How Do Magnetic Level Indicators Work?

Magnetic Level Indicators also known as MLIs, have revolutionized the global visual indication market by offering a safer, reliable, and high-visibility alternative to common gauge glass assemblies.  They provide high-visibility representation of the liquid level in a vessel. MLIs can be mounted to tanks in a number of different ways. The most popular configuration, however, is called a side-mount.

The Magnetic Level Indicator (MLI) working principle is widely used in many industrial level applications. The operating principle behind a magnetic level indicator is that the MLI shares the same process fluid as the vessel, and therefore shares the same level.

The three primary components to a Magnetic Level Indicator are:

• The float
• The chamber
• The visual indicator

The float (contained within the chamber) interacts with the externally mounted visual indicator. As liquid rises and falls in the vessel and MLI chamber, the float follows. The magnets in the float interact with magnets inside each indicator flag. As the float rises and falls in the chamber, the magnets slowly turn each flag 180 degrees. This allows the visible flag color to change to a high-contrasting, highly-visible representation of liquid level.







Utilizing a combination of proven buoyancy principles along with the benefits magnetism, MLIs can be customized to fit virtually any process connection arrangement on the vessel.

The chamber and magnetic float is available in a variety of materials and pressure ratings to accommodate the wide variety of complex process applications present in the world’s major industrial facilities.

Areas Where Magnetic Level Indicator Are Applied:

• Feed water heaters and boilers
• Refinery and chemical industries
• Energy and power plant technology
• Pulp and paper applications
• Oil and gas industries
• Gas plants
• Pipeline compressor applications
• Pharmaceutical applications
• Food and beverage applications

For more information about Magnetic Level Indicators (MLI's), contact Miller Energy by calling 800-631-5454 or visit their web site at https://millerenergy.com.

Process Instrumentation and Valves for the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries

Miller Energy provides process control instruments and valves designed to assist in higher quality yields, more efficient processes, and greater plant safety for chemical processing and petrochemical refining manufacturing facilities. 

The Chemical Industry

The chemical industry is key to industrial production. It transforms the raw materials of animals, vegetables and minerals into a host of products used by both the industrial and domestic customers. Lightweight and durable plastic products contribute to fuel effectiveness in transportation, energy-saving insulation material in buildings, paints and protective coatings that extend metal and wood life, soap, shampoo and detergents maintain us clean, pharmaceuticals and disinfectants protect our health. Without vital chemicals, computers and telecommunications systems could not work.

The industry has matured using local resources such as salt, coal, lime, vegetable products and animal fats. It is now a worldwide sector that mainly uses natural gas and oil fractions such as naphtha as the main raw materials. There is a strong awareness of the need to substitute fossil resources both as raw materials and for process energy with sustainable options.

The Petrochemical Manufacturing Industry

The sector produces petrochemicals which are petroleum and natural gas chemicals (organic compounds not burned as fuel). Ethylene, propylene, butylene, benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, ethyl benzene and cumene are key products. These products are fundamental construction blocks in the manufacturing of consumer products, automotive parts and numerous sustainable and unsustainable goods. These products are fundamental construction blocks in the manufacturing of consumer products, automotive parts and numerous durable goods. This sector does not include organic compounds such as ethyl alcohol and inorganic chemicals such as carbon black.

Olefins and aromatics constitute the building blocks of a large variety of products, including solvents, detergents and adhesives. Polymers and oligomers used in plastics, resins, fibers, elastomers, lubricants and gels are built upon olefins.

Miller Energy: Chemical and Petrochemical Instrumentation and Valve Experts

Miller Energy offers a broad range of instrumentation and valves for these diverse markets. Since 1958, Miller Energy, Inc. has exceeded customers expectations in the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries by specifying and providing the highest quality instrumentation and valves. Known for unparalleled customer service and local technical support, Miller's comprehensive line of pressure, temperature, level, flow and analytical products are available now and ready to solve your most challenging chemical and petrochemical applications.

Contact the Miller Energy office in your area by visiting this web page, or call 800-631-5454 for further assistance.

Installing the ASCO 212 Series Composite Valve Using the FasN Connection System

The ASCO series 212 composite valve is intended for use in applications for water purification and water treatment, especially in the implementation of the membrane-based filtration. The composite valve series 212 is perfect for use in mid-size Reverse Osmosis Systems apps requiring lead-free and NSF-approved construction. The series 212 composite valves are available in 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", and 1" pipe sizes rated for pressures up to 150 PSIG and 180 degrees F.

The video above demonstrates how to install the series 212 using the patented ASCO FasN system for NPT threaded connections, turn and lock connections, and solvent bond connections.

For more information, contact Miller Energy Inc. by calling 800-631-5454 or visit their web site at https://millerenergy.com.

The Design Principle of Segment Disc Control Valves

Figure 1.

The central throttle device of this control valve is two discs with segmented openings which slide on one another and seal against each other (Fig. 1). The segment discs are positioned vertically in the valve housing, facing the direction of flow. A moving disc is placed upon a rotationally fixed segment disc, the geometry of which determines the throughput capacity and characteristic curve. These two discs have the same number of segments and the moving disc is rotated via a push rod which is tangentially inserted. Consequently, the cross-section surface of the free segment passage changes when a control intervention is made.

Irrespective of the pending pressure differential, the moving segment disc is pressed onto the fixed disc via a spring pack- age. This ensures that the direction of flow is variable and that the valve can be installed in any desired location. Due to the fact that there are no metal seats with ring-shaped contact surfaces, no grooves will occur which can rapidly lead to leaks in traditional steam valves. Leakage ratios amounting to < 0.001% of the K_vs value are constantly achieved with the significantly less vulnerable surface seal.

Extremely robust segment disc valve from
Schubert & Salzer for steam distribution.

Thanks to this special design, segment disc valves are one of the few valves that are able to combine control precision and a high level of tightness, even in extreme conditions and which also experience hardly any wear.

The standard segment disc valves are available in finely graduated intervals of between DN 25 and DN 300 – and go up to DN 800 where necessary – in an intermediate flange design for nominal pressures up to PN 25. They can be used for media temperatures ranging between -60°C and +220°C (higher temperatures and nominal pressures are available on request). The robust valves have a rangeability of 60:1.

For more information, contact Miller Energy, Inc. by calling 800-631-5454, or visit their web site at https://millerenergy.com.

How to Change Loss of Signal Failure Mode on the Cashco Ranger Control Valve

This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to change the Cashco Ranger (control valve) loss of signal failure mode from air to open / fail closed to air to close/ fail open, as well as remounting and recalibrating the valve positioner.

The Cashco Ranger is one of the most popular control valves on the market. It is the most versatile, adaptable, and easily maintainable valve ever produced.

The Ranger offers over 6 different trim combinations. Trim can easily be changed in less than 5 minutes without disturbing the packing, actuator, or positioner calibration. The service area is a thread-less design, which resists corrosion or collection of chemical deposits.

A selection of 3 body materials with a broad temperature range from -325°F to +750°F makes the Ranger adaptable for use in steam, heat transfer fluids, slurries, gases, liquids, and cryogenic applications. The Ranger’s unique dual seating design provides both Class VI and backup Class IV seat leakage. And the standard patented live-loaded packing system lets you check and adjust packing without the need for specialized tools or complicated procedures.

For more information about Cashco in Metro New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania contact:

Miller Energy, Inc.
New York Metro and Northern NJ: 800-631-5454
Eastern PA, Southern NJ, Delaware: 888-631-5454
https://www.millerenergy.com

Happy Independence Day from Miller Energy, Inc.

New Hacking Risk for US Power Grids and Oil & Gas Industries

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.”