Medical-Grade Range Now Includes DC/DC Converters

Synqor has announced that it has expanded its range of medical-grade products. The CFQor DC/DC converters are designed to provide isolated DC power for applications requiring a CF Body Contact and Defibrillation Pulse withstand capability as specified in EN60601. These fixed-switching frequency converters use Synqor's synchronous rectifier-based technology to achieve high efficiency.

The CFQor quarter-brick series delivers 105W from a nominal input voltage of 12V, 24V or 48V and includes output voltages of 5V, 12V, 15V or 24V. Each module is supplied completely encased to provide protection from harsh environments and is available with an optional flanged-style baseplate. Features include remote on/off, a +10 per cent to -20 per cent output-voltage trim range, remote sense, input under-voltage lockout, output over-voltage protection, active back bias limit, thermal shutdown, output current limit and short-circuit protection.

The CFQor quarter-brick series was designed for 4,250V, 100mohm input-to-output isolation and is 6/6 RoHS compliant. The CFQor series of products is available immediately from stock for evaluation and qualification. Production quantities are available with 12-week lead times, depending upon volumes.

Softinway Offers Turbomachinery Training Courses

Softinway is offering a series of online turbomachinery training courses that allow engineers to enhance their expertise and consult industry specialists without leaving their offices. The first two online courses - entitled 'Axial Turbine' and 'Axial Compressor' - have already been scheduled. The aim of the online training is to familiarise engineers with the design, analysis and optimisation of turbomachinery flowpath through lectures, tutorials, practical exercises, the reviewing of home tasks and consultation with instructors.

As a strong emphasis is placed on practice, on completion of the online training all participants will be able to perform such tasks as preliminary flowpath design, map generation, optimisation using Design of Experiment, profiling, 3D blade design and the analysis of an existing turbine/compressor. The programme includes 16 hours of study (two hours per day) as well as the time the attendees need to perform home tasks. All sessions are recorded, providing quick access to the course's contents.

This approach enables individuals to leverage their time to save precious working hours and allows companies to organise in-service education for employees, reducing travel expenses and boosting productivity. The courses are targeted at engineers involved in design and optimisation of axial/radial turbomachinery, technical managers responsible for product-range development and engineering students who want to accelerate the speed of learning and gain a solid educational background to succeed in their job search, according to Softinway.

The online courses are a part of the company's educational programme, which also includes intensive onsite training for professional mechanical and aerospace engineers, introductory seminars and free one-hour webinars.

Warner Provides Brakes For Large Wind Turbines

Warner's ERS series of spring-engaged, electrically released brakes is helping to further the growth of wind energy by providing the braking function for large turbines under maximum wind conditions. The modified brakes operate as pitch brakes in wind-turbine applications that require static holding power and the ability to withstand high-inertia dynamic stopping in emergency situations. They are mounted outboard of an inductive encoder, which is fitted to the back of a motor to position the blades to the correct pitch.

The ERS series units have a one-piece design, which is fully enclosed and painted to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as salt spray, condensation and water. In normal operation, the ERS brakes function as a static brake to hold the blades from rotating in a power-off situation, during routine maintenance or for inspection purposes. However, the design specification produced for one manufacturer requires the brake to also be able to make 1,000 fully loaded dynamic stops during its service life.

The largest in the Warner Electric ERS series, the ERS68 brake offers 100ft/lbs of static torque, with a maximum of 2,000rpm and a brake release time of 0.2sec. The ERS68 weighs 5kg and has been tested to a capacity of more than 20,000 fully loaded dynamic stops, surpassing the design specification by a factor of 20. Warner Electric has also developed a series of static holding brakes as part of its comprehensive package for wind turbines.

The static brakes meet the design criteria for controlling yaw when the wind-turbine nacel is positioned into the wind. For this technically simpler application, the yaw brakes are also mounted on the back end of a motor. Solutions for other smaller wind-turbine applications have also been solved using Warner Electric brakes. These include the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and the Wind Wall, an urban wind turbine designed to be sited on roofs or on the sides of buildings in windy city areas.

Coriolis Flow Meter Has High Capacity

Emerson Process Management has unveiled the highest flow rate Coriolis meter available. The Micro Motion Elite Coriolis meter covers DN250-DN300 (10-12in) line sizes and can handle flow rates up to 3,266,000kg/hr. This meter adds to the existing DN2-DN200 (1/10-8in) Elite line size range, enabling Emerson to deliver the industry's broadest Coriolis offering.

This large-size Elite high-capacity meter is suited for pipelines, ship/rail loading and unloading, crude-oil custody transfer, mud logging, marine, LNG, gas metering and refinery blending. Elite high-capacity Coriolis meters have no moving parts to break or wear, deliver +/-0.10 per cent mass and volume flow liquid accuracy, +/-0.0005g/cc density accuracy and +/-0.35 per cent gas-flow accuracy.

Micro Motion Elite high-capacity Coriolis meters also deliver measurement performance for applications ranging from DN150-DN300 (6-12in) process connections and have been thoroughly tested in oil and gas applications. Further cost savings, increased plant availability and enhanced safety and environmental compliance are said to be achieved when the flowmeters are integrated into the Plantweb digital plant architecture.

Parker Releases Conversion Kits For CCV Solutions

The Racor division of Parker Hannifin has extended its range of crankcase-ventilation (CCV) solutions with new conversion kits and fittings. Two conversion kits are available, which enable a CCV8000 assembly to be converted to a CCV12000 model, improving the filtration of harmful exhaust gases at minimum cost. To simplify the installation of the latest CCV products, Parker has developed 90deg fitting adaptors, which allow hoses to be connected to the crankcase filter quickly and easily.

By installing one of the Parker Racor CCV55613-08 and CCV55613-10 conversion kits, users can increase the filter media of a CCV8000 system by 60 per cent, effectively turning it into a CCV12000 assembly. This makes it simple and affordable to achieve extra capacity in engines that are not easily accessible. Like all Parker Racor CCV systems, the kits are compact and durable, combining coalescence and crankcase-pressure control. The kits are easy to install, especially when used with Parker Racor 90deg fitting adaptors.

These components allow CCV assemblies to be installed in tighter applications, where using a straight barbed fitting may be difficult. Hoses can be routed vertically to the crankcase filter and, once in place, can be locked in any orientation. Added benefits include reduced oil consumption and extended service life for turbos and aftercoolers, minimising maintenance requirements and cutting operating costs for end users.

Test Kit Assesses Grease Conditions In The Field

SKF has develop a complete grease test methodology to assess grease conditions in the field. For fresh and used grease, the test kit enables fast tests on consistency, oil bleeding and contamination analysis. These tests enable users to take immediate action, saving time and reducing samples required by the laboratory as part of a structured lubricant analysis plan.

The new portable TKGT 1 grease test kit is designed as a quick assessment tool for use throughout the engineering sector. The system uses a four-step process: collecting information, collecting samples, grease tests and reporting. No specialist training is required to perform the tests as full instructions are provided, complete with detailed test protocols and report templates. No harmful chemicals are required and only small samples of the grease are needed to perform the tests.

The SKF grease test kit can be used with fresh- or used-grease samples. For fresh grease, the kit can help establish the remaining operating life of the grease by assessing its mechanical properties. It can also test the quality of the grease and check for colour or consistency changes between grease batches. It helps to assess whether these inconsistencies are within acceptable limits. For used-grease samples, it can help assess the degradation status of the grease to identify necessary relubrication intervals, which can be adjusted to reflect real conditions.

It can test the physical changes of the grease, such as colour, and help to understand the root causes for these changes. The test can also support decision making on the appropriate grease for a certain application by helping the user to compare different greases. Despite 80 per cent of bearings being lubricated with grease, the majority of lubricant analysis techniques in the field have been traditionally limited to oils, according to the company. SKF has developed the TKGT 1 grease test kit and accompanying methodology, offering customers a new approach to in-field grease status assessment.

Mining Company Chooses GE Process-Control Solution

GE Intelligent Platforms' Proficy Process Systems process-control solution has been chosen by Barun Mining, a subsidiary of China Baogang Group, for use in its iron mining business in China. The company chose GE's solution to facilitate product quality improvement, optimise production and reduce costs. China Baogang, an equipment manufacturer in China, is involved in the construction of metallurgical, infrastructural facilities and other industrial projects.

The company also provides geo-technical engineering construction, industrial and civil construction, rock and earthwork excavation, equipment installation and steel-structure fabrication and installation services. Barun Mining provides an additional source of material from China's Bayan Obo area for the Baogang group to protect against global supply-chain disturbances. Proficy Process Systems is a scalable, fully integrated system for process automation and control.

With an open and scalable architecture, it leverages GE's hardware and software platforms to provide a system that is suitable for rugged mining operations control. Barun Mining is using Proficy Process Systems to record process data for the whole plant. 'The Proficy Process Systems high-availability Pacsystems RX3i controller, I/O [input/output] and forward-thinking architecture of 100Mbps I/O rack connectivity will enable us to increase our productivity,' said Dongziqing, vice-president of Barun Mining.

Proficy Process Systems provides a single control environment and comprehensive engineering and operator functionality. Its open architecture reduces lifecycle costs through precise calibration and secure electronic configuration.

Proficy Process Systems' Global Namespace provides a single point of configuration to eliminate the risk of inconsistencies between multiple databases and the need to duplicate engineering efforts. The real-time monitoring of the plant and an alarming system provide the overall equipment effectiveness of production equipment efficiency and critical plant conditions.