Instrumentation Monthly Test | Measurement | Control
Rotork Instruments, the specialist manufacturer of products for flow control, pressure control, flow measurement and pressure measurement in the Rotork Group, has added innovative new I/P (electro-pneumatic) transducers, switchboxes and solenoid valves to its extensive product range.
New Fairchild I/P transducers deliver high accuracy at very low pressures
Fig 1 – Fairchild T7500 I/P transducers with (l to r: not to scale) terminal block, DIN plug and NPT electrical connections.
As part of Rotork Instruments, Fairchild provides a complete range of regulators, boosters, I/P transducers and other products. Fairchild’s new T7500 range of compact low pressure I/P electro-pneumatic transducers is designed for instrument, analytical and scientific control applications.
Precise pressure control, where output pressures must be accurately held at low pressures down to 70 mBar (1 psi), has traditionally been a difficult task for industrial instrumentation. The new Rotork Fairchild T7500 range of transducers is specifically designed for these low pressure control systems with set point accuracy of 0.1%, even at pressures of less than 100 mBar.
T7500 transducers accept supply pressures between 1.3 and 2 Bar (20 and 30 psi) with mA or VDC control signals to deliver critical high accuracy output ranges of 0-350 mBar (0-5 psi) and 0-1 Bar (0-15 psi). Flow configurations of 85 l/m or 200 l/m suit a wide range of application requirements. In addition, the T7500 can be ordered with DIN plug, NPT conduit or terminal block electrical connections styles to suit assembly requirements.
Applications in test and medical equipment, leak detection equipment and other precise scientific areas are ideal for the T7500 transducers. The rugged cast aluminium construction and vibration resistant internal componentry is designed to withstand the rigors of both portable and stationary mounted equipment often found in medical and test situations.
Low emission natural gas I/P transducers meet new environmental regulations
Fig 2 – Fairchild TX17850 I/P transducer.
Fairchild has also refined its proven I/P transducer technology to develop new models which exceed recently released government requirements for allowable natural gas emissions.
Rotork Fairchild TXI7850 explosionproof I/P transducers have long been approved for and utilised in natural gas operated instrumentation systems. The explosionproof evaluation of these units by underwriting agencies such as FM, ATEX and CSA™, using standards covering a constant fuel gas presence, ensures safe and reliable operation in the field with compressed natural gas as the supply medium.
In the USA new government regulations require all pneumatic controllers at the wellhead to have a maximum consumption of 6 SCFH (Standard Cubic Feet per Hour). In Canada and other countries, carbon credits can provide economic incentives to utilise low emission products, so the challenge is to provide controllers which reduce or eliminate these fugitive emissions.
The new Rotork Fairchild TXI7850 series maximum consumption levels are 3.6 SCFH for the 3-15 psi output range unit and 5.5 SCFH for the 6-30 psi range unit. These rates are for natural gas as a media and applicable all the way to the highest pressure in each range (i.e. 15 psi and 30 psi respectively).
New Soldo limit switchboxes for high temperature applications
Fig 3 – Soldo LSB switchbox for high temperature applications.
Soldo Controls, the specialist manufacturer of position feedback devices in Rotork Instruments, has introduced a high temperature extension to its LSB range of compact limit switchboxes for valves and dampers.
Manufactured with an aluminium or stainless steel enclosure, the new switchbox has been tested for operation in temperatures up to 250ºC for 2 hours or 300ºC for 70 minutes. High temperature applications include tunnel ventilation dampers, HVAC plant rooms and other building services environments.
Teflon coated stainless steel bushings ensure smooth and low friction shaft rotation, whilst precision end-of-travel switches guarantee normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) logics. Standard features also include the Soldo twin shaft design, enabling easy access to switches and terminals, and rugged enclosure coatings for challenging environments. Ceramic terminals and special wiring options complete the compact Soldo design.
The range is tested at 250VAC 5A and has a guaranteed mechanical life of one million cycles.
Solenoid valves boost product portfolio
Fig 4 – M&M solenoid valves and air actuated piston valves are now part of Rotork Instruments.
The acquisition of M&M International Srl (M&M), a subsidiary of Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc, adds a complete range of solenoid valve products to the Rotork Instruments product portfolio.
Established for over 30 years, M&M is a leading manufacturer of general purpose solenoid valves, air actuated piston valves, automatic drain valves, connectors, coils and customised instrumentation solutions used throughout the commercial and industrial flow control industries.
From its base at Bergamo, Italy, M&M will complement the instrumentation products and services provided by Rotork Midland and provide a focal point for solenoid valve and piston actuated valve manufacturing in the Rotork Group. The acquisition supports Rotork’s strategy of broadening its flow control product portfolio and expanding addressable markets.