Selecting the Right Magnetic Level Indicator

Companies in the process industry need the ability to visually monitor liquid levels in vessels (boilers, storage tanks, separators, etc.). Traditionally, armored glass sight gauges have been used. However, many companies want an alternative to sight gauges to avoid problems such as breakage, leaks, or bursting at high pressures and temperatures. In addition, the visibility of the sight glass can be poor and often affected by moisture, corrosion, or oxidation.

Many companies are increasing the use of automation and desire a 4–20 mA, HART®, FOUNDATION® fieldbus, or other output for level—which is difficult to do with a sight glass. Magnetic level indicators (MLIs) do not have the shortcomings of glass sight gauges and are suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Orion Instruments, a Magnetrol company, has authored an excellent Magnetic Level Indicator selection guide.

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You can download the selection guide from this Miller Energy, Inc. web page.

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Miller Energy, Inc.
https://millerenergy.com
In NY/NJ 800-631-5454
In Eastern PA 888-631-5454

Understanding How Flame Arresters Work

A Flame Arrester (or arrestor) is a passive devices with no moving parts, that allows hot gas to pass through, but stops a flame in order to prevent a larger fire or explosion.  Flame Arresters uses a wound metal ribbon type element that prevents the spread of flame from the exposed side of the arrester to the protected side of the arrester. The metal element's construction provides a matrix of engineered openings that are carefully calculated and sized to quench the flame by absorbing the flame's heat. As an explosion flame travels through a narrow metal space, heat is transmitted to the walls, energy is lost and only vapor gasses are able to pass through. Flame Arresters are used in many industries chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper, refining, pharmaceutical, mining, power generation, and wastewater treatment.

Cashco Flame Arresters are specifically engineered to match the explosive mixtures Maximum Experimental Safe Gap, in order to ensure complete extinction of the flame. At the heart of each Cashco flame arrestor lies filter discs that consists of wound, smooth and channeled strips of stainless steel set at specific maximum experimental stage gaps the smaller the gaps are which the flame travels the more heat and energy is lost therefore the filters gap width and gap length are specifically engineered to match the explosive mixture in order to ensure complete extinction of the flame. 

To learn more about Cashco flame arrestors, contact Miller Energy, Inc. by calling 908-755-6700 or by visiting https://millerenergy.com.

The Yokogawa 4-Wire SENCOM™ SMART Sensor Platform

Multi-Channel/Parameter Analyzer FLXA402

The SENCOM SMART Sensor Platform has been designed with a strong focus on Yokogawa's digital SMART sensors and provides greater insight and enhanced capabilities for more reliable data across the entire product lifetime.

Yokogawa's latest SMART sensor system enhances the operation, reliability, and credibility of online process analyzers, from the engineering and purchasing to modification and optimization, by using the latest sensing technologies and asset management tools.

The SENCOM SMART Sensor Platform has been designed with a strong focus on Yokogawa's digital SMART sensors and provides greater insight and enhanced capabilities for more reliable data across the entire product lifetime.

Digital SMART SENCOM™ Adapter, SA11

Yokogawa's latest SMART sensor system enhances the operation, reliability, and credibility of online process analyzers, from the engineering and purchasing to modification and optimization, by using the latest sensing technologies and asset management tools.

Simple Setup and Configuration

Analog sensors

The SENCOM 4.0 Platform is designed with an intuitive menu structure, easy-to-understand configuration, alarm settings, and clear error-fixing information to help you make credible and reliable measurements of online process control.

Environmentally Friendly Design

Conventional SMART sensors include integrated electronics on top of an analog sensor, therefore the still operating electronics must be thrown away once the sensor has reachable the end of its lifetime, adding to global waste.

The SENCOM 4.0 platform includes a reusable SMART adapter, so only an analog sensor has to be removed when it reaches the end of its lifetime, thereby reducing waste and costs.

Easy and Efficient Maintenance

Optional Digital SMART SENCOM™
Expansion Junction Box, BA11

The Maintenance Manager is a data management system that allows technicians to forecast maintenance and calibration frequency, estimate the service life of the sensor, and estimate the life expectancy of the sensor.

Calibration data are stored within the memory chip of the SMART sensor using the SENCOM 4.0platform. Once the sensor is connected to the analyzer, it is possible to download or upload the latest calibration data to the FLXA402 analyzer, thus avoiding the need for field calibration.

For more information, visit this page on the Miller Energy website.

Miller Energy, Inc.
800-631-5454

Level Instruments for Tank Overfill Protection

Tank overfill incidents in recent years have resulted in loss of life and billions of dollars in damages to petroleum facilities worldwide. One of the worst incidents - the overflow of a gasoline storage tank at Buncefield Oil Depot (U.K.) - has been traced to the failure of level control to maintain containment of the flammable liquid. More common are minor spills that cause significant environmental impact and result in millions of dollars in clean-up fees and environmental agency fines.

In the wake of this incident, the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 2350, the most widely accepted guideline for overfill protection of petroleum storage tanks, has been revised. The fourth edition was published in May 2012 and combined the prescriptive standards of RP 2350 with the functional safety standards of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) as described in IEC 61511.

Vital to these new requirements is the application of level instrumentation as one part of a comprehensive Overfill Prevention Process (OPP).

Magnetrol, a world-leader in the design, manufacturer and application of level and flow instrumentation, has written an application document titled "Level Instruments for Tank Overfill Protection". Get your copy here.

The Yokogawa YS1700 Single Loop Controller Replaces Obsolete Moore/Siemens 353

Now that entire Moore/Siemens 350 family is obsolete, are you considering upgrading to a DCS? 

Are you concerned about the cost and time for a new installation, application development and personnel training?

Is it possible that the new equipment vendor may again leave you stranded with their equipment as their core business is not industrial automation and control?

We have a better solution for you: Yokogawa and its YS1700 PID loop controller. Yokogawa has been providing industrial solutions, as their primary business, for over a century and their YS1700 will keep you off of eBay looking for spare 353 parts.

LEARN MORE HERE

Interface in the Field: Achieving Reliable Interface Measurement to Optimize Process and Increase Uptime

Interface or multiphase level measurements exist throughout the Oil & Gas streams as well as Petrochemical. While level measurement technologies have come a long way in effectively measuring liquids and solids, multiphase level measurement continues to be the biggest challenge and opportunity that exists today to which there is no perfect technology.

However, experience has shown that process optimization and increased uptime can still be achieved in many separator applications through reliable, best-in-class, level technology.

The objective of this paper is to review interface challenges, the current technologies being utilized for interface, field experience in various applications to achieve process optimization and increased uptime, and the future of reliable interface measurement.

DOWNLOAD THE TECHNICAL PAPER HERE

Courtesy of Magnetrol and Miller Energy, Inc.
https://millerenergy.com
800-631-5454

Simplified Operation and Reduced Cost With Safety Transmitters and Switches

Process safety experts continually seek sustainable ways to improve the performance of safety critical loops, achieving risk reduction and safety goals in a cost-effective manner. Some view a reduction in complexity of safety related protocols to be a positive development. Traditional or historical approaches to deploying full blown safety systems were generally associated with great expense and high complexity, and still came up short on delivering the needed levels of risk reduction. Process control device and equipment manufacturers have responded with newer technologies and products that better address the safety needs of industrial processing.

In sensor subsystems, United Electric’s certified safety transmitter for pressure or temperature provides a less costly, simple path for process designers, instrument and control engineers, and maintenance personnel. The Series One Safety Transmitters combine several useful safety and monitoring functions into a single, easy to deploy device. Products are available for gauge pressure, differential pressure, and temperature applications. In addition to a 4-20 mA process variable output, the Series One has an embedded programmable high-capacity relay certified as a safety variable output. The Series One Safety Transmitter provides designers the option of a hard wired trip in less than 100 milliseconds, with a tenth of a percent repeatability, along with the monitoring functions of a traditional continuous analog output.

For equipment under control requiring protection, or processes where rapid excursions can initiate dangerous events, this unique pressure and temperature transmitter is addressing process safety time constraints, coupling issues with PLC and DCS units, and adding diversity to the safety instrumented function.

There is a whole lot more to learn about these "Safety right out of the box" industrial pressure and temperature safety transmitters. A product data sheet is provided below, but you can get the latest and most detailed product and application information from a specialist in industrial process measurement and control. Share your safety instrumentation challenges with them, combining your process expertise with their product application knowledge to develop effective solutions.

Learn more about the UEC One Series by visiting this page on the Miller Energy web site.

One Series Safety Transmitter - Pressure and Temperature Transmitter-Switch from Miller Energy, Inc.