, from each other.
The main problem with separating these compounds is that each has very similar properties, in fact the mass and boiling points of each are exactly the same throughout the family. Even in physical size, “They differ in size by a tenth of a nanometer.” To further complicate the matter, researchers were looking for a process that is feasible at room temperature to further reduce the energy costs.
The final membrane begins with a commercial polymer that is spun into hollow fibers, linked together into mats, and then heated until only a carbon fiber membrane remains. From tests the researchers have found the membrane uses 10 – 20 times less energy than common methods of separating xylenes.
General Electrics has been facing hardships with the oil decline and overall in general conglomerate management. Having shed GE Capital as well as its appliance business, it is refocusing on power production and energy distribution.
GE’s power division is expecting demand for higher peak generators that can produce up to 55 gigawatts of power and an upturn in the market share for H-class turbines. Overall the demand for power generators is expected to rise quite a bit, with heavy duty gas turbines the majority of those products.
There are many factors that you will want to consider when choosing which flow meter will be best for your process. 
The movement away from coal-fired power, and towards the cost cutting solution of using U.S. gas is what has majorly driven the gas turbine growth. An article on flowcontrolnetwork.com discuses the rise of gas turbine sales and states that the sales from global gas turbine is expected to reach $87 billion next year. The article also talks about the report for the gas turbine market in the next 5 years. A report published by Zion Market Research shows that the compound annual growth rate will be growing by about 4 percent.
