Sizing Calculator for LINK-SEAL® Elastomer Sealing System Available

LINK-SEAL® modular seals are the premier method for permanently sealing pipes of any size passing through walls, floors, and ceilings. As they pass through barriers, any cylindrical object becomes quickly and persistently secured by the patented Link-Seal® modular seal design.

LINK-SEAL® withstand hydrostatic testing up to 20 PSIG (40 feet of static head) and is used on plastic, metal, and concrete pipes. Electrical and telecommunications cables are sealed within conduit as they enter vaults or utility holes. Link-Seal® also closes the annular space between carrier pipes passing through casings against the entry of water, soil, or backfill material. 

LINK-SEAL® provides a handy calculator to assist in sizing and choosing your LINK-SEAL® sealing system. You can find the calculator here.

Piping Specialties / PSI Controls

https://psi-team.com

800-223-1468

Level Measurement for Water in Sewage Pools

This application takes place at a large power plant well known for its "Green Approach" and it's commitment to ensuring a clean and healthy atmosphere in and around the plant. 

The branched sewer system of the power plant requires instant maintenance and control. The plant uses water to operate the turbine. This water and other wastes move to the city’s wastewater treatment plant through the sewage system.

Some of the sewers are dispersed in remote locations around the plant, making it difficult for personal maintenance personnel to approach and repair damage on time. Plant technicians were looking for a solution to control the sewers better and avoid cases where wastewater might overflow. 

The sewage pool readings had to be transmitted to the central DCS because the sewage system connects to a central control room. The plant needed a 24/7 watch and an on-site guard to gain maximum control over those sewers. 

Technicians also stressed that wastewater flooding was inevitable because it takes time for the equipment to handle blockages. This flooding has caused severe damage to the environment. It was essential to control the wastewater level in the sewers to avoid cases such as these from reappearing. 

The Drexelbrook Usonic - The Solution 

After a lengthy examination of several possibilities, the plant decided to install two Drexelbrook USonic systems in its sewage pools. The ability of USonic to produce non-contact, continuous, and accurate readings of the water level in the pools gave the engineers of the plant a clear picture of the pools' status. 

Its compact size and integral construction simplify its installation, offering an efficient solution in no time at all. The USonic had no problem providing 12ft water level readings with a measurement range of up to 30 ft.  It can map obstacles in the pool and memorize interfering signals with its scan distance function. 

The USonic was linked to the central control system via 4-20mA, allowing the plant engineers to control the water level in the sewers constantly. The engineers know that the sewers would maintain the correct water level, and the system would be alerted in an emergency. 

Summary

The two USonic systems installed in the power plant give complete control over the sewers' water level to the plant's engineers. The systems' ability to display continuous level readings around the clock improved maintenance crews handle the sewage system.

To detect sudden blockages and avoid environmental damage on time, they can now save time. The plant received an immediate return on investment due to its compact size and reduced price.

Piping Specialties / PSI Controls

https://psi-team.com

800-223-1468

The Operation of the Cash Valve B Series, Type E-55, Type PBE-1, Type PBE-2, and Type PBE-5

Cash Valve is a leading manufacturer of pressure regulating and back pressure valves offering products for steam, air/gas, liquid, and cryogenic applications. Products range in size from 1/8" - 2" for threaded NPT connections and up through 6 inches for flanged configurations. Temperatures range between cryogenic up through 800°F, and materials of construction are offered with iron, brass, bronze, carbon and stainless steel depending on your application.

For more information about Cash Valve, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. by calling 800-223-1468 or by visiting their web site at https://psi-team.com. 

A-T Controls Industrial Valve, Actuator and Controls Product Overview

A-T Controls is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and sale of manual & automated process valves for all types of industries. A-T Controls is known for its extensive inventory and highly experienced staff that enable them to provide the customer solutions needed to fulfill most valve and actuator requirements while offering both a competitive price and the fastest turnaround in the industry.

A-T Controls products provide high-performance operation in virtually every industry, including Oil & Gas, Refining, Petrochemical, Chemical Processing, Pulp & Paper, Mining, Transportation, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Marine, HVAC, Power, and more.

A-T Controls Products Include:

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.

DOWNLOAD THE A-T CONTROLS PRODUCT GUIDE

For more information, contact Piping Specialties, Inc / PSI Controls. Call them at 800-223-1468  of visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

Cost-effective, Non-contact Ultrasonic Level Measurement from Drexelbrook

Affordable, 2-Wire Level Transmitter with the performance and features of premium, line-powered systems.

DOWNLOAD THE USONIC DATA SHEET HERE

USonics ultrasonic technology level products from the Drexelbrook family offers a cost-effective two-wire and line powered versions for the non-contact measurement of liquids and slurries for level, distance, volume, and open channel flow.   Level, size, volume, and open-channel flow measurements are easily configured via a menu-driven display.   The USonic level transmitter has a 4-20 mA two-wire HART output signal and is suitable for all Class I Div. 1, Zone, I.S., or explosion-proof locations.

For more information contact PSI Controls / Piping Specialties by calling 800-223-1468 or visit https://psi-team.com.

The Flow Safe F9000 "SurgeFlow" Liquid Surge Relief Valve

Liquid product pipelines must be protected from liquid surges. Surges are caused by pump failure, rapid block valve closing, non-return check valve hard-shutting, emergency shutdown of a tank or loading system, or even a pump coming on or tripping. The magnitude of surge pressures varies, some virtually undetectable to those severe enough to cause significant damage. These propagating waves, either increasing or decreasing rapidly, are commonly known as a transient hydraulic surge of water hammer that can cause severe damage to liquid product pipelines, vessels, flanges, valving, and associated equipment. 

The Flow Safe SurgeFlow series has been developed exclusively for liquid surge protection. These valves are extremely simple and 100% reliable. The dome cavity volume on top of the main valve piston is filled with nitrogen gas to affect the valve's proper set pressure. Dome gas pressure is set according to the characteristic piston seat-to-seal area ratio for the given valve size. This dome load forces the main valve into a closed position using a soft elastomer seat, providing a 100% tight shut-off. When surge pressure is sensed, the SurgeFlow valve piston opens immediately as the liquid fluid force acting under the piston overcomes the force from the dome gas working on the top. The piston continues to lift in proportion to the pressure surge, slightly compressing the dome gas. The closing cycle responds directly to pressure decay in the piping upstream of the SurgeFlow surge relief valve. 

SurgeFlow series valves are designed for accurate and repeatable performance. They will handle both minimum and maximum surge cases when called upon to relieve. Flow Safe suggests all surge relief valves be located nearest the point where maximum pressure can occur in the main pipeline for optimal safety purposes. 

For more information about Flow Safe products in New England, contact Piping Specialties. Call them at 800-223-1468, or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

Thermal Flowmeters for Wastewater Applications

Wastewater treatment plants ( WWTPs) or publicly owned treatment plants (POTWs) must operate 24/7 to satisfy domestic, industrial, and storm drain sources. Sewage treatment includes eliminating pollutants from wastewater and sewage (human waste, animal waste, soaps, and detergents) to create a safe fluid waste stream that can be reintroduced safely into the ecosystem and a solid waste appropriate for reuse (usually as fertilizer). The primary applications for flow meters in wastewater treatment settings measure blower air to each pool in the aeration basin and measure digester gas flow.

The aeration basin is an array of treatment pools containing aerobic bacteria that break down the pools' sewage. A blower adds the necessary dissolved oxygen (DO) to the aerobic bacteria in the aeration basin. Too little oxygen destroys the bacteria, and too much oxygen is expensive; running the aeration blower accounts for up to 60% of all wastewater power consumed.

Digester sewage is called "sludge." When bacteria is added to the digester, the sludge breaks down and releases gas. This digester gas is collected, compressed, it's excess moisture gets removed, and is then cleaned in a scrubber. The cleaned gas is sent to engines or fuel cells for power generation, boiler water heating (for steam or hot water), and excess gas burns off at the flare. Many extensive sewage treatment facilities use digester biogas to operate the plant, minimizing their grid power consumption.

Developing accurate flow rate data allows wastewater treatment facilities to more precisely manage digester production levels, enabling tighter controls on methane levels and flaring. Kurz Instruments provides a handy overview of where thermal flowmeters are applied and provide optimal performance. 

DOWNLOAD THE TECHNICAL PAPER HERE

For more information about applying flowmeters to wastewater applications in New England contact Piping Specialties. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their site at http://psi-team.com.

Thermal Flow Meters for Pulp & Paper Applications

Trees used in paper-making go through processing in a de-barker and a chipper, where they reduce to approximately one-inch wood chips. The wood chips are pressure cooked in a digester and become pulp, refined, turned into slush, and screened. Screening drains away liquid, and the resulting pulp is then pressed and dried into the paper. Several steps within the pulp and paper-making process create emissions that must be monitored and reported.

Creating paper pulp relies on a careful balance of low-velocity air flows among the various processes. For example, the recovery boiler following the digester modulates to follow the digester load changes. Additionally, a recovery boiler uses the black liquor's chemical reaction to generate heat for the boiler. It has three airflow systems requiring tight control to create stable air flows.

Kurz Instruments provides a good application note explaining the areas where thermal flow meter uses appear in the pulp and paper production process. You can download the application note below.

DOWNLOAD THE THERMAL FLOW METERS FOR PULP & PAPER APPLICATION NOTE HERE

For more information on instrumentation for pulp and paper mills in New England, contact PSI Controls (Piping Specialties, Inc.). Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

Ball Valves Used for Black Liquor in Pulping Kraft Process

Many toxic, corrosive, and reactive chemicals are used in pulp and paper mills in chemical pulping. This incredibly hostile environment requires well-engineered automatic valve systems and durable valve actuators, spring units, and positioners. 

Suppose you understand how paper is made and what chemicals are usually used in the atmosphere. In that case, you can instantly understand why special consideration is required for valve and actuator selection.

In the early stage of paper production, digesters combine high heat and a heavy alkaline liquid called "white liquor" to convert wood chips into a pulp during separation from wood chips. White liquor (mainly sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide), process water, heat, and pressure are used to separate wood chips into lignin and cellulose fibers. The white liquor breaks down the lignin (the substance that binds the wood fiber together) in wood chips. The resulting combination of water and spent white liquor produces "black liquor." This liquid pulp residue mixture made up of lignin and hemicellulose, and inorganic compounds such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide is toxic. Another by-product of this process is Hydrogen Sulfide, a toxic, corrosive, and flammable gas. 

Effects on Ball Valves

In piping and ball valves, managing these process chemicals and by-products is difficult. Pipe diameters range from 2"-10", but the most common sizes are 4", 6" and 8." Usually, these processes are ANSI / ASME Class 150 and ANSI / ASME Class 300, the most common end connection being 150 # and 300 #. Process temperatures are usually high, between 250 ° F and 350 ° F. The valve body and end connection materials are generally 316 stainless steel, but you'll also find carbon steel requested. Applications can include manual lever, gear operators, pneumatic actuators, and electrical actuators in valve assemblies.

The most concerning issue is the sticky molasses-like liquor builds upon the ball valve face and contaminates the back seat spaces, inducing strong internal clearance forces, resulting in valve lock-up over long static periods. A superior ball valve seat design from A-T Controls addresses the viscous material problem.  

A-T Controls developed a solution for this extreme pulp and paper service and black liquor service with notable improvements to their FMS series. This valve incorporates a "scraper seat" feature that eliminates the molasses-like residue baked on the ball's face and eliminates valve lock-up. The addition of Aflas ® o-rings seal the seat cavity from media build-up, and a Venturi hole in the ball is also provided.

Typical black liquor ball valve from A-T Controls:

• Series: A-T Controls FMS
• Sizes: ½" -8"
• Rating: ANSI/ASME Class 150/Class 300 with 150# and 300# flanges, API 607.
• Ball and Seats: Tungsten Carbide coated metal scraper seats (Aflas® o-rings and Venturi Ball for black liquor service.) 

Please consult a Piping Specialties Applications Engineer for material selection for your black liquor application. This information is a guideline, and customers are solely responsible for construction materials, preparation of the valves for service, and lubricants being compatible with their black liquor application.

For a free consultation, call Piping Specialties at 800-223-1468 or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

Radar Level Measurement: Comparison of 24 GHz and 80 GHz

Radar level transmitters are among the most accurate technology choices for process level and storage tank applications for continuous level measurement under demanding conditions.  These transmitters utilize Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology that offers superior signal processing capabilities and more reliable measurement than other techniques. The state-of-the-art signal processing capabilities of these transmitters, along with their frequency range, helps to ensure optimum application coverage.

24 GHz radar transmitters cover a broad range of applications, including liquids & solids. 

80 GHz radar transmitters are especially beneficial for level measurements in narrow tanks with internal obstructions due to their small beam angle.

This video, courtesy of AMETEK Drexelbrook, demonstrates many of the other differences between 24 GHz and 80 GHz models of radar level transmitters.

For more information on radar level transmitters in New England, contact PSI Controls (Piping Specialties, Inc.). Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

Cash Valve Industrial Regulators for Air, Gas, Steam, Water and Oil Service

Cash Valve is a leading manufacturer of Pressure Regulating and Back Pressure Valves offering products for Steam, Air/Gas, Liquid, and Cryogenic applications.

Get the Cash Valve
Catalog Here

Cash Valve regulators and valves are designed for pressure regulation and back-pressure. They are used for steam, air, gas, liquid, and cryogenic applications. These valves are available in multiple configurations, including a range of materials including iron, brass, bronze, carbon, and stainless steel. Standard sizes from 1/8” to 6” are available with working temperatures from cryogenic ranges to to 800° F. Diaphragms of various elastomers and metal configurations are available, depending on application.

For more information about Cash Valve, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

DOWNLOAD THE CASH VALVE PRODUCT CATALOG

Sanitary Process Refractometers for Food, Beverage & Dairy Industries: The Vaisala K-PATENTS PR-43A

Vaisala K-PATENTS® PR-43A Models PR-43-AC, PR-43-AP, PR-43-APT

Vaisala K-PATENTS® Sanitary Process Refractometers PR-43-AC for hygienic installations in small pipe line sizes of 2.5 inch and smaller; PR-43-AP for hygienic installations in large pipes, tanks, cookers, crystallizers and kettles and for higher temperatures up to 150°C (300 °F); and the PR-43-APT for flush mounting installations in cookers, cooling crystallizers and other vessels that have scrapers or mixers.

Sanitary Refractometer Applications:

Extraction, evaporation, brewing, distilling, sugar dissolving, blending, filling. Alcohol, rum, whiskey, brandy, vodka, molasses, liquors, cider, alcoholic beverages, pre-mixed liquors. Beer and malt beverages, wort, cut beer, root beer. Juices, blended vegetable and fruit juices and nectars, still drinks, vegetable and juice concentrates, iced tea and coffee, instant coffee and tea. Soft drinks, energy and sport drinks, beverage base. Wines, grape must.

Sanitary Refractometer 3A Approval:

The Sanitary refractometer PR-43-A is Sanitary 3-A approved to meet the highest hygiene requirements of food production. The 3-A Symbol assures that the Sanitary Refractometer

PR-43-A conforms to 3-A Sanitary Standard Number 46-04 for Refractometers and Energy-Absorbing Optical Sensors for Milk and Milk Products and it has passed the independent Third Party Verification inspection for 3-A Symbol authorization.

For more information about Vaisala K-PATENTS products in New New England, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. / PSI Controls. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their web site at https://psi-team.com.

Markets and Applications for Thermal Flow Meters

Insertion, in-line, multipoint & portable thermal flow meters are used for monitoring and measuring industrial gas flows for stacks, ducts, flares, emissions, biogas, chemical processes, condensing gases, and pressurized gases. They provide the dependability required for most challenging industry requirements and are perfect for applications that call for reliability, exacting accuracy, cost-effectiveness. Below are the primary industries and their associated applications where thermal flow meters are found.

Coal Power

The increasingly stringent environmental and pollution requirements in the U.S. have resulted in a declining use of coal. However, coal remains the most common fuel source for generating power (mostly in specific industry applications), and more than 90% of the coal mined in the U.S. is used for generating power.

Coal Power Metering Applications Include:

• Hot and cold pulverizer Air
• Primary Air
• Fuel air flow   
• Secondary or underfire Air   
• Tertiary or overfire Air
• Baghouse airflow
• Exhaust/emissions flow

Incinerators

Incineration (also called gasification, pyrolysis, plasma arc, and waste‐to‐energy) is the thermal treatment of disposed waste materials, converting it to ash, flue gas, and heat. Incineration reduces the original waste mass by up to 85% and the volume up to 95%. Flue gases are cleaned or burned before the final emissions are released into the atmosphere.

Specific Incinerator Installations:

• Monitoring primary and secondary air to the furnace
• Measuring combustion air to a boiler
• Monitoring stack flue gas
• Measuring and monitoring emissions

Landfills

Landfill gas falls into five basic monitoring categories: soil gas, near surface gas, emissions, ambient air, and facility air. Soil gas, emissions, and facility air are environments suited for thermal mass flow devices. Thermal technology is excellent for measuring extremely low flows and is known for having very low pressure drop.

Standard thermal flow meters do not work well in condensing gas environments, such as those found in landfill methane recovery systems. The unpredictable moisture levels caused by leachate, rain, temperature, and humidity add to the accuracy issues related to wet gas flow measurements.

Specific Landfill Installations:

• Measuring emissions
• Air monitoring spot checks across cells
• Measuring gas conversion utilized in electricity generation
• Supporting fuel cell management
• Post‐combustion emissions

Metal Industries

This category includes primary and secondary industrial metal sources such as smelters, foundries, metal refineries, steel mills, and metal recyclers.

Specific Installations in Metal Industries:

• Measuring furnace air
• Measuring combustion air to blast furnace
• Natural gas, combination air to blast furnace and reheat furnace
• Monitoring exhaust, stack, and emission gases
• Baghouse flow
• Argon or chlorine gas flow, SNIF process in Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) area
• EPA Method 14 stack flow (aluminum only)
• Nitrogen blanketing
• Continuous caster pneumatic systems
• Coater line exhaust flow

Petroleum & Petrochemicals

The petrochemical industry creates products from petroleum that includes oil and gas. But petroleum is also used to create ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, and xylene — all of which provide the building blocks for solvents, dyes, detergents, fertilizers, adhesives, rubbers, plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, lubricants, and gels.

Specific Installations in Petroleum & Petrochemicals:

• Measuring combustion air to a boiler
• Measuring gas to flares
• Monitoring stack flue gas
• Measuring emissions (CEM)
• Measuring combustion fuel‐to‐air ratios
• Monitoring low‐pressure hydrocarbon storage vessel vent lines
• Monitoring high‐pressure distillation column off‐gases
• Monitoring very‐low flow for stuck open relief valves alarms
• Monitoring knockout drum relief valve switch to the flare

Pulp & Paper

Creating paper pulp relies on a careful balance of low velocity air flows among the various processes. For example, the recovery boiler following the digester must be modulated to follow changes in the digester load. Other imbalances can create excessive amounts of pollutant gases, reduce chemical recovery efficiency, reduce the boiler’s steam production, create extra soot to coat boiler tubes, or cause excess corrosion problems for boiler components.

Specific Installations in Pulp & Paper:

• Measuring combustion air to a boiler
• Measuring primary/secondary/tertiary air to a recovery boiler
• Monitoring stack flue gas
• Measuring stack emissions
• Monitoring digester gases and aeration air
• Measuring inlet combustion air to gas turbine generator sets
• Controlling tight fuel‐to‐air tolerances, such as with natural gas
• Measuring turbine exhaust gases
• Measuring overfire and underfire air

Wastewater

The primary applications in the wastewater environment are measuring blower air to each pool in the aeration basin and measuring digester gas flow. Operating the aeration blower accounts for up to 60 percent of all power consumed at a wastewater site, and proper air management can lead to massive savings in energy usage and equipment efficiency. Monitoring the health of the digester can provide indicators that minimize disruptions and leaks.

Flow Metering Applications in Wastewater Include:

• Header (blower) air flow
• Individual pool air flow in the aeration basin
• Digester gas production
• Precombustion engine fuel flow
• Air/fuel to boiler or engine
• Flare gas flow

For more information on the application of thermal flow meters in New England, contact PSI Controls. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their website at https://psi-team.com.

ARCA Control Valves in New England

ARCA develops, manufactures, and markets control valves on an international scale primarily for the chemical, food, power, and oil and natural gas industries.

High-performance control valves from ARCA are capable companions in industrial and large-scale power plants by ensuring safe and reliable operation and can be used in all high and low-pressure steam, oil, gas, water/boiler feedwater, and condensate circuits.

Oil and natural gas are the primary sources of energy driving the global economy. ARCA valves have helped ensure production and process reliability in the oil and natural gas industries for many years, and a wide variety of precision-engineered control valves are available that include DN15 (1/2) to DN600 (24") and PN16 to PN400 (ANSI 150-2500) sizes as well as special-purpose valves for all media handled in these areas.

ARCA valves are also indispensable in steel production. Steel production and processing require valves that offer ultra-high performance and a long service life.

Integrated in the bypass section of turbo-compressors, ARCA valves reliably carry out multiple tasks simultaneously by assisting during the start-up and shut-down phases of the compressor.

Concentrated Solar Power plants convert solar radiation into electrical energy. Systems that use  thermal oils as a heat-transfer medium produce temperatures that can reach 400 °C at approximately 40 bar in the solar array. Such applications integrate reliable ECOTROL® 6H high-pressure valves, which feature a bellows seal.

The BIOVENT® control valve developed for the food and pharmaceutical industry, for example, is available in many designs and connection layouts and with drives and positioners in stainless steel to cater to all applications.

For more information on ARCA Control Valves, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their web site at https://psi-team.com.

Inline Process Refractometers in Beer Brewing

Introduction

The first step in the beer brewing process is the preparation of malt grains. The extract received fromthe processing of this raw material is called wort. The second step is fermentation by yeast. The last steps are conditioning and final filtration. After filtration, the beer is ready for bottling.

Instrumentation and Installation

Vaisala K-PATENTS® Sanitary Process Refractometer PR-43-A is used at many stages of the brewery process to determine in real-time and accurately the concentration of dissolved solids. The refractometer takes an optical measurement of the refractive index of a solution and its output can be calibrated in Plato, Brix, Balling, gravity or density, depending on the preference of the brewery.
The Sanitary Refractometer is available with 3-A Sanitary and EHEDG certifications and it withstands CIP/SIP cleaning and rinsing of the facilities.

1. Mash tank

Mashing is the process of mixing the crushed malt with very hot water. In this process, the malted grain breaks down to create enzymes, which become active when exposed to water at a specific temperature. These active enzymes convert the starches into sugars. The resultant sugary liquid is known as the wort. Mashing is a crucial step as it determines the final structure of the beer.
In the mashing stage, the refractometer is used to measure the concentration of the mash in water at the outlet pipe to maintain a consistent concentration. Automatic prism wash with steam or high-pressure hot water is recommended for this application.

2. Lauter Tun

Lauter tun is a vessel used to separate the extracted wort from the spent grain. The solids in the lauter tun are rinsed with water to separate the clear liquid wort from the solids. The liquid concentration gradually decreases during the rinsing.
At the lauter tun the refractometer’s output signal is used to detect the shut-off point for rinsing, thus preventing excessive use of water. Automatic prism wash with steam or high-pressure water is recommended for this application.

3. Wort Boiler (Brew Kettle)

In the wort boiler the wort is pasteurized, and its flavor is adjusted by the addition of hops (or other flavors such as ginger or molasses). The brew is boiled until a certain strength or gravity is achieved. This step is essential for the quality of the final beer.
The refractometer is installed directly on the wort boiler to measure the wort strength/gravity. It provides an instant feedback when the wort has reached its required strength. No by-pass arrangements are required. The purpose is to eliminate sampling, optimize the boiling time, and to improve beer consistency and quality. Automatic prism wash with steam or high-pressure water is recommended for this application.

4. Hot Wort from Boiler to Whirlpool

The refractometer is installed in the wort boiler outlet to monitor the quality of the wort. Before the wort goes on to the next stage, solids are removed from the liquid by using a whirlpool. All hops and other solids are forced to the center of the whirlpool. When the whirlpool is stopped, the solids settle at the bottom, forming a fairly solid central cone. The liquid can then be drained off.

5. Chilled Wort from Heat Exchanger

The wort is cooled down to the correct temperature for the yeast. The refractometer is used for quality control, by a way of measuring the cold wort before it enters the fermentation process. This is an alternative measurement to point 4.

6. Fermentation

Fermentation starts when the yeasts are added to the wort. The yeast converts the sugars and amino acids into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The fermenting reaction is slow, and its progress must be monitored to determine the end point.
The spent yeast settles at the bottom of the tank and is frequently removed. This process helps to clarify the beer.
In fermentation, The refractometer continuously detects the changes in refractive index because of the conversion of sugars into alcohol. This allows monitoring the conversion rate, the degree of fermentation and provides an indirect measurement of the alcohol volume (%) for determining the end point (see also application note Alcoholic Fermentation).

7. Filtering

After fermentation, the beer is let to rest, so that the suspended dead yeast settles at the bottom. This conditioning process helps the maturing of the beer. The refractometer provides a quality control measurement for the wort filtering output.

8. Packing and Interface Detection

Packing is typically done by filling the beer into bottles or aluminum cans via a filling machine. Some brewers may use the same filling line for different products. In this case a Clean-In-Place (CIP) operation is required between the filling of each product.

At the filling line, the refractometer instantly detects the product-to-product and product to-CIP cleaning interfaces in bottling. The refractometer output signal can be utilized for quality control monitoring, and to ensure correct product-to-bottle selection and a product quality within specification.

If the same filling station is used for different products, the refractometer can be used for automated monitoring and controlling of the CIP cleaning process, allowing products to be switched freely. This results in increased productivity, without compromising the end product’s quality and safety.

For more information about the use of process refractometers, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. / PSI Controls by calling 800-223-1468 or visit their web site at https://psi-team.com.

Reprinted with permission from Vaisala/K-Patents.

MOGAS Valve Selection Guide

For over 40 years MOGAS has designed and manufactured valves exclusively for the severe service market.  No leakage, limited maintenance and superior reliability make a MOGAS valve the easiest and most cost-effective valve to operate. Their portfolio of valve solutions lets you choose the design trim, materials, and coatings that provide your severe service application the best protection.

MOGAS is well-known in the power generation and process industries for solving critical problems that routinely plague these plants: leaking valves; seat erosion; blown packing; and the inability to isolate critical equipment.

Proudly made in the USA, each MOGAS valve carries an application-specific performance guarantee.

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DOWNLOAD THE MOGAS VALVE SELECTION GUIDE FROM THIS PSI WEB PAGE

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Piping Specialties, Inc - PSI Controls
800-223-1468
https://psi-team.com

Why Use LINK-SEAL®?

LINK-SEAL® is a modular elastomer sealing system that creates a permanent, hydrostatic seal for almost any cylindrical object as it traverses a barrier. The modular LINK-SEAL ® seals are the primary technique for sealing tubes of any size continuously through walls and ceilings. Indeed, any cylinder-shaped item can be secured against water, soil or backfill material rapidly, readily and permanently.

LINK-SEAL® FEATURE AND BENEFITS

• Install in up to 75% less time compared to lead-oakum joints, hand-fitted flashings, mastics, or casing boots.
• Rated at 20 psig (40ft of head), which exceeds the performance requirements of most applications.
• Designed for use as a permanent seal. Seal elements are specially compounded to resist aging and attack from ozone, sunlight, water, and a wide range of chemicals.
• Standard fasteners have a two-part zinc dichromate and proprietary corrosion inhibiting coating. Corrosion resistant 316 stainless steel available for maximum corrosion protection.
• NSF 61 and Factory Mutual Fire Approved materials available. Also carry a wide variety of approvals from various Federal agencies, associations, code groups, laboratories, and organizations.
• Manufactured in an ISO 9001certified facility.
• 16 sizes, color-coded EPDM, Nitrile, and Silicone elastomers may be used with various hardware options to match performance characteristics with service conditions.

LINK-SEAL® SPECIFICATIONS

• Pressure resistant to 20psig (40 ft of head)
• Standard  — EPDM – rubber (black)
• Oil Resistant — Nitrile rubber (green)
• Temperature resistant — Silicone rubber (gray)
• Low Durometer for fragile pipe — EPDM rubber (blue) Shore 40 ± 5
• Hardware Options - S316 Stainless Steel and Zinc Dichromate Coated Steel (1470 hr salt spray tested) hardware

LINK-SEAL® APPLICATIONS

Mechanical Contractors - Interior Piping Systems, Manhole Pipe Entry Seals, Waste Treatment Plants, Cased Road Crossings, Thermal Storage Systems, Fire Protection Wall Penetrations, Cased Railroad Crossings, Electrical Isolation of Pipes, Precast Concrete Vault Seals, Insulated Pipe Seals, Dual Containment Seals, Marine Applications, Noise Dampening, Flexible Sign & Pole Supports, Electrical Isolation of Pipe Supports, Mining, Pulp & Paper, Decorative Fountains, Pool Contractors, Electrical Contractors, Waste & Water Treatment, Telecommunications, Valve Pits, Refrigeration Buildings, Guard Post Assemblies, Power Generation Dams, Offshore Oil Rigs, High Pressure Tank Guards, Underground Steel Tanks, Precast Concrete Manufacturers, Perimeter Berm Installations Around Tank Farms, Flow Restrictions in Sewer Maintenance, Fluid Overflow Devices, Noise and Sway Dampener, Through Deck Fire Breaks, Bridge Construction, Septic Tank Installations, Coal Preparation Plants, Tunneling Operations.

For more information on LINK-SEAL® modular wall seals, contact Piping Specialties, Inc. Call them at 800-223-1468 or visit their web site at https://psi-team.com.

US Power Grids, Oil and Gas Industries, and Risk of Hacking

A report released in June, from the security firm Dragos, describes a worrisome development by a hacker group named, “Xenotime” and at least two dangerous oil and gas intrusions and ongoing reconnaissance on United States power grids.

Multiple ICS (Industrial Control Sectors) sectors now face the XENOTIME threat; this means individual verticals – such as oil and gas, manufacturing, or electric – cannot ignore threats to other ICS entities because they are not specifically targeted.

The Dragos researchers have termed this threat proliferation as the world’s most dangerous cyberthreat since an event in 2017 where Xenotime had caused a serious operational outage at a crucial site in the Middle East. 

The fact that concerns cybersecurity experts the most is that this hacking attack was a malware that chose to target the facility safety processes (SIS – safety instrumentation system).

For example, when temperatures in a reactor increase to an unsafe level, an SIS will automatically start a cooling process or immediately close a valve to prevent a safety accident. The SIS safety stems are both hardware and software that combine to protect facilities from life threatening accidents.

At this point, no one is sure who is behind Xenotime. Russia has been connected to one of the critical infrastructure attacks in the Ukraine.  That attack was viewed to be the first hacker related power grid outage.

This is a “Cause for Concern” post that was published by Dragos on June 14, 2019. 

“While none of the electric utility targeting events has resulted in a known, successful intrusion into victim organizations to date, the persistent attempts, and expansion in scope is cause for definite concern. XENOTIME has successfully compromised several oil and gas environments which demonstrates its ability to do so in other verticals. Specifically, XENOTIME remains one of only four threats (along with ELECTRUM, Sandworm, and the entities responsible for Stuxnet) to execute a deliberate disruptive or destructive attack.

XENOTIME is the only known entity to specifically target safety instrumented systems (SIS) for disruptive or destructive purposes. Electric utility environments are significantly different from oil and gas operations in several aspects, but electric operations still have safety and protection equipment that could be targeted with similar tradecraft. XENOTIME expressing consistent, direct interest in electric utility operations is a cause for deep concern given this adversary’s willingness to compromise process safety – and thus integrity – to fulfill its mission.

XENOTIME’s expansion to another industry vertical is emblematic of an increasingly hostile industrial threat landscape. Most observed XENOTIME activity focuses on initial information gathering and access operations necessary for follow-on ICS intrusion operations. As seen in long-running state-sponsored intrusions into US, UK, and other electric infrastructure, entities are increasingly interested in the fundamentals of ICS operations and displaying all the hallmarks associated with information and access acquisition necessary to conduct future attacks. While Dragos sees no evidence at this time indicating that XENOTIME (or any other activity group, such as ELECTRUM or ALLANITE) is capable of executing a prolonged disruptive or destructive event on electric utility operations, observed activity strongly signals adversary interest in meeting the prerequisites for doing so.”

Mounting and Adjusting a Rack & Pinion Actuator

A-T Controls is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and sale of manual & automated process valves for all types of industries.

This video details the steps required to mount and adjust a TRIAC rack and pinion actuator to an AT Controls ball valve.

Piping Specialties sells, services, and automates A-T Controls valves and TRIAC actuators in New England.

For more information, contact Piping Specialties by calling 800-223-1468 or visiting https://psi-team.com.

MOGAS Industries Authorized Valve Automation Center

Piping Specialties, Inc. is an authorized Valve Automation Center for MOGAS Industries, Inc. serving New England and the Northeast U.S.A. MOGAS is the leading manufacturer of severe service ball valves for extreme industrial applications.

Piping Specialties, Inc.
https://psi-team.com
800-223-1468