Showing posts with label Maryland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maryland. Show all posts

The Siemens Milltronics MSI Belt Scale


The Siemens Milltronics MSI is a high accuracy, full frame,  heavy-duty single idler belt scale used for process and load-out control suitable for monitoring products as diverse as sand, flour, coal, or even sugar. The Siemens Milltronics MSI belt scale provides continuous in-line weighing on a variety of products in primary and secondary industries and is proven in a wide range of extremely tough applications in mines, quarries, pits, power generating stations, iron and steel foundries, food processing plants, and chemical production facilities.

The Siemens Milltronics MSI patented use of parallelogram-style load cells results in fast reaction to vertical forces, ensuring instant response to product loading. This enables it to provide outstanding accuracy and repeatability even with uneven loading and fast belt speeds.

For more information, contact Ives Equipment by calling (877) 768-1600 or visit https://ivesequipment.com.

The Alfa Laval Unique Mixproof CP-3 Valve


Offering all dairy, food and beverage processors optimum hygiene, reliable effectiveness and decreased ownership expenses. Not just a dairy valve, the Alfa Laval Unique CP-3 is a reduced vent mix-proof valve – designed to be configurable and to protect your product.

Food and beverage plants across the United States are now using this proven mix-proof technology to eliminate cross-contamination – while improving overall production safety, hygiene, and production.

Beverage:


The Unique mix-proof CP-3 can be configured to handle carbonated drinks or energy drinks based on sugar and syrup – perfect for syrup or recipe room manifolds. Cleaning plugs and seats during seat-lifting eliminates sugar or syrup build-up.

Cleaning time and eventually modifications in the recipe are quicker as only two seals are situated in the valve chamber – enabling quicker valve cleaning during seat lift with fewer seal spare parts needed, improving valve longevity.

Food:


The Unique mix-proof CP-3 also has a setup to handle the most viscous condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise and can assist address complicated problems in food processing – such as keeping the texture and taste of soups or vegetable sauces.

While it can be hard for any viscous food application to clean mix-proof valves with narrow plug tolerances, the starches left behind pose the greatest cleaning challenge. The valve seat is built on the upper and lower seat plugs with throttling corners – which speeds up cleaning fluid to enhance CIP effectiveness and clean the most stubborn food residue with the absolute minimum quantity of CIP fluid resources being used.

For more information, contact:
Ives Equipment
https://ivesequipment.com
(877) 768-1600

Explosion-Proof Meters, Annunciators and Batch Controllers Built to Work in a Wide Range of Applications and Environments

PD8-6000
Front, back and in between, the PD8-6000 explosion-proof process meter boasts specifications, features and functionality that make it the only hazardous area process meter you will ever need.

The PD8-6000 is approved as a complete product by FM and CSA and also carriers IECEx approvals. Besides being suitable for hazardous areas, the number one feature that makes the PD8-6000 such a useful device is its built-in 24 VDC power supply to drive the transmitter as illustrated by the above diagram. This feature not only saves the cost of an external power supply, but also greatly simplifies wiring. In addition, there is a second 25 mA power supply provided with the 4-20 mA output option

Its superluminous LED digits make it easily readable in smoke, dust, fog, and, with the optional SunBright® display, even direct sunlight. It accepts a process current (4-20 mA) or process voltage (0-5V, 1-5V, etc.) signal and displays it on a dual-line, 6-digit SunBright® sunlight readable display.

The meter includes a 24 VDC power supply to drive the transmitter and can be equipped with up to four internal relays and a 4-20 mA output. The PD8-6000 can be programmed and operated without opening the housing by using the built-in SafeTouch® through-glass buttons or the RS485 serial communication port with free Modbus® protocol.

A fully loaded PD8-6000 meter has the following: four SPDT relays, 4-20 mA output, and two 24 VDC power supplies. The four relays can be used for alarm indication or process control applications such as pump alternation control. The 4-20 mA isolated output, Modbus RTU serial communications, and digital I/O options make the PD8-6000 an excellent addition to any hazardous area application.

For more information, contact Ives Equipment by calling 877-768-1600 or by visiting https://ivesequipment.com.

Reducing Material Waste in Flexible Pet (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Production

Reducing Material Waste in Flexible Pet

Polyester is very popular because it is a light, soft, flexible, low-maintenance material that keeps you warm. Making it this way poses diverse challenges to PET producers.


A chemical plant specializing in producing PET was looking for a solution to reduce the waste resulting from product variance. The factory produces 25,000 tons of polyester annually, which is then provided to other manufacturers to produce a vast range of end products.

SITRANS FC430
The SITRANS FC430
monitors the glycol flow.
This vast range requires different PET grades, which are achieved by slight variations in the synthesis procedures. In order to investigate possible options to upgrade their primary processing, understanding the complete process is vital. In the case of PET production, this process starts with mixing three key ingredients – PTA and IPA powder along with glycol liquid – in specific ratios to make a paste.

These source materials are stored in stainless steel bins with a volume of 2649 ft3. Rotary feeders move the mate- rial from these bins to a batching vessel along with glycol to make the polyester paste. The batching vessel is agitated to ensure that the mixture is always consistent. Monitoring tank levels, precisely controlling the dosing, the efficient use of raw materials and ensuring a consistent mix are the key parameters
SIWAREX WP251
SIWAREX WP251
when it comes to improving the primary processing. When Siemens designed a new system for the chemical plant from the bottom up, the Siemens S7-1200 PLC controller was the first product that was installed to set up a compact and flexible automation solution, which keeps track of the key parameters and the process efficiency.

Don’t get mixed up during mixing

Each raw material bin is mounted on Siwarex WL280 ring torsion load cells to achieve optimum weighing accuracy. These load cells are connected to two Siwarex WP251 weighing modules, which are specifically designed for batching applications. The advantages of this solution are that the WL280 load cells feature a C3 class rating for accuracy as well as an IP68 rating for protection against dust and direct high-pressure cleaning – ideal for handling powder materials such as PTA. In connection with the Siwarex WP251, a customer-specific application was engineered with a resolution of up to +/- 4 million parts.

SITRANS TS500
SITRANS TS500
The glycol as the liquid component in this process is monitored by a Sitrans FC430 coriolis mass flowmeter providing a 4-20 mA output, which varies based on the flow rate of the material. This signal is fed into an analog S7-1200 input module. A Sipart PS2 positioner controls the valves to regulate the flow rate. In such flexible processes as this one, the operator individually sets the setpoint for total production. At the field level, this flexibility is achieved using Sinamics variable frequency drives, which independently adjust the flow rate of each material. To close the loop, the discharge rates from the raw material bins are monitored by the WP251. The output is then processed by the S7-1200 controller, sent through an analog module to control the Sipart PS2 positioner – which in turn allows more or less glycol to flow into the batching vessel. The downstream Sitrans FC430 flow meter additionally verifies the flow rate to ensure a high-quality mix.

How powder and liquid become PET

Pointek CLS200
Pointek CLS200
The temperature of the paste is another crucial factor when it comes to producing high-quality PET. If the agitation causes too much heat, the whole mixture could be lost, causing unwanted waste. In this configuration, a TS500 controls the temperature to the optimum level. To further cut down on product loss, a Pointek CLS200 capacitance- based switch acts as a backup device to ensure that the material discharges completely, and does not build up or overflow. Its high frequency oscillation makes it insensitive to product buildup, therefore guaranteeing reliable level monitoring in the PET paste vessel. For integrated control and alarm management, the level switch is connected to the S7-1200 controller. With 13 sensors, 2 VFDs, 3 geared motors, 4 modules and 1 HMI installed and connected to the control system, the plant managers reap the benefits of a comprehensive portfolio from one supplier. The new equipment is reliable and efficient and – together with the DCS solution – offers excellent process and data control.

Less material waste and reduced downtimes

SIPART PS2
SIPART PS2
Where did this leave the chemical company? After the equipment had been running for 3 months, the first estimates were made as to whether the initial goals of reduced waste and increased efficiency had been met. The result: plant efficiency had increased by 27 % due to the reduced material waste and product loss. Further, the more reliable process measurements and diagnostics help the company to service their equipment on a preventive basis instead of a reactive one, resulting in reduced downtimes and in- creased reliability.

Simplified diagram
Simplified diagram showing the customer’s process.
So the next time, you put on your running gear, take a sip out of a plastic bottle or attach your safety belt, maybe you will remember the effort that goes into producing the PET that is needed to manufacture these types of products. By the way – they have another important characteristic in common as they can be completely recycled.






Ives Equipment
877-768-1600
https://ivesequipment.com

Calibration Services for Process Instrumentation


Measuring, positioning, recording, and controlling are important parameters in all industries processes. That’s why process instruments need to deliver the highest levels of precision and reliability.

Today calibration measuring devices is an important production and competitive activity due to steadily increasing demands on reliability, availability and performance.

Off-site Calibration Services

Siemens offers factory calibration services for Pressure, Temperature and Flowmeters from both our own and other manufacturers.

On-site Calibration Services

Siemens offers on-site calibrations for Pressure, Temperature and Belt scale of our own products as well as those of other manufacturers.

This video presents the viewer with explanations and concepts for the following:

  • The Siemens Process Instrument Services overview.
  • A description of field instrument technologies.
  • What calibration means.
  • Reasons for calibrating field devices.
  • The importance of calibration and verification.
  • What traceability means.
  • Why accreditation is needed.
  • The Siemens Factory Calibration process.
  • The Siemens On-site Calibration process.
  • What verification means.
  • Reasons for verification.
  • The Siemens On-site Verification process.

For more information, contact Ives Equipment:
(877) 768-1600
https://ivesequipment.com

What Are Pneumatic Actuators?

rack and pinion actuator
Internal view of rack and pinion actuator
(Flowserve Worcester)
Pneumatic valve actuators are used in extreme conditions in many industries such as oil and gas, chemical, water and wastewater, bulk storage, pulp & paper, and power generation. These devices are used in a multitude of valve control processes for regulation (or cessation) of flow, controlling pressure and adjusting level.  Due to their reliability and simplicity, pneumatic actuators are one of the most popular types of actuators used in industry today.

Pneumatic valve actuators work by conversion of air pressure into motion. The device applies a force of air to a diaphragm, rotary vane, or piston that is attached to the actuator shaft, which is then mechanically connected to the stem of the valve or damper. Depending on the type, pneumatic actuators produce either linear or rotary motion. 

ACTUATOR ACTION - SPRING RETURN OR DOUBLE ACTING

Spring Return — Pneumatic actuators with spring return design have air supplied from one side. The spring on the opposite side is responsible for the motion. With this design, air compression moves the opens or shuts the valves while the spring is responsible for the opposite motion. 

Double Acting  — Double acting actuators have air fed on both sides of a piston. The pressure on one side is higher as compared to the other that results in the required in movement. Air is used to open and close the valves.  

Diaphragm actuator
Diaphragm actuator
(Samson)
PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR DESIGNS

Diaphragm Actuators — Diaphragm actuators work by applying pressure to a thin membrane or diaphragm. 

Piston Actuators — Piston actuators apply compress air to a piston that is within a cylinder. Air is fed into a chamber that moves the piston in one direction. The piston moves in the opposite direction when air pressure is removed (spring assisted) or directed to the other side (double acting). 

Rack and Pinion — Rack and pinion actuators produce rotation by applying pressure to pistons with gears that turn a pinion gear. Rack and pinion actuators can be spring return or double acting. They are valued because of their compact size and versatility.

Scotch Yoke — A scotch-yoke actuator contains a piston, yoke, connecting shaft, and rotary pin.
Scotch yoke actuator
Scotch yoke actuator
(Samson)
They can be direct acting or spring return. They are capable of providing very high torque outputs and are generally used on larger valves. Scotch yoke actuators can be powered by air or process gas.

Rotary Vane —Vane actuators use a mechanical vane, connected to a shaft, that separates a circular shaped body in two "clamshell" halves. The vane moves in response to the differential pressure inside the actuator body, turning the shaft clockwise or counter-clockwise in response to the pressure differential. External springs units are available for spring return models.

BENEFITS OF PNEUMATIC ACTUATORS

The use of compressed air (typically found in all industrial facilities) as the power source is the prime advantage for the use of pneumatic actuators. Additionally, pneumatic actuators have an advantage in suitability for different environments and can be used in extremes temperatures. They are preferred over electrical actuators in explosive, flammable and other hazardous areas because they do not require electricity (a possible ignition source) to operate. They do not create electrical fields or electrical noise since there is no electrical motor. Pneumatic valve actuators are faster opening and closing compared to their electric counterparts. Finally, they are low cost, lightweight, durable, require little maintenance (depending on quality) and there are a myriad of positioning controls, speed controls, and communications devices available for tailoring the actuator to the application.

DRAWBACKS OF PNEUMATIC ACTUATORS

While compressed air is the main reason for using pneumatic actuators, it can also be considered a drawback. For instance, pneumatic actuators can perform poorly when the air supply source is located at a distance, resulting in lag and slow response. Another drawback of pneumatic actuators is the additional cost for the compressed air system due to the requirement of dust filters and moisture removing dryers. These are required to ensure clean air is fed into the system.

APPLYING PNEUMATIC ACTUATORS

There are many aspects to the proper, safe, and efficient application of pneumatic actuators to valves and dampers. Sizing the power output (torque) being paramount. All valves and dampers have unique torque requirements. You must consider a threshold force for opening (breakaway), as the valve continues to move to its open or closed position, and then for seating. Matching the actuators to the valve type, and operating conditions is critical. Published torque curves must be reviewed and understood. Too little torque and the vale will not respond. Too much torque increases cost and can damage the valve. Spring return adds to this complexity. Considering all this, it is strongly suggested you always discuss any valve actuation requirement with an experienced applications expert. They will ensure the proper, safe, and cost effective mating of pneumatic actuator to valve or damper.

What Is IIOT? Understanding Industrial IoT and the Technology Behind It

What Is IIOT
IoT or the internet of things needs no introduction. However, you may want to familiarize yourself with its offshoots such as the Industrial IoT, better known as IIoT. The simplest way to define IIoT would be the implementation of IoT capabilities in an industrial or manufacturing setting.

An amalgamation of various technologies such as big data, machine learning, automation, and sensor data, industrial IoT enables a connected enterprise by combing the information and operational department of the industry. Let’s take a more detailed look at IIoT and the technology behind it.

Understanding IoT

A sector that is rapidly progressing and accounts for a major share in the global IoT spending, IIoT provides manufacturers and industrialists with a significant opportunity to not only monitor but also automate many complex manufacturing/industrial processes. IIoT, a network of connected devices, enables systems to collect, track, disseminate, and analyze valuable new insights.

With these insights, industrial companies can make smarter, faster business decisions. By changing how industries work, IIoT is transforming them. Additionally, businesses are getting desired outcomes by integrating IIoT with other technological solutions. This includes providing production data in real time to unveil additional plant capacity, stopping cyber-attacks through increased visibility or control over the industrial control systems, and allowing identification of corrosion within a refinery pipe through predictive analytics.

IIoT is driving incredible levels of efficiency, productivity, and performance by combining technology, industrial big data analytics, cyber security, and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. And, this has helped bring transformative operational and financial benefits to companies in the healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, oil & gas and power & energy sectors.

The Future of IIOT

It is predicted that the industrial internet could be worth over $200 billion by 2030. This is the reasons many companies have invested heavily in the industrial internet. Example of this is the Industrial Internet Consortium—an association founded companies to accelerate the development, adoption, and widespread use of interconnected people, machines and devices and intelligent analytics.

SIEMENS is helping drive the industrial transformation by leveraging the potential of the industrial internet. The company predicts that in the future, IIoT will account for a major share of the global economy and will impact both energy production and energy consumption. Today, industries are making all sorts of efforts to modernize systems and equipment to meet new regulations, keep up with increasing speed and volatility of the market and deal with disruptive technologies.

Significant improvements to efficiency, safety, and profitability have been experienced by businesses that have embraced IIoT and this trend is expected to continue in the future as IoT technologies are more widely adopted.

If you want to learn more about IIoT, contact Ives Equipment. The can be reached by visiting https://ivesequipment.com or by calling (877) 768-1600.

Heat Exchangers for Hygienic Use

Alfa Laval provides the widest range of hygienic products and accessories in the world. Designed for superior safety, efficiency and cleanliness, they ensure careful product handling in the food, dairy, beverage, biotech, pharmaceutical and personal care industries. Alfa Laval heat exchangers, valves, automation, pumps, tank equipment and installation material offer solutions for all process stages – and almost certainly the solution you need.

Alfa Laval heat exchangers are designed for heating and cooling, pasteurization and utility duties, and are able to handle even viscous products. By combining Alfa Laval thermal technologies with their many years of industrial experience, Alfa Laval can also provide you with a wide range of tailored solutions.



Ives Equipment
https://ivesequipment.com
(877) 768-1600 

White Paper: Breakthrough Solenoid Valve Technology for Upstream Oil and Gas Heating Equipment

Low-temperature stainless steel fuel shutoff valves are usually utilized for on/off control of fuel gas
within gas fuel trains in process heating system burners. These systems are widely used by oil and gas firms as well by as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that produce gas heating equipment or burner management systems (BMSs) and controls in upstream oil and gas pipelines and tanks.

In recent years, a new generation of solenoid valve technology has been changing the shutoff valve game. Their modern designs provide pipeline and tank heating systems with robust, durable performance; safety; and regulatory compliance — all while increasing efficiency and productivity.

Many operators in North America and beyond are moving away from using pneumatically operated shutoff valves on their pipelines and tank heaters. They’re replacing them instead with valves introduced within the last decade by a few manufacturers — all based on solenoid shutoff valve technologies. White paper courtesy of ASCO.


Reversing the Failure Mode of a SAMSON 3271/3277 Actuator from Fail Open to Fail Close


INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING: Actuators with preloaded springs are under tension. They can be identified by three long bolts protruding from the bottom of the actuator. These should be removed last, and installed first upon re-assembly.
  1. With the actuator removed from the valve, unscrew the nuts and bolts on the diaphragm case.
  2. Lift off the top diaphragm case.
  3. Remove the diaphragm plate assembly consisting of the diaphragm plate, diaphragm, and actuator stem from the actuator case.
  4. Remove the springs.
  5. Clamp the bottom section of the actuator stem into a vise using protective jaws, ensuring the actuator stem is not damaged.
  6. Remove the collar nut.
  7. Remove the diaphragm plate from the actuator stem, flip upside-down and place them back onto the actuator stem.
  8. Re-install the collar nut.
  9. If necessary, apply a suitable lubricant to the actuator stem.
  10. Install the diaphragm plate assembly together with the actuator stem pointing downward into the bottom diaphragm case.
  11. Place the springs onto the diaphragm plate, centering them in the intended recesses. The final actuator spring range will determine the appropriate springs to be installed.
  12. Place the top of the actuator case onto the assembly. Ensure that the air connections on the cases are correctly aligned with each other.
  13. Fasten the top and bottom diaphragm cases together using the nuts and bolts. Observe tightening torques.
ABOUT THE SAMSON 3271/3277

The Type 3271 pneumatic rolling diaphragm actuator is designed for all industrial applications. This actuator is a linear motion device ideal for valve sizes ranging from the micro-flow valves to large 20"+ globe control valves.

The Type 3277 pneumatic rolling diaphragm actuator with an integrated accessory attachment area is designed for all industrial applications. This actuator is a linear motion device ideal for valve sizes ranging from the micro-flow valves to 4" globe control valves.

The thrust force of the actuator depends on the actuator area, pneumatic supply pressure, spring stiffness, distance traveled, initial compression of the spring, the number of springs internal to the actuator, etc.

The Type 3271 and Type 3277 Pneumatic Actuators contain a rolling diaphragm and internal springs and have the following special features:
  • Low overall height
  • Powerful thrust at high stroking speed
  • Low friction
  • Various bench ranges by varying the number of springs or
  • their compression
  • No special tools required to change the bench range or to
  • reverse the direction of action (also version with handwheel)
  • Permissible operating temperatures from –60 to +120 °C
For more information on SAMSON Controls, contact Ives Equipment by calling 877-768-1600 or visiting https://ivesequipment.com.

Sensidyne: Flammable & Toxic Gas Detection for Pipeline & Gas Processing Plants

Industry-leading reliability, SensAlert ASI is the ideal fixed-point gas detector for critical safety applications. Flexible configurations and a simple interface provide maximum application versatility while remaining the easiest to install, commission, operate, and maintain.

Download the Flammable & Toxic Gas Detection for Pipeline & Gas Processing Plants guide book at the Ives Equipment website here.

Ives Equipment
https://ivesequipment.com
(877) 768-1600

Understanding HART Communication Protocol

A technological advance introduced in the late 1980’s was HART, an acronym standing for Highway Addressable Remote Transmitter. The purpose of the HART standard was to create a way for instruments to digitally communicate with one another over the same two wires used to convey a 4-20 mA analog instrument signal. In other words, HART is a hybrid communication standard, with one variable (channel) of information communicated by the analog value of a 4-20 mA DC signal, and another channel for digital communication whereby many other variables could be communicated using pulses of current to represent binary bit values of 0 and 1. Those digital current pulses are superimposed upon the analog DC current signal, such that the same two wires carry both analog and digital data simultaneously.

Looking at a standard loop-powered (2-wire) process transmitter circuit, we see the transmitter, a DC power supply (voltage source), and usually a 250 ohm resistor to create a 1 to 5 volt signal readable by any voltage-sensing indicator, controller, or recorder:

HART Communications

The transmitter’s primary function in this circuit is to regulate current to a value representative of the measured process variable (e.g. pressure, temperature, flow, etc.) using a range of 4 to 20 mA, while the DC voltage source provides power for the transmitter to operate. Loop-powered instruments are very common in industrial instrumentation because they allow both power and (analog) data to be conveyed on the same pair of wires.

With the advent of microprocessor-based process transmitters, it became possible for instrument technicians to digitally configure parameters inside the transmitter (e.g. range values, damping values) and also query the transmitter for self-diagnostic alarms. In order to make full use of this digital functionality, though, there had to be some way to communicate digital data to and from the process transmitter over the same two wires used to convey the 4-20 mA analog signal. Otherwise, the only way to access this rich array of digital data inside the transmitter would be to connect a communicator device to some data port located on the transmitter itself, which is inconvenient due to the nature of how these transmitters are used in industry (located in dirty places, often hard to access while carrying a personal computer or other communication device).
HART Transmitter
HART Transmitter
(Siemens)

Thus the HART communication protocol was born to address this need. HART communicates digital data along the loop conductors in the form of AC signals (audio-frequency tones) superimposed on the 4-20 mA DC current signal. A modem built into the smart transmitter translates these AC signals into binary bits, and vice-versa. Now, instrument technicians could “talk” with the new microprocessor-based transmitters simply by connecting a HART communications device at any point along the two-wire cable, even at the far end where the cable terminates at the control system hardware (panel-mounted controller, PLC, DCS, etc.).

Being able to communicate digital data over the same wire pair as the DC power and analog signal opens a whole new range of possibilities. Now, the field-mounted transmitter can communicate self-diagnostic information, status reports, alarms, and even multiple process variables to the control system in addition to the original analog signal representing the (main) process variable. With digital communication, the only data limitation is speed (data rate), not quantity. The control system may even communicate information to the transmitter using the same digital protocol, using this digital data channel to switch between different measurement range sets, activating special features (e.g. square-root characterization, damping, etc.), automatically and remotely.



Reprinted from "Lessons In Industrial Instrumentation" by Tony R. Kuphaldt – under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License.

New 2018 United Electric Controls Short Form Product Catalog

United Electric Controls is a premier manufacturer of safety, alarm, and shutdown equipment, and is a a global supplier of pressure and temperature switches, transmitters, sensors, and controls for the process, discrete, semiconductor, aerospace, and defense industries.

The UEC short form product catalog has been updated and can be downloaded here.

The Samson 3291 and 3255 Series Control Valves

Samson Controls, located in Baytown, TX, manufactures high-performance, industrial control valves designed to withstand the toughest applications.

Samson 3291
Samson 3291
Samson 3291

The Samson 3291 control valve was specifically developed for heavy duty applications in the oil and gas industry. The construction is based on the proven SAMSON valve design, with one significant difference: while the seats in SAMSON valves are normally screwed in place, the 3291 has the seat held in place by a cage retainer. Unlike typical cage guided control valves, the 3291 control valve utilizes a top and seat guided design by means of a V-port plug. This open flow-path design minimizes friction and allows for the passage of small particulates without clogging the valve or getting “trapped” between the piston and cage. To download the Samson 3291 Control Valve brochure visit this page.

The Samson 3291 Special Length Version is a direct replacement for legacy split body valves without the need for spool pieces, piping modifications, or on-site modifications.

Samson 3522 "Little Tex"
Samson 3522 "Little Tex"

Samson 3522 "Little Tex"

The Type 3522 threaded seat control valve is designed for standard process engineering applications with high industrial requirements for control and quality. This control valve offers a wide range of trim sets to meet required flow coefficient and sealing methods as would be found in general application type control valves. The Type 3522 can be assembled with a pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, or electro-hydraulic actuator also offered by the SAMSON group to complete the control valve construction. To download the Samson 3522 Control Valve brochure visit this page.




New Flowserve Worcester Controls Industrial Valve and Actuator Catalog

The latest catalog for Flowserve Worcester Control industrial ball valves, pneumatic actuators and electric actuators, courtesy of Ives Equipment. Worcester was founded in 1955. It supplies valves throughout the world for virtually any application. These include standard flanged ball valves, ANSI and DIN specifications in reduced and full bore, three-piece valves for cryogenic, high pressure, steam, diverter or sampling duty, high integrity valves, multi-way designs, modulating controls or customized solutions.

Download a PDF version of the "Worcester Controls Industrial Valve and Actuator Catalog" here or review in the embedded document below.

Positive Displacement Flowmeters

Oval Gear Flowmeter
Oval Gear Flowmeter
(Macnaught)
Positive displacement flowmeters use fluid to mechanically move internal components such as pistons, gears and discs to measure flow.  These devices are both precise and simple to operate. Unlike other liquid flow measurement technologies that rely on the measurement of a physical property of flowing media to produce a volumetric or mass flow measurement, a positive displacement flowmeter provides a direct indication of actual volumetric flow rate. There are a number of different positive displacement flowmeter designs in use throughout industrial and commercial installations:
Oscillating Piston Meter
Oscillating Piston Flowmeter
(Niagara Meter)
Each of the designs, and any others that would be classified as positive displacement, contain a mechanical structure through which the fluid must travel on its path from source to target. The fluid motion drives the mechanical assembly, which contains pathways of known volume. As the fluid motion drives the positive displacement flowmeter assembly, its rotational, oscillating, or other regular movement is counted, often by electronic means using magnetic pickups on moving assembly. The counts can be used to indicate current flow rate, or totalized to measure total flow volume. Additional inputs about fluid properties can be used to calculate mass flow, as well.

Positive displacement flowmeters can be applied to liquid or gaseous media, with the selection of the mechanical internals being a significant factor in the suitability of a design for a particular application. The longstanding use of positive displacement flowmeters across various industries has been a source of stability in terms of design, with the most recent advancements in positive displacement technology focusing on maintaining precision at lower costs.
Nutating Disc Flowmeter
(Niagara Meter)

There are a few known limitations for the use of positive displacement meters. The meters are not the optimal choice for measuring fluids with large particles, and are also non-ideal for measuring fluids with large air pockets. Additionally, systems using positive displacement meters need to account for slight pressure drops in the positive displacement meter.

Share all of your flow measurement requirements and challenges with process instrumentation experts, combining your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Understanding Valve Positioners

valve positioner
Valve positioner on
linear control valve
(Siemens SIPART)
Industrial valves allow the flow of a process fluid through a pipe. Valves always include some type of actuation (opening/closing) device - from simple manual levers to sophisticated electric or pneumatic actuation packages. Industrial valves can act as on/off or proportioning devices to allow full flow, no flow, or modulated flow. When valves are used for modulating fluid flow, an instrument called a valve positioner is installed.

A valve positioner is used in tandem with a valve actuator, the power source to open or close the valve. Positioners precisely direct the actuator to move the valve so that a desired flow volume is achieved and maintained. The positioner does this by monitoring the process condition, comparing it to a desired set point, and then pneumatically, electrically, or hydraulically manipulating the valve orifice until the difference between the set point and actual process variable is zero.

In closed loop control systems where the final control element are valves, valve positioners are the "brains" that provide the corrective signal to eliminate process offset. Positioners enable tighter control by overcoming the realities of valve wear, imprecise calibration, and a host of other process variable challenges.

Valve positioners are used throughout the process industries including power, pharmaceutical, chemicals, oil and gas, food and beverage, pulp and paper, refining and petrochemicals, pipelines, and many other processes.

Basic Function

positioner diagram
Diagram of typical flow control loop using valve positioner.
A valve positioner receives a signal from a controller. The controller could be part of a distributed control system (DCS), a programmable logic controller (PLC), or a discreet PID controller. The controller interprets a signal from some type of sensor, such as a flow transmitter, temperature transmitter, pressure transmitter, or other, and compares the transmitter reading to a desired setpoint. If the controller sees an offset (error), a corrective signal based on the difference, is sent to the valve positioner. The positioner then repositions the valve actuator that in turn readjusts the position of the valve, thereby changing the process condition, brining the system to to equilibrium.

Types of valve positioners:


Pneumatic Positioners

Pneumatic positioners receive pneumatic signals (3-15 or 6-30 PSIG) and proportion the supply air pressure to the valve actuator accordingly to move the valve to the required position. Pneumatic positioners are intrinsically safe and have the ability to provide a large amount of force to open or close a valve.

Electro-Pneumatic Positioners

Electro-pneumatic valve positioners are very similar to pneumatic postioners, except that they contain internal current-to-pneumatic converter (I/P). The current-to-pneumatic module receives a varying electrical signal (most commonly 4-20 mA) and converts that signal (proportionately) to a pneumatic output signal (3-15 PSIG or 6-30 PSIG). The pneumatic signal then then proportions the supply air pressure to the valve actuator.

Electric Positioners

Electric valve positioners receive an electric signal, usually 4-20 mA, 1-5 VDC, 2-10 VCD or 0-10 VDC and generally drive the motors in electric actuators. They perform the same function as pneumatic positioners do, but use electricity instead of air pressure as an input signal.

For more information on valve positioners, or any valve automation requirement, contact Ives Equipment by visiting https://ivesequipment.com or calling 877-768-1600.

Tutorial: How to Use the Push Buttons on the SIEMENS SITRANS P Family of Transmitters

The SIEMENS SITRANS P stands above the competition when it comes to easy operation. This video provides an outstanding tutorial on how the SITRANS P push buttons and display are used.

SITRANS P offer a complete family of devices that include digital pressure transmitters for measuring gauge pressure, absolute pressure, differential pressure, flow and level.

https://ivesequipment.com
(877) 768-1600

Excellent Reference for Engineers: Table of Gases

Table of Gases
Handy Table of Gases courtesy of Control Instruments
Our friends at Control Instruments Corporation have put together an excellent Table of Gases web page that includes chemical formula, chemical properties, and what type of detection detection technology (Catalytic, Flame Temperature Analyzer, Flame Ionization Detector, British Thermal Unit) is applicable. We find is a handy reference when researching properties of gases.

The table can be found here:  http://www.controlinstruments.com/table-of-gases

Control Instrument Corporation manufacturers gas detection instruments for safety and environmental protection. Control Instruments products are installed and used under the most demanding conditions, from oil pipelines in the Arctic to drilling wells in the desert.

For more information on Control Instruments products, contact Ives Equipment by visiting https://ivesequipment.com, or by calling (877) 768-1600.

What Are Rack and Pinion Actuators?

Internal view of rack and pinion actuator
Operation rack and pinion actuator.
Rack and pinion actuators convert linear movement of a driving mechanism to provide a rotational movement designed to open and close quarter-turn valves such as ball, butterfly, or plug valves and also for operating industrial or commercial dampers.

There are three primary kinds of valve actuators are commonly used: pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric.

Pneumatic actuators can be further categorized as scotch yoke design, vane design, and the subject of this post - rack and pinion actuators.

How Rack and Pion Actuators Operate

Image courtesy of Wikipedia
The rotational movement of a rack and pinion actuator is accomplished via linear motion and two gears. A circular gear, known as a “pinion” engages the teeth of one or two linear gears, referred to as the “rack”.

Pneumatic actuators use pistons that are attached to the rack. As air or spring power is applied the to pistons, the rack changes position. This linear movement is transferred to the rotary pinion gear (in both directions) providing bi-directional rotation to open and close the connected valve.

Rack and pinion actuators pistons can be pressurized with air, gas, or oil to provide the linear the movement that drives the pinion gear. To rotate the pinion gear in the opposite direction, the air, gas, or oil must be redirected to the other side of the pistons, or use coil springs as the energy source for rotation. Rack and pinion actuators using springs are referred to as "spring-return actuators". Actuators that rely on opposite side pressurization of the rack are referred to as "direct acting".

Internal view of rack and pinion actuator
Internal view of rack and pinion actuator
Most actuators are designed for 100-degree travel with clockwise and counterclockwise travel adjustment for open and closed positions. World standard ISO mounting pad are commonly available to provide ease and flexibility in direct valve installation.

NAMUR mounting dimensions on actuator pneumatic port connections and on actuator accessory holes and drive shaft are also common design features to make adding pilot valves and accessories more convenient.

Rack and pinion actuator with valve
Rack and pinion
actuator with valve.
(Flowserve Worcester
Pneumatic pneumatic rack and pinion actuators are compact and effective. They are reliable, durable and provide good service life. There are many brands of rack and pinion actuators on the market, all with subtle differences in piston seals, shaft seals, spring design and body designs. Some variants are specially designed for very specific operational environments or circumstances.

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