Process Slurry Knife Gate Control Valves

Applications for process slurry knife-gate control valves are slurry or highly abrasive and viscous fluids in various industries. The valve features a sharp, flat gate that efficiently cuts through the solid particles and sludge in the slurry, thus ensuring effective isolation and control of the flow. This valve is highly durable, reliable, and designed to withstand harsh conditions and frequent wear and tear.

Examples of industries that require process slurry knife-gate control valves are mining, wastewater treatment, pulp and paper, power generation, and chemical processing, where there is a need to handle abrasive and corrosive slurries. These valves install on pipelines to regulate or halt slurry flow and other challenging fluids, preventing leakage and ensuring a safe, efficient, and reliable operation.

The Process Slurry Knife Gate Control Valve outperforms other types of valves for slurry applications due to several key factors:

1. Robust and Durable Design: The knife gate valve uses wear-resistant materials like stainless steel to withstand erosive and corrosive slurries. This results in a longer service life and reduced maintenance costs compared to other valves.
2. Efficient Flow Control: The sharp-edged, flat gate effectively slices through the slurry, providing a tight seal when closed, preventing leakage, and ensuring accurate flow control, essential for the efficient operation of various industrial processes.
3. Minimal Pressure Drop: Unlike other valves, the Process Slurry Knife Gate Control Valve has a full-bore design, which minimizes the pressure drop across the valve, leading to higher energy efficiency and lower operating costs in the long run.
4. Self-Cleaning Mechanism: The shearing action of the gate against the valve seat helps to dislodge and remove any debris or solid particles trapped within the valve. This self-cleaning mechanism reduces the chances of blockages and ensures a consistent slurry flow through the system.
5. Versatility: The process slurry knife-gate control valve can be customized to handle a wide range of pressures, temperatures, and slurry compositions, making it suitable for various industrial applications.

Slurry knife-gate control valves offer superior performance and durability compared to other valves in slurry applications. Its unique design features make it the ideal choice for industries that deal with abrasive and viscous fluids, ensuring a safe, efficient, and reliable operation.

Slurry Flo Valve Corporation is a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing high-quality control valves for handling abrasive and viscous fluids, such as slurry.

Slurry Flo's innovative patented trim design functions as a variable orifice, focusing the flow within the pipe. This design safeguards the valve body, which contains the pressure, and maintains the integrity of the downstream piping. Slurry Flo valves offer exceptional durability, surpassing the performance of any other valve you've previously utilized. Slurry Flo Corporation is committed to providing tailored solutions and unparalleled customer service to meet the unique needs of its clients.

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

The Role of Boiler Drum Level Instrumentation and Controls

Boiler drum level instrumentation and controls play a crucial role in the power generation and process control industries, ensuring steam-generating boilers' safe and efficient operation. These instruments and controls primarily manage the water level within the boiler drum, maintaining it within a specific range to ensure the boiler operates effectively and safely. Their critical functions break down as follows:

1. Safety: A boiler's primary objective is to produce steam, which requires a precise water and heat balance. If the water level in the boiler drum is too low, the boiler tubes could overheat and cause a failure or even a catastrophic explosion. Conversely, suppose the water level is too high. In that case, excessive water may be carried over into the steam system, causing damage to downstream equipment and reducing the overall efficiency of the power generation process.
2. Efficiency: Maintaining the optimal water level in the boiler drum ensures efficient heat transfer, which directly affects the overall efficiency of the power generation process. The steam produced in the boiler drives turbines and other equipment, so maximizing its efficiency is essential for minimizing fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
3. Monitoring and control: Boiler drum level instrumentation and controls continuously monitor the water level, allowing for real-time adjustments. They typically include level sensors (such as float switches, conductivity probes, or radar transmitters), which send signals to a control system. This control system can be a dedicated controller, a distributed control system (DCS), or a programmable logic controller (PLC), which processes the signals and adjusts the feedwater flow into the boiler drum to maintain the desired water level.
4. Alarm and trip functions: The instrumentation and controls also provide alarm and trip functions to notify operators of abnormal conditions or to shut down the boiler if necessary. These safety features protect personnel, equipment, and the environment from potential damage caused by boiler malfunctions or failures.
5. Regulatory compliance: Boiler drum level instrumentation and controls are subject to stringent regulations and standards in many jurisdictions. Properly functioning instrumentation and controls are necessary for ensuring compliance with these regulations, which aim to protect human life, property, and the environment.

Boiler drum level instrumentation and controls are critical in the power generation and process control industries because they ensure steam-generating boilers' safe, efficient, and compliant operation. By maintaining the optimal water level in the boiler drum, they help to prevent accidents, optimize power generation efficiency, and adhere to regulatory requirements.

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers (GPHEs) and Welded Plate Heat Exchangers (WPHEs)

Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers (GPHEs) and Welded Plate Heat Exchangers (WPHEs) are types of plate heat exchangers widely used across various industries for their efficiency and versatility. Their primary function is to transfer heat between two fluids without allowing the fluids to mix.

Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers (GPHEs): GPHEs consist of thin, corrugated metal plates with gaskets around the edges. The plates are arranged in a stacked configuration and held together by a frame. The gaskets seal the plates, preventing fluid leakage and directing the flow of the fluids between alternate plates. The corrugated pattern of the plates increases the surface area and enhances the turbulence, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency. GPHEs disassemble easily for cleaning, maintenance, or expansion.

Welded Plate Heat Exchangers (WPHEs): WPHEs are similar in design to GPHEs, but instead of using gaskets, the plates are welded together, eliminating the need for gaskets and the associated maintenance issues. WPHEs are typically more compact than GPHEs, as they can be built with thinner plates and smaller gaps between them.

There are many industrial and commercial applications for GPHEs and WPHEs however, the two have some performance differences, which can impact their suitability for various applications.

GPHEs:

1. Efficiency: GPHEs offer high thermal efficiency and are suitable for applications with moderate temperature and pressure requirements.
2. Maintenance: GPHEs have gasket seals that require periodic maintenance and replacement, making them less suitable for applications with aggressive media or high temperatures.
3. Flexibility: GPHEs can be easily expanded or reconfigured by adding or removing plates, allowing adaptability to change process conditions.
4. Cost: Initial costs for GPHEs are typically lower, but maintenance and downtime costs can be higher due to the need for gasket replacement.

WPHEs:

1. Efficiency: WPHEs provide excellent thermal efficiency and are designed for high-pressure and high-temperature applications, making them suitable for harsh operating conditions.
2. Maintenance: WPHEs have welded plate connections, which eliminate the need for gaskets, resulting in lower maintenance requirements and longer service life.
3. Flexibility: WPHEs have a fixed plate configuration, meaning they cannot be easily expanded or reconfigured like GPHEs. However, their robust design allows higher operating limits and a more compact footprint.
4. Cost: Initial costs for WPHEs are typically higher, but they offer lower maintenance and downtime costs due to their welded construction and elimination of gaskets.

For more information, contact:

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

The Importance of Managing Waste Heat in Steam and Hot Water Systems

Steam production and hot water systems are crucial in industrial and commercial heating and cooling systems.

Industrial heating and cooling systems are critical in many manufacturing and production processes. These systems control the temperature and maintain a specific environment in which products are produced, stored, or processed. However, these systems emit a significant amount of heat released into the atmosphere as waste heat.

Steam production is used in various industries to provide heat and power, including food and beverage processing, chemical manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Steam is generated by boiling water, typically using boilers that burn fuel such as natural gas, propane, or oil. The steam is then distributed throughout the facility using pipes, which can be used for heating, cleaning, or driving turbines to generate electricity.

The use of hot water systems is similar, but instead of steam, hot water provides heat. These systems are standard in hospitals, hotels, and other facilities that require a constant hot water supply. Boilers generate the hot water and circulate it through pipes, radiators, heat exchangers, or other heating elements.

Industrial heating and cooling systems generate significant amounts of wasted or unused heat. There are measures to mitigate the causes of waste heat in industrial heating and cooling systems and reduce its release. One solution is to recover the wasted heat and use it for other purposes, such as heating or cooling nearby buildings or other industrial processes. Another solution is to improve the heating and cooling system's efficiency, reducing the energy required to maintain the desired temperature through more efficient heating and cooling systems, insulation, and enhanced equipment design. Also, by connecting your heating and cooling systems, you recover wasted heat and put it back into your industrial process. 

Armstrong's Circular Thermal℠ significantly improves the thermal efficiency of your facilities. It reduces your need for primary energy by capturing and recirculating waste heat within your plant and toward your production. It significantly impacts your site's thermal decarbonization roadmap by reducing — and sometimes eliminating — the required purchase of renewable energy.

Learn more about Armstrong's Circular Thermal℠ here. To discuss more about Armstrong's approach to steam and hot water thermal efficiency in the Rocky Mountain states, contact Energy-West Controls. Call them at 800-533-4477 or visit https://energy-west.com.

Valve Automation

Valve automation refers to the use of electromechanical or pneumatic devices to control the opening and closing of valves in an industrial process. The goal of valve automation is to optimize the control of fluid flow in a system, which can involve adjusting the flow rate, pressure, temperature, or other process variables.

Valve automation can be used in a variety of industries, including chemical processing, oil and gas, water treatment, and power generation. There are many different types of valves that can be automated, including ball valves, butterfly valves, and gate valves, among others. These valves can be controlled manually or automatically using a variety of methods, including electrical signals, pneumatic signals, or hydraulic signals.

In an automated system, the valves are typically controlled by a central control system, which may be a programmable logic controller (PLC) or a distributed control system (DCS). The control system receives input from sensors in the process and sends output signals to the valve actuators to adjust the valve positions as needed. The control system may also include human-machine interfaces (HMIs) or other types of operator interfaces that allow the process to be monitored and controlled by a human operator.

Valve automation can provide a number of benefits in an industrial process, including improved safety, efficiency, and accuracy. By automating the control of valves, it is possible to optimize the flow of fluids in a system to meet the desired process conditions, which can help to reduce waste, save energy, and improve product quality. Additionally, automated valve control can help to prevent human error and improve the overall reliability of the process.

For more information, contact:

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

Zero Emission, Emergency Shutdown Valve Actuators

Operators face problems and challenges with API emergency shutdown valves in remote locations where conventional energy sources are unavailable for automation. It is critical for the pipeline's safe operation that such valves can shut down the line when anomalies in the pressure of the gas passing through the pipe occur.

Valves usually are left open. If the line pressure drops or spikes, the system would use stored pressurized hydraulic fluid to close the valve as an emergency shutdown. These old antiquated systems presented several issues that made these highly critical valves inefficient. The main problem was that the system would not hold the valves open for more than two to three days due to internal leakage of the hydraulic system. These actuators would start to drift and prematurely close the valve, requiring the operators to physically go to these remote locations every two days to recharge the system and fully open the valve again. These valves mustn't suddenly close during regular operation and disrupt the flow throughout these midstream pipeline distribution networks.

Cowan Dynamics worked with an operator to review the requirements and recommend a superior design. 

Here is a list of the challenges. 

• This application presents a lack of conventional energy sources due to these valves' remote location. 
• High torque and high thrust requirements make other power sources, such as solar power, unviable. 
• The agricultural setting mandated a zero fugitive emissive solution. 
• The operators required a drop-in retrofit, adding an extra layer of complexity to the challenge as these valves were underground and not readily accessible. 

Cowan developed a solution named the ZE-ESD module. The solution consisted of a hydraulic accumulator, a 3000 psi rated actuator from Cowan's series MLA specially designed hydraulic manifold complete with a reservoir, a leakage compensating small accumulator, and a hand pump that serves as a power source to pressurize the accumulator and actuate the valve. The hydraulic circuit design significantly reduces pressure drops in the system due to thermal expansion or leakage throughout hydraulic components. 

Cowan's ZE-ESD system proved a great success. The unique design of the hydraulic circuit far exceeded the original seven-day target. After 12 days of testing, the system only experienced a drop in the main pressure of three percent. After a month of installing the system, the customer advised that the valve needed recharging just once.

Another issue is environmental compliance. Environmental agencies establish stringent emission standards, often imposing heavy fines on those in violation. A large part of these fugitive emissions stems from gas-powered actuators' exhaust. As a result of these economic and environmental implications, Cowan Dynamics and Energy West Controls are committed to helping operators tighten their grip on fugitive emissions. Engineered to comply with API and ISO standards, Cowan's industry-leading range of zero-emission hydraulic modules for quarter-turn and linear valves are certified for maximum compliance with minimum environmental impact.

For more information, contact:

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

Thank You Veterans

Detailed Instructions for Setting Position Limits on the Limitorque L120 Electric Actuator

This instructional video aims to safely illustrate how to set position limits on the Limitorque L120 electric actuator using the correct procedure. Explore the video to understand the right language for equipment, comprehend the wiring diagram about the limit switch contact development, and discover how to evaluate the limit switch's position.

The Flowserve Limitorque L120 electric actuator serves various environmental applications in the power, oil & gas, and water industries.

For more information, contact:

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

Industrial Ball and Butterfly Valves

A ball valve is a quarter-turn rotation valve that uses a ball-shaped disk to stop or start flow through the valve. When the ball valve opens, the ball rotates so that the ball's port is in line with the valve body inlet and outlet. If the valve is closed, the ball turns so that the port is perpendicular to the flow openings of the valve body, and the flow stops.

A butterfly valve is a quarter-turn rotational motion valve that stops, regulates, and starts the flow using  a disk. The disk is always in the passageway, but because it is relatively less thick, it offers little resistance to flow. The butterfly valve offers many advantages, including 90-degree rotation for fully open and fully closed and good control capabilities to control the flowing media in a process. 

Both types of valves are used widely in industry and are available in a broad spectrum of materials, depending on their application. Each style valve has unique advantages when applied, and it is always a good idea to discuss your application with a valve expert.

A-T Controls is an industry innovator in the conception, production, and distribution of manually operated and automated ball and butterfly valves for a wide variety of business sectors around the world. A-T Controls is well-known for its extensive inventory and highly experienced staff, which enable them to provide the customer solutions needed to fulfill most valve and actuator requirements at a competitive price and offer the quickest turnaround time in the industry. 

A-T Controls Full Product Line Includes:

• High Performance Butterfly Valves
• Resilient Seated Butterfly Valves
• Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves
• Pig Valve Dual Valve
• Isolation Valve Assemblies
• Cryogenic Ball Valves
• Lined Ball Valves
• Tank Bottom Valves
• Electric Actuators
• Spring Return Electric Actuators
• Fail Safe Electric Actuators
• Heavy Duty Actuators
• Pneumatic Scotch Yoke Actuators
• Pneumatic Rack & Pinion Actuators
• 180º Pneumatic Actuators
• Stainless Steel Pneumatic Actuators
• Declutchable Gear Operators
• Gear Operators
• Limit Switches
• Solenoids
• Positioners

For more information, contact:

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

Dependable and Accurate Flow Measurement with Armstrong VERIS Verabar®

Averaging Pitot Tubes are self-averaging flow meters that measure gas, liquid, and vapor flow in pipes and ducts using differential pressure. They are simple and provide long-term pitot tube accuracy and low operating costs. 

The Armstrong VERIS Verabar®  one-piece solid design and bullet form provide clog-free and accurate flow monitoring. The accuracy of Verabar®  averaging pitot sensors is unchanged with time and does not need frequent inspections. When a fluid impacts the sensor, it creates a high-pressure zone in front of the sensor. As fluid accelerates around the sensor, a low-pressure area develops to the sides and rear of the sensor. Multiple strategically positioned sensing ports are in these high and low-pressure zones, providing a measurable averaged differential pressure.

Verabar®  utilizes a leak-proof design, complete with a robust one-piece sensor. Other manufacturers employ a three-piece sensor arrangement with no mechanism to seal the tubes. As a result, temperature, pressure, vibration, and even manufacturing differences might create leakage between the chambers, resulting in considerable undetected accuracy loss. Not the case with Verabar®.

VERIS Verabar® introduces a novel design with built-in valves in the instrument's head. This improved design simplifies installation and maintenance by minimizing the number of connections while lowering connecting hardware costs.

The VERIS Verabar®  flow sensors with differential pressure transmitters provide the market's most dependable and accurate DP flow measuring system.

VERIS Verabar® Benefits

• Superior Signal Stability and Greater Resistance to Clogging
• Long-Term Accuracy You Can Trust
• Data to Back  Up Accuracy Claims
• Quality Assurance

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

Fully Lined Valves Specially Designed for Use in Ultra Pure and Corrosive Industrial Environments

A lined valve's wetted surfaces are composed of a polymeric substance, most often a fluorocarbon. The medium does not come into touch with any of the metal components in a fully lined valve. Every surface of the valve's wet components has been coated with PFA to prevent chemical corrosion and extend the valve's service life. Pinholes, cracks, swelling, and locally uneven thickness that may occur in injection molded PFA lining, as well as any potential issues with exfoliation, stress cracking, or fluid permeability, are eliminated.

Fully PFA-lined butterfly valves from Acris® provide bidirectional zero leakage shutdown in corrosive and ultra clean industrial applications. Acris PFA-coated butterfly valves provide unrivaled corrosion, permeation, and microbiological contamination protection for optimal purity and durability with little maintenance. Acris completely PFA lined valves are designed for bidirectional zero leakage shutdown and are the high-performance option for essential applications.

Acris PFA-lined ball valves provide unrivaled resistance to corrosion, permeation, and microbiological contamination. As a result, these valves offer optimum purity and dependability while requiring only minimum maintenance. Acris completely PFA-lined ball valves are the high-performance option for applications that need a leak-free shut down in both directions. These valves were designed specifically for this purpose. Both full port and regular port designs are accessible to customers.

A Powerful Combination of Products and Experience to Assist with Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization

Net-zero has emerged as a common goal as the fight against climate change gathers pace, and the globe pushes toward decarbonization. Many facilities desire a practical, ready-to-implement solution since they are unclear on how to proceed. There is a systematic approach to decarbonization, but what works for one facility could not for another. Energy West Controls experts are available to help you decide what is best for you. 

Energy West Controls offers products that help its customers optimize energy utilization and lower emissions in industries such as:

• Power Generation
• Metals
• Paper
• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemical
• Institutional Facilities (Universities, Government, Hospitals, Military)
• Agribusiness

Along with Armstrong's steam and hot water products, the Sage^® IIoT platform, and Everactive's battery-free technology, Energy West Controls delivers the human experience and expertise necessary for a brand-new energy monitoring and management approach for these industries. This method reduces energy consumption in a facility by replacing outdated thermal systems with more energy-efficient equipment. 

Energy West's arsenal is strong. Armstrong's thermal utility solutions include products and services for managing steam and hot water systems, such as steam traps, water heaters, control valves, heat pumps, monitoring equipment, and software. The Sage^® platform enables you to enhance equipment dependability, efficiency, and safety, elevating utility system management to a new level. As a sustainable means to halt waste, the Everactive Steam Trap Monitoring (STM) solution enables maintenance teams to fix trap problems as they arise and thereby increase the effectiveness of the steam system and lower energy consumption. These advanced products and tools allow manufacturing and utility companies greater efficiency while significantly reducing CO2 emissions and energy costs. 

Energy West Controls, Armstrong International, and Everactive are an effective team for identifying energy waste and recapturing it for other applications, in line with the worldwide movement toward sustainability and energy efficiency. We enhance your manufacturing process and performance, lower environmental emissions, boost safety, and assist you in achieving your net-zero carbon target by combining our skills and technology. 

The technology and tools available from Energy West Controls, Armstrong International, and Everactive will help you create a decarbonization road map specific to your facility and industry. Call us right now for further details.

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

Honoring the Fallen on Memorial Day