To all of our Customers, Partners, and Friends, Mead O'Brien Wishes You a Happy New Year

Happy Holidays from Mead O'Brien

"It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.  It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."  Agnes M. Pharo

The Schneider Electric Foxboro CFT51 Digital Coriolis Mass Flow and Density Transmitter with HART or Modbus Communication Protocol

The Schneider Foxboro Model CFT51 Digital Coriolis Mass Flow and Density transmitter is an advanced generation of mass flow devices using DSP (digital signal processing) technology, which allows this transmitter to provide improved performance over other Coriolis flowmeters. This mass flow and density meter, comprising a CFT51 mass flow and density transmitter and a Foxboro CFS mass flowtube, measures fluid mass flow rate directly, not inferentially. Direct measurement of mass helps eliminate the inaccuracies of multiple process measurements associated with volumetric flow devices.

Download the Schneider Electric Foxboro CFT51 Digital Coriolis Mass Flow and Density Transmitter Product Bulletin Here

For more information, contact Mead O'Brien. Call them at  (800) 892-2769 or visit their web site at https://meadobrien.com.

The Case for Steam Trap Surveys and Trap Management Programs

Improve Steam System Efficiency, Improve Safety, Lower Carbon Emissions, and Conserve Energy

A reliable, accurate assessment of your steam trap population is important. A proactive trap management program has many benefits including keeping trap failure rates low, maximizing safety, improving system efficiency, improving steam quality, reducing energy use, and improving environmental compliance.

Failure to inspect your steam traps can lead to serious problems and safety risks. Precise, reliable checks help prevent serious problems such as water hammer, unscheduled downtime, production stoppages, frozen lines, increased energy usage, and excess fuel consumption.

Steam Trap Survey Case Study*

A major university is now realizing its energy management goals and improving the efficiency of its steam utility system by initiating and implementing a steam trap management program. The university's heating plant consists of three natural gas boilers that distribute steam to the entire campus through an underground tunnel system.

With the stated goal of making enhancements to their steam system, the university's facilities management group participated in a two-day steam seminar. The seminar provided a full understanding of the technology and methodology, leading to a decision to implement a full campus steam trap survey.

By utilizing state-of-the-art steam trap monitoring tools, the survey was completed after one year. All survey logs and data was collected, and the analysis reports were generated. A trap failure rate of about 15%, which corresponded to over $220,000 in yearly losses, was discovered. Over the course of the next 2 years, more surveys were conducted resulting in a continuing lower trap failure rates, lower carbon emissions, and the savings of an additional $120,000 in energy costs through replacing defective steam traps.

The university scored a huge success in savings, lower carbon emissions, and labor costs. As this trend continues in a downward direction, calculations and reports derived from the yearly surveys are a strong foundation for directors and managers to validate funding to drive the steam trap management program forward.

Components of a Steam Trap Management Program

• Done by trained survey technicians.
• Traps located and identified, tagged with SS tag #, and data logged with up to 27 fields of useful data per trap.
• Executive summary and failed trap report with steam & dollar losses, detailed log sheets, and recommendations provided.
• Monitoring options presented for critical service applications.
• Steam flow measurement design discussed.
• Heat recovery potential discussed.
• Continued training options available through hands-on, live, steam lab.

Benefits of Steam Trap Management Program

• Reduce steam & condensate losses.
• Reduce loss of boiler chemicals.
• Improve heat transfer performance.
• Prevent coil and heat exchanger damage.
• Minimize water hammer hazards.

For more information about steam trap surveys and steam trap management programs, contact Mead O'Brien. Call them at  (800) 892-2769 or visit their web site at https://meadobrien.com.

* Case study courtesy of Armstrong International

Honoring Those Who Served

Veterans Day is not just another holiday. It honors those Americans who fought for our freedom. By celebrating our Veterans, we continue to tell the story of how this country became the most powerful on Earth - through bravery, honor, truth, and determination.

Our Veterans are our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers. They took an oath to defend the United States and our Constitution, from all enemies, foreign and domestic. We must never forget their bravery, service, and sacrifice.

Mead O'Brien thanks our Veterans for serving our country and protecting our freedom.

Sensors, Connectivity, and Fieldbus Products Used for Industrial Process Automation

Today's plants are on the forefront of the new industrial revolution. Smart factories of today needs sensors, connectivity and Fieldbus technologies that provide more data and increase the reliability of applications.

Turck, and their Process Automation Distributor Mead O'Brien, provide you with local engineering expertise and a wide range of products made right here in the USA.

For more information about Turck products, as well as their use in industrial process automation, contact Mead O'Brien by calling (800) 892-2769 or visit https://meadobrien.com.

What is a Ball Valve?

Cutaway of specialized ball valve with characterized
ball for control valve applications. (Neles)

A ball valve is a 90 degree rotational motion valve that uses a metal or ceramic ball with a hole through its center to stop or start fluid flow. The ball, shown below in Figure 1, opens and closes to allow fluid flow through the ball valve. When the valve handle or stem is turned to open the valve, the ball rotates to a point where the hole in the ball is parallel with the valve body inlet and outlet. When the valve is shut, the ball is rotated so that the ball's hole is perpendicular to the inlet and outlet of the valve body and the flow is stopped.

Most ball valve actuators are of the quick-acting type, which require a 90° turn of the valve handle or stem to operate the valve. Other ball valve actuators are planetary gear-operated manual,  electrically operated motors, or pneumatic piston type. All actuators provide the necessary operating force to open and close valves.

Figure 1 

Ball Valve Advantages

A ball valve is often the least expensive of any industrial valve configuration and has low maintenance costs. In addition to quick, quarter turn on-off operation, ball valves are compact, require no lubrication, and give tight sealing with low torque.

Ball Valve  Disadvantages

Conventional industrial ball valves have relatively poor throttling characteristics (except when using a characterized ball, as shown above). A standard ball valve when in throttling position will fail because of because of the impingement of high velocity flow and the erosive effect on the partially exposed seat.

Ball Valve Port Patterns

Ball valves are available in the venturi, reduced, and full port pattern. The full port pattern has a ball with a bore equal to the inside diameter of the pipe.

Ball Valve Materials

Balls are usually metallic in metallic bodies with trim (seats) produced from "soft" seats referring to the elastomeric materials used such as PTFE (100% Virgin Polytetrafluoroethylene), RTFE (Reinforced Teflon®), TFM, CTFE, Polychlorotrifluoroethene, Polyether Ether Ketone, and UHMWPE. Care must be used in the selection of the seat material to ensure that it is compatible with the materials being handled by the valve.Ball valve bodies may also be made of various plastic materials for corrosive applications.

Ball Valve Stem Design

The stem in a ball valve is not fastened to the ball. It normally has a rectangular portion at the ball end which fits into a slot cut into the ball. The enlargement permits rotation of the ball as the stem is turned.

Ball Valve Bonnet Design

A bonnet cap fastens to the body, which holds the stem assembly and ball in place. Adjustment of the bonnet cap permits compression of the packing, which supplies the stem seal. Packing for ball valve stems is usually in the configuration of die-formed packing rings normally of TFE, TFE-filled, or TFE-impregnated material. Some ball valve stems are sealed by means of O-rings rather than packing.

Ball Valve Position

Some ball valves are equipped with stops that permit only 90° rotation. Others do not have stops and may be rotated 360°. With or without stops, a 90° rotation is all that is required for closing or opening a ball valve.

The handle indicates valve ball position. When the handle lies along the axis of the valve, the valve is open. When the handle lies 90° across the axis of the valve, the valve is closed. Some ball valve stems have a groove cut in the top face of the stem that shows the flowpath through the ball. Observation of the groove position indicates the position of the port through the ball. This feature is particularly advantageous on multiport ball valves.

For more infomration about industrial ball valves, contact Mead O'Brien by calling (800) 892-2769 or visit their website at https://meadobrien.com.