Power Specialties - Industrial Control Solutions

Yokogawa Supplies Steam Boiler Control for USNS Mercy

On the United States Navy Hospital Ship Mercy, Yokogawa's Indicating Controllers are used to control two Foster Wheeler boilers supplying steam to 2 GE turbines to generate 18.3 MW of power.

Power Specialties, Inc.
https://powerspecialties.com

Yokogawa Presents "Back to Basics" Webinar Series

With the economy slowing and many employees working from home, there's never been a better time to take advantage of distance learning!

Yokogawa's "Back to Basic Series - Key Fundamentals for Operational Excellence" webinar series provides you a great learning resource for process measurement technologies. These online webinars discuss recommended practices, application selection and sizing, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Gain insight directly from the experts!

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Attaining Proficiency in Industrial Pressure Measurement

Thursday, April 9, 2020
11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific

This webinar reviews the basic principles of measuring pressure and key considerations when selecting pressure transmitters for various applications. More information here.

Fundamentals of Fabulous Flow Measurement

Thursday, April 16, 2020
11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific

This webinar will explore the fundamentals of flow measurement technologies and how they stack up in different applications. More information here.

Magical Mystery Tour of High Purity pH Measurement

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
8:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Eastern

The presentation will explore the theory of pH and how it can be successfully applied in high purity applications, discuss both standard and solution temperature compensation, review installation requirements, and illustrate good calibration and maintenance procedures to facilitate satisfactory measurements. More information here.

Vibrating Element Technology for Gas Density, Specific Gravity, and Hydrogen

Thursday, April 30, 2020
8:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Eastern

This presentation goes over the theory behind vibrating element technology and explores some of the applications in which it can be used. More information here.

Digitally Transform your Plant with Field Wireless and IIOT

Thursday, May 7, 2020
11:00 AM Eastern / 8:00 AM Pacific

Wireless sensor networks can provide reliable and secure communications for applications including control, monitoring, safety, and reliability. Regardless of the application, wireless technology has opened the door for companies to pursue improvements that may have been impossible or uneconomical in the past. However, adopting a wireless strategy is more than just throwing a few radios out into the plant. A little planning can go a long way to ensure your future success. More information here.

Refinery Explosion Case Study

A case study of the 2005 BP refinery explosion in Texas City, TX. This animated video illustrates the events and circumstances leading up to a catastrophic explosion. Contributing factors included inadequate level and safety instrumentation, as well as breakdowns in safety monitoring and standard operating procedures. This video, courtesy of the Chemical Safety Board (csv.gov), is an excellent educational reference, and should be viewed by engineering, maintenance, and plant management personnel everywhere.

Power Specialties, Inc.
https://powerspecialties.com
(800) 432-6550

Coronavirus Update

To our valued customers,

During this difficult time, we wanted to let you know that Power Specialties is adhering to all federal, state and local guidelines regarding the Coronavirus pandemic.

Fortunately, Power Specialties has invested in and embraced technology that allows us to fully function remotely. Sales Engineers, Customer Service and Accounting have all been set up and working remotely as of Tuesday March 24th and we remain available to help in any way. Our systems are fully functioning, thanks to awesome IT and telephony staff.

Please do not hesitate to call us with any questions or needs that you may have.

Thank you for your continued business and please stay safe.

COVID-19 Statements from Our Manufacturer Partners

		https://powerspecialties.com/images/powerspecialties/PDF/Yokogawa_COVID19-Communication.pdf
		https://www.foxthermal.com/fox-blog/covid-19-factory-update
		https://us.msasafety.com/coronavirus
		https://www.airmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Air-Monitor-COVID-19-Statement.pdf
		https://reotemp.com/reotemp-operations-status

Field Instrumentation Selection and Total Cost of Ownership

Within a plant, field instrumentation and actuators are the sensors of the process and the point at which the process automation system detects, measures, and responds to process conditions, including pressure, temperature, flow, and level. Process manufacturing plants of any size and complexity typically need thousands of field instruments, valves, actuators, and other devices. While critical to plant operations, field instrumentation is often purchased ad-hoc and based on the lowest initial cost. This paper describes the importance of considering the total cost of ownership across their lifecycle, from initial purchase through their useful life.

Yokogawa, a world leading manufacturer of field instruments and process control equipment, offers this comprehensive white paper on understanding the relationship between your field instrumentation and the hidden costs of ongoing maintenance.

DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER FROM THIS POWER SPECIALTIES WEB PAGE

For more information about Yokogawa field instruments, contact Power Specialties, Inc. Call them at (816) 353-6550 or visit their web site at https://powerspecialties.com.

Happy Holidays from Power Specialties, Inc.

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." — Oren Arnold

Combustion Air Flow Monitoring: Better Combustion Control Saves Money

Millions of dollars are wasted every day in combustion processes in the power and co-generation industries: in kilns, smelters, ovens and similar applications. Combustion losses are insidious because the processes operate normally while hiding operation inefficiencies. In the average process, operators and management can’t easily identify the large amounts of fuel being wasted. An efficiency audit will reveal problems that raise operation costs.

Most combustion systems have mechanical controls set to overfeed combustion air by as much as 20%. Fuel costs and additional maintenance costs associated with blower or burner wear can add up to thousands of dollars wasted per day. However, there is a low cost remedy that can be implemented during a short downtime — upgrading combustion air flow meters or installing an instrumented control system.

Benefits of Combustion Airflow Monitoring

Fuel cost savings
Improve process stability
Reduce operator interventions
Increase equipment capacity
Improve safety
Reduce carbon footprint
Improve sustainability

THE CHALLENGES

How can large combustion processes be modified so they operate more efficiently over a wide
operating range with dirty gases that tend to plug and coat?

Dealing With Limited Straight Runs

Combustion processes generally consume a high volume of combustion air that travels to the burners through large ducts. To measure air velocity accurately, airflow meters require straight runs upstream and downstream to ensure the meter is reading a fully developed flow profile. Insufficient straight runs can adversely affect flow meter accuracy, process stability and combustion efficiency. Installation of sufficient straight run for flow measurement is typically not considered in the design of a system and multiple solutions are needed to accurately measure airflow.

Tighter Control in High Turndown Situations

Combustion system turndown and operational flexibility is often constrained by limitations of the control system. The performance of mechanical control systems is poor because mechanical linkages poorly control fuel-to-air ratios when operated over a wide range of firing rates. That’s why they are set to overfeed combustion air. Instrumented control systems perform better at controlling fuel/air mixture if the flow meter is designed and installed correctly.

Reducing Plugging and Coating

Combustion air flow meters can become coated and plugged when particulates are present. This reduces flow meter accuracy and can potentially shut down the process.

Improving Efficiency and Environmental Compliance

Combustion processes require sufficient airflow for the efficient combustion of fuel.They also must comply with environmental regulations. Introducing excessive air reduces the efficiency of the combustion process, wastes fuel, and can dramatically increase operating costs. Mechanical combustion control systems do not provide a means to tune airflow for the ideal ratio. An instrumented system provides such a means but the ability to provide fuel savings is often limited by the performance of its air flow meter.

Air Monitor Corporation Products

Solutions to combustion airflow challenges are readily available with innovative products manufactured by Santa Rosa, CA. Air Monitor Corporation. To learn more, or to discuss your aiRflow monitoring challenge, contact Power Specialties, Inc. Call them at (816) 353-6550 or visit their web site at https://powerspecialties.com.
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