Articles

Below you will find published articles written by Valin's own experts and information from our suppliers.

Looking Beyond Globe Control Valves

Submitted by Peter Jessee || Valin Corporation

While globe control valves are still a viable solution, modern rotary control valves offer many advantages and serve as a more suitable solution in certain process applications.

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How to Monitor Assets Remotely Today

Submitted by Corey Foster || Valin Corporation

As long as products have had ethernet ports, people have been asking for remote access to them. They believed they could just plug the devices into the internet, and it would all work. As more software tools became available and internet speeds increased, capable users found ways to give themselves access, however, there was a catch.

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Understanding the Feedstock with Valin

Submitted by Norman Hall || Valin Corporation

The only way to achieve a specified purity level is to select and install proper filtration, with the job intended and the task fully understood. Norman Hall, Filtration Business Unit Manager for Valin Corporation, suggests a correct approach.

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Steam vs. Electric Heating — The Basics

Most facilities in the chemical process industries (CPI) require some form of heat. The amount of heat required, and the necessary level of consistency can vary from process to process. Regardless of the details, engineers must decide on a heating source that works best for a particular process.

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Silicon-Controlled Rectifier Power Controls: Worth the Investment

Submitted by Randy Mulvaney || Valin Corporation

In terms of what matters to most in the field today, it is safe to assume that reliability, flexibility, accuracy and cost are at the top of the list. With these factors in mind, implementing a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) control system for an electric heater is often an optimal approach.

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Determining Pressure Drop for Control Valve Sizing

Submitted by Peter Jessee || Valin Corporation

Most people who are familiar with control valves have seen the formula for calculating the valve capacity (Cv) required to pass a given flow rate of water. This seems fairly straightforward until you ask yourself, what is the correct value of differential pressure to use?

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Maintaining an Enclosure’s Integrity

Submitted by Fred Gridley || Valin

Maintaining a consistent internal environment for your enclosures is critical for equipment to function properly. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has defined standards for specific enclosures designed for the application and environment when correctly installed. Learn more.

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Electric Heaters for Natural Gas Compressor Stations

Submitted by Jon Cloy || Valin Corporation

Reducing the amount of hydrocarbon leakage from compressor stations is not only imperative for the environment, but for your bottom line. Compressor-related emissions can be reduced by using electric heaters to heat the pressurized natural gas.

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Remote Access for Original Equipment Manufacturer's

Submitted by Submitted by Tom Trinh & Corey Foster || Valin Corporation

Looking for ways to support your systems more easily, more safely, and more quickly for your customers?  Perhaps you are wondering what remote access technology is for industrial control systems.

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Instrumentation Fittings for Power Plants

Submitted by Greg Neneman || Valin Corporation

A lot must be reviewed before selecting the right fitting for power plant instrumentation applications. Among the choices are whether to use single- or double-ferrule designs; heat codes, lubrication, and corrosion resistance must also be considered.

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Process Piping and Heat: Solutions to Consider

Submitted by Jon Irvine || Valin Corporation

Several different processes require a product to flow through a pipe from one piece of equipment to another. A certain level of heat is often required for this process piping, and this heat must be at very high levels for many applications.

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Developing a Corporate Filtration Strategy

Submitted by Tim Tritch || Valin Corporation

Proper filtration is essential to process flow operation. Improper or lack of filtration can wreak havoc on components, reducing their life and changing the final product. This can lead to equipment failure, process upsets, increased quality issues and in some cases, unplanned shutdown. Learn more.

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Catalytic Regeneration: Designing Electric Process Heating

Submitted by Patrick Bartell || Valin Corporation

Achieving effective catalyst regeneration requires a process that produces a very high level of heat in a very efficient manner. Over the years, there have been several different approaches to create this required heat. Traditional steam and heated transfer media have limitations. Learn more.

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Stop Cavitation from Destroying Your Control Valve Trims

Submitted by Dr. Jon F. Monsen and Dr. Hans D. Baumann

The devastating effects cavitation can have on control valve internals are widely appreciated. In this article, the authors therefore explain the origins of cavitation, provide an easy-to-use method to estimate cavitation sound levels, and conclude with approaches to reduce or even avoid cavitation.

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Magnetic Filtration – Are You Using it?

Submitted by Frank Schollmeier || Valin Corporation

In many machines, as much as 90% of all particles suspended in the oil can be iron or steel and can be particularly troublesome to operators. This article looks at the advantages and benefits of magnetic filtration and how it can often outperform traditional methods.

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Installation Practices Key to Successful Heat Tracing

Submitted by Jay Van Horn || Valin Corporation

Laying out an effective heat tracing design requires careful attention to detail. Every aspect of the system must be meticulously considered, including both the temperature requirements of the fluids being protected as well as the physical characteristics of the equipment being heat traced.

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Instrumentation Fittings — What You Need to Know

Submitted by Greg Neneman || Valin Corporation

In the world of instrumentation, there are a number of different topics discussed and analyzed.  However, one that should not be overlooked is that of instrumentation fittings. Do you know what technologies are available? Do you know the strengths and/or weaknesses? Are there any new trends?

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Board Level Controllers – Best of Both Worlds

Submitted by Nathan Ehresman || Valin Corporation

An operator in a fluid handling process is only as effective as his ability to work with a given controller. If there are factors that keep this individual from doing what is necessary for a smooth operation, adjustments need to be made.

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The Challenge of Automating a Manual Process

Submitted by Corey Foster || Valin Corporation

When manufacturing engineers are tasked with automating a process that is currently done manually, their main question for an automation supplier is "Have you ever automated this specific process before?" In complex applications, the answer is typically "no." Learn more.

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Valin Corporation CEO Joe Nettemeyer on Change and Consistency

Submitted by Daniel Seeger || Industrial Distribution Magazine

In Joe Nettemeyer's long and productive career, he has had a front-row seat to a significant amount of change, and he's learned how to help others embrace transition. Nettemeyer spoke to Industrial Distribution Magazine about guiding everyone—even the skeptics—through major business shifts.

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Industrial Heaters: Reducing Premature Failure

Submitted by Nathan Ehresman || Valin

Premature heater failures can lead to unexpected process downtime. Tactics such as testing, planned replacement programs, and preventing moisture ingress can help prevent premature heater failures.

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