What's New
Gas Monitor Helps to Safely Clear Hydrocarbon Vessels
Specially designed for the dangerous and potentially explosive task of emptying hydrocarbon storage tanks, reactors, pipelines or other vessels, the Triple Plus+ IR monitors the purge vent gas to determine when there is less than 100% LEL equivalent flammable gas concentration present. The infrared detector in the unit is a unique dual-range infrared sensor for flammable hydrocarbons scaled with both 0–100% volume and 0–100% LEL ranges, with an automatic range switch between these. This allows the earliest possible termination of nitrogen flow and a switch to air. Purge monitoring is also necessary in the reverse mode. Before hydrocarbon can be re-introduced, a low oxygen level is essential (usually <2% by volume). Nitrogen is therefore once again used to flush out the air, and the oxygen sensor fitted to the Triple Plus+ IR is used to monitor the falling oxygen content of the exhaust line. Once the oxygen content is low enough, the nitrogen flow can be stopped and the hydrocarbon re-introduced. The monitor is then used to follow the refill process to determine when full 100% hydrocarbon concentration is reached, allowing venting to stop.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Crowcon Detection Instruments
www.crowcon.com
Portable Bulk Bag Unloaders Speed Transfer
The self-contained PortoVeyor bulk bag unloaders keep plants productive when bulk truck or rail delivery is interrupted. The skid-mounted PortoVeyors are ruggedly built and can be customized with optional hoists and lifting frames to support and unload all sizes and styles of bulk bags without slippage or spills. They not only open bags and convey their contents, but they also clean up nuisance dust. Bulk bags empty into a receiving hopper, which is fitted with a motor-driven rotary valve that meters contents into the conveying lines. An integral pulse-jet dust collector mounted above the hopper helps maintain a clean working environment and returns product dust to the hopper for transfer. A blower package also mounted on the skid supplies conveying air to move material pneumatically from the hopper discharge to its destination. Frames are constructed of heavy-duty welded and bolted tubular steel for durability and operator safety.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Cyclonaire Corp.
www.cyclonaire.com
Plug for Heat Exchanger Tubes Provides Triple Sealing for High-Pressure Processes
The Insta Plug heat-exchanger-tube plug is a novel mechanical plug that forms a continuous internal-tube-torque pressure that safely and economically seals high-pressure processes where heat exchangers are needed. Made of nickel titanium (NiTi) alloy, the Insta Plug utilizes the alloy’s recovery properties (i.e., shape memory) to triple-seal the tube in order to plug high-pressure feedwater heaters in critical applications, as well as medium- and low-pressure applications. Available in sizes up to 8 in., the Insta Plug can be used in all atmospheres and does not employ explosives or spark-generating activities. It can be easily installed by plant personnel, and does not require an outside technician. When the Insta Plug is no longer needed, it is removed with a special tool.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Douglas L. Hollaender Enterprises
www.instaplug.com
Pneumatic Batching System Can Multitask
This inline pneumatic batching system allows simultaneous weigh batching of major ingredients supplied in bulk bags and manual dumping of pre-weighed minor ingredients, and blending of the material, while a subsequent batch is accumulated. Each of the bulk bag dischargers is mounted on load cells, allowing loss-of-weight batching from either or both bulk bags. A system controller starts and stops each discharger’s rotary airlock valve to weigh ingredients, first at high feed rate for rapid filling, then at dribble feed rate, stopping material flow once the accurate batch weight has been discharged. System software allows mid-batch bag changes. Minor, pre-weighed ingredients are added at the manual dumping station after the major ingredients have been discharged from the bulk bags. The dilute-phase, vacuum conveyor line terminates at a filter receiver that accumulates the batch before discharging it through a slide gate valve into a ribbon blender, allowing concurrent batching and blending of materials, cutting cycle times by half.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Flexicon Corp.
www.flexicon.com
Electric Valve Actuators Remotely Control Rotary Devices
Electric valve actuators in the L75 series use state-of-the-art technology to provide remote control actuation of quarter-turn valves and other rotary devices, including on/off and modulating rotary valve applications. Featuring either a split-phase capacitor AC-reversing motor or a DC motor, these actuators drive a valve through a sealed, permanently lubricated gear train to offer a lifetime of virtually maintenance-free operation. Available in eight sizes, they produce torques to 3,000 in.-lb. Housings are designed to: Type 1 General Purpose; Type 4 Watertight; Type 7, Class I, Div. 1 and 2, Group C and D; and Type 9, Class II, Div. 1 and 2, Group E, F, and G. A combined location Type 4, 4X, 7, 9 enclosure is also available. The L75 series features a baked polyester finish as its standard coating; special coatings are available for extreme hazardous-environment applications.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Flowserve Flow Control, Limitorque Actuation Systems
www.limitorque.com
Sensor Transmitter for Oxygen and Toxic Gases Features Improved Immunity to System Noise
The Model GDS-49 sensor transmitter accepts toxic or oxygen electrochemical-sensor modules, and functions in a two-wire 4–20-mA “sink”mode to transmit gas values thousands of feet away to an appropriate receiving device. It overcomes noise immunity problems associated with electrochemical sensors by enclosing its plug-in sensor module in a rugged metallic enclosure. Approvals include CSA Div. 1 and 2 explosionproof and intrinsically safe (IS) with an approved IS barrier.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Global Detection Systems Corp.
www.gdscorp.net
Two New Models Have Been Added to this Bulk Solids Pump Feeder Line
New to the firm’s Bulk Solids Pump (BSP) feeder line are the BSP-135 and the BSP-150-P. The BSP-135 loss-in-weight feeders can be configured using a platform scale, three-point or one-point suspension weighing. The BSP-150-P can be configured as a loss-in-weight feeder using three-point suspension weighing. The feeders use positive-displacement action to feed free-flowing materials with high accuracy, offering uniform discharge, consistent volume and gentle handling. The BSP feeders have vertical rotating discs that create feeding ducts. Material moves smoothly from storage hopper to discharge outlet through a “product lock-up zone,” achieving true linear mass flow. With no pockets or screws and only one moving part, these compact feeders are cleaned in seconds, making them ideal for applications with frequent material changes. Constructed from aluminum, the BSP-135 features three feeding ducts and a feed-rate range to 155 ft3/h. The BSP-150-P features a plastic feeder body constructed of carbon reinforced PBT, giving it excellent strength and durability.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
K-Tron Process Group
www.ktron.com
Guided-Wave Radar Transmitter Can Be Used in SIL 2 Systems
The second-generation Eclipse Model 705 guided-wave radar transmitter features: an extended measuring range (support probe up to 75 ft); high-temperature and high-pressure interface measurement capability; and an integrated 20-point linearization/strapping table. The unit also offers waveform capture capability and full PACTware FDT/DTM support. The transmitter has a safe fractional failure rating, enabling installation in SIL 2 safety-rated systems as a one-for-one device.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Magnetrol International
www.magnetrol.com
Gas Dryers are Designed to Handle Samples with Dew Points Higher than the Ambient Temperature
The compact, heated MDH series dryers combine Nafion technology with a heating element to dry hot, wet, sample gases prior to analysis, increasing sample accuracy and reducing damage to downstream analysis equipment. The dryers were specifically created to dry gas samples with dew points higher than the ambient temperature, without requiring additional heating or insulation. Proprietary Nafion technology selectively removes only water from samples gases, leaving the rest of the gas sample unaffected. Unlike chillers and condensers, the MDH dryers remove water directly from the vapor phase, preventing the loss of water-soluble gases through dissolution in condensate. Designed to handle gas flows of up to 1 L/m, the dryers can dry gases with as much as 30% water by volume.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Perma Pure LLC
www.permapure.com
Achieve Size Reduction with this Impactor
Designed for size reduction of minerals, ores and chemicals, the V-Slam Impactor has a particle-size reduction ratio up to 15:1 with speeds up to 12,500 ft/min and a capacity range from 5 to 100 t/h. The unit is equipped with an indexing feed tube and anvil ring. It also has a hydraulic-powered opening on the top housing for easy access and an automatic recirculating lubrication system. Distributor plates, shoes and other impeller components are easy to replace.
Appeared In Issue: January 2006
Stedman Machine
www.stedman-machine.com