Valve Technology News

Valves for nuclear power facilities face growing challenges as worldwide demand grows, according to PowerTec Russia. Designs need adapting for use in "generation 3" reactor types. Safety, too, needs to be improved, even as new facilities are planned. More than 100 reactors are planned for the next 20 years. Around the globe, several countries are considering their first nuclear facility, while others are reconsidering phase-out policies. China is looking to double capacity, and Russia is building several reactors including the world's largest neutron reactor and the first floating nuclear power plant.

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The VQC valve series from SMC has been improved to use 60% less energy (based on existing model), only 0.4 W. In addition, the VQC can accommodate up to 145 psi (metal seal). The VQC can also self-diagnose maintenance issues.

Parker's global valve offering delivers solutions for demanding applications in almost any industry.

• Isys Micro Valve, a compact valve manifold offering high flow and Preferred Connectivity to Rockwell Logix™ Architecture.

• Precision Fluidics Microfluidic valve solutions for Bioanalytical, clinical chemistry, Medical device manufacturers and analytical OEMs, including: solenoid, proportional, and multimedia valves.

The GIE, Inc. broad line of diaphragm valves is widely applied throughout the chemical, food, paper, steel, mining, pharmaceutical, and other process industries wherever positive shut-off, non-contamination, or ease of maintenance is required.

Available with a wide range of manual and automatic actuators, these valves are available with weir style and straightway flow patterns.

These CAN capable controllers are ideal for electronic-hydraulic system integration. Programmable with the flexible CoDeSys software tool, these controllers feature flexible I/O that can drive up to 3.0 amps per output pin while withstanding the environmental demands of the off-highway market. For more information, visit us here.

Hydraulic rotary actuators weighing more than 25 tons are designed to be built into the structure of cargo ships. The slew actuators automate ships into self-unloaders, says Design News. They accurately position discharge booms, replacing wire rope winches that traditionally position booms. Design parameters include slewing speed, duty cycle, the ship's list angle, and wind load on the boom.

Combining the power of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) with component-object oriented software can lead to fast application development, easy system changes, and reduced life-cycle costs, says InTech. In component object-based SCADA applications, valve objects can contain all the parameters associated with the device such as alarms, security, communications, and scripting.

A low-pressure hydraulic valve irrigation system designed for desert farms is migrating to industrial applications where more sophisticated systems are impractical, reports Flow Control. Operating from 16 bar to 0.4, the technology uses line pressure to regulate the diaphragm. The broad radii in the valve chamber yields efficient flow with less cavitation or water hammer, and curved chambers improve Cv values up to 44%.

Miniature solenoid valves often must meet strict performance requirements that go far beyond their diminutive size. Occupying small footprints, these valves must satisfy large demands, and users who specify these mini-solenoid valves must weigh several factors before implementing them. Processing magazine reports that these concepts include repeatability and reproducibility, service life, flow rates, weight, power consumption, and compliance to standards. (Scroll to page 8)

Peter Paul Electronics Co. Inc. is proud to announce ISO 9001 certification. One key element in the implementation was to marry the QMS to the Lean Transformation and 5s methodology Peter Paul was also implementing during the same period of time. Read more about how this was accomplished at www.peterpaulnews.com.

Save time and effort with a valve exchange program from valve reconditioning specialists on a diverse line of production, process, and pipeline valves. Orifice fittings and recorders for gas measurement are also sold, and factory new ball valves stocked. First in Quality — First in Service.

Series PRH-U features Kynar 740 PVDF body, metal-ion-free EPDM seals, and 3-step cleaning process. Independent tests verify the lowest contamination levels among PVDF pressure reducing valves. Spigot connections are standard, 1/2 in. to 3 in. pipe sizes. Valves regulate downstream pressure from 10-125 PSI, with maximum inlet of 150 PSI.

All valves, clamps, and reservoir accessories are available in Hydac's Hydraulics Accessories catalog. Many additional products are also included. You can download their catalog or contact Hydac's applications and engineering teams who will help you review your hydraulic needs and design a compact, cost-effective integrated solution.

Water hammer problems can devastate piping systems. Pumps & Systems examines the what, when, where, why, and how of water hammer problems, and helps identify problems before they occur using everything from software to a simple flow-rate equation. Pros and cons of several software packages are discussed. Choose from one of 10 options to solve one of the nastiest problems in flow control.

Industrial and civic water treatment facilities can reduce electrical wiring and control air lines by automating field level valves, according to PACE. Depending on the application, the valves can be configured in numerous ways and equipped with various components, such as a pilot valve with manual actuation, electrical feedback units, optical status indicators, fieldbus interfaces, positioners, and process controllers.

Among control valves scheduled for maintenance, as many as 40% may not require servicing, according to Maintenance Technology. Diagnostic technology can generate data to determine valves that do need servicing and help prioritize the most serious problems. One Texas refinery found that one-third of 270 valves scheduled for maintenance did not require work. Additionally, a failed valve sensor was identified, and an unplanned shutdown was avoided.

A gas pipeline system in Australia's most populous state increased its maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) from 7.4 to 8.8 MPa with the addition of two solar compressors, reports Pipeliner. The MAOP boost necessitated infrastructure upgrades including the fabrication of valves, process gas piping, and fittings. The massive valve assembly was built in a workshop and transported in whole to the worksite for installation.

The Smart Valve Monitor (SVM) is a sophisticated partial stroke testing system with state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities for both pneumatic and hydraulically actuated on/off valves. Installation is facilitated by a unique design requiring no direct interaction with the valve/actuator. SVM tests all final elements as required by EIC 61508. View literature and videos.

The Segment Ball Valve is a main product of Linuo Valve. Flow characteristics: approximate to equal percentage. Nominal pressure rating: PN1.0, 1.6, 2.5, 4.0, 6.4 MPa, ANSI150, 300. Nominal diameter: 20-600 mm.

The programmable logic valve control PLVC 8x2 from HAWE Hydraulics enables comfortable access to complex hydraulic systems. The user can program pressure, velocity acceleration processes, and complex control and actuation tasks with short cycle times for the hydro consumers. Analog and digital components and those with CAN-BUS interfaces are interlinked.

Da/Pro Rubber, Inc. can help you with your one-way sealing valve applications. Our custom compounds are designed to allow your one way sealing devices such as duckbill valves, umbrella valves, flapper valves, etc. to meet medical standards and/or to withstand your harsh chemical environments.

Emerging markets are boosting the 2011 economic outlook of U.S. manufacturer's, reports Valve Magazine, sourcing the Chicago Tribune. GE, for instance, believes these markets will boost its entire infrastructure businesses. In other news, Water World reports that Africa is a primary market for water infrastructure development, and U.S. manufacturers are seizing the opportunity. There, additional civic water infrastructure is pending with more frequent drought expected.

Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, is building a bio-digester at its ice cream factory in Hellendoorn, the Netherlands. In this system, wastewater is purified by micro-organisms consuming ice cream waste products. The organisms convert the waste into biogas. The bio-digester will generate 40% of the factory's green energy requirements and is expected to become operational mid-2011.

Can Valves Improve the World?

Valve technology already improves water and energy production, but can it do more? How can valve technology improve the world?