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Volume 4, Issue 1
Optimising power management in solenoid valves
Feature
Solenoid valves have been used for more than 100 years in diverse flow control applications across many industries. But misunderstanding the underlying physics of their operation can lead to misapplication or suboptimal performance. Exciting a simple solenoid with AC rather than DC power, for example, can provide higher forces in opening a valve, and thus...
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The best of both worlds
Feature
As a method of proving the safety and performance of emergency shutdown valves (ESVs), partial stroke testing (PST) is an important tool for oil and gas operators. The technique has, for many years, helped prove the functionality of final element assemblies by testing a percentage of the failure modes of the final element assembly. However, the two...
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Getting into position
Feature
Position transmitters are used to monitor the position of modulating control valves or the opening and closing characteristics of critical isolating valves. The information from the transmitter can then be used to diagnose valve performance in order to warn of the requirement for early preventative maintenance or to automatically adjust various control...
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The material is what counts
Feature
Instrumentation valves and manifolds come into contact with many different types of media, each with unique characteristics. A bubble-tight seat is always of utmost importance. Leak freeservice is essential for both the operator and environment. Soft seated valves and manifolds have proven to be safe and reliable solutions in numerous applications, including chemical...
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Control valves, and how to select them
Feature
A recent study by Solomon, a leading benchmarking company in the process industries that tracks companies' performance based on reliability and maintenance metrics, found that companies reach the top-performing quartile when they have less than 3% unplanned downtime and maintenance costs less than 2% of plant replacement value (PRV). In 24/7...
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Moving beyond mechanical
Feature
For many years water management systems have used exclusively mechanical components. There is no doubt that these tried and true systems have given useable results, but in recent years there has been a large push to develop better methods for controlling water. The primary focus for solutions has been in the areas of reducing maintenance, saving water,...
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Look at that solid body!
Feature
It is a well-established fact that the manufacture, transfer, handling, and use of dangerous chemicals such as acids, caustics and solvents – which can be highly corrosive, toxic, and hazardous to life and the environment – is best not attempted with steel pumps. From basic stainless steels through the more exotic alloys, specific types of steel...
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The hot dog
Feature
Pump failures are a frustrating waste of time, energy, and money. Pump manufacturers across the world have devoted considerable resources to attempt to eliminate them. They are also constantly seeking to improve the energy efficiency of pumps and create a quieter working environment for operators and nearby employees. One such company is Graco, a...
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AODD in O&G
Feature
Air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps play an important part in the oil and gas industry. Often overlooked, these 'workhorses' are ideal for applications in this fast-moving marketplace, yet are rugged enough to withstand the harsh conditions in which they are required to operate. Their versatility means they can be used in many stages of the...
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Innovation at the heart of StocExpo 2016
Feature
StocExpo, the world's leading international event for the tank terminal industry, returns to the Antwerp Expo after two years in Rotterdam. The three-day event, which takes place on 15-17 March, 2016, brings together the best and brightest from the bulk liquid storage industry, plus the most innovative suppliers from around the globe and a top-flight...
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Introduction to peristaltic pumps
Feature
A peristaltic pump is a type of positive displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids. The fluid is contained within a flexible tube fitted inside a circular pump casing, although linear peristaltic pumps do also exist. The peristaltic pump was first patented in the US by Eugene Allen in 1881 and it was popularised by heart surgeon Dr. Michael...
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Meating food production demands
Feature
One of the world's leading suppliers of collagen casings for food, used by its customers in the production of a wide variety of sausages and other meat products, is investing £50 million (€69.2m) in a new manufacturing plant in Nantong, near Shanghai, China. Work on the site began early in 2014. The new factory forms part of the company's...
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May the magnetic force be with you
Feature
Groningen, Europe's largest natural gas field, was discovered in 1959. Production began in 1963, and by the end of the decade nearly 50% of the field's reserves were depleted with free-flow operation. Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, was created in the mid-1990s to find the most...
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Choosing the fantastic plastic
Feature
Chemical applications subject piping systems to extreme conditions. Transport and processing of aggressive substances place high demands on system solutions. In addition to being reliable, these need to provide safety, efficiency, and maximum corrosion protection. The critical factor in achieving these criteria is the selection of the right materials for...
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All the cool skids
Feature
In 2008, a British Airways Boeing 777 crashed at London Heathrow due to ice crystal formation in the aircraft's piping systems. The plane had flown from Beijing and encountered an unusual series of atmospheric conditions, which had led to the slow build-up of ice inside the fuel lines. As the plane approached the runway, the throttle setting was increased...
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