Frankfurt show to feature process modules

Modules that bring efficiencies to process analysis system builders will be on show at Achema 2006 from 15th to 19th May in Frankfurt.

At Achema 2006 (15th to 19th May in Frankfurt), Parker Instrumentation will highlight its growing range of modules that bring efficiencies to process analysis system builders.

The latest products include the company's SP76-compliant surface-mounting substrate and components for industrial analysers, a modular valve system for automated stream switching in gas and liquid analysis applications, and a turnkey product for venting samples from process analysers into a plant's flare disposal or return system.

Parker will also launch an instrument manifold system for connecting instruments to process lines.

It took more than two years to develop with input from large-scale users.

The modular SP76-compliant substrate - Intraflow - is for process analytical and laboratory instrumentation flow control systems.

At Achema, Parker will highlight the ability to provide users with complete assemblies including instruments and heaters from a single purchase order - as a result of teaming agreements with Honeywell and Intertec.

Intraflow surface-mounting fittings reduce the amount of space required, reducing the volume of sample flow paths, speeding construction and lowering cost of ownership.

Substrate fittings plug together in seconds using slip-fit connectors.

No welding is required to build a system.

The 38.1mm footprint modules screw onto a pegboard backplane that provides the connection force and rigidity for the finished flow control assembly, and may be disassembled rapidly for maintenance or re-use.

Finished systems occupy typically around 25% of the space of a conventionally plumbed flow control system.

A major advantage is its intrinsic support for three-way flow paths.

Unlike the linear substrates in use for semiconductor gas stick delivery systems, Intraflow maintains flow paths on one plane regardless of direction.

No manifolds on additional substrate layers are needed to implement the more sophisticated functionality required by sample systems.

This approach allows flow control substrates to be constructed with profiles of less than 20mm including the pegboard.

Honeywell instruments available as part of a process sampling and analytical system include pressure, temperature and flow transducers - all of which may be connected to the plant's LAN.

The agreement with Intertec lets Parker provide systems with an integral Varitherm-Hi heater with smart temperature control.

"It's not uncommon for instrument technicians to spend hours a day riding a bike around the plant to make sure that sample systems are working," said Steve Doe, Analytical Market Manager for Parker Instrumentation.

"The Parker-Honeywell teaming arrangement gives plant operators the ability to monitor easily and manage their process sample systems which, according to industry experts, still account for around three quarters of all process analyser downtime".

Parker's valve system for automated stream switching in gas and liquid analysis applications - R-Max - uses surface-mounting techniques to reduce the size of control systems for process analysers and gas chromatographs.

Purpose-designed for automated applications, the pneumatically-operated R-Max brings levels of reliability and integrity to this application through the use of true three-way double-block-and-bleed valve modules that eliminate cross contamination of fluid streams, combined with needle valves with operating lifetimes above a million cycles.

R-Max operates over a vacuum to 34bar pressure range, and may be actuated using a low air pressure supply of 3bar.

Systems are based on three basic components - valve modules, substrates housing the stream switching channels and a venting unit.

These connect using two screws, allowing the number of streams to be extended without breaking the connections throughout the entire substrate.

The surface mounting approach means stream switches are smaller than systems built using standard valves and tubing, by up to as much as 90%.

Parker's latest value-added module for process analysis, Vent Master, will be at Achema.

For venting samples from process analysers into a plant's flare disposal or return system, the product creates a constant pressure environment in the vent header to keep chemical and petrochemical process analysers operating at their maximum accuracy.

The system eliminates the need to vent directly to atmosphere, and resolves analyser accuracy problems associated with alternative disposal techniques.

Vent Master is compact, fitting into small field shelters, and is completely mechanical with few moving parts, requiring no regular maintenance.

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