Process Heating articles from September 2005

Process Heating archives from September 2005

A look at our 10 Tips issue: the best advice.(Commentary)
September 1, 2005... I admit it: I'm an advice column addict. Dear Abby, the Motley Fool, Click and Clack--it doesn't really matter the subject matter as long as the columnist is entertaining. In fact, if I could, I'd be an advice columnist. (Regrettably, there's...

Specifying heat trace cable.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... Heat trace cable typically is used for freeze protection on pipes and to make up for heat lost due to insulation limitations. Heat tracing also is sometimes used to preheat part of a fluid system prior to initial startup or after a primary...

Litzler buys Indacomp.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... C.A. Litzler Co. Inc., Cleveland, has expanded its family of companies by purchasing Indacomp Corp., which specializes in custom control automation applications. Established in 1996, Indacomp will be renamed Litzler Automation. Indacomp...

Siemens buys Robicon.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., Alpharetta, Ga., has acquired the assets of Robicon Corp., New Kensington, Pa., including the stock of the company's subsidiaries in Shanghai; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Edmonton, Alb.; and High Wycombe, U.K. Robicon...

Keeping stored coffee dry.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... It's one thing to dry coffee to just the right moisture level, but the real difficulty comes in maintaining that level during storage, especially in a hot and high-humidity climate. The Jamaican Coffee Industry Board, a Kingston,...

Research adds UV capabilities.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... Research Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., has acquired Online Energy Inc., Livermore, Calif., a maker of ultraviolet curing systems. According to Research, a manufacturer of infrared heating systems and ink-drying equipment, Online Energy will be a...

Mokon hits 50-year milestone.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... Since the development of its first temperature control system in 1955, Mokon, Buffalo, N.Y., spent the next half century growing a family of water systems into multiple styles and more than 100 configurations of heating and flow capacities. The...

Ordering boilers that fit through doorways.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... There is no need to compromise efficiency, reliability or durability if you can't fit a fully assembled boiler through the door of your boiler room. Users can order bolted-construction units from Parker Boiler Co., Los Angeles. The units...

Free CD tackles standard for hot work fabric.(Inner Workings)
September 1, 2005... The question: "Are You Using FM Approved Fabrics in Your Facility?" That's the title of a free CD from Auburn Manufacturing Inc., Mechanic Falls, Maine. The maker of textile products for extreme-temperature industrial applications such as...

Cristal Controls.(Web Watch)
September 1, 2005... The next time you're looking for SCR power controls and want to do it online, you'll find it easy going at www.cristalcontrols.com, a new two-language (English and French) website for the controls manufacturer Cristal Controls, Quebec City,...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... September 19 -- Boiler and Combustion Systems Safety Workshop, Columbus, Ohio. Call (888) 826-3473 or visit www.combustionsafety.com. 19-20 -- Dryer Technology Seminar, Madison, Wis. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin. Call (800)...

It seemed like a good idea ... bigger isn't necessarily better.(Energy Notes)
September 1, 2005... Years back, I received a call from a frustrated process engineer who wasn't able to get his combustion system to perform. It went something like this: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "When the original burner wouldn't get the product hot...

Temperature control equipment: normal and abnormal behavior; Troubleshooting extruders, Part 2.(Heating Highlights)
September 1, 2005... This month, I continue looking at normal and abnormal behavior of extruders, picking up with more abnormal behavior and common fixes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Problem. Temperature persists a few degrees above setpoint when the heater...

Complying with NFPA 86: taking over where oven manufacturers leave off.(Safety Zone)
September 1, 2005... The 2003 edition of NFPA 86, a National Fire Protection Association standard, addresses the safety aspects of the design, construction and operation of gas- and oil-fired ovens and furnaces. It details the requirements for preventing fire and...

Troubleshooting dryers; The fantasy: product quality is maintained and, other than routine preventive maintenance, the machine never stops. The reality can be far different.(Dryers)
September 1, 2005... "Plant has been running great for the last month and now all of a sudden..." is the frantic report, "and, we haven't touched a thing! I promise!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In these instances, a little experience and a logical, methodical...

Getting the most from your coil: when searching for a new heat exchanger, consider a custom-designed coil. The following tips will help you determine if a custom-designed unit will benefit your process.(Heat Exchangers)
September 1, 2005... Heating and cooling coils are offered as off-the-shelf standard units or can be designed to fit a specific application. At first glance, a coil does not look complicated, and attempting to enhance its performance may seem unnecessary and...

Selecting process heaters: although many different heater designs are available, not all will be suitable for your specific process. Study your application and look at a number of factors before deciding on a specific design.(Heaters)
September 1, 2005... Selecting proper heater design has never been more critical. At a time when minimizing downtime and production inefficiencies while maximizing quality product output is every manufacturer's goal, selecting an appropriate heater design is...

Choosing a temperature transmitter: while there are many practical and economic advantages to using temperature transmitters, the most basic are to ensure measurement integrity and to convert a temperature sensor's low-level (ohm or millivolt) signal to a standard 4 to 20 mA current signal that can be readily accepted by a monitoring and control system.(Sensors)
September 1, 2005... Advancing technology has made the use of temperature transmitters affordable even in cost-sensitive applications. Here are few things to consider when choosing one. Tip 1: Distance Determines Back of Panel or Local Installation Perhaps...

Equipment overview: power controls.
September 1, 2005... Use our annual Equipment Overview on SCR Power Controllers to compare supplier offerings. Note the specs you need and run down the column to see which manufacturer supplies it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To further aid you in getting the...

Conical-transition heat exchangers.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Heat exchangers are supplied with bolt-on conical transitions that ease access to the core and improve strength. The units are used to cool pneumatic conveying air that is transporting synthetic material to the equipment down line for further...

Direct-steam injection heater.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... The EZ Heater can be used in any process where instantaneous hot water is required. The direct-steam injection heater eliminates plugging and fouling issues often experienced with heat exchangers. Although each heater is customized to meet the...

Gas catalytic infrared ovens.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Air-enhanced catalytic gas infrared ovens and process heating systems can be used for dry-off, preheat, gel and cure of liquid or powder coatings. The oven's main heat source is from the company's ThermCat catalytic gas emitters. The curing...

Dielectric heating system.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... The all-stainless-steel MagnaBake post-bake dryer has been designed for the maximum hygiene required in modern biscuit plants. The dielectric system is intended to provide a flexible solution specific to the customer's requirements. Radyne...

Mixer/dryer/reactor.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Tilt-A-Mix utilizes a mechanical fluidized bed agitation principle. The action is generated by the rotation of an agitator within the confines of a horizontal mixing chamber. Material is constantly moving in axial and radial motions....

Rapid, uniform impingement cooking.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... AirForce cooks beef pot pies, breaded chicken fillets, meat patties, meatloaf, formed ribs, chicken wings, seafood and other products faster than comparable systems. The system cooks uniformly across its full conveyor width, eliminating the...

Electromechanical and electronic controls.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Company offers four groups of key technologies: heating technology, sensors and controls, gas technology and motors and blowers. Each of these core groups also can commingle in design development as well. Davidon Industries Inc. * (401)...

RTD probes with choice of termination styles.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... All of the company's temperature-measurement products are described on a CD-ROM that includes an application index, interactive resource center with scientific calculators, and technical papers. Among the products on the CD is a standard RTD...

Infrared thermocouples.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Micro IRt/c 4-K-440F/220C and microIRt/c 4SV-K-440F/220C have a 4:1 field of view (distance: spot size ratio). The infrared thermocouples are offered in straight- and side-view mounts. Exergen Corp. * (800) 422-3006 * www.exergen.com

Cassette evaporator for high viscosity products.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... AlfaVap is designed to concentrate process liquids that contain dissolved and finely dispersed proteins of animal or fish origin. It works on the principle of the rising-film evaporator utilizing forced circulation, and nearly all evaporation...

Process and temperature control includes logic function.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... In addition to multiloop PID control, CALogix has integral logic functionality to provide enhanced machine control capability. The base unit houses the CPU, power supply and RS485 communications with Modbus RTU protocol. Up to four control...

Corrosion-resistant temperature probe.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Anti-Corrosion Series is constructed from 300 Series stainless steel and is offered with either NTC thermistor or RTD elements. Additional options include probe length; thread size; wire or cable construction; and use of a thermally conductive...

Temperature controller.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Series 59 displays temperature and other parameters on large, easy-to-read LEDs and provides accurate, stable control. Temperature is sensed by a thermistor, RTD, thermocouple or solid-state relay, and it can be used to turn a heater or...

Mixers.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Magnetically coupled, bottom-mounted mixers are designed for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The upstream mixer allows users to mix high volumes of buffers and difficult-to-wet powders. It eliminates the use of top-mounted mixers...

PTFE tubes.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... TexFluor resists heat to 500[degrees]F (260[degrees]C) and has a UL rating of V-0. The PTFE material is offered in anti-static tube that helps resist dust accumulation and wear. When additives are mixed with the resin before forming, the tubing...

Two-way infrared thermometer.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Point-and-shoot infrared thermometer can make noncontact hot and cold surface-temperature measurements of a pinpointed target area. It also provides direct-contact measurements using any K-type thermocouple probe with a mini-style plug. Model...

Wastewater evaporator.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Natural-gas-heated wastewater evaporator can be adapted for liquid propane and has a combustion chamber design that is larger than previous versions. Using high-density refractory ceramic, the combustion box requires 390,000 BTU/hr to evaporate...

Access controllers remotely.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Series PD has embedded Ethernet technology that provides remote temperature and process control for extrusion systems, injection-barrel temperature control, mold-temperature controllers and dryers. Available in single- or dual-channel versions,...

Panel indicators use plug-in output boards.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Partlow West 1/16 and 1/8 DIN indicators are freely configurable via plug-in output boards. This modular approach reduces the cost of process monitoring because users only buy the outputs needed for the application. The "+" Series digital panel...

Palm-sized infrared thermometer.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Digi-Sense has Class II laser sighting for measuring and displaying noncontact temperatures. The palm-sized infrared thermometer measures temperatures as high as 482[degrees]F (250[degrees]C) or as low as -27[degrees]F (-33[degrees]C) with an...

Conveyorized infrared annealing oven system.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Infrared oven system allows users to horizontally anneal a range of plastic products including polycarbonate automotive headlight lenses, 5-gal bottles and medical products. The system includes fast response, electric infrared heaters and...

Enhanced limit alarm trips.(Product Highlights)
September 1, 2005... Model SPA2 provides on/off control and emergency shutdown by sending up to four relay outputs when a monitored process signal falls outside of a limit selected by a user. The programmable current/voltage and RTD/thermocouple limit alarm trips...

Industrial ovens & furnaces.(Free Literature)
September 1, 2005... For nearly 30 years, Epcon Industrial Systems, LP has served the world's industrial heat processing needs through innovative custom industrial ovens and furnaces. We engineer and manufacture a variety of ovens and furnaces for: burn off,...

Water Regulation Valve.(Free Literature)
September 1, 2005... The Sterlco 56-T Temperature Actuated Water Regulation Valve evenly regulates cooling water and other fluids in most rugged applications, available in 6 different temperature ranges. It's ideal for hydraulic power packaged equipment, hydraulic...

Parker Boiler Co.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... The fourth release of Los Angeles-based Parker Boiler Co.'s CD-ROM catalog contains more than 600 pages of information as well as CAD drawings, CSI-type recommended specifications in Microsoft Word, and all the specifications and bulletins...

GS Electronic Vertriebs und Service GmbH.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Minneapolis-based Despatch Industries has added GS Electronic Vertriebs und Service GmbH to its global distributor network. Focusing on solutions for the fast-growing photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing market, the combination of Despatch...

CCI Thermal Technologies.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... CCI Thermal Technologies, Edmonton, Alb., appointed Bernard C. Moore president and chief operating officer of the industrial heating equipment company.

Research Inc.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Thomas L. Becker joined Research Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., as national sales manager. Research Inc. manufactures controlled heating systems using infrared and ultraviolet technology.

Speedline Technologies Inc.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Franklin, Mass.-based Speedline Technologies Inc. has named three new product managers. Rich Burke has been promoted to product manager for Electrovert wave and reflow soldering systems as well as Electrovert cleaning systems. Also, Chris Wild...

Babcock & Wilcox Co.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Babcock & Wilcox Co., Barberton, Ohio, has opened two new authorized service centers for replacement parts and rebuild business: Petersen Inc. In Ogden, Utah, and Alabama Dynamics in Calera, Ala.

ParkerAluma.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Toronto-based Aluma Systems and Parker Brothers, Dartmouth, N.S., formed a joint venture, ParkerAluma, to provide a complete range of fabric maintenance services, including insulation, protective coatings, scaffolding, passive fire protection,...

Industrial Efficiency Alliance.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... The Industrial Efficiency Alliance, which focuses on providing Northwest-based food processing and pulp/paper companies with energy management assessments, training, educational tools and collaborative opportunities, has introduced a new web...

Turbosonic Technologies.(Places & Faces)
September 1, 2005... Turbosonic Technologies, Waterloo, Ont., has received a $2.1 million order for an air-pollution control system for a coal-fired power boiler at a U.S. textile mill. The turnkey contract is scheduled for completion in March 2007.