Solutions for Harsh Environments Archives

What is an anti-surge valve?

by Cowan Dynamics | Feb 16, 2022 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

An anti-surge valve is specifically designed and installed to protect the compressor from reaching its surge point. The valve is in the system, in a by-pass that connects the inlet and the outlet of the compressor. In normal operation, this valve remains closed, however, if the surge is detected, it quickly opens to maintain a minimum flow and directs the backflow to the outlet of the compressor to avoid damages. The valve must be completed with controllers that use the suction and discharge pressure and temperatures to determine the flow at which the condition of surge will occur. It is crucial for such valves to be operated by actuators that can achieve extremely fast stroking times, high frequency of operation minimal dead time and minimal overshoot. What is compressor surge? In...

📖 Delayed Coking & Delayed Coker Unit Reference Guide

by Cowan Dynamics | Feb 7, 2022 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

Coking Refinery Types Delayed Coking Delayed Coking is a refinery unit operation that upgrades the lowest value bottoms material (vacuum resid) from the atmospheric or vacuum distillation column and cracks it to the point that all of the resid is eliminated. This process yields lighter fractions and solid carbon into higher-value products and produces petroleum coke—a coal-like material. During the cracking process, a firing heater with horizontal tubes is used to achieve temperatures ranging from 485 to 505 C (905 to 941 F). Coking in the furnace tubes is, therefore "delayed" until the feed material reaches large coking drums downstream of the heater. You can produce petroleum coke in three physical structures: shot, sponge, or needle. Simply put, a delayed coking unit (DCU) processes...

Maximize flotation cell mineral recovery

by Cowan Dynamics | Jul 27, 2021 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

In this article you'll learn to maximize mineral recovery in a flotation cell. Dart valves have traditionally been used as level control valves in flotation cells. The dart valve positioning in flotation cells requires high consideration as the goal is to maximize mineral recovery. For this reason a reliable and accurate control valve actuator is crucial. Pneumatic actuators vs electro-hydraulic actuators for dart valve control Traditionally dart valves use pneumatic actuators to control the flotation cell level. However, due to air compression or elasticity, this method of automation can cause problems in accurate and efficient level control. The thrust due to the pressures at the bottom of the cell acts against...

What are electro-hydraulic actuators?

by Cowan Dynamics | Mar 25, 2021 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

Electro-hydraulic actuators are devices that operate a valve through pressurized hydraulic fluid, however, their main source of energy is solely electrical. The electrical power supplied is used to energise a motor that runs a hydraulic pump which then supplies the pressurized fluid to operate a hydraulic actuator which controls the valve. The complete system is self-contained, eliminating the need for a separate hydraulic power unit, simplifying system construction and improving safety and reliability. A self-contained electrohydraulic actuator can be used with linear or rotary valves, the need for its use will depend on the requirements of the application. These devices are ideal for operating valves that need large torques or thrusts, or where fail-safe systems or high operating...

Electrohydraulic Actuator vs. Electric Actuator

by Cowan Dynamics | Mar 25, 2021 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

Due to their design, electric actuators have limitations in terms of output torques, duty cycle, failure modes, speeds, and vibration resistance. In severe applications where valves with high torque or thrust must be operated quickly, such as emergency shutdown valves (ESDV), electric actuators have limitations because they can only store a certain amount of energy to operate the valve in the event of a power failure, which eliminates them as options in many emergency shutdown valve applications. In the same way, because they are operated directly by an electric motor, they present limitations in the operating speed; on one hand, the demand increases significantly as the speed increases and on the other hand, their operating speeds are constant since they depend on the RPMs of the...

Efficient flotation Cell Level Control – AT Actuators for Dart Valves

by Cowan Dynamics | Mar 24, 2021 | Solutions for Harsh Environments

Flotation cells are mechanical equipment that bring the ore in contact with air, water, and chemical agents. Their main function is to separate the previously conditioned slurry into a concentrate and tailings. The level of these cells is controlled by dart valves, which in turn are operated by actuators. The calculation of the level control valve (Dart) in flotation cells requires high consideration as the goal is accurate flow control to maximize slurry retention time and minimize downtime, therefore a reliable and accurate control valve actuator is essential. Traditionally dart valves use mechanical connections to feed position feedback to positioners that are then used to operate the actuators. The mechanical...