What's New
Blow-Back Technology is the Highlight of These Fluid-Bed Processors
The line of Bohle BFS fluid-bed processors features a patent-pending filter system that uses a unique blowback technology to clean the entire filter surface over its full length. This eliminates clogging and subsequent product defects. Available in capacities ranging from 5 to 480 kg, the BFS features an optional online PAT moisture-detection system utilizing NIR technology for precise moisture determination during granulation and drying. The combination of robust equipment design, reliable analytical instrumentation and easy-to-use software ensures accurate and verifiable results. An onboard computer system effectively controls all relevant process parameters and provides complete data documentation. Other options, including WIP and CIP cleaning systems, are also available.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
L. B. Bohle LLC
www.lbbohle.com
Manual Dumping Station is Equipped with a Flexible Screw Conveyor
Designed to collect dust created during manual dumping of powder and bulk solid materials, this manual dumping station with integral flexible screw conveyor features a high-velocity vacuum fan that draws airborne dust from the operator’s atmosphere onto two cartridge filters. Automatic reverse-pulse filter cleaning allows continuous, efficient operation; timer-activated solenoid valves release short blasts of compressed plant air inside cartridge filters causing dust build-up on the outer filter surfaces to fall into the hopper. Filters are accessed easily by removing the interior baffle, and replaced rapidly using quick-disconnect fittings. The flexible screw conveyor is said to handle freeand non-free-flowing bulk materials ranging from large pellets to sub-micron powders, including products that pack, cake, seize, smear, fluidize, break apart or separate.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Flexicon Corp.
www.flexicon.com
Slider/Impact Bars Increase Lifetime of Conveyor Systems
The Gorilla impact/slider bars are built to take the severe stress and impact generated in the transfer area on a conveyor system. The belt contact area is manufactured from premium virgin, ultra-high molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene providing the lowest coefficient of friction. The underlying materials are constructed from a premiumgrade, 55-durometer rubber and the heaviest aluminum support channel available, providing superior durability and performance. Available in 48-in. and 60-in. lengths, the Gorilla bars come with mounting hardware, 4-bolt assemblies with the 48-in. bars, and 5-bolt assemblies with the 60-in. bars.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Holz Rubber Co.
www.holzrubber.com
Jacketed, Sanitary Rotary Batch Mixers Maintain Batch Temperatures
The model 700-TH-20-SSJ, sanitary, jacketed rotary batch mixer is designed with a stationary inlet and discharge, and a rotating drum with proprietary mixing flights that tumble, turn and fold material gently while achieving 100% uniformity in two to three minutes. Disparities in the bulk densities, particle sizes or flow characteristics of batch ingredients do not impair mixing, according to the company. The mixer can be piped to an in-plant chiller to prevent heat-sensitive bulk products from agglomerating, clumping, degrading, smearing and/or sticking to contact surfaces of mixing and packaging machinery or to the final consumer packaging. It can also be connected to an inplant steam, hot water or hot oil system to maintain elevated material temperatures during processing. Models range in capacity from 10 to 600 ft3 and are equally effective at blending batches ranging from 5% to 100% of rated capacity, obviating the need for multiple mixers in some cases.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Munson Machinery Co.
www.munsonmachinery.com
Avoid Contamination with This Solder-Free Test Sieve
Featuring electro-welded mesh, this analytical sieve is ideal for customers who need to avoid all contamination of their sample by solder or epoxy material coming off their sieves. Further advantages include: wire and frame made from Type 316L stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance and easy cleaning; ultra-tight fabric and transitionfree one-piece construction; autoclavable O-ring for quiet operation and dust-tight sieve stacks; individual laser engraving of all relevant information on the frame; and standard compliance certificate with full test data available upon request. Mesh comes from a fully automatic production process and complies with international standards such as ASTM and ISO.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Retsch, Inc.
www.retsch.com
Keep Product Moving Through Peak Production Time
The Flighted Lift is an indexing lift designed for either vertical storage, or for buffering product during peak production times or when there is a surge during conveyance. Product is conveyed into the system as needed and is indexed and lifted with the flighted lifting mechanism, then discharged with the use of a pusher. While the system features a load point at the bottom of the lift, loading can be accomplished from any level by using a pusher. Single or multiple discharge points can be utilized in either a “C” or “Z” configuration. The system is effective in either a FIFO or LIFO material handling strategy and provides good vertical storage density. Since each system is custom- designed, weight capacities, dimensions and number of storage locations are variable. The Flighted Lift is controlled through mechanical linked drive chains, which allow the lifting chains to run in opposite directions — one lifting chain runs clockwise, while the opposing lift chain runs counterclockwise.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
TKF, Inc.
www.tkf.com
Pump Handles Tough Applications
Designed for highly viscous, abrasive or corrosive applications, the PowerFlow pump outperforms alternative positive displacement pumps when handling adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, paper starch, asphalts, polymers, resins, plastics, food products, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, as well as chemical and industrial waste. It delivers superior pumping performance, lower maintenance and longer life as a result of its hardened tool steel or hardened 17-4 PH stainless steel pumping elements. A proprietary manufacturing process ensures higher stator profile tolerances that enable the PowerFlow pump to effectively handle thin, water-like liquids. The pump’s metal stator can handle fluids at temperatures up to 500°F. The pump can operate at differential pressures up to 1,500 psi, and flowrates up to 400 gal/min.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Moyno, Inc.
www.moyno.com
High-Viscosity Valves Solve Fluids Transfer Dilemma
These custom-designed rotary valves have helped a manufacturer of DNA analysis instruments solve a seemingly intractable problem. The instrument, which uses very high viscosity fluids, needed inert valves with sufficient shear force to cut through the fluid, acting as shut-off valves. The solution was a 1-mm-bore custom-designed rotary valve with a stainless steel rotor for torsion strength, a Tefzel liner for chemical inertness, and a PEEK body for rigidity. The shape of the rotor was carefully profiled to give a clean cut through the fluid, ensuring an instant start/stop of the flow. The valve can operate up to a pressure of 1,000 psi and is controlled by TTL or RS-232 protocols. Optical encoders are used to provide precise port positioning, enabling maximum flow of the fluid every time.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Bio-Chem Valve Inc. and Omnifit Ltd.
www.bio-chemvalve.com
Nanofiltration Element Removes Organics and Softens Water
The Fluid Systems TFC SR2 spiral-nanofiltration (NF) element significantly lowers operating costs for a wide variety of selective rejection applications, including water softening, lactose reduction, protein recovery, and antibiotic and enzyme concentration and recovery. The SR2 membrane is highly energy efficient and capable of producing more water per square meter of membrane surface area than competitive products. Hardness rejection is typically 95% and organic rejection exceeds 90% for organics with molecular weights in the range of 400–600 daltons. The SR2 element softens incoming water and retains low-molecular-weight organics, while allowing monovalent salts to pass through the membrane. The membrane concentrates pharmaceuticals without phase change in aqueous mother liquors. In water treatment applications, the SR2 element softens without the need for disposing of regeneration solutions and it eliminates contaminants without the need to process large volumes of sludge or wasted regenerants.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Koch Membrane Systems
www.kochmembrane.com
Thin Liquid Gear Pumps are a Centrifugal Pump Alternative
These thin liquid internal-gear pumps handle low-viscosity liquids with high efficiency, offering many advantages in applications normally associated with centrifugal pumps. The pumps are self-priming and capable of reversible flow direction, enabling the use of one pump instead of two for loading/unloading or line stripping. The pumps’ flow is directly proportional to input speed, allowing them to meter process liquids. They are available in iron, steel or stainless steel, with adjustable end clearances and idler gears of iron, non-galling 770 alloy or PPO composite. The pumps offer capacities up to 17 m3/h (75 gal/min) and a pressure range of 0–7 bar (100 psi) at viscosities from 0.1 to 4 cSt, or up to 17 bar (250 psi) at higher viscosities. Close- or long-coupled options, with motor-speed operation, reduce overall system cost and space required.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Viking Pump
www.vikingpump.com
Gearbox Refurbishing Eliminates Frequent Maintenance and Costly Downtime
Designed to keeps overall process costs at a minimum by eliminating frequent maintenance and costly downtime, this gearbox refurbishing program provides off-the-shelf, CEP August 2005 www.cepmagazine.org 19 refurbished gearboxes to quickly replace units that require frequent maintenance, experience excessive downtime or need replacement to improve efficiency. All refurbished gearboxes meet the same high quality standards as new Chemineer gearboxes and the quality of each is guaranteed. Features of the refurbished mixer gearbox program include: 48-h delivery on HT gearbox sizes 1–9; refurbished sizes 10–12 available; refurbishments built inhouse to Chemineer and AGMA standards; credit toward a new refurbished gearbox upon return of any existing gearbox; worn gearboxes from any manufacturer accepted for credit towards a Chemineer gearbox; and a one-year warranty against material defects and workmanship.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Chemineer, Inc.
www.chemineer.com
All-Titanium Option Now Available for This Datalogging Level Transducer
The waterMONITOR level transducer now comes in a rugged all-titanium package. The submersible hydrostatic transducer, which includes internal datalogging functionality, is ideal for measuring water levels in environmental management applications, such as ground water, surface water, and open-channel level measurement, as well as down hole, well, lake, stream and reservoir level monitoring, and watershed management. In addition, the waterMONITOR can store up to 600,000 level, temperature and time-stamp measurements, making it ideal for remote environmental data collection and process monitoring. The transducer features standard accuracy of ±0.05% FS total error band (TEB). A quick-disconnect cable attachment facilitates field replacement of the internal battery, which has a nominal lifespan of 3 yr. The new transducer has full-scale level ranges from 0–10 ft to 0–692 ft. of water, a 3/4-in. dia., and on-board surge protection. Operating temperature ranges from –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F).
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Pressure Systems, Inc.,
www.pressuresystems.com/550.html
Level Transmitter Allows Non-Contact Measurement in Tanks
The WLSX level transmitter allows continuous non-contact ultrasonic level measurement in liquid storage tanks up to 35 ft (10.7 m). It is ideally suited for challenging corrosive, coating or waste liquids. The compact, corrosion-proof package is completely sealed and stands only 3 in. (76 mm) above the top of the tank. The sensors are two-wire transmitters that are UL, CSA and CE approved. The WLSX can be installed and calibrated in minutes using a calibration wire and a flashing LED that provides calibration feedback.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Walchem Corp.
www.walchem.com
Space-Saving Flowmeter Delivers High Accuracy
The V-Cone Chem Processing flowmeter supports a wide range of both chemical production process line and general plant applications, including measuring water, other mixed liquids or specialty gas flows within process lines, as well as plant systems for water/wastewater, chilled water, steam, natural gas and HVAC. It features an advanced differential-pressure flow sensor designed with built-in flow conditioning to achieve an accuracy of ±0.5%, with a repeatability of ±0.1. The device operates over a flow range of 10:1, and comes in line sizes from 0.5 to 120 in. With its unique ability to self-condition flow, the V-Cone flowmeter is a space-saver, eliminating the need for upstream or downstream straight pipe runs required by other DP technologies, such as orifice plates and venturi tubes. It can be installed virtually anywhere in a piping system or be easily retrofit into an existing piping layout, resulting in significant installation flexibility and initial cost savings.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
McCrometer
www.mccrometer.com
Data Collector/Vibration Analyzer Offers On-the-Spot Diagnosis
VIBXPERT, a lightweight, 2-channel, FFT data collector/vibration analyzer, is designed to monitor and diagnose machine conditions. Equipped with an expandable compact flash card, it records all forms of machine vibrations, bearing conditions, process data and visual inspection information. VIBXPERT provides comprehensive analysis functionality for the diagnosis of complex vibration problems, with an easy-to-use icondriven platform. It can measure order spectrum, phase, cepstrum, cross-channel phase, orbits, run-up and coastdown. Weighing only two pounds, the analyzer has a robust housing with an ingress protection rating of IP65, and is dustproof and waterproof.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
LUDECA, INC.
www.ludeca.com
Cleanroom Robots Handle Semiconductor Applications
Designed for semiconductor manufacturing, testing and handling applications, the new 6-axis robot family includes the KUKA KR 3 CR tabletop robot with a 3-kg payload and a 635-mm reach and the KUKA KR 16 CR robot with a 16-kg payload and a 1,600-mm reach. Each model meets the appropriate ISO and DIN standards for cleanroom operation and is class 5 according to DIN EN ISO 14644-1 and class 100 according to U.S. Federal Standard 209 E. The robots can be integrated with Siemens Simatic Equipment Control System.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
KUKA Robotics Corp
www.kuka.com/usa/en/
Solid-State Sensor Won’t Give False Readings
Based on a technology developed at Sandia National Laboratory, the H2Scan system is a solid-state solution that detects concentrations of hydrogen gas, at concentrations from 10 ppm to 100%, with or without oxygen present. Available in a portable model, the sensor contains a thin film of a palladium-nickel (Pd/Ni) resistor deposited on a silicon substrate that changes resistance in the presence of hydrogen. The lattice inherent in the Pd/Ni absorbs hydrogen molecules. As the number of hydrogen molecules in the lattice increases, the resistance of the Pd/Ni increases in direct correlation. H2scan systems interpret this change in resistance and display the hydrogen concentration to the operator, while also generating an analog signal that can be sent to external monitoring systems. The instrument is 13.6 in. long, 2.9 in. wide, 1.7 in. deep and weighs 1.7 lb.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
H2scan LLC
www.h2scan.com
All-Welded Heat Exchanger is an Alternative to Shell-and-Tube Exchangers
The SUPERMAX all-welded plate heat exchanger is designed as an alternative to shell-and-tube exchangers in elevated pressure and temperature applications. It is particularly suited to applications having a large flow imbalance, including gas or vapor condensers, economizers and related process and energy services, for pressures up to 70 barg (1,015 psi) and at temperatures up to 537°C (1,000°F) for standard range units. With alternating channels for hot and cold media, the unit can be configured to provide true countercurrent or co-current flow. The SUPERMAX line offers two different diameters of circular plates. Nozzle sizes up to 300 mm (12 in.) can be accommodated on the shell side of the exchanger, offering higher steam and liquid flowrates. Nozzles on the plate side can be up to 100 mm (4 in.).
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Tranter PHE, Inc.
www.tranterphe.com
This Technology Increases Electric Heater Reliability
The INFI-SEAL technology for electric process heaters provides improved heater reliability and eliminates moisture-related start-up problems and is backed with a two-year limited warranty against moisture penetration. The INFI-SEAL transforms the MgO in a tubular heater’s cold section from hygroscopic to hydrophobic (from readily absorbing water to repelling water). Its treated heating elements exhibit infinite resistance to ground and do not absorb or retain moisture.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Gaumer Process Heaters, Systems & Controls
www.gaumer.com
Heat Circulators Require Less than 1 ft2 of Bench Space
This line of compact circulators is designed for applications where bench space is at a premium. Suitable for placement on shelves or mobile carts, the 8000 Series heat circulators feature a 6-L reservoir, a temperature range from 5°C to 200°C, and are available with a choice of four different controllers. Other standard features include an integrated simplex or duplex pump, rapid-response heater, and easy-access sample immersion. The units measure just 14-in. high and require less than 1 ft2 of bench space.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
PolyScience
www.polyscience.com
This Steam Heater Can Provide Hot Water Instantaneously
The EZ Heater is a direct steam-injection heater that can be used in any process where instantaneous hot water is required. Its self-cleaning functions help to reduce overall maintenance expenses. The heater can reach temperatures up to 350°F with the ability to produce up to a 250°F temperature rise. It is available to accommodate flow ranges up to 600 gal/min. Each EZ HEater is customized to meet the user’s requirements.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
Hydro-Thermal Corp.
www.hydro-thermal.com
Non-Intrusive Chemical Identification System Supports Site Security Guidelines
The Chemical Acoustic Signature System (CASS) is a non-intrusive chemical identification system that quickly identifies and measures the contents of sealed containers without having to open them. It is intended to advance current methods for screening and sorting hazardous chemicals to support site security guidelines. CASS uses a series of ultrasonic pulses to measure the acoustic signature of a liquid. The technology was developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. More than 100 units have been sold to such agencies as the United Nations, the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and the U.S. Customs Dept. Powered by rechargeable batteries, CASS is the size of a hair dryer and is attached to a Pocket PC handheld computer that contains a database of chemicals. CASS can identify contents in containers with diameters ranging from 8 in. to 96 in., and has been known to even detect the difference between Coke and Pepsi.
Appeared In Issue: August 2005
HazMat Systems, Inc. (HMSI)
www.hazmatsystemsinc.com