processing control Archives - Page 4 of 4

Flow Meters for Every Application

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Vitalii Prokopiv

There are many flow meter variations out there, and each application requires a different style of meter. Depending on the fluid being measured each style of flow meter may be more suited to that situation. Everything from the viscosity to the potential contaminants plays a part in choosing the perfect flow meter for your needs.

Accuracy Coriolis flow meters are highly accurate, but may impinge the flow of fluids through the pipeline.

Consistency Nutating disk flow meters are simple to replace, but may need repeated calibrations as parts wear down.

Minimal Flow Restriction Electromagnetic flow meters do not block or reduce flow, but can be costly to maintain.

Click here for the full article from Chemical Processing.com.

Pumping Liquids with Dry Gas Seals

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Vitalii Prokopiv

During the processing of natural gas liquid ethane is pumps from 28 bar vessels to 76 bar vessels, and while under normal temperatures this can be done easily, Texas summers regularly reach temperatures where ethane vaporizes and creates product loss. Most seals for these systems use a liquid-lubricated seal, but under varying pressures these can warp and leak. Different variations of this type of seal use an inert gas between one or more pressurized faces to prevent leaks, but once the liquid reaches a higher vapor pressure the now gas breaches the seal.

Dry gas seals are simple albeit unconventional in liquid pumping situations. Seals are normally designed for non-contact operation, meaning any turning, ratcheting, or other operating situations can cause wear and eventual failure. Dry gas seals feature a crystalline layer simulating natural diamond to resist chipping and flaking. Furthermore by using an inert gas as the holding pressure, any vaporized ethane must combat a higher pressure to escape.

The increased structural resilience and absence of mechanical contact make these types of seals longer lasting, up to 5 years rather than 3 weeks in this circumstance.

Click here for the full article on Pumps & Systems.

HMIs Deliver More Detail and Accuracy

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Vitalii Prokopiv

Human-machine interfaces are the terminals we use to interact with the digital world. In industrial applications these are the monitors on the plant floor that allow informed, safer choices. Developers and users continue to improve HMIs and apply them in newer environments.

In dairy processing acilities, incoming milk is chilled rapidly to 4° C and distributed to various silos for different end products. Each product has different tolerance during processing, and HMIs display this to plant operators in real-time for analysis and decision making. New models of HMIs and monitoring sensors have standardized these silos with new features like alarms for high or low temperatures as well as flow meters and float switches for distribution data, batch reports, and overflow warnings. Some new features can control pumps, and agitators for each individual silo as well.

Click here for the full article on Control Global.

New Process Control FLP

Posted on April 25, 2016April 25, 2016 by Vitalii Prokopiv

Dr. Babu Padmanabhan, inventor of the Fractional Lobe Processor, looks forward to the benefits of his new product. The teams expect improvements in temporal control and spatial control throughout the engineering process. The FLP removes hot spots and dead zones while retaining process continuity, by focusing on regulating input and output flows.

Greater control over the processing speed and timing safeguards sensitive input resources from adverse conditions before production.

“The FLP has also opened new, hitherto unexplored vistas in the field of material transformation owing to wide range of unit operations that can be seamlessly designed in the FLP. It has an immense potential to design, create and manufacture different types of products with highly-controlled physicochemical attributes making it a true versatile continuous processor.” -Dr. Himadri Sen of STEERLife.

Click here for the full article from PRNewswire.