CHLORINE MANUFACTURER BREAKS LOADING BOTTLENECK

It used to take workers about three hours to load tank cars at a chlorine manufacturing plant. Today it takes 2.5 hours to load the same tankers, nearly a 20% improvement in loading efficiency. The improvement was obtained by replacing bulky bellows seal globe valves that were used for emergency shut-down service during loading operation with compact, automated full port ball valve packages having a substantially higher Cv (coefficient of flow) rating. Cv for the 1-inch Jamesbury® 9300C, 300 lb. ball valves is 45 compared to a rating for 10 for the bellows seal globe valves.

"The new valves are just as safe, easier to use, and give us an important productivity improvement," said a supervisor at the plant. "Before the new installation, under the best of circumstances we could load seven or eight tankers at each of our four loading stations during a 24 hour day. Now we can load up to nine. Eliminating a distribution bottleneck of this magnitude meant the valves paid for themselves on their first day of use."

The company purchased five of the Jamesbury ball valve packages, one for each loading station and a spare, from FCX Performance. Each package included the full port ball valve (1" 9300C 31 2273 XTZ1 with CT200SR633HASRM) and advanced CINTAC® spring return automation and communication package. The CINTAC automation system takes the latest on-off valve monitoring or networking technology and combines it with a pneumatic module and state-of-the-art actuator. This compact integrated package requires no external fixtures, tubing or linkage and includes visual status indication. Any of the valves can be repaired on-site quickly using a repair kit supplied by Jamesbury.

Plant personnel said that the small size and weight of the replacement valves are also a big advantage. The substantially smaller valve packages are easier to handle and fit in a much smaller space envelope. Fewer parts make for easier installation and maintenance. Because the valves only weigh about 17 lbs. compared to around 50 lbs. for the globe valves, handling them requires less effort and lowers safety risks for workers at the loading stations.

The CINTAC Advanced Automation System marries the actuator with advanced communication and controls system technology within a totally compact, integrated automation package. CINTAC dramatically simplifies and reduces the cost of automation because it eliminates the need to engineer, procure and assemble separate rack and pinion actuators, switches, solenoid valves, linkages, tubes and fittings. In this case it also improves emergency safety operations around the loading station by making it possible to shutdown the emergency valve remotely.

David Wegner of FCX Performance, a distributor of valves, instruments and controls, noted the customer should not be replacing these valves anytime in the near future. Jamesbury has qualified its stem seals to ISO 15848 and 50 thousand cycles @ 3.5­35 PP He tightness with 200C thermal excursion. Measurement was with a He mass spectrometer under dynamic conditions. These cycle ratings far exceed those of the linear globe valves the full port ball valves have replaced.

Metso Automation

Moyno high solids pumps are used to transfer biomass slurries and DDGS by-products. In addition, the pumps eliminate odours and spillage typically found with open conveyor systems. The high solids pumps are also used for grain processing, biodiesel/ethanol plants, distilleries and feed mills.

Moyno, Inc.

Cheminert Nanovolume HPLC Injectors and Switching Valves bridge the gap between the world of microfluids and the real world of chemical analysis, facilitating high resolution HPLC at a small scale. The .004" bore is uniform throughout the flowpath, reducing band broadening and creating less than 25 nl of port-to-port volume. New individual fingertight fittings work with a variety of tubing.

Valco Instruments Co., Inc.

Swagelok® SK series multipurpose ball valves offer positive, quarter-turn shutoff for general purposes and control applications in fluid systems. Key features are 316 stainless steel construction, spring-loaded seats, floating ball, low-torque operation and compact design. The spring-loaded seats and floating ball provide leak-tight integrity in both low- and high-pressure systems while reducing wear and extending cycle life. Low-torque allows for easy manual operation and the use of smaller pneumatic and electric actuators. Compact envelope and standard panel mounting make the valves suitable for installation in panels.

Swagelok Company

Godwin Pumps® introduces a new line of portable, gas-powered Wet-Prime pumps and a new Sub-Prime® electric submersible pump. The Wet-Prime pumps are available in dewatering, trash, plastic, pressure and diaphragm models and are capable of maximum heads to 285 feet and maximum flows to 425 gpm. The Sub-Prime electric submersible pump features a compact, slim-line design with convenient top discharge and is capable of maximum heads to 65 feet and maximum flows of 140 gpm. Powered by a dual voltage meter, this pump provides easy field changeover. Capable of fitting in caissons or casings 8 inches in diameter, the pumps are suitable for industrial dewatering.

Godwin Pumps

HAWE Hydraulics offers a comprehensive line of rugged hydraulic components for mobile applications. Their extensive product offering contains several high-quality components that provide precision controls, whether implemented as standalone or together as a complete system. These products include variable displacement axial piston pumps (V60N), proportional directional spool valves (PSL), over-center valves (LHT), and programmable logical valve controls (PLVC). All hydraulic components are manufactured from steel and designed to handle pressures to 6,000 psi, thus allowing system components to be compact and flexible in a variety of applications.

HAWE Hydraulics

The new VMP Electronic Displacement Metering Pump dispenses UV sensitive fluids such as UV curable adhesives, UV coatings, and photo lithography chemicals. The system is a fully programmable dispensing system which utilizes FMI's patented CeramPump® valveless piston pump design, A precision stepper motor controls the pump speed. A second stepper motor electronically adjusts the piston displacement. This provides ultra-fine dispense adjustments through varying of piston stroke length. The VMP can be programmed for a variety of functions using a user-friendly Touch Screen Interface which can control up to 16 pumps on a single bus. Up to 128 metering devices can be controlled using a PLC or computer. It will store up to 100 programs letting you change between setups on the fly. Typical applications include dispensing of UV curable adhesives for medical component assembly, photo resist for printed circuit and semiconductor manu facturing and UV adhesives and coatings for DVD manufacturing.

Fluid Metering, Inc.

The 2530 Series non-metallic fiberglass reinforced (FRP) magnet-drive pump is now available in a 4x6x13 pump size. This FRP (continuous strand) thermoset construction design features a one-piece reinforced casing with no separate liners. Designed with state-of-the-art magnets, silicon carbide shaft and sleeve bearing materials, and vinyl ester, vinyl ester with BPO-DMA cure system, or epoxy resin wetted parts, the Series 2350 provides excellent corrosion-resistance against acids, bleaches, caustics, solvents, seawater, brine and hundreds of other difficult services. Other features include a low pressure FRP containment shell, pressurized bearing lubrication, closed impeller design, a separate, two-piece impeller and magnet arrangement and ASME/ANSI B73.1 installation dimensions.

Fybroc Division, Met-Pro Pump Group

The abrasive-duty SPX Media Mill Feed pump is ideal for the transfer and handling of corrosive solids and particle-laden liquids used in media mill applications. The SPX has no moving parts in the product zone and the pump rotor never comes in contact with the slurry, so the highly abrasive nature of the industrial products do not affect pump life. With its self-loading design, hose replacement is quick and easy.

Watson-Marlow Bredel

The Series PBVF thermoplastic butterfly valves are suitable for chemical and wastewater applications. A one-piece body design incorporates fully supported flanged bolt holes to prevent stressing of the mating pipe flanges. Series PBFV valves feature a blowout-proof stainless steel stem and a unique, full body liner that has a V-notch retention design. This assures positive sealing of the liner to the valve body. An integrally molded face seal provides positive sealing against the mating flange without the need for additional gaskets.

Dwyer Instruments, Inc.

The Oxygen Clean Series electronic valves are available in 2-way or 3-way, normally-closed or fully ported. The valves are designed for use with oxygen applications and will work with air and inert gas. With a low power consumption of only 0.67 watts, a response time of 5 to 10 milliseconds, and voltages of 6, 12, or 24 volt DC, these new valves offer unlimited flexibility in design. The valves are ultrasonically cleaned, assembled, inspected and tested in an enclosed controlled area with a state-of-the-art positive pressure HEPA filtration system.

Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc.

Ark-Plas offers a complete line of check valves in both standard diaphragm and duckbill designs. Each check valve is moulded with "Premium Grade" technology. This means every barb on a check valve is manufactured without a parting line on the sealing surface of the barb to ensure a leak-proof seal every time. The check valves are "zero-gravity" fittings and can be used in any position with immediate response to even the slightest changes in pressure or flow. The line consists of Standard Check Valves, Reducing/Enlarging Check Valves, Threaded Check Valves, and Duckbill Check Valves.

Ark-Plas Products, Inc.

DoubleSafe™ transition fittings are designed to provide a leak-proof seal and prevent cracking under high torque when transitioning between metal piping systems and GF Schedule 80 plastic piping systems. Metal-to-plastic joining is especially useful when tapping a plastic piping system to connect heat exchangers, flow meters, and other metal-ended, male-threaded instruments. Such joints are also used to expand old metal systems with plastic and to install new plastic systems where metal is required for only part of the installation. The new fittings were developed to address the problem of plastic pipesplitting caused by over-tightening metal threads into plastic fittings. To solve this problem, each DoubleSafe fitting incorporates a female-threaded metal insert molded at high pressure inside a spigot-end plastic body. This allows the installer to connect the metal system to the metal side and the plastic to the plastic side.

GF Piping Systems

Parker Page Custom Designed Fittings can be produced with special grooves, threads or other modifications that enhance the fittings compatibility to the application. For example, combination hose fittings and flanges were created with location pins or notches making an assembly unique to assure that assemblies were not used interchangeably on customer's different models of equipment. Coatings of PVDF or FEP have been applied to stock fittings to aid in food processing, eliminating downtime from build-up on normal materials. The custom designed fittings are available in carbon steel, stainless steel and special alloys, such as Monel® or Hastelloy® or Iconel™ are available. Sizes range from 1/8" up to 4".

Parker/Page International Hose

The eXVG gas fuel metering valve is designed for use with large (up to 10MW) turbines and reciprocating engines (up to13,000 HP). The valve combines a patented fuel-flow measurement technique with fast, accurate and repeatable operation, resulting in better fuel/air ratio control for lowering emissions and improving engine performance especially in Dry Low Emission applications.

Precision Engine Controls Corporation

Graco's E-FLO™ Plus electric pumps for high volume paint circulating applications provide the benefits of a piston pump with energy efficiency of an electric drive unit. The pumps feature a 5 hp inverter-dry motor for reliability, cartridge-style throat packings that reduce maintenance downtime, and Maxlife™ lowers which extends the life of the rod, cylinder and wear parts.

Graco Inc.

A new series of compact metal relief valves is now available. Valves can be pre-set from .5 to 150 psi and settings are accurate to +/-5%. The psi setting is stamped on the valve. Brass relief valves are standard with optional materials of aluminum or 316 stainless steel. The plastic protective cap offers valve protection as well as colour coding. Muffler caps and metal caps are also available.

Industrial Specialties Mfg., Inc.

The Ultramat (UFM-T) zero air-loss condensate drain valve features a compact design which allows for installation in restricted space applications. It is designed to open only when necessary and to close before any loss of compressed air can occur. The product's unique internal reservoir and flow channels reduce the possibility of blockage and minimize fouling of the drain valve seat, allowing more thorough processing at a downstream oil/water separator.

Donaldson Company

Zebra Skimmers has recently introduced a new proportioning pump series to handle caustic concentrates. It provides users with an adequate unit to easily mix and pump their part washer cleaner. Features include: wide mixing range, compatibility with caustic concentrate, dilution with water at high temperature.

Zebra Skimmers

The Anderson Greenwood Series 5100 pilot-operated pressure relief valve is designed specifically for overpressure protection of economizers in fossil-fired power plants. The all-plastic soft seat and sealed valve operates as a non-flowing modulating pilot, requiring no component changes to handle alternating steam and water conditions. This design opens in proportion to relief demand and is suitable for hot water, flashing water and steam service without the operational performance problems usually found with spring-loaded pressure relief valves on economizer service.

Tyco Flow Control

The field-repairable Bi-Mode™ valve for rotating ultra-high-pressure water jet lances minimizes downtime with two disposable cartridges that can be replaced in just 60 seconds. The NLB 8488 valve, rated at up to 40,000 psi, is a companion to the NCG8400A-3 rotating UHP lance. It facilitates the use of a rotating lance at ultra-high-pressure and lets users operate two lances (with two valves) simultaneously from a single UHP pump unit. Two-lance operation requires a simple nozzle change.

NLB Corp.

Canadian Industrial Equipment News April 2008

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