Boiler-Trak flowmeter increases boiler efficiency
Sierra Instruments announces the release of its new Boiler-Trak smart insertion mass flow meter, a boiler and heater efficiency solution for natural gas flow measurement applications.
Sierra Instruments announces the release of its new Boiler-Trak smart insertion mass flow meter. Boiler-Trak is designed to provide an economical and easy to install solution for natural gas measurement in heaters and boilers. The instrument is also suited for compliance to new regulations for the burning of natural gas in commercial boiler applications.
Boiler-Trak is easy to install or retrofit into existing piping and provides the mass flow rate and totalised flow (200 millisecond response to changes in flow rate) of the natural gas burned.
The versatile microprocessor-based transmitter integrates the functions of flow-range adjustment, meter validation and diagnostics in a probe-mounted NEMA 4X (IP65) housing.
Mass flow rate and totalised flow, as well as other configuration variables, can be displayed on the meter’s optional 2 x 12 backlit LCD panel.
The Boiler-Trak also provides an optical/galvanic isolated 4-20 mA output, two alarm outputs and one contact input for range or gas selection.
The programmable transmitter is easily configured via RS 232 or by Sierra Smart Interface software, or with three push-buttons on the device.
The meter is suitable for gas supply pipes or ducts from 1.25 inches to 6 inches.
Sierra Instruments opens office in Shanghai
Sierra Instruments, a major manufacturer of mass flow meters and controllers for the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biotech and general process control applications has opened an office in Shanghai.
Sierra Instruments, a major US manufacturer of mass flow meters and controllers used in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biotech, water/wastewater, facilities management, oil and gas, power generation and various general process control applications worldwide announces the opening of a strategic office based in Shanghai, PR China. The opening of the Shanghai office signifies the continued Sierra commitment to support its customers in the Asia-Pacific Region. With an expanded facility and a team of knowledgeable application engineers on staff, Sierra-Asia operates as a sales and technical support centre in the Asia-Pacific marketplace with the capability to support all Sierra products and customer needs.
Leading the Sierra-Asia team is Mr Erwang Song, the Director of Sierra-Asia Operations.
Mr Song brings over 20 years experience in the industrial flow markets served by Sierra in China and provides strong leadership and vision.
Industrial mass flow controller is IP67 compliant
Sierra Instruments announces the release of its new Max-Trak Model 180 industrial mass flow controller for gases, for applications where frequent wash-down or hose-down is required.
Sierra Instruments announces the release of its new Max-Trak Model 180 industrial mass flow controller for gases. The Max-Trak is the industry’s only NEMA 6 (IP67) compliant industrial mass flow controller. In applications where frequent wash-down or hose-down is required, such as chemical processing, pharmaceutical, biotech, even food and beverage, Max-Trak outperforms the competition as it conforms to the rigorous requirements of NEMA 6 and IP67.
In addition, the instrument comes with the only fully enclosed valve design to drastically minimise leak-in paths for maximum protection.
Excellent accuracy and reliability coupled with unsurpassed instrument stability offer customers a gas mass flow controller that is strong, effective and dependable.
Max-Trak measures and controls gas mass flow rates from 0 to 200 slpm (up to 400 slpm upon request) in a flow body a little over 5 inches long.
It has an accuracy of +/-1% of full scale, and a repeatability of +/-0.2% of full scale to ensure process stability, even under changing conditions.
Based upon the successful Sierra Smart-Trak series of mass flow controllers, Max-Trak includes Dial-A-Gas technology allowing users to select from up to 10 gases in one instrument–creating great flexibility.
Other key features of the Max-Trak include both digital and analogue communication, genuine 50:1 turndown, operation at low differential pressures, and the ability to view and change critical parameters in the field without sacrificing performance or returning the instrument to a service centre.
A true industrial product, Max-Trak’s all stainless steel flow path (with electrometric seals to eliminate leaks) is suitable for any clean gas, including corrosives and toxics.
The small footprint (5.25′ x 2.0′) and standard terminal strip make installation easy.
Complete technical information is available free of charge from Sierra on the website
Gas flowmeter helps cut costs for plant fuel gases
ST75 gas flow meter reduces energy operating costs for boilers, burners, chillers, furnaces, heat treating systems, turbine and Co-Gen, back-up power generators, and more.
With the cost of energy skyrocketing, the highly reliable ST75 Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (FCI) is the ideal solution for the measurement and monitoring of fuel gases, such as natural gas, methane, and bio-gases, as well as air flows required for the efficient operation of a wide range of small line size fed process equipment and plant-wide systems. Process, instrument and plant engineers looking for a way to measure, monitor or control fuel gases or air flow to reduce their company energy operating costs will find the ST75 Flow Meters offers economy, performance, low maintenance and long life. The ST75 Flow Meter is an accurate, no-moving parts, direct mass flow instrument that is designed for easy, direct in-line installation in line sizes from 0.25 to 2.0 inches (6 to 50 mm).
The ST75 Flow Meter is ideal for use in fuel gas and air feed lines.
Its rugged design and accuracy can help reduce the cost of operating the furnaces, burners, industrial ovens, heat treating systems, boilers, natural gas powered back-up power systems and power co-gen equipment that are commonly found in a wide variety of manufacturing and process industries.
Relying on the FCI proven thermal dispersion technology, the ST75 Flow Meter direct mass flow measurement also eliminates the cost, complexity and installation space necessary for the additional sensors required of alternative flow measuring technologies that merely infer mass flow.
The ST75 is precision calibrated for the specific gas and under actual installation conditions to ensure the highest accuracy and repeatability for its intended application.
The ST75 Flow Meter services a wide flow range from 0.008 to 839 SCFM (0.013 to 1425 NCMH), depending on line size, and up to 100:1 turndown ration, which makes it equally well suited for low flow and high flow applications.
The ST75 provides 2% of reading accuracy with 0.5% repeatability and includes media temperature compensation to ensure continuous performance in industrial environments.
The ST75 standard outputs are fully scaleable 4-20mA and 0-10V that are user assignable to flow rate and/or temperature and a 0-1kHz pulse output of total flow.
It is available in a blind transmitter or with an integral, large character LCD digital display.
The instrument can be ordered for 24Vdc or 115/230VAC power.
The ST75 is an excellent choice to replace older differential pressure, orifice plate, turbine and mechanical technology flow meters in rugged or dirty plant environments.
It is enclosed in a rugged, all-metal, dust and water resistant, NEMA Type 4X (IP66) rated package that is designed for hazardous area installations.
Utilising wireless IR technology built-in, and a standard low-cost PDA, process engineers can remotely obtain measurements, make setting changes and read trouble-shooting codes without ever having to open the instrument.
This industry unique feature is especially helpful when flowmeters are installed in hard-to-reach locations or where opening the instruments is inconvenient or labour intensive.
Further, this exclusive wireless IR link eliminates the need for expensive proprietary programmers to simplify maintenance and reduces the overall cost of use.
To complete the system, FCI also supplies the easy-to-use, user interface software for downloading into any Palm-OS based PDA.
Serving critical process instrumentation needs worldwide, ISO 9001 certified FCI is the world’s leading manufacturer of thermal-dispersion flow and level measurement instrumentation for industry.
Since 1964, the company has provided a broad range of liquid, gas and slurry flow/no flow detection, flow meters, liquid level interface, flow conditioning and more.
Fluid Components International is a global company committed to meeting the needs of its customers through innovative solutions to the most challenging requirements for sensing, measuring and controlling flow and level of air, gases and liquids.
Smart-Trak controls multiple gases up to 400 SLPM
Litre Meter has announced the release of the Sierra Instruments Smart-Trak Series C100M digital mass flow controller (MFC) for larger gas flows, up to 400 SLPM.
Litre Meter has announced the release of the Sierra Instruments Smart-Trak Series C100M digital mass flow controller (MFC) for larger gas flows. Smart-Trak offers end-users and OEM customers maximum flexibility, an easy-to-use interface, rugged stainless-steel construction, and true digital performance - now at flow rates up to 400 slpm! Smart-Trak demonstrates incredible quality and performance because it was designed so that the physics are correct. This means a patented, inherently linear design with no curve fitting.
The result is a pure 1% accuracy and unsurpassed stability over the entire flow range, even in multiple gases (Dial-A-Gas).
The unique Dial-A-Gas feature and convenient Pilot Module interface easily change critical parameters in the field without sacrificing performance.
The Smart-Trak microprocessor is programmed for ten gases that are commonly used in biotech, pharmaceutical, analytical, and research applications.
Other gases may also be specified to create a custom instrument.
For remote monitoring and OEM applications, Smart-Trak also provides an RS232 output and a choice of four user-selectable analogue outputs.
Each Smart-Trak is scrutinised for a minimum of 2-weeks with our proprietary computerised characterisation process to assure every instrument is of the highest possible quality, will have no drift, and will remain in spec over the long-term.
The Smart-Trak small footprint permits easy drop-in replacement for any mass flow controller.
The original low flow size (for flow rates up to 50 slpm) is 3” x 1” x 5” while the new larger size (for flow rates up to 200 slpm) measures 4.5” x 1.5” x 6”.
The all-stainless steel instrument is custom-made for every application in any range from 0-10 sccm to 0-400 slpm full-scale.
Allison mass flow meter for flare gas measurement
Flowmeter calibration in-situ means 100% availability for the Allison Model GF90 thermal dispersion mass flow meter for flare and vent emissions measurement.
Flowmeter calibration in-situ, means 100% availability for emissions measurement. The Allison Model GF90 thermal dispersion mass flow meter, is ideal for flare and vent measurement. With the ability to measure at velocities as low as 0.08mps, it accurately assesses leakage at very low pressure, whilst remaining rugged enough for corrosive high temperates.
With 800:1 turndown and mixed hydrocarbon gas calibrations, the ‘no moving parts’, Exd certified GF90 has been used extensively on and offshore for flaregas measurement.
The ‘in-situ’ test function means it does not need to be removed from service to verify the calibration, thus offers true 100% availability, something which is becoming increasingly important for carbon emissions trading .
Self-cleaning mass flow meter reduces maintenance
Innovative self-cleaning purge ports mean the Model GF90 Flow Meter maintains optimum flow measurement performance while dramatically reducing maintenance costs in rugged industry applications.
With its innovative self-cleaning purge ports, the Model GF90 Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (FCI) maintains optimum flow measurement performance while dramatically reducing maintenance costs in rugged industry applications where dirt, grit and grime are present in the fluid. The insertion style GF90 Mass Flow Meter self-cleaning purge ports minimise maintenance requirements and costs in dirty gas applications. In many process or manufacturing plants, technician access to flow meters for inspection or maintenance can be problematic due to their location.
By connecting the GF90 purge ports to compressed air, inert gas or solvent purge lines, process contaminants can be removed regularly and without un-installing the flow sensor element from the pipe to ensure continuous high accuracy measurement and significantly reduce maintenance activity.
The versatile GF90 utilises a thermal mass gas flow sensing element designed with 316 stainless steel and nickel-braze construction.
It also can be specified with corrosion and abrasion-resistant alloys, including Hastelloy, Monel and tantalum, and with all-welded construction for service in the harshest environments.
It is available for service in broad range of fluid temperature applications, from -100 to 850F (-73 to 454C) and pressure applications to 1000 psig [69 bar].
With constant power technology, the GF90 Flow Meter features turndowns from 1000:1, with an accuracy of 1 percent of reading plus 0.5 percent of scale, with repeatability of +0.5 percent of reading or better.
Flow sensitivity is from 0.25 to 1600 SFPS [ft/sec at a standard temperature of 70F and pressure of 14.7 psia] or 0.08 to 487.7 NMPS [m/sec at a normal temperature of 21.1C and pressure of 1.013 bar absolute].
Combining a rugged, low maintenance design with exceptional features, the GF90 is ideal for use in chemical plants, electric power utilities, oil/gas processing, pollution monitoring, steel, and wastewater treatment.
Typical flow measurement applications include: fly ash, flare gases, blast furnace gases, smokey cyclone separator air flow, landfill gases, digester and bio-gases, stack pollution monitoring and dirty gas in filter production.
Developed for complex multi-gas or variable flow processes, the GF90 Flow Meter includes an advanced microprocessor-based programmable transmitter.
The transmitter can store up to three calibration groups.
Each group can be independently configured for a specific calibration range, fluid, switch point settings, etc, to provide accuracy in complicated gas processes.
The instrument is also inherently multi-variable, providing both flow and temperature measurements without any additional tap points.
The GF90 transmitter electronics are addressable via a built-in LCD display and keypad or through its RS-232C and RS-485 serial ports.
This allows the user to perform in-field programming to change zero, span, switch points and engineering units, or to perform instrumentation verification, troubleshooting and other critical functions.
The serial I/O ports support access to computers or ASCII terminals.
The GF90 transmitter features two independent, field programmable analogue signal outputs of 4-20 mA, 0-10 Vdc, 0-5 Vdc, and/or 1-5 Vdc, which can be assigned to any combination of flow and/or temperature.
It also offers dual alarm switch points with relay outputs.
The switch points are user, field programmable to alarm at high, low or windowed and can also be assigned to flow and/or temperature readings.
Dual 10A relay outputs are provided for contact closures to lamps, alarm and control systems.
A NEMA Type 4X (IP66) rated transmitter enclosure is standard, with configuration options for local or remote mount application.
Optional Class I and II, Division 1 and 2, Groups B, C, D, E, F and G [EEx d IIC] transmitter enclosures are also available with agency approvals for Factory Mutual Research, CSA and ATEX.
Fluid Components International is a global company committed to meeting the needs of its customers through innovative solutions to the most challenging requirements for sensing, measuring and controlling flow and level of air, gases and liquids.
Flowmeters and switches are Russian GOST approved
FCI has received full certification from the Russian Federation to import its rugged, precision mass flow meters and mass flow/level/temperature switches into the Russian Federation.
Fluid Components International (FCI) has received full certification from the Russian Federation to import its rugged, precision mass flow meters and mass flow/level/temperature switches into the Russian Federation. The FCI manufacturing and calibration facilities have been inspected and approved for GOST R applications (GOST Russian Certification of Conformity). They have been found to be fully in compliance with Russian standards, resulting in the GOST R approval for the MT Series, GF Series and the ST98 Series thermal mass flow meters.
From the Gosgortekhnadzor Russia, also called RTN (formerly GGTN R), FCI flow meters and flow switches have been approved for use in hazardous areas.
With the their no-moving part design, FCI flow instruments have a global reputation for precision performance with high reliability and safety in hazardous industries, including oil/gas, chemical, electric power, pulp/paper, steel, waste water and many others.
Both the GOST R and the RTN approvals are required for importing flow instruments and their use in hazardous areas of the Russian Federation.
These approvals are also well recognized and accepted in other countries in the same region, such as Republic of Kazahstan, Ukraine Republic and Republic of Tartarstan.
The process of obtaining the Russian approvals was initiated and supported by the local FCI manufacturers distributor, Promtex ZAO, operating from Moscow and responsible for FCI sales and service in this region.
The firm maintains a well-trained staff, which offers technical expertise in flow measurement and switching instruments.
Flow meters from FCI are available with either thermal dispersion or Coriolis mass flow sensors.
FCI’s advanced flow meters combine precision flow measurement accuracy with a rugged design that is compatible with caustic, corrosive, humid and high temperature environments.
They are highly reliable, easy to install, require virtually no maintenance and are designed for long-life.
FCI flow switches feature an advanced no-moving parts thermal dispersion flow sensor that makes them ideal for a wide range of point-level applications.
Their versatile design also allows them to measure flow or level or temperature.
The FCI NuTec flow switch is designed with a unique non-contacting flow element that completely separates the sensor from the process media, which makes it ideal in sanitary flow processes common to the food/beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
FCI calibrates its own flow instruments and operates one of the industry’s leading flow calibration laboratories.
All laboratory equipment is National Institute of Standards (NIST) traceable, as well as certified to ISO 9001:2000 and AS9000 compliant.
The laboratory also meets MIL-STD-45662A and ANSI/NCSL-Z-540 requirements.
For more than 40 years, FCI has been a pioneer in the development of thermal dispersion sensors and more recently Coriolis sensors for direct mass flow measurement in a variety of media.
New Combimass gas flow sensors from Gas Data
For thermal mass flow measurement, advanced electronic Combimass sensors are now available exclusively in the UK from Coventry-based Gas Data.
For thermal mass flow measurement, advanced electronic Combimass sensors are now available exclusively in the UK from Coventry-based Gas Data. As part of an important new agreement between the Binder Group of Germany and Gas Data, Combimass will enable UK companies to directly and very accurately measure standard volumetric flow or the mass flow of gas. Designed with high precision resistors for minimal drift of the raw signal, Combimass sensors provide excellent long-term stability and can be supplied in multiple combinations for easy expandability of a system.
Available in several modules, including Basic (up to 130C) and Compact (up to 1100C), the modular Binder Combimass from Gas Data can work in very harsh operating conditions.
Digester Gas Provides Savings Information
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wastewater treatment facilities. As the cost of natural gas and other fuel alternatives continues to soar (see Figure 1), more facilities are reviewing their strategies for handling digester gas. Simply wasting this sometimes troublesome energy source is no longer an option. In the last year alone, the number of upgrades and retrofits to existing anaerobic digestion equipment and processes has climbed drastically.For optimal operation, anaerobic digesters require good mixing and constant temperature control. The digesters operate at either 95˚F or 131˚F – temperatures at which anaerobic microbes perform most efficiently. In maintaining those temperatures, operators must take into account the heated influent sludge entering the digester as well as heat losses from the digester.
Digester sludge heating is one of the most common uses of digester gas. Produced at low pressures, this dirty gas can cause maintenance issues with burners and boilers. A gas booster is sometimes needed to increase the pressure before certain burners. Other burners cannot tolerate fouling constituents, and require the gas to be scrubbed. These issues result in more boilers requiring regular maintenance and cleaning.
A decade ago, when natural gas prices were relatively low, some plants tried reducing or eliminating these maintenance issues by shutting off the digester gas to their sludge heaters. But with natural gas prices now four to five times more expensive than 10 years ago[1], wasting digester gas is a costly approach to operations.
In an effort to reverse this trend, regular maintenance programs need to be stressed at the plant level. Routine cleaning of the fire tubes should be scheduled and the upgrading of burners and controls seriously considered.
Complete retrofit programs can help with digester maintenance and care. Application engineers determine the scope of work with a pre-inspection and then tailor their service offering to meet the customer’s needs. Such offerings range from supplying OEM parts to a complete turnkey installation, including starting up the rebuilt unit and fine-tuning the burners.
To minimize the issues of burning digester gas in heaters, some heat exchangers allow the heater to operate down to 2 inches w. c., where it automatically blends with natural gas while continuously firing. This unique design safely creates negative pressure in the fire box, eliminating fugitive gas emissions and the need for a gas booster. The water box does not need to be drained in order to access the fire tubes or the inside of the sludge tubes.
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As not all digester gas is used right away, it must be efficiently stored for later use. Storing the gas for peak usage times, for use in other dual fuel motors such as blowers and pumps, and for use in a heater during temperature extremes, can result in extraordinary savings by eliminating or reducing the use of natural gas or some other alternate fuel.The amount of gas storage needed also depends on the facility’s usage goals. The owner may want to store as much digester gas as possible, or he may only want enough to let the heater heat exchanger (see Figure 2) run through one uninterrupted cycle.
Adding a conventional steel cover to an existing plant may pose certain limitations. Existing covers may need to be re-ballasted to account for the weight of the new cover. Sludge variation in the new gas holder will also have some limitations. A good coating application is essential for reliable life.
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Odors are another issue with steel covers and anaerobic digesters in general. Even though the amount of sludge exposed to the atmosphere is small, some digesters may release numerous odors, depending on the influent constituents.As natural gas and other alternate fuel prices skyrocket, wastewater treatment facility operators will continue to seek more cost-effective and energy-efficient operation methods. Anaerobic digesters are a proven, safe and reliable treatment process. To maximize performance and minimize costs, proper efficient use of and proper storage of digester gas are important. (see Figure 3) PE
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