A solution is offered for venting samples from process analyzers
This product offers a way to vent samples from process analyzers into a plant’s flare-disposal or return system, thereby reducing or eliminating emissions associated with venting analyzer samples to the atmosphere. Designated Vent Master (photo, top left), the product creates a constant-pressure environment in the vent header to keep process analyzers operating at their maximum accuracy, says the manufacturer. The system can handle maximum flowrates up to 18 std L/min and flare-header back pressures up to 20 psig. Vent Master is an all-mechanical, pressure-control system, which uses regulators, gauges, a rotometer and other controls that are assembled in a 12 X 15 in. enclosure. — Parker Instrumentation Products Division, Huntsville, Ala.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-340
PUR hose for clean, and not-so-clean applications
Made from premium ether polyurethane (Pre-PUR) and available in diameters from 80 to 600 mm, the special hose PUR 335 (photo, center left) fills most of the needs for applications that require high quality, flexibility, and load-carrying ability. The hose is abrasion-proof and vibration resistant, which makes it especially suited for vibrating and tumbler screening machines. Because of its high-tensile strength and tear resistance, the hose can also be used as a bellows or compensator. The 355 MHF variant is available for handling food and pharmaceutical products. — Norres Schlauchtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-332
A purge system is now available for this level gauge
The optional purge system for the Optiwave radar level gauge (photo, lower left) can be used to keep the antenna from fouling, such as may occur in applications where products tend to stick or cake. Purging of the impedance transformer, the waveguide, and the antenna occurs tangentially, and ensures that the entire antenna system is reliably cleaned. The gauge can be purged with gases or liquids that are compatible with the process. The purge system is available for the extended-antenna versions of Optiwave in DN 40, 50 and 80. — Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Duisburg Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-334
Protect workers with this personal gas monitor
Pac 7000 (photo, center right) is a single-gas detector for personal monitoring at the workplace. Depending on which sensors are fitted, the unit can reliably warn of the presence of harmful concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide or oxygen. The instrument features an impact-proof housing and is resistant to corrosive chemicals. The Pac 7000 also has a data logger that stores concentrations and events, along with the corresponding date and time. — Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA, Lübeck, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-333
Analyze solid samples with this spectrophotometer
The Evolution 600 UV-vis spectrophotometer (photo, lower right) is capable of analyzing materials such as optical components, thin films, glass and plastics regardless of shape, size or composition. A variety of accessories are available for analyzing solid samples. The analyzer is equipped with VISIONpro software, which has been improved to suit the analytical needs of material and life sciences. — Thermo Electron Corp.,
Waltham, Mass.
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(Continues on p. 24D-2)
Repair worn metal in process equipment with this putty
Ceramic Repair Putty is an alumina-filled epoxy compound that is engineered to form a long-lasting barrier against abrasion, corrosion, cavitation and chemical attack. The putty can be applied with a trowel to fill voids and protect equipment from further damage. With a 100% solids formulation, Ceramic Repair Putty produces no volatile-organic-compound (VOC) emissions. One pound covers 66 in.2 at a thickness of 0.25 in. A functional cure is attained in 16 h at room temperature. When cured, the putty withstands service temperatures up to 150°F wet and 350°F dry. — Devcon, Danvers, Mass.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-342
Use this rotary-lobe pump for clean, gentle pumping
TopWing rotary lobe pumps (photo, left) have been designed to meet the requirements of good manufacturing practices (GMP), as confirmed by accreditations including the European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and ASME BPE 2002. The TopWing range consists of eight pumps, with connections from 25 to 100 mm, and provides flowrates up to 156 m3/h at a maximum working pressure of 15 bar. The pumps incorporate a Bi-wing rotor, which promotes smooth flow, low pulsation and high volumetric efficiency. The rotor design also results in small clearances, which ensures less backslip and gentler treatment of shear-sensitive liquids and soft particles. — JP Pumps Ltd., Crawley, U.K.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-343
These food-grade screw feeders measure weights accurately
These loss-in-weight feeders provide accuracies to ± 0.25% in gravimetric mode. The AccuFeed (photo, right) is available in screw diameters from 1–6 in. and with capacities from 2.8 to over 600 ft3/h. The units are constructed of food-grade polyethylene. These feeders can be easily cleaned between material changes and offer versatility in hopper selection. — Vibra Screw, Inc., Totowa, N.J.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-347
Measure bubbles in
gas-liquid mixtures
The knowledge of bubble-size distribution and the volume fraction of gas in liquid are important for a wide variety of two-phase applications, such as specialty fluids based on gas-liquid mixtures and aeration processes. These parameters can be measured by the ABS Acoustic Bubble Spectrometer (photo, left), which uses the property that bubbles strongly affect acoustic wave propagation. Unlike optical techniques, there is no requirement for liquid or container transparency. A pair of hydrophones or transducers transmits and receives a series of short monochromatic bursts of varying frequencies from which the attenuation and phase speed in the bubbly liquid are determined. These signals are analyzed to obtain the bubble-size distribution and void fraction. The ABS is built around a PC Windows platform and includes cards for signal generation and data acquisition. The analyzed results are displayed graphically in real time and can also be stored or printed. — Dynaflow, Inc., Jessup, Md.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-344
A new dense-phase conveying system for powders
Fluidsplit (photo, right) is a new bypass conveying system for handling dense-phase conveying of powders. The system stabilizes the flow of product by injecting secondary air with separately adjustable functions: for fluidizing and for plug splitting. The system makes it possible to convey both fluidizable powders with poor air-retention capacity, as well as coarser, nonfluidizable powders. The bypass conveying system can be used with conveying lengths up to 400 m, conveying pipes up to DN 250 nominal diameter, and conveying rates of approximately 25 m.t./h. — Coperion Waeschle GmbH & Co. KG,
Weingarten, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-345
Discharge this centrifuge with an automatic piston
The ADP centrifuge incorporates an automatic piston to discharge the solid phase from the centrifuge bowl as a dry paste. Available for reactor volumes from 10-10,000 L, these separation units offer validated CIP/SIP systems, thermal control, full-vacuum operation and PLS controls. — Celeros, Inc., Novi, Mich.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-346
Dorothy Lozowski and Gerald Ondrey
Contamination-free classification with welded sieves
These test sieves (photo, top left) are suitable for particle-size-analysis applications where contamination of the sample with solder or epoxy must be avoided. The sieve’s one-piece construction, with electro-welded frame, prevents foreign materials from contaminating the samples and the absence of grooves prevents material from becoming trapped. Constructed of corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel, the units are 15% lighter than traditional sieves and an increased free-sieve area is available. — Retsch GmbH, Haan, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-331
PUR hose for clean, and not-so-clean applications
Made from premium ether polyurethane (Pre-PUR) and available in diameters from 80 to 600 mm, the special hose PUR 335 (photo, center left) fills most of the needs for applications that require high quality, flexibility, and load-carrying ability. The hose is abrasion-proof and vibration resistant, which makes it especially suited for vibrating and tumbler screening machines. Because of its high-tensile strength and tear resistance, the hose can also be used as a bellows or compensator. The 355 MHF variant is available for handling food and pharmaceutical products. — Norres Schlauchtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-332
Protect workers with this personal gas monitor
Pac 7000 (photo, center right) is a single-gas detector for personal monitoring at the workplace. Depending on which sensors are fitted, the unit can reliably warn of the presence of harmful concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide or oxygen. The instrument features an impact-proof housing and is resistant to corrosive chemicals. The Pac 7000 also has a data logger that stores concentrations and events, along with the corresponding date and time. — Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA, Lübeck, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-333
A purge system is now available for this level gage
The optional purge system for the Optiwave radar level gage (photo, lower left) can be used to keep the antenna from fouling, such as may occur in applications where products tend to stick or cake. Purging of the impedance transformer, the waveguide, and the antenna occurs tangentially, and ensures that the entire antenna system is reliably cleaned. The gage can be purged with gases or liquids that are compatible with the process. The purge system is available for the extended-antenna versions of Optiwave in DN 40, 50 and 80. — Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Duisburg Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-334
This explosion-proof positioner is configurable on site
The Type 3731-3 positioner (photo, lower right) offers low power consumption and is easily configured using either HART communication or directly on site. Only one rotary pushbutton is needed for startup, and because the shaft of the pushbutton through the housing is flameproof, onsite configuration is also possible in hazardous areas. The manufacturer’s Expert valve diagnostics are fully integrated into the positioner and supply the information needed for predictive maintenance. The Type 3731 recognizes any zero error or system deviation during operation, and Expert issues detailed alarm messages over the HART protocol, over the serial interface for the firm’s Trovis-View software, or indicates an error code on the positioner display. — Samson AG, Frankfurt
am Main, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-335
An accurate level transmitter now communicates via Profibus
In addition to providing data transmission via HART protocol, the Sitrans Probe LU ultrasonic transmitter (photo, right) now also communicates via Profibus PA (Profile 3 Class B). The device measures levels up to 12 meters of liquids and slurries in storage tanks, process vessels and open channels. A high measuring accuracy of 0.15% is achieved by the combination of patented, echo-processing software (Sonic Intelligence) and a noise-shielded sensor, which leads to a low signal-to-noise ratio. — Siemens Automation and Drives, Nuremberg, Germany
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-336
A new actuator for rotary valves
The Limitorque Actuator System L75 series (photo, left) of electric valve actuators uses state-of-the art technology for remote-control operation of quarter-turn valves and other rotary devices, including on/off and modulating rotary-valve applications. The lightweight, compact actuator features either a split-phase capacitor alternating-current-reversing motor, or a d.c. motor. The L75 series drives a valve through a sealed, permanently lubricated gear train for virtually maintenance-free operation. Available in eight sizes, the L75 series produces torques up to 3,000 in.-lb. — Flowserve Corp., Dallas, Tex.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-337
Transfer powders efficiently with this system
The ARO Transfer System has been proven to be successful for the transfer of powders ranging from 5 to 45 lb/ft3. The system allows users to transfer and handle dry process powders quicker, cleaner and at a fraction of the cost associated with installed systems, says the firm. Among the features are: a patented air-induction system; a delay timer, which ensures proper fluidization of the powder before startup; an air-induction valve, which increases air velocity for optimum powder aeration and diffusion; and a four-way air-efficiency valve, which reduces the amount of air or inert gas required for operation. — Ingersoll-Rand Productivity Solutions, Annandale, N.J.
edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-338
Gerald Ondrey