Midland launches valves to comply with new regulations

Midland Manufacturing, part of OPW, plans to launch three new products – two pressure relief valves (PRVs), the High-FlowX and the Smart-Flow, and a detachable handle for bottom outlet valves, Tanktite.

Midland says these three new products will help customers meet DOT and Transport Canada rules for rail tank cars in North America.

The first phase of the ‘Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains’ begins 1 October, 2015, and for the last several months, Midland has worked with shippers and rail tank-car manufacturers to design products that meet and surpass current standards.

Part of Midland's development process includes the incorporation of flow simulations and in-lab testing to refine target valve performance characteristics.

‘In the current environment, it’s a challenge to define fittings requirements that can meet the new specifications, but we’re driving the Midland organisation to do just that and to turn those specifications into products faster than we ever have,’ says Bill Galbreath, Midland product manager.

The High-FlowX has been created for customers that want an external PRV that is capable of handling flow rates of 30,000 SCFM and that is suitable for corrosive commodities.

For optimised flow applications, the Smart-Flow provides a flow rate of 12,000 SCFM.