It is often desirable to monitor the flow of a liquid being pumped in a process. In addition to metering the fluid, a simple flow switch can provide confirmation of flow or flow at a minimum acceptable volume for proper operation. For added pump protection, a dry line detector, indicator, or alarm is an ideal feature, especially for larger, expensive pumps in critical applications.

It is a common practice in any process industry to sample the product being produced and analyze it for quality assurance. Many industries are now using on line sampling systems to monitor their product quality. It is necessary to monitor and assure a minimum flow of a liquid or a gas being sampled from a process flow stream to provide an accurate representation of the actual product.

Emergency Safety Showers are a good idea and also required in commercial and industrial operations where hazardous fluids are used or being produced. A simple shower head and a pull chain to a valve to release the water is all that is needed to provide the safety function. But there can be more to it if the victim of a leak or spill activates the shower but is in need of more assistance. The emergency safety shower should have a monitor that indicates that it is in use.

Industrial processes that require super heating of a liquid product being produced typically use heat transfer fluids like Paratherm®, Therminol®, DowTherm ™, DuraTherm®, etc. These fluids can operate at temperatures exceeding 725ºF (385ºC). Monitoring the flow and level of these fluids at these higher temperatures is a challenge for many classical instrumentation technologies.

In heavy industries utilizing large numbers of rotating machines it is imperative to monitor the lubrication of the main bearings to avoid failures that could be of a safety concern and most certainly lead to downtime and lost productivity. Typically, lubrication oil is pumped or gravity fed through tubing to the bearings from a reservoir. A liquid flow switch installed in the tubing assures that lubrication is moving through to the bearings. With the addition of a temperature sensor as needed you have a complete bearing lubrication monitor.

Pressure Relief Valves (PRVs) are used in many industries and applications to assist in dangerous over-pressure conditions in pipelines, boilers and vessels. When it comes to PRVs there are two scenarios that most companies want to monitor and that is the case of a leak or an over-pressurized system. PRVs are susceptible to leaks which can be harmful to the environment, dangerous to personnel and reduce the efficiency of a process. Monitoring these leaks and breaches of product are critical in these types of applications.

Before igniting the gas in a large commercial or industrial oven a minimum of three (3) turnovers of the air in the oven is recommended in case there is an unsafe fuel leak or capture. Monitoring this air flow turnover is essential during the pre-ignition sequence. Typically a flow switch is installed in the exhaust stack to verify positive flow and turnover through the oven.

It is often desirable to monitor the flow of a liquid being pumped in a process. In addition to metering the fluid, a simple flow switch can provide confirmation of flow or flow at a minimum acceptable volume for proper operation. For added pump protection, a dry line detector, indicator, or alarm is an ideal feature, especially for larger, expensive pumps in critical applications.

Gas booster systems are used to keep up with demand in downstream piping as the process changes. Typically a gas flow switch is installed downstream from the gas booster fan. Once the downstream demand is met, the flow equalizes and there is no more flow at the switch. A relay in the switch can the shut the booster system fan off until flow is needed again.

A Soot Blower is a device designed to remove soot in heat exchangers, SCR, air preheaters and gas-gas heaters with dual lances. Various types of soot blowers use steam, air or high pressure water at flue gas temperatures for cleaning these heaters. This maximizes thermal efficiency and gas exit temperatures extending the life of the system. There must be a water supply to create steam or pressurized water and the flow rate of this supply can be monitored with a thermal mass flow switch.

Cooling towers and chillers are in operation to remove heat from a process fluid, mainly water. These systems all have in common the flow of water through pipes in various arrangements to achieve the heat removal process. Industries like oil refining, chemical, petrochemical, and power all have needs for excess process heat removal. Throughout these heat removal systems there are many locations where having confirmation of the fluid flow is necessary to provide for proper system operation.

It is often desirable to monitor and control the flow of a liquid or a gas between a lower and upper set point to maintain an ideal process condition. A flow meter with dual set points for control can be expensive when the accuracy of the flow control is of less concern than the budget. A flow switch with dual channels has the capability of setting two discrete flow set points for establishing the flow control function without the expense of a flow meter.

It is a requirement to monitor the flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) being pumped in a fire suppression system. The monitor detects the fluid flow through the supply line once the fire has tripped a sprinkler head sensor automatically activating the suppression system. The flow monitor or switch would have a relay contact to activate an alarm and perhaps initiate an emergency call to a fire department or other interested parties.

Confirming the flow of product either liquid or gas in a process pipe is desirable for monitoring and control purposes. Typically flow monitors and indicators are simply flow switches installed in the process piping. There are many liquid and gas flow monitoring technologies, a better solution for liquid or gas flow detection at a specific point in a process line is the Thermal Differential Switch. The TD switch has two thermal sensing devices (RTD’s) encased in stainless steel tips.

A Soot Blower is a device designed to remove soot in heat exchangers, SCR, air preheaters and gas-gas heaters with dual lances. Various types of soot blowers use steam, air or high pressure water at flue gas temperatures for cleaning these heaters. This maximizes thermal efficiency and gas exit temperatures extending the life of the system. There must be a water supply to create steam or pressurized water and the flow rate of this supply can be monitored with a thermal mass flow switch.

Vapor Recovery is the process of recovering vapors that normally would be discarded by releasing to the atmosphere or flaring off during an offloading process. Due to EPA regulations releasing gasses into the atmosphere is no longer cheaper than recovery. Monitoring the activity of the compressor as it pumps vapor from one tank to the other may be useful for safety purposes. Knowing when your compressor is flowing or not flowing can let the operator know when it is time to disconnect and move to the next tank.

Industrial and commercial HVAC systems are basically air handling systems that supply quality air for the buildings and facilities in which they are installed. Confirmation of the air flow throughout the system is important and vital to the efficient and effective delivery of the conditioned air be it cooled or heated. There are several air flow monitoring technologies, a better solution for air flow detection at a specific point in a HVAC system is the Thermal Differential Switch.

Sanitation equipment is required in some industries like hospitals, human waste and sewer maintenance. Steam cleaners and detergent systems require water flow to operate correctly. The pumps that force the the fluids through the system can be costly to replace and need to be protected. A simple flow switch can provide confirmation of flow or flow at a minimum acceptable volume for proper operation. For added pump protection, a dry line detector, indicator, or alarm is an ideal feature, especially for larger, expensive pumps.

The food and beverage industries are challenged in their production and storage processes to maintain sanitary conditions in their pipes, lines, tanks, and vats. The milk industry recognized this early on and established the 3A Sanitary Guideline and specification rating system. Traditional flow switches needed to monitor and confirm liquid product flow in such process pipes do not satisfy the 3A Standards with their normal construction designs.

Treatment facilities around the world use injected air to promote the growth of healthy micro-organisms that clean and purify our water. Without accurately monitoring the amount of air being introduced into the plant’s aeration basins, our water treatment engineers cannot determine the optimum, cleanest bacterial eciency, or the most economical quantity of process air being used. Money can be wasted or water can be left only partially treated.

Industries worldwide spend vast amounts of revenue in their plants moving things with compressed air. Shipbuilders, food and beverage producers, wastewater treatment centers, & manufacturers of all types make and maintain compressed air. The dollars spent on kilowatts of energy for this purpose represents a staggering amount of wealth, and waste can be devastating to a company’s prot. Today’s manufacturers monitor their air usage continually using the VersaMassTer® Flow Meter by Delta M Corporation.