Fisher Regulator Ensures Low-Noise Gas Delivery

Emerson has added the Fisher EZHSO Regulator and Whisper Trim Cage options to the EZH and EZHSO Series. The EZHSO design incorporates a spring cartridge that offers a fail-to-open alternative, ensuring gas delivery and maximising uptime. The Whisper Trim technology provides efficient noise prevention at the source, while the cage can be easily retrofitted in the field.

The Type EZHSO and EZHSO-OSX (slam-shut) regulators are available in 1, 2 and 3in sizes and provide the same benefits as Emerson's Fisher Type EZH regulators. This includes a 103bar (1500psig) inlet/outlet rating to meet higher system requirements and an environmentally friendly, no-bleed design that eliminates emissions for higher-pressure pipelines.

Top-entry maintenance reduces the time and expenses required for training, installation and maintenance, and the bubble-tight shutoff reduces cost of ownership by precisely regulating high-pressure transmission lines, providing consistent reliability of gas delivery and shutoff. The Whisper Trim cage option is available for 2, 3, and 4in sizes, opening a broader application range for this series.

It can achieve noise reduction of 10 - 20dB(A) depending on the application. As a source treatment, the Whisper Trim technology uses multiple orifices of special size, shape, and spacing, which reduces noise-producing interactions and offers a better alternative than path treatment or buried service. Units already installed can be easily retro-fitted with a Whisper Trim cage.

IMC Lecture On SIL-Compliant Fire And Gas Systems

The next technical lecture from the London Section of the Institute of Measurement and Control (IMC) is entitled 'SIL Compliant Fire and Gas Systems' and will be presented by Rob Pashby of ABB. At the lecture, which will be held at 18:15 on 9 February at the EIC in London, ABB will discuss the 800xA HI system that it has developed to meet the functional requirements of fire and gas systems and SIL compliance and what this means.

The company hopes to provoke some discussion on why fire and gas systems, traditionally classified as post-event mitigation controls, are increasingly being specified as part of SIL-compliant safety systems. The presentation will highlight some of the work carried out by ABB specifically for fire and gas systems in the oil-and-gas sector and will introduce some of the new-range SIL-compliant detectors being used.

Pashby is currently the UK safety execution manager for ABB, based in St Neots, and is a TUV-certified functional safety engineer. He works with the implementation of SIS within the process industries, not only managing the UK Safety System Engineering Team, but also providing consultancy and advice within ABB and to the company's clients.

Parker Displays Analytical Gas Generation Systems

Parker Hannifin is currently showcasing its latest analytical gas generation systems at the Arablab exhibition in Dubai, which runs until 12 January 2010. The products being shown include high-performance hydrogen, nitrogen and dry-air generators, which have been developed to improve the productivity and profitability of laboratories working in areas such as life sciences, chemical analysis and spectroscopy.

In particular, Parker is exhibiting its latest range of high-purity analytical nitrogen generation systems, which incorporate the latest pressure swing adsorption and membrane fibre technology and which reduce the cost of gas in the laboratory. The compact, self-contained generators, each with a small footprint, are fully automatic, simple and safe to set up and use; they incorporate reliable, low-maintenance technology, giving a long, trouble-free operating life, according to the company.

Systems provide an optimum range of flow rates and purities suitable for LC/MS applications, especially Applied Biosystems and Agilent Technologies instruments. The Parker nitrogen generators that employ pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology utilise extruded-aluminium modular columns that are filled with a high-performance carbon molecular sieve to adsorb oxygen and moisture from a compressed-air supply.

The larger nitrogen molecules pass through each sieve to a buffer vessel, where the nitrogen can be supplied at carefully controlled pressures. The surface area of the carbon molecular sieve material and the resultant contact time of the compressed air with the carbon molecular sieve give rise to flow rate and purity. The Parker nitrogen generators that employ novel hollow-fibre membrane technology separate air into nitrogen- and oxygen-enriched streams via nano-porous polymeric material.

The pre-filtered clean dry air is separated, yielding high-purity nitrogen suitable for a variety of applications within the life-science, chemical-analysis and spectroscopy market sectors. Similarly, the latest hydrogen gas generators from Parker have been developed to produce a safe, controlled and precise flow of ultra-high-purity hydrogen for chromatography, chemical-adsorption, organic-synthesis and atomic-spectroscopy applications. Parker hydrogen generators utilise separation techniques based on proton exchange via specially developed proton exchange membranes.

Such technology provides an efficient method of separating hydrogen from water, offering levels of purity up to more than 99.9999 per cent, with flow rates between 100ml/min and 1,100ml/min. Parker hydrogen generators offer a safe, cost-effective and reliable alternative to high-pressure hydrogen, helium and nitrogen cylinders that are commonly used in today's laboratory workflows, particularly for gas-chromatography-fuel and carrier-gas applications. Parker is also introducing the zero-air generator range that utilises core platinum catalyst technology to produce clean-dry hydrocarbon-free air.

An external supply of compressed air is pre-filtered and passed through a heated platinum catalyst module whereupon the air stream is oxidised, removing organic impurities. The resulting hydrocarbon-free air stream lowers the signal-to-noise ratio, ensuring a flat constant baseline with no peaks or fluctuations. Each system is stackable with selected hydrogen generators to form a gas station suitable for all known GC combustion detectors. All Parker gas generation systems are backed by the company's network of manufacturing, technical and customer support centres.

Liquid And Gas Flow Measurement Training Classes

Flow Dynamics will conduct liquid and gas flow measurement training classes during April 2010 at its facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. The classes are intended for managers, engineers, technicians and QA/QC personnel seeking a greater understanding of basic flow measurement principles and application considerations. A three-day liquid flow measurement training class will be offered on 14-16 April and a three-day gas flow measurement training class will be held on 19-21 April.

These courses were prepared with the job requirements of system design and production personnel in mind and offer practical, hands-on instruction in a range of flow-related disciplines. Students attending a Flow Dynamics training course will learn how to apply the latest flowmeter designs in industrial applications. Classes include an overview of flowmeter selection, with advantages and disadvantages of each technology, as well as guidelines for meter usage. In particular, attendees at the liquid course will gain an understanding of density and viscosity effects on flowmeter performance.

Those participating in the gas course will learn about Gas Law calculations and how they apply to gas flow measurements. The course curriculum also includes an in-depth discussion of the methods and equipment necessary for precision primary and secondary standard flowmeter calibration. Flow Dynamics provides calibrations for all Cox Instruments turbine flowmeters.

Servomex Wins ISA Award For Gas Analysis

The International Society of Automation Analytical Division (ISA-AD) has awarded Servomex second place in its Best Technical Paper category, and given it the 2009 Gilmer/Thomason/Fowler/Konrad award. Servomex's winning paper was titled 'A Comparative Analysis of the Errors in the Measurement of Oxygen Between In-Situ and Extractive Methods'.

Following the presentation to a peer group of more than 200 professionals working in multiple industries, including hydrocarbon processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and power generation, the paper was voted second out of 32 submissions and was invited by ISA-AD to be presented again at the ISA EXPO conference in Houston in October.

Co-authored by Servomex technical experts James Hobby, Ian Gaskin, Richard Kovacich, Martin Lopez and Bahram Alizadeh, the paper reviews the emergence of new techniques for in-situ oxygen measurement that increase the range of methods available to the user - but for which there has previously been limited analysis of the actual errors present for both in-situ and traditional extractive methods.

By exploring the major contributory errors present in both cases, Servomex aids with the selection of oxygen analysers and allows users to make more informed decisions about the most suitable methods for their process requirements.

Gas Mixer Provides Synthetic Air For Medical Use

Witt has launched a next-generation synthetic air-gas mixer for medical applications. Medical applications require high-purity air as natural ambient air includes impurities such as dust, germs, viruses, oxides and, at worst, toxic particles that could adversely affect the care of the patient. As an alternative to the common use of compressors, Witt mixers can be used for the sustained, reliable production of synthetic air.

Using a mixture of pure oxygen and nitrogen with a similar composition to the atmosphere, hospitals and other medical facilities can achieve a high air-purity level for the protection of their patients. This gas mixer offers safe operation using a touch screen, low investment and maintenance costs, easy integration into existing systems and a low energy demand.

It meets all the required standards regarding construction, material and manufacture and all components have built-in safety features to ensure full functionality, even when external factors such as barometric pressure compensation could influence its working. Using two independent gas analysers guarantees the correct combination of oxygen and nitrogen, according to the company. The mixing precision of this new gas mixer is better than +/- 1 per cent and it can be connected via Ethernet to a network and other systems.

SHC Pegasus Oils Protect Natural-Gas Engines

Exxonmobil has brought out the Mobil SHC Pegasus oils, which maximise natural-gas engine-component reliability, but with additional energy-efficiency opportunities. Developed for optimum engine protection in natural-gas engines, Mobil SHC Pegasus oils exhibited average energy savings of up to 1.5 per cent in independent university laboratory testing and statistically validated field tests.

The energy savings will also result in an equivalent reduction of CO2 emissions from gas engines operating with Mobil SHC Pegasus. The Mobil SHC Pegasus formulation delivers the potential for reduced fuel consumption, increased oil-drain intervals and exceptional engine cleanliness and component protection. Controlled field testing in demanding gas-compression applications has indicated that Mobil SHC Pegasus drain intervals can exceed 12,000 hours, or three to four times that of standard natural-gas engine oils.

Extending oil-drain intervals can help reduce the amount of downtime the engine experiences and reduce the amount of waste-oil generated. The Mobil SHC Pegasus oils improve engine reliability, extend oil life-time and reduce maintenance and fuel costs. Mobil SHC Pegasus oils will be introduced in 2010.

Laser Cutting Provides Better Gas Flow

In several development steps with cutting trials, Precitec has increased the flow rate through the cutting nozzle while keeping the cutting gas pressure constant. The KT B CON ceramic part and the nozzles now have no 'hard edges' and have a conical geometry. Thus, the cutting gas pressure can be reduced while giving the same cutting edge quality and the input pressure directly on the processing head can be reduced.

The company said that field tests with the new design have also shown an increased working range for the focal position. Dirt on the focussing lens and the associated focus shift can be detected with the larger process window and increase the operating life of the optics. With CO2 cutting heads without a protective window in particular, this leads to cost advantages.

Pressure Regulators Ensure Constant Gas Supply

Dome-loaded 797 LE-HD gas-controlled pressure regulators from Witt can provide an economic and safe solution to ensure gas cutting systems receive a constant gas supply, according to the manufacturer. The company said this system of gas regulation is more economical than using a full electronic control system. In one application the three inlet lines for oxygen and propane are supplied via Witt pressure regulators to optimise the automatic gas supply.

The gas control was regulated using proportional valves with changes in the gas pressure being adjusted by pressure changes, thereby controlling the cutting process. Witt pressure regulators can be used for numerous applications with a range of flow rates and gases. They are used as a primary pressure regulator, which can be installed in any orientation, in gas supply pipeline systems to ensure a consistent stable pressure up to a flow of 2300m3/h and are independent of any inlet pressure fluctuations in the gas supplies, including gas withdrawals.

They are also suitable for use in shipyards, chemical processing plants, offshore and diving vessels, glass making as well as steel making and foundry applications. Other features include integrated pilot pressure and pressure gauge connections as well as being able to centrally regulate several gas supplies to the same working pressure, while the compact design enables them be installed in confined spaces. The maximum pre-pressure for the 737LE-HD is 240 bar with a regulating range from 2-45 bar.

Sound Dead Steel Reduces Gas Pipeline Noise

Sound Dead Steel (SDS) was contacted by the Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre (INVC) to assist with a noise reduction programme for Scottish Power. The power station's main gas pipe work is 400mm diameter, with a reduction to 150mm at the metering section Close microphone measurements indicated noise levels as high as 100 to 110dB(A) with the dominant energy at frequencies >500Hz. SDS clad the pipeline with Sonphonon sound dead steel, fabricated and fitted split boxes to encase the valves.

After the final snagging was completed, the attached noise survey was carried out to determine the overall noise reduction for this project. The average noise reduction achieved within the GRF compound was approximately 8dB(A). The maximum reduction achieved was 16dB(A); this was adjacent the metering flow meter area. INVC noted that noise from adjacent cooling fans masked the full noise reduction benefits.

Noise reductions on plain pipeline measured 19dB(A), which clearly shows the effectiveness of the SDS cladding on standard pipe sections. Reductions of 7 to 8dB(A) were measured mid, up and downstream of the metering section using close microphone measurements. The reductions would have been greater, but pipe joint flanges have to be left open in case leakage occurs resulting in explosive conditions.