Monitoring Interface Between Compounds in a Pipeline

Applied Analytics™ OMA

In some cases, a single pipeline is used to transport a diverse array of chemical products. When discrete chemicals are moved sequentially through the same pipeline, a mechanical separator known as a “sealing pig” or “batching pig” is inserted between the sequential products to prevent inter-contamination.

Since the pigs are never completely effective at blocking the interface, a significant volume does suffer intermixing and must be removed for reprocessing. The amount of material routed to reprocessing is usually just pre-programmed with a large margin of error on either end of the interface to ensure removal of intermixed products. This is a simplistic model that is unnecessarily wasteful of material and time. 

By using a device such as the Applied Analytics™ OMA industrial analyzer, the chemical concentrations, purity, and physical properties can be measured in a continuously drawn sample from the liquid stream. This allows for real-time analytics of the materials in the pipe, including chemical concentrations, purity, and color. 

The OMA system continuously monitors full-spectrum absorbance in the pipeline stream. A change in this spectrum indicates a change in the purity/composition of the material passing through the pipeline. Therefore, the OMA immediately detects the ‘interface’ point where the material has begun to intermix with the subsequent material in the pipeline. 

Monitoring the 1st derivative of a complete UV-Vis/SW-NIR absorbance spectrum allows the OMA to detect changes in composition with high sensitivity and fast response. The user can define the threshold contamination level which will signal for rerouting of the stream.

For more information, contact Ives Equipment at http://www.ivesequipment.com or call (877) 768-1600.

Monitoring Interface Between Compounds in a Pipeline from Ives Equipment

Flow Meter for Efficient and Cost-effective Use of Water for Irrigation

Irrigation flow meter in the field (courtesy of SIEMENS)

Water is necessary to sustain life, but in many parts of the world it is becoming increasingly scarce. As governments enact stricter legislation in an effort to preserve this vital resource for future generations, the irrigation industry faces a formidable challenge: more carefully managing water consumption and waste prevention while still remaining profitable.

Few resources are as vital to the human population, and the global economy as water. To ensure the continuous preservation of this valuable commodity, the water industry has

On-site testing and validation via SIMATIC PDM tool. 

come to rely on accurate and reliable of battery-operated electromagnetic flow meters is part of ideal water metering solution.

Features to be considered for irrigation flow meters:

• Battery-powered for greater flexibility in the field 
• Accuracy
• Maintenance-free operation 
• Tamper-proof and robust 
• Flexible communication 
• Qualification certificate
• Wireless solution

The manufacturer SIEMENS produces the SITRANS F M MAG 8000 family of battery-operated water meters providing the flexibility to install a reliable water flow meter virtually anywhere without sacrificing accuracy or performance. No main power is required. MAG 8000 complies with the custody transfer approvals MID and OIML R49 water meter standards and is specially engineered for stand-alone water applications such as abstraction, distribution network, revenue metering and irrigation.

Benefit of the SITRANS F M MAG 8000

• Simple meter placement - floating chamber IP 68 (NEMA 6P) design ensures continuous filterless performance regardless of position or in-line piping stresses, even when buried underground 
• Low pressure loss - unrestricted flow tube ensures minimal pressure loss even at high flow rates and reduces overall network system pressure, helping to prevent leakage from burst pipes and excess stress placed on pumping stations 
• Zero maintenance – no moving parts and 10-year battery life 
• Bi-directional measurement - only one meter required for measurement in both directions
• Installation requires 0D inlet to and outlet from the sensor - eliminating concerns about where the meter is installed 
• Intelligent meter – capable of leak detection, data logging and error self-detection 
• Remote capabilities – stay up-to-date on measurement data without having to visit the site through optional GSM/GPRS Wireless Communication Module

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

Special Application Challenges Call For High Performance Butterfly Valves

Series 400 High Performance Butterfly Valve
ABZ Valve

Industrial process control applications can present stringent and challenging performance requirements for the physical equipment and components that comprise the process chain. The valves employed in fluid based operations need to be resistant to the impact of extreme fluid conditions, requiring careful design and selection consideration to assure proper performance and safety levels are maintained in a predictable way.

Industrial valves intended for extreme applications are generally referred to as severe service or high performance valves. While there are plenty of published and accepted standards for industrial valves, one does not exist to precisely define what constitutes a severe service valve.

So, how do you know when to focus valve selection activities on severe service or high performance valves, as opposed to those rated for general purpose? There are a number of basic criteria that might point you in that direction:

• Extreme media or environmental temperature or pressure
• High pressure drop operation that may cause cavitation
• Rapid or extreme changes to inlet pressure
• Certain types or amounts of solids contained in the fluid
• Corrosive media

Certainly, any of these criteria might be found in an application serviceable by a general purpose valve, but their presence should be an indicator that a closer assessment of the fluid conditions and commensurate valve requirements is in order. The key element for a process stakeholder is to recognize when conditions are contemplated that can exceed the capabilities of a general purpose valve, leading to premature failure in control performance or catastrophic failure that produces an unsafe condition. Once the possibility of an extreme or challenging condition is identified, a careful analysis of the range of operating conditions will reveal the valve performance requirements.

There are numerous manufacturers of severe service or high performance valves, each with specialized product offerings focusing on a particular performance niche. ABZ Valve manufactures high performance butterfly valves ranging from 2-48 inches and 150-600 psi. The valve design is ideal for manual or automated actuation, installed with a manual hand gear, electric actuator, or a pneumatic actuator. Seats are available as soft, metal, and fire safe, and body types include wafer, double flanged, and butt-welded. Construction materials include carbon steel and 316 stainless steel. A range of options and variants are available to customize the valve build to suit a replacement or new installation.

More information about the ABZ Valve high performance offering is included below. You can always get more information and discuss your special requirements with a valve specialist. They have application experience and access to technical resources that can help with selecting the right valve components to meet your severe service and high performance applications.

Double Offset High Performance Butterfly Valves from Ives Equipment

Your Plant's Partners Make A Huge Difference in Performance and Profitability

The business relationships you make and the partnerships you choose have a dramatic impact on your plant operations. Choosing the right instrumentation and process equipment partner will save you time, money, and make your plant safer. 

For more than 60 years, Ives Equipment Corporation has successfully served the industries of eastern and central Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, metro NY, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington DC with the latest in process control equipment and services.

The Ives business is built on a foundation of quality people, highly trained and experienced, who take a keen interest in finding the optimum solutions to customers' control problems. If you need a proven, experienced, and reliable business partner, choose Ives.

A Proven Ultrasonic Level Transmitter for Environmental, Water/Wastewater, and Energy Management Industries

Reliable level control for
environmental applications
SITRANS LU150/180

The SIEMENS SITRANS LU150 is a short-range general purpose, 2 wire, 4 to 20 mA loop powered transmitter ideal for liquids, slurries, and bulk materials in open or closed vessels to 5 m (16.4 ft). The SITRANS LU180 is the intrinsically safe model.

Designed primarily for liquid applications in the environmental, water/wastewater, and energy management industries, the device is ideal for non-contact continuous level measurement of liquids and slurries in open or closed vessels.

The reliability of the level readings are based on Sonic Intelligence echo processing algorithms that Siemens has been refining for decades. These algorithms differentiate the true material level echoes from the false ones that can result from acoustic or electrical noises, as well as from agitator blades in motion. It's effective, accurate, unique, and it's exclusively Siemens.

Key Applications

• Chemical storage vessels 
• Filter beds
• Mud pits
• Liquid storage vessels 
• Food applications

For more detailed information, check out the brochure below:

A Proven Ultrasonic Level Transmitter for Environmental, Water/Wastewater, and Energy Management Industries - The SITRANS LU150 & LU180 from Ives Equipment

Industrial pH Control Basics

pH sensor courtesy of HF Scientific

Analytical measurement and control of pH within a system is necessary for many processes common applications include food processing, wastewater treatment, pulp & paper production, HVAC, power generation, and chemical industries.

pH display
courtesy of HF Scientific 

To maintain the desired pH level in a solution a sensor is used to measure the pH value. If the pH is not at the desired set point, a reagent is applied to the solution. When a high alkaline level is detected in the solution, an acid is added to decrease the pH level. When a low alkaline level is detected in the solution a base is added to increase the pH level. In both cases the corrective ingredients are called reagents.

Accurately applying the correct amount of reagent to an acid or base solution can be challenging due to the logarithmic characteristics a pH reaction in a solution. Implementing a closed-loop control system maintains the pH level within a certain range and minimizes the degree to which the solution becomes acidic or alkaline.

An example of an automatic pH level control system is a water treatment process where lime softened water is maintained at a pH of 9 using carbon dioxide as a reagent. As the untreated water (or influent) enters the tank, the pH is continuously monitored by the pH sensor. The sensor is the feedback device to the controller where the setpoint is compared to the control value. If the values are not equal, the controller sends a signal to the control valve that applies carbon dioxide to the tank. The reagent is applied to the tank at varying rates to precisely control the pH level. With the pH level at 11 detected by the sensor, the controller commands the control valve to open and introduce more carbon dioxide. As the increased carbon dioxide mixes with the influent, the pH is lowered in a controlled manner. Reaching the setpoint, the carbon dioxide flow is minimized and the process is continually monitored for variation. The effluent is the treated water that is discharged out of the tank. The process continues to provide the lime softened water at the desired pH level.

Process Equipment Corrosion / Materials Compatibility Guide

Make sure your equipment
is compatible with your process!

Here is a handy quick reference guide for corrosion and material compatibility that can be applied for process control equipment (thanks to QCI Valves).

This chart is a guide to the engineer in the selection of materials for corrosive services. No one material can be expected to handle the wide variety of corrosive media found in industry today.  Therefore, the user must decide,  based on experience, which properties are  of prime importance in their application.

The process equipment in contact with the media should carry an A Rating. This chart is intended to be a guide, and if any questions exist on the application of a material, actual tests should be performed to determine the suitability of the material.  When in doubt, ALWAYS consult an application expert.

Material compatibility-corrosion-guide-qci-ives from Ives Equipment