January 2011
In this first issue of the new year you will find four varied technical articles. Two are hightlighted below.
I hope that all the articles will appeal to most of you. Once again, I urge you to let me know what sort of articles you would like to see in the magazine. We want to provide you with the most interesting content possible!
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The ability to meet any challenge: Pressure and temperature measurement in the chemical industry Greg Rusznyak, of WIKA South Africa, Greg Rusznyak,writes in clear and concise terms, with relevant illustrations alongside, about how the chemical industry makes extremely high demands on all instruments used within their processes. They are subject to strict international guidelines like the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and ATEX. Electronic and mechanical measuring instruments for pressure and temperature are used for general applications as well as in potentially explosive areas, and must operate as satisfactorily in aggressive environments as in non-aggressive environments.
In pressure measuring instruments several measurement principles are available, from absolute to relative and differential pressures. These instruments must be produced in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC (or similar) and within a quality management system. Pressure measuring instruments are available in several variants, such as capsule gauges for measuring the lowest pressure ranges (0 to 2,5 mbar), and bourdon tube and diaphragm gauges for pressures up to 7 000 bar.
In the same way, temperature measuring tasks require a solution from mechanical and electrical measuring systems. Custom measurement systems (such as multi-point assemblies for chemical reactors and extremely-high-temperature measuring instruments for combustion plants) are also based around these methods. Many applications require the use of thermowells, either as a standard design, or as a custom design, engineered specifically for the application. Process optimization for pumps by Prof L J Grobler, PhD, PrEng, CEM, CMVP, Department of Mechanical Engineering, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Pumping systems
Pumps and fans are two of the most common pieces of equipment in use today in commercial and industrial applications. As such they make up a large part of the energy used in these applications and therefore offer large scope for energy reduction measures.
Fans and pumps react within the same manner; therefore the governing laws are similar for both fans and pumps. The difference between fans and pumps is in the fluid being moved. In the case of a fan it is some type of gas while the pump moves some type of liquid. A second, but less clear, distinction is that pumps are usually coupled directly to the drive motor while the fan uses a system of pulleys.
The aim of this article is to highlight energy reduction methods in use or currently being developed.
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