FS10A Verifies Flows In Process-Analyser Systems

The Model FS10A Flow Switch/Monitor from Fluid Components provides a solution for continuously verifying flows within liquid or gas process-analyser sampling systems. The FS10A Analyzer Flow Switch is a small, lightweight instrument featuring low flow sensitivity, a choice of electronic outputs and a space-saving, no-moving-parts design that ensures maximum reliability. It is suitable for continuous monitoring of analyser sample flows to provide high-integrity process analysis without interruption.

The FS10A Analyzer Flow Switch’s precision flow sensor element has no moving parts to foul, clog or maintain, ensuring continuous reliability and requiring virtually no maintenance. Unlike capillary bypass flow meters and controllers, the FS10A has no cavities, orifices or dead-legs that can trap fluids and lead to contaminated samples, which preserves sample integrity and provides faster system sampling times. The instrument’s wetted parts are corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel with Hastelloy-C sensor tips.

The FS10A Analyzer Flow Switch is designed for use with nearly all types of process and emissions sampling systems, including gas chromatographs (GCs), mass spectrometers, optical spectrometers and photometers. It fits in a standard 1/4in tube tee or SP76 adapter (ANSI/ISA Standard 76.00.02-2002, Modular Component Interfaces for Surface-Mount Fluid Distribution Components). The FS10A conforms to NeSSI Generation I, is prepped for Generation II and III compliance and requires only a single 1.5 x 1.5in SP76 base. The Analyzer Flow Switch operates over a wide flow range, depending on the configuration selected.

The flow range in air is from 0.1 to 20SCFH (50 to 10,000cc/min) and the flow range in water is 0.001 to 0.03GPM (4 to 100cc/min). It accommodates wide turndowns with a ratio up to 100:1. The FS10A’s electronics are packaged in a rugged, fully sealed aluminum housing. The electronics can be integrally mounted with the sensor element in a uni-body configuration or remotely mounted for easy front-panel display viewing.

The FS10 features a top-mounted, 10-LED array and two pressure-sensitive button-touch controls. The LED display provides users visibility of flow rate trend, alarm status and power on/off. The flow switch’s setup and setpoint values can be changed via the two push buttons or via its standard RS232C serial interface. A choice of electronic outputs is available with the FS10A Analyzer Flow Switch. The FS10A switch output can be either an open collector (transistor) or a 1A relay settable for NO or NC operation.

The switch settings are user programmable for trip control of hysteresis and time delay. An optional 4-20mA output is available for trending, which is settable to represent flow rate in mass flow or standard volume units. Agency approvals for the FS10A Analyzer Flow Switch include FM and FMc: Nonincendive, Class I, Division 2 Groups A, B, C, D; Class II, Division 2 Groups E, F, G; Class III TA at Ta=71C Type 4X. It has also been submitted for ATEX and IEC, with those approvals pending.

The Tocsin 102 is a low-cost device measuring 50 x 80mm; weighing 510g, it is lightweight and can be combined with many passive sampling options for inline applications. With most devices utilising a pump for sample collection and the lifetime issue of the PID lamps, Oliver IGD offers an alternative, with the Tocsin 102 designed as a normal diffusion device requiring no pump or moving parts, considerably reducing breakdowns and maintenance requirements.

Being a diffusion device, the atmosphere is not forced to the detector with a pump, which reduces lamp contamination; this enhances the self-cleaning capability, further reducing the requirements for maintenance and personnel intervention. To further extend the PID capability, the Tocsin 102 features a built-in duty cycle option.

This enables customers to initiate an alternating period of detection and rest, extending lamp and sensor lifetime. The customer-set duty cycle will be overridden by any gas levels being detected above a customer-set threshold level and the device will then move into continuous detection until the gas levels fall below the threshold for a period of time, again set by the customer. An industrial Tocsin 103 analogue (4-20mA) and addressable version is scheduled to be released in January 2010.

The MLD320 and MLD520 models offer start/restart interlock, contactor monitoring and configurable operating modes. The MLD330 and MLD530 are the most feature rich, according to Leuze Electronic, offering integrated control of parallel or sequential muting, for example. All of the features are selected according to the units’ wiring connection – for example, by connecting two pins together there is no need to configure the devices using a PC. Extras, such as integrated laser alignment at the top and bottom of the columns or an integrated muting lamp, can be added to numerous models.

Multiple light beam safety devices are used in a variety of applications, ranging from simple access guarding to safeguarding combined with muting at points where pallets leave guarded areas, plus wide-area perimeter guarding. The MLD family includes transceiver models that are said to be ideally suited to access guarding and safeguarding with muting. A transceiver is a combined transmitter/receiver in one unit, with the other column being a passive reflector that does not require an electrical connection. Transceivers are said to offer cost savings at installation, needing only a wired connection on one side, namely at the receiver. Traditionally, transceivers have been two- or four-beam units because the reflecting column works like a periscope, with a mirror reflecting the incoming signal down the inside of the column and then back out to the receiver from a mirror at the bottom.

A four-beam system is therefore a two-beam system in the top half of the column and another two-beam system in the bottom half of the column. In many applications, a two-beam system does not provide adequate protection of the machinery and the next step up is a four-beam system in order to get a middle beam. Leuze Electronic’s three-beam MLD transceivers use technology from its multi-beam light curtains to precisely switch the two transmission beams so that they can be detected and identified by a single receiver unit. This is said to reduce manufacturing costs, which combined with other design features such as optics within the end-caps, enables the MLD family of multiple light beam safety devices to offer more features for less money than the units they replace.

The two- and three-beam transceivers have a range of 8m, but the both MLD 300 and MLD 500 series include two-, three- and four-beam transmitter and receiver systems, which offer a range of 70m. Installation is said to be made easier and quicker by a patented mounting system, which provides full flexibility in the choice of mounting height within the matching device columns rather than being constrained by the position of pre-drilled mounting holes. The MLD units can also easily be aligned using the bayonet style of swivel mount, which enables swift alignment and provides reliable mounting.

IFM Introduces Longer-Range Safety Light Curtains

IFM Electronic has released safety light curtains with a range of up to 20m. On a longer machine, where access could be possible along the whole length, some light curtains do not have the range to protect those nearby from straying into the danger zone, according to the company.

IFM’s new longer-range addition to the OY range of light curtains meet Type 4 to IEC 61496, SIL3 to IEC 61508 and PLe to ISO 13849 and complement the devices launched in 2009 in the slimline housing measuring 28 x 30mm. The long-range lightguards can be supplied with resolutions of 20mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm or 90mm and protected area heights ranging from 160mm up to 1,510mm, in 150mm increments. The new safety light curtains are suitable for those looking for SIL2 or SIL3 to IEC 61508 and PLd or PLe to ISO 13849.

The OY light curtains and grids are available as Type 2 or Type 4 to IEC 61496 in heights from 160mm to 1,510mm, covering distances up to 20m with resolutions from 14mm to 90mm. They all have a slim housing, measuring 28 x 30mm. The beams are incorporated right up to the end of the housing, allowing installation without deadband.

Sensocon Launches DP Gauges With Optimised Design

Sensocon has introduced the newly optimised design of its Series S2000 differential-pressure (DP) gauges. The newly optimised Series S2000 now features a number of additional advantages. Based on third-party testing to date, the Sensocon Series S2000 DP gauge is RoHS compliant and conforms to CE. Sensocon has also extended the warranty for the new Series S2000 DP gauges to two years based on the new optimisation.

The lens design has also been updated for a more attractive appearance. The Sensocon-brand Series S2000 DP gauge is available with many options, including a low-temperature option for applications down to -20F and a tamper-proof adjustable signal flag that does not use external adjustment knobs that are easily broken.

Various accessories are also available, including static pressure tips, mounting brackets and shut-off valves. The Series S2000 DP gauge can be used for measuring the positive, negative or differential pressure of air and compatible gases. Applications include monitoring filter status, duct static pressure, room pressure, fan or blower pressure, paint booths, dust collectors and cabinet purging.

RTS Solidprep Homogenises Tablets And Capsules

RTS Solidprep provides a fast solution for tablet and capsule homogenisation and extraction. The instrument is used in pharmaceutical development where tablets are tested in stability and impurity studies or in quality-control environments where assay- and content-uniformity testing is a requirement of the pharmacopeia. Recently upgraded with two adaptors to support the processing of larger 80 and 120ml volumes, these tubes support existing methods using standard 50ml and 100ml glassware.

Standard solvent volumes requiring up to 100ml of solvent can be processed in the tubes, without having to modify methods. The adaptors are capable of processing five 80ml or two 120ml tubes, are simple to fit and changing between the various adaptors is a ‘tool free’ process. RTS Solidprep provides reproducible homogenisation without localised heating or increased drug degradation and has been proven to save up to 90 per cent of the time typically taken for sample homogenisation.

Solidprep is suitable for standard and complex controlled-release dosage forms. To assist with tablet homogenisation, all Solidprep tubes have an easy-to-seal, leak-proof lid. The tubes are graduated to indicate the approximate solvent volume that has been dispensed. The tube containers and lids are polypropylene and are compatible with common analytical solvents and extraction media.

Flexstream Granulation Used For Hormone Production

GEA Pharma Systems has received an order from Alpa Laboratories for its Flexstream granulation technology, to manufacture granules for hormone production. The system provides 10-bar explosion protection, ensuring that if an incident occurred all the API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) would be retained within the machine. An automated cleaning regime provides reduced cleaning cycle times. Flexstream fluid-bed technology provides granulation, drying and coating in a single process.

The automatic side-discharge feature facilitates contained transfer to the next process. Flexstream also prevents the uncontrolled over wetting of particles by using a protective air stream taken from the normal process air. As no compressed air is required, fewer particles are destroyed in the process and the system is more energy efficient. Flexstream will be displayed on the GEA Pharma Systems stand at the P-MEC India exhibition in Mumbai on 1-3 December.

Proseal Tray Sealers Minimise Soft-Fruit Packaging

Three GT2 tray sealers from Proseal are helping soft-fruit grower Hall Hunter Partnership minimise its packaging and reduce its carbon footprint to meet the environmental requirements of UK retailers. The Proseal GT2 is capable of sealing up to 96 packs per minute and was therefore capable of handling Hall Hunter’s requirements for packing around 2.5 tonnes of product per hour per line.

Servo-controlled pack transfer creates a smooth movement for the punnets throughout the sealing process to ensure gentle handling of the product, while self-centring pack guides ensure the trays are accurately positioned for sealing. The three tray sealers were integrated into Hall Hunter’s existing packing line. A touch-screen display provides step-by-step guidance for operators to ensure ease of use.

Pre-programmable menus enable the machine to be set up automatically for each different pack and the display also provides fault diagnosis and production information. The GT2 is manufactured to food-industry-approved hygiene standards with full wash-down protection. Polymer bearings are used in water-contact areas to avoid the risk of corrosion and maintain long-term reliable performance.

Linear Releases Dual-Channel DC/DC Converters

Linear Technology has introduced the LT3582, LT3582-5 and LT3582-12 dual-channel DC/DC converters. These deliver positive and negative outputs required in many biasing applications such as active matrix OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays as well as CCD (charge-coupled device) applications. The LT3582/-5/-12 offer an I2C interface that can dynamically program output voltages, power sequencing and output voltage ramps as the application requires.

Alternatively, these parameters can be set in manufacturing and made permanent via the built in non-volatile OTP (one-time programmable) memory. The LT3582′s positive-output voltage can be set between 3.2 and 12.775V in 25mV steps, whereas the negative output can be set between -1.2 and -13.95V in 50mV steps. The LT3582-5 and LT3582-12 are preconfigured with +/-5V and +/-12V outputs respectively, useful in many signal-conditioning applications.

The LT3582 series includes two monolithic converters, one boost and one inverting. The boost converter has an integrated power switch and output disconnect switch, whereas the inverting converter uses a single inductor topology with an integrated power switch. Both boost and inverting converters use a novel control scheme resulting in low-output voltage ripple and allowing for high conversion-efficiency over a wide load-current range.

The converters’ input-voltage range of 2.55 to 5.5V make them ideal for Li-Ion powered applications with efficiencies as high as 88 per cent. These features of the LT3582 series, when combined with less than 325uA of quiescent current, can maximise battery life. The combination of tiny external components, no feedback resistors and a tiny 3 x 3mm QFN package provides a tiny (less than 50mm) solution footprint for handheld biasing applications. The LT3582EUD, LT3582EUD-5 and LT3582EUD-12 are all available from stock in a 3 x 3mm QFN package.

AVX Upgrades SQCA Series Of RF MLCCs

AVX has extended the working voltage range of its RF multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) from 100 to 250V DC. Designated the SQCA Series, the high-performance MLCC provides low ESR, high Q, high self-resonance and a capacitance range of 0.1 to 100pF in a 0605 case size. Providing superior stability under the stresses of changing voltage, frequency, and temperature, the SQCA Series MLCC is ideal for use in microwave RF/IF amplifier, low-noise amplifier, mixer, oscillator, filter network and MRI-system applications.

Larry Eisenberger, AVX product manager, said: ‘The SQ Series MLCC chips feature a porcelain and ceramic dielectric material that provides high reliability, low ESR and up to 40 per cent lower equivalent series resistance than previous versions. ‘This makes the SQCA Series ideal for applications with high current-carrying capabilities and high-quality factors. The SQCA series is RoHS compliant due to 100 per cent tin terminations. Tin/lead terminations are also available.