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What to See at the Chem Show  (part 1)  

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Dual-disc check valves cut fugitive emissions

The dual-disc wafer check-valve product line (photo) offers units in sizes of 2 to 72 in., classes 125 to 2500, and a wide range of materials. Offered in lug and flanged-body styles, these valves meet fire-safe design requirements and reduce fugitive emissions at the flange connection. This company has a large selection of lug-body dual-disc check valves in stock to meet quick-delivery requirements. Booth 1234Champion Valves, Wilmington, N.C.

Offering new solutions in seaming, this fabric is ideal for filtration

This company will display a wide variety of technical fabrics and fabrication techniques for use in advanced filtration. Their methods of seaming are ideal for many filter products, including centrifuge bags, fluid-bed dryer bag seams, candle-filter seams, nutsche bag seams, dust bags, and connector sleeves. The Sani-Seams product offers innovative solutions in seaming, such as the elimination of needle holes, a fully bonded seam area, the elimination of thread, and extended seam strength, allowing for a strong and secure seam that ensures the unlikelihood of leaks. Booth 318Sefar Filtration, Thal, Switzerland

Vacuum pumps feature variable-pitch screws for maximum efficiency

This company will present the Cobra NC 0400 B and NC 0630 B version vacuum pumps (photo), the new expansion to the Cobra product line. These vacuum pumps have a continuously variable-pitch screw design, which allows the highest efficiency without using a cooling gas. This version utilizes a new cooling- jacket design that provides excellent thermal balance and prevents corrosion of the pump casing. Booth 718Busch, Virginia Beach, Va.

Centrifuge a wider range of products with this multi-product unit

This company has launched the F-Series inverting filter centrifuge, the second generation in this line of equipment. With 50% fewer machine parts than the previous generation, the F-Series (photo, right) provides a compact design in a smaller footprint. These centrifuges employ new Pressure Added Centrifugation technology and provide a higher production throughput, as well as high flexibility in the types of products that can be centrifuged. For multi-product applications, the F-Series centrifuges provide easy clean in place capability. Booth 1319Heinkel USA, Swedesboro, N.J.

Analyze vibration spectra easily with this online monitoring system

The Vibnode online monitoring system allows users to access customized vibration spectra from a remote location. Six or twelve scanning channels are included, making the Vibnode ideal for switchbox replacement or new installations. Supplemented with the Omnitrend software, the processes of spectrum set-up, storage, and analysis are simplified. Spectra can be monitored and referenced to narrow band alarms. Then, when a vibration level exceeds an alarm band, the system will notify the user. Booth 1263Ludeca, Doral, Fla.

Choose this flange gasket to maintain a leak-free seal

For applications where gaskets’ corrosion resistance and structural strength are a priority, Texolon steel-reinforced flange gaskets should be considered. The gasket’s design of molded PTFE with a 304 stainless-steel perforated reinforcement core enhances cold-flow resistance and minimizes creep, making it ideal for use with corrosive liquids, high pressures, and large pressure variations. Because the void-free PTFE and stainless steel are corrosion- and flame- resistant, they provide plants with improved operational safety and maintain a leak-free seal by reducing the need for re-torquing. Available in standard full-face, the Texolon gasket also comes in special sizes of up to 48 in. and can be made in custom configurations to suit individual requirements. Booth 1229Plastomer Technologies, Houston, Tex.

Make chlorine, caustic soda and hypochlorite safely onsite

For the on-site production of chlorine gas, caustic soda and sodium hypochlorite, Klorigen modularized generators are classified as Inherently Safer Technology and are NSF-60 compliant. Klorigen eliminates the hazards of using liquefied and pressurized chlorine gas or bulk sodium hypochlorite from third-party suppliers. The system can produce up to 50,000 lb/d. It produces membrane-grade sodium hydroxide at 15% concentration and ultra-pure sodium hypochlorite at 12.5% concentration. Booth 1109Electrolytic Technologies Corp., North Miami Beach, Fla.

Reverse-buckling rupture disk covers a wide range of pressures

The Sigma EXL and SIGMA reverse buckling rupture disks are designed to reduce in-service disk failures caused by fatigue. Their construction allows them to operate reliably at pressures up to 95% of the rated burst pressure, the manufacturer claims. With the use of the pre-torqued SRB-7RS Safety Holder, the disk can be removed and inspected without the need to re-torque. This disk features circular scores, which allow it to burst without fragmentation and cover a wide range of burst pressures with great accuracy. A damaged disk will rupture at or below its marked burst pressure. Booth 1325BS&B Safety Systems, Tulsa, Okla.

Absorption sensor analyzes solutions in all conditions

Assuring product quality, maximizing yield, minimizing product loss, detecting contaminants and preventing excessive discharge to waste treatment facilities, the AF26 dual-channel absorption sensor precisely measures color and concentration inline. This flexible absorption sensor is qualified for use with nearly all sanitary clean-in-place and sterilize-in-place procedures, as well as hazardous, high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Suitable applications include: analysis of chemical concentration in solutions; trace hydrocarbons and aromatics in water; free water in refined fuels; and turbidity and suspended-solid measurements. Booth 1606optek-Danulat, Germantown, Wisc.

Direct-mount valves reduce emissions and product loss

The Triac Series of direct-mount valves are certified to TA Luft low-emission rating, which requires leakage of less than 1 ppm. Compared to other valve types, this can reduce emissions and product loss by 99% or more. Key to the valves’ success is a patented 45-deg. pyramidal stem seal with Belleville washers and graphite-foil stem packing. Booth 319A-T Controls, Cincinnati, Ohio

Weigh material in dusty, wet or volatile environments

The IP69K rated Model 250X digital weight indicators utilize double O-ring seals that prevent moisture and dust ingress. The enclosure is a blend of high-impact plastic, which does not expand or contract with extreme shifts in temperature. The face of the unit is a continuous piece, with a builtin ridged keypad, making it impossible for any particles or solvents to enter the weight indicator through the keypad. Additionally, the keypad is not composed of individually moving keys; rather, the keys are controlled by sensors when they are touched. The Model 250X is intrinsically safe, making it appropriate for use in volatile environments. Booth 1639SPX GSE, Allen Park, Mich.

New rotor boosts wiped-film evaporator performance

This company has developed Powerfilm rotor technology to increase performance of wiped-film evaporators at a lower capital investment. Designed for molecular distillation, short path evaporation and wiped-film evaporation, Powerfilm allows the wiper to adjust performance depending upon the characteristics of the product. This technology comes standard with all systems manufactured by this company, and it may also be retrofitted into other wiped-film, thin-film and short-path evaporators. Booth 1009InCon Processing, Batavia, Ill.

Filters remove contaminants while conserving water

With these ORG Series filters, up to 90% less water will be lost down the drain than with the use of other self-cleaning filters, says the manufacturer. Available in sizes from 1.5 to 8 in., the filters feature a vertical design to minimize footprint. Filtration cutoffs are offered from 5 to 3,000 µm, and pump options are standard or self-priming, with motors to meet any voltage and flowrate requirements. Regardless of the specific gravity or consistency of suspended solids, each material is removed with equal efficiency. The ORG Series products are ideal for applications that require highly efficient filtration, including: pretreatment for membrane systems; on-site water reuse; side-stream cooling-tower applications; point-of-entry filtration; raw water pre-treatment; water treatment to protect chillers; and heat exchangers and pretreatment for carbon or resin beds. Booth 741Orival, Englewood, N.J.

Lab-scale centrifuge provides accurate results for scale-up

This laboratory-scale cGMP horizontal peeler centrifuge is perfect for processing small quantities of material and evaluating filtration and cake-discharge characteristics. It provides accurate scale-up to pilot and production scale, and maintains the advantages of larger centrifuges, such as automatic discharge and contained processing. With the ability to discharge solids into an alpha/beta canister, product transfer and solids handling can remain contained, eliminating the need to manually remove solids and allowing total inspection of the unit between product batches. Offered in 316L stainless steel as well as other alloys, the cGMP has a solids capacity of 2.5 L, a basket diameter of 10 in., and rotational speed of up to 3,500 rpm. Booth 1050Robatel, Pittsfield, Mass.

Vacuum filter removes solid particles as small as 0.5 µm

The Auto-Vac rotary vacuum filter can separate solid particles as small as 0.5 µm, reducing the volume of dry solids by 95% for easy disposal. The self-contained unit is pre-piped, pre-wired and skid mounted for easy installation. The Auto-Vac is available in both manual and automatic configurations. Booth 1803Alar Engineering Corp., Mokena, Ill.

3,500 psi from this API 675 diaphragm metering pump

The new ProMus high-pressure diaphragm metering pump offers flowrates of up to 101 gal/h at pressures of up to 3,500 psi. This hydraulically actuated pump is designed to API 675 specifications, and is available with stainless steel, PVDF and Hastelloy C liquid ends. Booth 1118ProMinent Fluid Controls, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Protect your safety valves with double-layer bursting discs

With extra reinforcement from a second protective layer, the KUB V series double-layer bursting disc can withstand twice the pressure in the reverse direction as it can in the venting direction. When the disc is installed upstream of a safety valve, this allows the safety valve to be tested by pressurizing the space between the two devices. The first layer of the disc determines the burst pressure, using the integral buckling pin elements common to the KUB range, while the second layer acts as a protective membrane. Advantages over single-layer reverse-acting discs include the elimination of premature failure from fatigue, and avoiding weakening of the dome from scores and grooves in the burst membrane. Booth 619REMBE Safety and Control, Brilon, Germany

Model complex processes easily with this improved software

This company will launch Version 3.1 of the gPROMS advanced process modeling platform. The gPROMS platform is currently used in industry to develop and optimize complex reaction, separation and crystallization processes. The new version provides improved usability and numerical solutions capabilities. New usability features include during-execution displays, flowsheet vector graphics, improved reports and unit-specification dialogs, and enhanced topology printing capabilities for quality assurance. The new version also contains new facilities for specification solution of non-uniform grids and facilities for multiple domains, simplifying the modeling of complex reaction processes. A unified kernel and solver architecture creates consistency across a wide range of applications, ensuring that models will execute in different environments using the same solution code as the standalone models. Booth 1650Process Systems Enterprise, London, U.K.

Mass-flow blending system promises accurate recipe management

The Model Z is a mass-flow-based blending system that is an alternative to common proportional blending systems. According to the company, it offers improved accuracy, yield and flexibility compared to proportional blending. Boasting accuracy of ±0.1% by weight, and blend ratios from 4:1 to 8:1, the Model Z has a capacity of 10,000 gal/h of finished product. With True Brix blending, the Model Z provides blending with accurate recipe management. Booth 203KHS USA, Waukesha, Wis.

Get optimum sealing with this two-stage liquid ring vacuum pump

This company will introduce its new line of pumps, which is designed to handle large amounts of liquid carryover without difficulty. The TC 8, TC 9, and TC 10 two-stage liquid-ring vacuum pumps have optional O-rings, which provide optimal sealing. They accept single-, double and cartridge mechanical seals. Suitable for harsh conditions, the pumps are available in either ductile iron or stainless steel. Other benefits include a removable bearing bracket, ISO and ANSI connections, and a new air/water separator. Booth 1418 Gardner Denver Nash, Trumbull, Conn.

Get real-time solution concentration measurements with this monitor

The CR-288 concentration monitor provides real-time, temperature-compensated concentration measurement in a compact, ultra-high-purity package. The monitor uses an optical system to accurately measure liquid chemical concentration in real time. A digital display unit and accompanying software package provide flexible options for data display, analysis and archiving. The optical sensor can handle fluids with a refractive index in the range 1.31–1.41, and temperatures up to 149°F; accuracy in measuring concentration is typically ±0.1%, and undamped response time is 1.2 s. The display unit, which can accept up to four sensors, features both 4–20 mA and digital outputs. Booth 824 Swagelok Co., Solon, Ohio

Piping design software gets a selection of new features

Pipe-Flo Professional 2007, an enhanced version of previously released software, allows users to design and simulate the operation of fluid-piping systems. The program now includes the option to create models as a two-dimensional or isometric drawing using a new shape editor, which allows users to create custom shapes for pumps, tanks, components and control valves. Additionally, the capability to copy and paste between piping system models has been added, as well as the ability for users to size a unit and insert it into a system in a single step. Another timesaving feature is AutoCalc, which calculates system operations and provides results instantly. Booth 1341Engineered Software, Inc., Lacey, Wash.

A centrifuge for small-scale pharma production

This company is now offering the Model HZ 500 Ph pharma peeler centrifuge. Designed for pilot plants and small-scale production, the HZ 500 Ph has a 20-L basket and a 0.4-m2 filtration area. Features that enhance the user-friendly design include a compact configuration for portability, full-opening housing with a quick-release clamp ring, polished surfaces and a crevice-free design for easy cleaning, a novel feed-level controller, and a pneumatic peeling device. Booth 702KMPT USA, Inc., Florence, Ky.

A source of pipe fittings in corrosion-resistant alloys

This company now offers hot and cold-formed elbows and fittings in corrosion-resistant materials, including titanium grades 2, 7 and 12, zirconium 702 and several clad combinations. On show is one of a new range of cold-formed fixtures: an 8-in., Sch 40 seamless short-radius elbow made from grade 7 titanium. These new fittings are manufactured from seamless pipe, complementing the company’s range of pipe, tube, and solid metal forms. Booth 855Nu-Tech Precision Metals, Arnprior, Ontario, Canada