New Products & Services
February 2017
Howden American Fan
This company’s line of turbo pressure blowers (photo) is designed for pressures to 80-in. static pressure water gage (SPWG), with capacities up to 8,000 ft 3 /min. The fans are available with a wide variety of materials, wheel types, fan arrangements and sensors, making them suitable for higher pressure systems in combustion, air-pollution control, textile fiber stripping and recycling applications, as well as in numerous other chemical, pulp-and-paper, glass and food-processing applications. Application-specific features are added as necessary, including stainless-steel (or other alloy) airstream, corrosion-resistant materials and coatings, high-temperature or spark-resistant construction, companion flanges to match ductwork and pressure gages. The blowers feature heavy-gage, continuously welded housings that are reversible and rotatable. Three inlet types are available — stub pipe, flanged or venturi (standard). — Howden American Fan Co., Cincinnati, Ohio
Andritz Separation
This new generation of decanter centrifuges (photo) will complement this company’s existing A-series for industrial, F-series for food and D-series for environmental applications. A key advantage of the new decanters is scalability that can be modified according to users’ requirements. This allows maximum flexibility in adjusting standardized machines to meet individual challenges without the risks and costs associated with customized prototype solutions. Capacities range from small to large, and the units handle temperatures from –80 to 180°C, pH-values from 1 to 10 and pressures of up to 6 bars. The decanter centrifuges can be used for slurries or sludge in the feed, and can process many different kinds of slurries, ranging from food to abrasive minerals, from sticky to dusty and from light- to heavy-density material. — Andritz Separation, Graz, Austria
Predictive Corrosion Management (PCM) is a new ATEX-certified digital inspection tool that uses embedded sensors to provide continuous ins pection data and cloud-based analytics of pipe conditions to help operators manage risk, improve uptime and minimize total cost of operation. PCM uses a combination of this company’s Rightrax installed ultrasonic sensors with the Predix cloud-based operating system and advisory services to conti
nuously collect and analyze realtime performance data and monitor corrosion-related risk, so facilities can proactively make effective decisions. PCM can identify corrosion before it becomes a problem and can improve the reliability of inspection data, remove manual inconsistencies and enable users to model and predict piping failures due to corrosion and erosion. — GE Oil & Gas, London, U.K.
Mehrer Compression
The TRZ 1000 (photo) is a completely oil-free, two-stage compressor suitable for use with raw biogas, as well as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and all common process and toxic gases. The lean, vertical design of the crosshead piston compressor allows it to achieve volumetric flowrates up to 600 m 3 /h. The water-cooled compressor operates at a suction pressure of up to 2 bars and a discharge pressure of up to 26 bars. The low overall height and low dynamic mass also ensure an operation with lower vibrations, says the manufacturer. All relevant operating parameters, such as temperatures and pressures, are displayed on a panel. The machine is suitable for both belt and direct drive. — Mehrer Compression GmbH, Balingen, Germany
smartGAS Mikrosensorik
FlowEVO CO (100 vol.%) sensors (photo, p. 30) complement the new series of non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensors, which already includes the FlowEVO CO (2,000 ppm). The sensors can be used for monitoring CO in many sectors, including gas analysis or emission measurement for fluegas monitoring and process control. In the next few months, additional CO sensors of the first generation will be replaced successively by the EVO technology. All sensors have an ASCII modbus and remote-terminal-unit (RTU) interface with automatic recognition of the communication settings. The communication speed is up to 38,400 baud. — smartGAS Mikrosensorik GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
Baumer USA
The CleverLevel series of level sensors has been expanded with two new variants, the LBFH and LBFI (photo). They are available with two switching outputs, qTeach and a 360-deg output status indicator. Like their predecessors, the level switches are based on frequency deviation technology and are suitable for both hygienic and industrial applications with electrostatic, sticky or pasty media. The convenient qTeach procedure is of great advantage, especially for small installations with simple control systems, says the company. The sensors can be easily adjusted with any ferromagnetic tool, thus making it possible to quickly adapt to changing process requirements on site. The two switching outputs make it possible to set two trigger thresholds. This means two different process steps, such as production and cleaning, or two media groups, such as water and oil, can be monitored with one sensor. — Baumer USA, Southington, Conn.
Graco
The Hydraulic Fixed Ratio (HFR) Metering System (photo, p. 29) improves throughput and significantly reduces waste and rework in adhesive and sealant dispense applications. The HFR is a meter, mix and dispense system that is capable of processing multiple sealant and adhesive materials. As the system dispenses material, it automatically fine-tunes and adjusts material flows and pressures to achieve a consistent bead. The system features intuitive controls that allow users to program up to 100 different shot sizes and easily configure temperature control. In addition, the system gives users immediate access to data about material usage, pump cycles and errors. The system is capable of producing either a constant-pressure material output or a constant-flowrate material output. — Graco Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
Parker Hannifin
Much of a plant’s air costs can be associated with inappropriate uses of (or artificial demand for) compressed air. This company’s Air Saver Unit (ASU) pneumatic valves (photo) save energy by interrupting the flow of compressed air to blowing end uses at adjustable frequencies. The devices reduce compressed air costs by as much as 40–50% over typical constant-flow applications, according to the manufacturer. Rather than a steady stream of air, an ASU delivers a series of impulses, which offer a significant mechanical advantage. Because the ASU has an opportunity to recover during the “off” period of each on/off cycle, the impulses are delivered with somewhat greater force than a steady stream of air would provide. — Parker Hannifin Corp., Cleveland, Ohio
Volanti Displays
The Lift & Tilt touchscreen table (photo) is now available with a 65-in. display. The ample workspace of the display and the electrically adjustable height and tilt angle enable group interactivity, ideal for team review of collaborative or data-driven applications. Utilizing a completely flat Ultra-HD 4K screen, the table’s base has robust drive mechanics to provide both display lift and tilt to move from completely horizontal to vertical. The table display has high-reliability, low-latency industrial-grade display electronics, and has optional storage compartments for power cable and other accessories. — Volanti Displays, Morgan Hill, Calif.
Fluid Components International
FLT93L Series FlexSwitch (photo) accurately monitors pressure-relief valves for escaping flow with a flow-sensing switch-alarm assembly that is based on thermal-dispersion technology. The FLT93L switch detects leaking or seeping gas in lines to alert engineers to overpressurization. It issues a programmed alarm during such events. For the system to work properly, the FLT93L must detect low flows and yet avoid issuing false alarms that could seriously impact plant operations. The switch is easy to install and set up, and its voltage output allows users to see into the process and accurately set the desired trip point. Flexible dual relays are configurable by plant technicians for any combination of flow or temperature alarms. The FLT93L’s flow accuracy is±2% of the setpoint velocity over a±50°F temperature range. — Fluid Components International LLC, San Marcos, Calif.
Aalborg Instruments
Instruments in this company’s PTFE/PFA Model L range of rotameters (photo) are constructed of rigid frames and inert wetted parts. Made of perfluoroalkoxy alkanes (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), the meters are resistant to ambient corrosive media. Constructed with or without built-in needle valves, L Meters are easily mountable via panel nuts. Units are individually leak tested. For personnel safety, each L Meter is supplied with a safety shield. Overlapping flow ranges are available for water from 5 mL/min to 45 L/min. The maximum operating pressure is 6.7 bars, and the maximum operating temperature is 250°F. — Aalborg Instruments, Orange, N.Y.
Hoerbiger
The TriVAX product family (photo) provides confidence through traceable, proven, transparent safety functions. Along with the company’s smart Partial Stroke Test (sPST) integrated into the valve actuator, these functions include a hydraulic-circuit safety system with high-quality components, as well as the flameproof encapsulated housing that fulfills requirements for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres (Ex protection according to ATEX II2GD Ex d IIB T4). Especially with expansive facilities or pipelines, where the butterfly valves are often miles apart, the valves can be controlled via a simple electrical signal. Thanks to integrated interfaces to standard fieldbuses (Profibus PA, HART, Foundation Fieldbus) and the 4–20-mA connection, the TriVAX can be integrated quickly into existing automation concepts. — Hoerbiger Ventilwerke GmbH & Co. KG, Vienna, Austria
Rembe
The Q-Rohr family of indoor flameless-venting products (photo) has recently been approved for use with metal dusts. Q-Rohr systems can also be used with other types of dusts, gases and hybrid mixtures. These indoor systems eliminate the need for relocating dust collectors or other enclosures outside. The system consists of a specialized stainless-steel mesh construction and a rupture disc. An integrated signaling unit connects to any audible or visual alarm and shutdown to alert plant personnel in the event of an incident. If an incident occurs, flames are extinguished, and pressure, noise and dust are reduced to negligible levels. — Rembe, Inc., Charlotte, N.C.