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Parker Sporlan's new web-based product selection program, Virtual Engineer, allows the user to size, select and fully configure products for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration applications. Virtual Engineer features quick selection of single or multiple components by template. An innovative dashboard and project system make saving, editing, and sharing projects easy.
Virtual Engineer replaces Parker Sporlan’s legacy Selection Program. The legacy Selection Program was originally created to perform distributor calculations for internal purposes. Over the years, its use expanded to include many of the products Parker Sporlan offers and became an industry standard tool for selecting products in HVACR applications.
By using Virtual Engineer, OEMs, Wholesalers, and Contractors can select the latest Parker Sporlan products with the most up-to-date refrigerants available on the market today. Users can select and size easily while out on the job site, in the equipment room or from their office. Parker Sporlan is committed to serving the HVACR industry with new and updated innovative tools to help users get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Virtual Engineer highlights 17 product areas with a basic template layout.
Product areas:
Distributors
Expansion Valves
Solenoid Valves – Discharge, Suction, Liquid
Catch-Alls® – Liquid, Suction
Suction Filters
Discharge Bypass Valves
Evaporator Pressure Regulators
Discharge MTW Valves
Head Pressure Control Valves
Differential Pressure Regulators
Temperature Responsive Valves
3-Way Hot Gas Defrost Valves
Condenser Split Solenoid Valves
3-Way Heat Reclaim Valves
Secondary Coolant Valves
Liquid, Discharge and Suction Line Sizing
Flash Gas Bypass and Gas Cooler Valves
Getting started - Background and the basics
With the use of an interactive template, all product areas are represented on the Dashboard when the user accesses the login page. The user can toggle from part to part from within the different categories, then is prompted to enter specific information when the part is chosen. Once a part is chosen, the Sizing and Configuration tools for each product appears. This feature is particularly valuable in systems such as cooling loops in which the optimal sizing and selection path is not intuitive. First-time users can now complete sizing and selection with minimal assistance.
Virtual Engineer allows refrigerant and product updates to become available as they are released. The web-based aspect of it ensures users are working with the latest version of the program. The HTML5 interface makes it scalable to the screen size being used. NIST Refrprop 10.0 is used for the refrigerant properties.
Popular system features from the previous Selection Program such as line sizing and thermodynamic reports have been carried over to Virtual Engineer. Thermodynamic reports have been expanded to include Pressure-Enthalpy, Pressure-Temperature and Enthalpy-Temperature graphs.
“We are excited about several new tools in the Virtual Engineer package, including the ability to size electric valves and mechanical valves in the same tool allowing for side-by-side loading analysis. The new software also allows for sizing of a wider range of electric valves including the Modulating 3-Way Valves, electric head pressure control valves, and Transcritical CO2 products. The new tools build on Parker Sporlan’s legacy of supporting the HVACR industry and providing new, innovative tools that help users get the job done.”
Dustin Searcy, division marketing manager, Sporlan Division
Your step-by-step guide to using Virtual Engineer
Save design engineering time with these simple steps:
Step 1: Click to access Parker Sporlan's Virtual Engineer.
Step 2: Choose your product category using the interactive interface.
Step 3: Size, select and compare products that meet the requirements of your application.
Step 4: Find a wholesaler, create your personal account, share your project, and/or download files.
Step 1: Access Parker Sporlan's Virtual Engineer
This is what you'll see.
Use the grey arrows to toggle forward and backward to find your product category.
Once you've identified your product category, click the image to load the sizing tool.
Step 3: Size, select and compare products that meet the requirements of your application.
In this example, the Expansion Valve sizing tool is chosen, located in the Expansion Devices section.
The Product Info icon takes you to the Expansion Valve's product page. Each product page is specific to that product family. This page will include a product overview, specifications, literature and other product support materials.
Enter your system information in the required red field boxes. Virtual Engineer will alert you if an incorrect value is entered. As information is entered, the available products will be filtered on the right side of the screen.
You can also Save Progress and Reset Parameters using the tools in the upper right column. Saving your progress will require you to create a free account with Virtual Engineer.
After entering your parameters, click the Compare button at the top right of the screen. All available options are included in the compare table by default. You can deselect these as necessary. The Compare button will bring up the Compare Table.
Step 4: Find a wholesaler, create your personal account, share your project, and/or download files.
Add your part to an existing project, or create a new one. Next create a system inside your project. There is no limit to the number of projects or systems you have.
Article contributed by Jason Forshee, application engineer, Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin
Related, helpful content for you:
HVACR Tech Tip: Guidelines for How to Size Solenoid Valves for Split Condensers
HVACR Tech Tip: Basic Troubleshooting Given Three Measurements
HVACR Tech Tip: Understanding Heat Pump Systems and Thermostatic Expansion Valves
HVACR Tech Tip: Interchangeable Cartridge Style Thermostatic Expansion Valves Save Time & Money
For some applications, a critical component of selecting a seal material is a phenomenon known as “outgassing”. However, even within the elastomer community, outgassing is not something that is commonly considered. Which begs the questions: what is outgassing and why is it important? Outgassing is usually most relevant in vacuum applications, where the vacuum causes the elastomer to release constituent material. The constituent material could include water vapor, plasticizers, oils, byproducts of the cure reaction, or other additives used in the seal material. Outgassing becomes a problem if a thin film of those chemicals condenses and is deposited on nearby surfaces. Such a film poses major challenges in highly sensitive applications, such as optics or electronics, where cleanliness is of utmost importance. A seal material with low outgassing is essential because it shows the seal material does not emit volatile constituents under vacuum conditions.
Outgassing is most often characterized by weight loss of the seal material. The ASTM test method E595 is one way to quantify outgassing by measuring Total Mass Loss (TML %), Collected Volatile Condensable Materials (CVCM %) and a reported value for Water Vapor Regain (WVR %). Measurements are taken following a 24 hour exposure to vacuum of 5x10-5 torr at a temperature of 257°F.
Taken together, these three parameters tell a complete story. The TML is reported as the percent of the specimen’s initial weight that is lost during the test; under standard criteria, the result must be less than 1.00% mass loss. Obviously, minimizing TML is a good thing, but it is not the only important factor. Collected volatile condensable material (CVCM) is the amount of outgassed matter from a specimen that condenses onto a collector during the maintained time and temperature. CVCM is of particular concern because any material that readily condenses in the test is likely to condense on and contaminate nearby surfaces during use. To pass the standard CVCM requirement, the amount collected relative to the initial mass of the specimen must be less than 0.10%. The final measurement, WVR, is the mass of the water vapor absorbed by the specimen after a 24-hour stabilization at 23°C in a 50% relative humidity atmosphere. There is seldom a pass/fail limit for WVR; instead this result is merely reported. In many applications, the small amount of water vapor lost by a seal may not be of concern, particularly if the application already includes a means of controlling moisture. Further, any WVR is presumed to be equal to the portion of original TML that was water vapor. The difference between TML and WVR is therefore presumed to be volatile organic material that has evaporated out of the material (only some of which condenses in the CVCM test), so minimizing the difference between TML and WVR is also of considerable importance.
To illustrate, we can look at the most recent outgassing data completed on a few popular low temperature fluorocarbon materials. Table 1 contains the results from a 3rd party laboratory to measure the outgassing properties of VM125-75 and VX065-75. Both had undetectable amounts of CVCM and very small differences between TML and WVR. VX065-75 in particular displayed remarkably little outgassing as well as a low WVR.
table { font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; } td, th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; text-align: center; padding: 8px; } tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #ffb91d; } Limit VM125 VX065 Total Mass Loss (TML, %) 1.00 % max 0.48 0.15 Collected Volatile Condensable Material (CVCM, %) 0.10% max <0.01 <0.01 Water Vapor Regain (WVR, %) Report 0.39 0.17There are a few additional resources detailing seal materials that are known for having low weight loss. The O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700, Table 3-19 (page 65 of the pdf), has a few legacy materials with weight loss percent after a two-week exposure to 1 x 10-6 torr vacuum level, at room temperature. Additionally, non-Parker resources such as the NASA website contain an interesting summary of a much broader range of materials.
For more information on low outgassing seal materials, please contact a Parker Application Engineer at OESmailbox@Parker.com or 859-335-5101.
This article was contributed by Dorothy Kern, applications engineering manager, Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division.
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ISO 14001 is recognized as the international standard for environmental management systems and provides organizations/businesses with criteria to follow, which will identify, control, and reduce their environmental impact. Becoming ISO 14001 certified has numerous benefits to businesses, sectors, and activities large or small. ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide have chosen to become certified in, uniting them in a global goal to reduce the environmental impacts created by companies and businesses, to preserve the natural Earth for future generations.
ISO 14001: was recently updated to ISO 14001: 2015, which introduces a few requirements to a universally beneficial certification. Key benefits of ISO 14001: 2015 include:
Reducing environmental impact
When becoming ISO 14001:2015 certified, Precision Fluidics Division of Parker Hannifin was getting two trash and one recycling pickup each week. The goal was to reverse those numbers. It was achieved in 18 months by training, raising awareness to all employees, increasing recycling bins throughout the facility with signs/labeling, and constant monitoring. Goals of this magnitude take time and planning, but the environmental rewards are immense.
Helping our customers and our team
Precision Fluidics is a great example of an organization set on reducing its environmental impact. A goal was set to improve the durability of product packaging and eliminate landfill waste at a customer location by introducing recyclable materials. A few simple adjustments were made such as using recyclable trays instead of bubble wrap, bubble bags, and foam inside each shipping container. The change resulted in energy savings, trash reduction, and reduction in the weight production needed of each box. The total result was almost 64,000 pieces of foam a year eliminated from landfill, 100% percent recyclable packaging, and a simpler tray packaging system.
Transitioning to a tray system reduced the weight the production team needs to handle when transporting from the production cell to shipping, providing a much-appreciated safety and ergonomic improvement. Another exciting feature of the new packaging is that our product is even more secure during shipment. Following the ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) test procedure, Precision Fluidics validated the new packaging to be an improvement over the non-recycled foam — reducing the risk of shipping damage and increasing the product quality when it's received at our customers' locations.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Another simple adjustment Precision Fluidics has made is utilizing reusable packaging for component parts from repeat vendors.
Precision Fluidics reuses trays from various vendors when possible (see image left). After the trays are empty, they are shipped back to the vendor and reused. This is a great example of a very simple way to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Precision Fluidics is an ISO 14001: 2015 certified company that has set both large and small goals that have been beneficial to the company as a whole, customers, and best of all, the environment. The above examples show how ambitious yet simple goals can have great impacts. The main objective in ISO-14001: 2015 is having continuous improvement and never being content with what you have achieved.
Becoming certified
The first step in becoming ISO 14001:2015 certified is to define your objective. What does your company want to achieve by getting this certification? Make sure you have the support of senior management. Take the time to review any existing processes and systems pertinent to environmental impact. If desired, third-party certifications are available that will conduct audits of your practices against the requirements standards. ISO does not perform certification. For more information about the certification process, visit www.iso.org.
To learn more about Parker Precision Fluidics Division, visit our website or call 603-595-1500 to speak with an engineer.
Article contributed by Jamie Campbell, pump product manager, Parker Precision Fluidics Division, Mooresville, NC. Jamie is constantly looking for new ways to reduce and recycle at the Mooresville location.
Related content
Parker’s 2018 Sustainability Report Highlights Commitment to Social Responsibility
ISO 14001 is recognized as the international standard for environmental management systems and provides organizations/businesses with criteria to follow, which will identify, control, and reduce their environmental impact. Becoming ISO 14001 certified has numerous benefits to businesses, sectors, and activities large or small. ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide have chosen to become certified in, uniting them in a global goal to reduce the environmental impacts created by companies and businesses, to preserve the natural Earth for future generations.
ISO 14001: was recently updated to ISO 14001: 2015, which introduces a few requirements to a universally beneficial certification. Key benefits of ISO 14001: 2015 include:
Reducing environmental impact
When becoming ISO 14001:2015 certified, Precision Fluidics Division of Parker Hannifin was getting two trash and one recycling pickup each week. The goal was to reverse those numbers. It was achieved in 18 months by training, raising awareness to all employees, increasing recycling bins throughout the facility with signs/labeling, and constant monitoring. Goals of this magnitude take time and planning, but the environmental rewards are immense.
Helping our customers and our team
Precision Fluidics is a great example of an organization set on reducing its environmental impact. A goal was set to improve the durability of product packaging and eliminate landfill waste at a customer location by introducing recyclable materials. A few simple adjustments were made such as using recyclable trays instead of bubble wrap, bubble bags, and foam inside each shipping container. The change resulted in energy savings, trash reduction, and reduction in the weight production needed of each box. The total result was almost 64,000 pieces of foam a year eliminated from landfill, 100% percent recyclable packaging, and a simpler tray packaging system.
Transitioning to a tray system reduced the weight the production team needs to handle when transporting from the production cell to shipping, providing a much-appreciated safety and ergonomic improvement. Another exciting feature of the new packaging is that our product is even more secure during shipment. Following the ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) test procedure, Precision Fluidics validated the new packaging to be an improvement over the non-recycled foam — reducing the risk of shipping damage and increasing the product quality when it's received at our customers' locations.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Another simple adjustment Precision Fluidics has made is utilizing reusable packaging for component parts from repeat vendors.
Precision Fluidics reuses trays from various vendors when possible (see image left). After the trays are empty, they are shipped back to the vendor and reused. This is a great example of a very simple way to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Precision Fluidics is an ISO 14001: 2015 certified company that has set both large and small goals that have been beneficial to the company as a whole, customers, and best of all, the environment. The above examples show how ambitious yet simple goals can have great impacts. The main objective in ISO-14001: 2015 is having continuous improvement and never being content with what you have achieved.
Becoming certified
The first step in becoming ISO 14001:2015 certified is to define your objective. What does your company want to achieve by getting this certification? Make sure you have the support of senior management. Take the time to review any existing processes and systems pertinent to environmental impact. If desired, third-party certifications are available that will conduct audits of your practices against the requirements standards. ISO does not perform certification. For more information about the certification process, visit www.iso.org.
To learn more about Parker Precision Fluidics Division, visit our website or call 603-595-1500 to speak with an engineer.
Article contributed by Jamie Campbell, pump product manager, Parker Precision Fluidics Division, Mooresville, NC. Jamie is constantly looking for new ways to reduce and recycle at the Mooresville location.
Related content
Parker’s 2018 Sustainability Report Highlights Commitment to Social Responsibility
One of the most import medical devices created in the last century is the ventilator. The ventilator is critical for patients who cannot breathe on their own due to medical procedures or long-term respiratory ailments. The significant impact the ventilator has had on the medical industry has made the device an essential piece of emergency care, intensive care, and anesthesia delivery.
Ventilator technology is rapidly advancing, and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) need component manufacturers to design innovative new parts to meet their demands. Here, we’ll examine what OEMs are looking for when it comes to one of the most crucial components of ventilators — proportional control valves.
From a design standpoint, ventilators can be complex and costly. Using versatile parts that have multiple functions/settings allows OEMs to reduce part complexity — decreasing the number of vendors required as well as making the device easier to manufacture and repair. A proportional control valve that features a wide linear control range makes it possible to have a single ventilator for various desired flow ranges. For instance, different flows are required for a child vs. an adult in respirators or anesthesia delivery.
Other features OEMs are looking for in a proportional valve for the next generation of ventilators are fast response time and consistent flow from cycle to cycle. Fast response is necessary to deliver oxygen in milliseconds when sensors detect a patient trying to breathe. Smooth, consistent flow is very important for the patient’s comfort and safety.
Lastly, OEMs want valves that are compact and energy-efficient. Power and space are limited in portable ventilators. Emergency ventilators need to be light and easy to maneuver. When a hospital loses power, ventilators continue to operate on emergency power and batteries, so any power reductions in the ventilator’s design are desirable.
A one-size-fits-all valve solution
The valve that is meeting all these demands is Parker’s new LM-Pro (Linear Motor Proportional Valve) — an innovative miniature proportional valve that is separating Parker from the competition. The LM-Pro introduces unparalleled flow control capabilities to meet OEM needs. Featuring a linear controllable flow range from 0.5 to 540 slpm for precise flow control, the LM-Pro ensures the accurate and safe delivery of precise gas flow to patients, from neonates to adults. Additionally, this valve offers a pressure capability up to 100PSI (6.9 Bar), and typical power consumption of fewer than 2 watts. It has been tested to well over 100 million cycles. With all these advancements, the LM-Pro is still easily face-mounted/ported into ventilator systems and can be configured with an optional inlet filter to prevent debris from dirty system connections from entering the valve. Parker’s LM-Pro is the only valve that’s meeting OEM demands to make the one-size-fits-all valve solution to achieve the next level of ventilator technology.
LM-Pro typical airflow with 12 VDC Coil
The LM-Pro dimension
The LM-Pro is lightweight at 36.6 grams (1.29 oz) and sized for all OEM applications. Read more technical specifications of this product here.
International Standard Organization (ISO) certifications
In addition to the LM-Pro breaking ground with its broad range of controllability, pressure capability, low power consumptions, and validated to over 100 million cycles; this proportional valve has been carefully crafted to comply with some of the most sought-after certifications for medical components. The LM-Pro is certified in two critical ISO standards for anesthesia and respiratory applications: ISO 10993:2010 and ISO 15001:2010. ISO 10993:2010 certification means this valve is biocompatible and does not use materials that can potentially cause irritation when used in breathing circuits. ISO 15001:2010 certification means this proportional valve meets the cleanliness requirements for oxygen circuits. The LM-Pro is compliant with RoHs directive (2002/95/EC) and Reach EC 1907/2006, which means this valve doesn’t use any hazardous materials that can’t be recycled and is composed of registered, evaluated and authorized materials. The LM-Pro is meeting new market needs and complying with the most important medical device certifications.
Features
Conclusion
The ventilator is an essential piece in emergency care, intensive care, and anesthesia delivery, and will continue to be a pivotal part of health care as it adapts to our needs, whether portable, lower power consumption or multiple flow control settings. As ventilator technology advances, OEMs will require innovative products like the LM-Pro miniature proportional valve to stay competitive in the ever-changing medical device market.
For more information on the LM-Pro and to request a sample, please visit the web page.
Our applications engineering team is always available to provide recommendations and customize equipment to customer specifications. To learn more, visit Parker Hannifin Precision Fluidics Division or call +1 603-595-1500 to speak with an engineer.
This blog post was contributed by Joel Verrecchia, a senior engineer at Parker Precision Fluidics.
Additional resources
Choosing a High Flow Proportional Valve for Ventilators and Anesthesia Machines
Mini Subcomponents for Medical Devices Make a Big Design Difference
How OEMs Can Improve Life Science Instrumentation Performance
This is the final of a three-part series that spoke to the various feedback devices that are provided as options on Parker Servo Motors. Part 1 & Part 2 provided the basic theory of operation for the devices and provided some guidance on why you might choose one versus the other, along with some helpful formulas for calculating required resolution. The following is a quick summary and recommendations on selecting the best feedback device for your motion control application.
Incremental encoders (optical)
Good resolution - up to 20,000 ppr on standard Parker product
Good for applications where going back to home for out of application situation (power down) is not a concern
Low cost
Absolute encoders
Provide absolute position upon powering up (no homing required)
Provide a very high resolution
16 bit = 65,536 ppr
20 bit = 1,048,576 ppr
Options for memory download to support “smart” encoder option
Option to allow for single cable from the motor for power and feedback
Resolver
Good resolution (12 bit)
Very rugged – 40g vibration and 200g shock
High temp suitability – up to 200 deg. C
Provide absolute position within a single turn
Accuracy not as good as incremental or absolute encoders
Low cost
Article contributed by Jeff Nazzaro, gearhead and motor product manager, Electromechanical & Drives Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
Related Content
Struggling to Select the Right Encoder Feedback? Read this. - Part 1
Choosing the Right Rotary Servo Motor Feedback Device - Part 2
Ensuring Precise Linear Movement With Position Feedback Systems
A condition monitoring system is concerned with the early detection of failure. Vibration monitoring systems, whether they use traditional techniques based on displacement or acoustic emission sensor techniques, form part of your condition monitoring (CM) tool chest.
Machinery vibration analysis equipment is part of a machine monitoring system that aims to provide months of warning of developing issues before they become bigger problems. This can save your company from serious disruption by avoiding unnecessary downtime and delays. There is also the potential for both on and offline implementation of these systems, subject to capability and level of available technology for the techniques, which makes them perfect for the food and beverage, power generation, marine and offshore industries.
Vibration monitoring equipment uses techniques based on the use of accelerometers, which are well known in the field of CM, and can be classified into three main categories:
VM Vibration Monitoring (ISO 10816): Perfect for maintenance engineers, vibration monitoring ISO 10816 offers an instinctive understanding that a machine is vibrating unusually from the non-rotating parts. Great for small machines, electric motors and pumps and production motors.
VA Vibration Analysis (ISO 13373): A mainstream CM option and essential addition to any other technique used, vibration analysis offers a more sophisticated improvement in signal to noise ratio for repetitive defect signals. This highlights what is internally causing the vibration.
AE Acoustic Emissions (ISO 22096): This technique looks for high-frequency signals from cracks or impact rather than a repetitive movement from vibration. As a passive technique, acoustic emissions can diagnose incipient machinery prior to undertaking a lengthy diagnosis. Highly effective in detecting the very early onset of machinery fault conditions where needed most.
There are many approaches which fall under the umbrella term condition monitoring, each with its own features and areas of excellence. These include machinery vibration monitoring and analysis, and also acoustic emission analysis systems.
Techniques in BLUE = Technologies available from Parker Kittiwake
Parker Kittiwake focuses on techniques such as an acoustic emission system that provides for the greatest protection or longest period of warning for potential damage and eventual failure. While machine vibration monitoring systems can help prevent the worst cases of damage.
The use of two (or more) appropriate technologies can provide a more complete picture of the likely failure mechanism, thus offering you reduced machinery downtime and more efficient recovery. The table below identifies the variations of expertise that different condition monitoring options cover.
CM machinery techniques that are available from Parker Kittiwake:
Article contributed by the Hydraulic Filtration Team, Parker Kittiwake, part of Parker's Hydraulic and Industrial Process Filtration Division.
Additional resources
Bunker Quality: Why Changes to ISO 8217 Increase the Need for Condition Monitoring
What You Need to Know About Testing Your Hydraulic System for Particle Contamination
Reduce Failure of Hydraulic Systems with Preventive Maintenance
Reliability Centered Maintenance Reduces Costly Downtime in Oil & Gas Applications
The O-ring pinch issue can happen on adjustable SAE O-ring boss (ORB) port ends as well. This is due to thread exposure below the locknut that leads to a deformed backup washer, pinching the O-ring and creating an O-ring extrusion gap with the potential to leak. To fix this, Parker created the patented Robust Port Stud™. With a longer locknut, the Robust Port Stud eliminates exposed threads and the leak potential of adjustable SAE O-ring boss port ends. This enhanced port end comes standard on all Seal-Lok fittings with an adjustable SAE O-ring boss port end. 
Seal-Lok Xtreme: This ORFS fitting utilizes a patented metal seal that expands the fitting’s temperature and chemical capability. It achieves superior tube and hose connections at temperatures as low as -328°F and as high as 1200°F. It’s also available with a patented metal port seal on fittings with the SAE J1926 O-ring boss port end. Seal-Lok Xtreme has been extensively tested in the areas of thermal cycle and shock, as well as shown success in helium mass spectrometer and pressure testing. All of this makes it a good fit for applications like combustion turbines, LNG storage and fueling systems, high-temperature engine compartments, instrument panels, and cryogenic equipment.
A common goal shared by virtually all industrial manufacturing businesses is to assure safe and clean air quality throughout their production facilities. Using an inadequate air filtration system can result in unplanned interruptions in production and unsafe working conditions — which work directly against a company’s financial performance and brand image.
As an alternative to installing an expensive new baghouse, many companies are opting to use their existing infrastructure and upgrade their baghouse filter technology, with positive results. This strategy allows companies to reduce costs, lower routine maintenance and minimize unexpected production interruptions — without making a substantial capital investment.
Key goals in baghouse design and operation
Baghouse operators aim to meet the following goals while maintaining a constant inlet air load:
One solution that is rapidly gaining in popularity is the transition from traditional filter bags used in baghouses to BHA® PulsePleat® filter elements. This state-of-the-art technology is being installed at manufacturing facilities across the globe and in a wide range of industries — with impressive results.
Featuring an increased surface area with a reduced footprint compared to traditional filter bags, the material and construction used in BHA® PulsePleat® elements offer the following benefits:
Production increases over several years had led to higher grain loading to the baghouse and to extremely high air-to-cloth ratios (10:1) in a tabulation and pill coating application at a pharmaceutical company.
Filter bags had to be replaced every 4-6 weeks due to the high differential pressure, and excessive blinding of polyester felt media. The frequent bag changes required constant maintenance and unscheduled production downtime.
The solutionPlant management was concerned that a new baghouse would be required. They contacted Parker Hannifin's environmental services team for advice. After reviewing the application, Parker's team recommended a retrofit of the existing dust collector with BHA® PulsePleat® filter elements.
ResultsImprovement was noticed immediately after installation, with the following results:
Parker Hannifin, a leader in filtration markets worldwide, offers the technical knowledge and product portfolio required to implement comprehensive measures to achieve productivity, efficiency and financial goals without capital investment. Parker engineers assist companies in identifying the areas of opportunity in their current air filtration infrastructure and make specific proposals to help the customer achieve their goals.
Can BHA PulsePleat Filter elements help you? To learn more about BHA® dust collection products, watch this video:
This article was contributed by the Filtration Team.
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You may know that properly maintaining a hydraulic pump will ensure maximum efficiency and prevent damage, but did you know that it is especially critical to regularly monitor inlet conditions? Poor inlet conditions can result in cavitation—the second leading cause of pump failure.
What is cavitation and how can you prevent it?
While it’s common for people to think of a pump’s inlet as sucking in oil, in reality, it is atmospheric pressure doing the work. In essence, the weight of the atmosphere pushes the oil out of the reservoir and into a region of lower pressure—the inlet. Once the oil is forced from the reservoir and through the inlet, it then moves the volume of liquid into a region of decreasing volume to create flow. For this process to begin, there must be minimum pressure at the inlet of a hydraulic pump, as shown in the diagram below.
As you can see, the inlet of a pump plays a large role in how well it operates. Unfortunately, those designing and maintaining pump systems can become so focused on downstream flow that they overlook proper inlet maintenance. This can result in degradation of inlet function and serious problems such as cavitation.
Cavitation occurs when the absolute pressure on the inlet side of the pump is too low and air is drawn out of the solution, creating bubbles in the oil. As these bubbles get pushed around to the high-pressure outlet side of the pump, they collapse. This creates localized shock waves that blow bits of material out of the pump. It can also result in excessive heat and reduced lubrication that leads to friction and wear over time.
Cavitation can cause pump failure and it can damage other components of your system, which is why it is critical to examine the condition of the pump's inlet on a regular basis.
PSI versus PSIA. What’s the difference? PSI, or pounds per square inch, is a unit of measurement for pressure used in the United States. PSIA describes the absolute pressure in psi, including the pressure of the atmosphere. Absolute pressure is also referred to as total pressure.
Maintaining steady-state hydraulic pumpsThere are two areas you should monitor to maintain minimum inlet pressure on steady-state pumps:
In order for a pump to function, atmospheric pressure must be greater than Phase 1 pressure + NPSH. Every pump has its own specifications regarding acceptable minimum/maximum inlet pressure, but we can use the example below to illustrate how to calculate it.
To begin, assume that you are maintaining an 18 GPM hydraulic pump. The NPSH is equal to 12 PSIA with standard hydraulic oil and 1800 RPM per manufacturer’s specifications.
As you can see in the diagram above, the inlet line is 1.38” in diameter x 18.1” long with a 12.1” lift using standard petroleum-based fluid.
Each foot of oil lift requires approx. = 0.4 PSI. Fluid velocity is 3.8 feet per second. A typical lookup table shows there will be a 0.05 PSI drop due to the flow through the pipe.
Total loss of the inlet line during steady state is 0.4 PSI + 0.05 PSI, or 0.45 PSI. 14.7 – 0.45 = 14.25 PSI. Because this final number—14.25 PSI—is greater than the NPSH of 12 PSIA, you can rest assured the system is functioning well.
Maintaining variable-flow hydraulic pumps
If we apply the same numbers to a variable-volume pump, the result will be less acceptable. Here’s why: Imagine the pump is not in demand and is therefore being held off stroke, meaning there is no flow. When the pump is suddenly needed, it will come on stroke, requiring the column of oil in the suction line to accelerate. This sudden change in demand requires the pump pressure to accelerate from static to a pressure that is strong enough to move the oil and prevent cavitation.
Let’s look back at our model, applying revised numbers.
Assume the pump strokes on in 70 milliseconds (msec). The volume of liquid that has to accelerate is 1.5in^2 x 18.1” = 27.1 cubic inch (cu. in.). Note: Since the entire column of oil in the pipe has to accelerate, we used a measurement of 18.1” instead of 12.1”.
To calculate the weight of oil in the inlet line, we multiply the volume (27.1 cu. in.) by specific weight (0.0314 lbs./cu. in.), equaling 0.85 lbs. Fg (gravity force) = 0.85 lbs.
Fa = mass x acceleration
a = v/t = 3.8/0.07 = 54.3ft/sec^2
Fa = (0.85/32.2) x 54.3 = 1.4 lbs.
Ft = 0.85lbs + 1.4 lbs. = 2.25 lbs.
The available force in the pipe from the atmosphere (Fluid power (Fp)) = 14.7 PSIA x 1.5 sq. in. = 22.05 lbs.
Net force = 22.05 lbs. – 2.25 lbs. = 19.8lbs.
NPSH = 19.8 lbs./1.5 in.^2 = 13.2 PSIA
These calculations reveal that the system is fine, because the pump requires a minimum 12 PSIA at its inlet to operate effectively. However, if this system was installed at 2,300 feet above sea level (13.4 PSIA), the pump would cavitate whenever it came on stroke.
13.4 PSIA x 1.5sq in = 20.1lbs
20.1 lbs. – 2.25 lbs. = 17.85 lbs.
17.85 lbs./1.5 in.^2 = 11.9 PSIA, which is lower than the minimum 12 PSIA required.
The above example assumes no losses due to other plumbing, however, it is not uncommon to see elbow fittings on pump ports, which could add to losses in the inlet line.
Other design considerations
In addition to maintaining good inlet conditions, any small leak on the inlet will entrain air, which is also bad for the pump. Small leaks will cause a pump to lose prime whenever the system is shut off, which means it will start dry and run dry until prime is re-established. For this reason, it is never a good idea to install hydraulic pumps above the fluid level. Rather, hydraulic systems designs should ensure that the pump inlet is flooded, i.e. the oil level is above the pump inlet. A ball valve can be used to isolate the pump from the reservoir in case it needs service, and a limit switch can be used on the ball valve to prevent the system from running if the ball valve isn’t fully open.
For more information on hydraulic inlet maintenance or other topics, email us. Your pump will thank you.
This article contributed by Tim Beck, manager - system design and application, Parker Hannifin Corporation Hydraulic Pump and Power Systems Division.
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When it comes to semiconductor fabrication processes, reducing the cost of ownership is a multi-faceted goal approached from a variety of angles. Tool engineers and equipment technicians take pride in their ability to identify factors that limit tool uptime. One constant headache they face is the mechanical failure of seals in dynamic environments. This can lead to premature downtime or reduced preventative maintenance (PM) intervals, both of which lead to higher cost of ownership. Fortunately, tool owners have begun to implement seal designs better suited for these dynamic environments: Parker EZ-Lok is a proven solution.
Spiral failure
One of the more extreme forms of mechanical failure to be prevented is twisting and spiraling of an O-ring during operation. This occurs with O-rings in dovetail glands where one of the sealing surfaces is a door that opens and closes against the seal. The combination of stiction to the door and stretch in the gland causes the O-ring to roll and twist repeatedly with each cycle, resulting in permanent cyclic deformation. This means that a seal profile with a flat contact surface is vital for this type of dynamic function.
Other designsThe basic D-profile is the fundamental simple shape that serves as the basis of the EZ-Lok solution. The flat portion of the “D” holds the seal in place and prevents rolling, while the opposite, round contact surface focuses the sealing force and helps keep volume requirements at a minimum. These geometric features make for sound sealing function while preventing the drastic spiral damage seen so often in the industry.
A standard D-ring is still more limited by volume requirements than traditional seals like O-rings. In addition, a D-ring’s sharp corners can become difficult to install past the top groove radii if the seal is made much wider than the groove opening. On the other hand, a seal made any narrower would be easily removed without intention, such as that induced by stiction to the door. These reasons are why the basic D-profile alone is not the answer to these failure modes.
The Solution
The solution to these dilemmas is a unique D-shaped profile with a geometry that lends itself to the spacial constrictions of dovetail glands, prevents rolling, and locks into place: the Parker EZ-Lok seal. These seals are designed with special retention ribs placed with precise frequency around the seal circumference that allows for smooth installation and keeps the seal retained in the gland. This design also removes any tendency to stretch the seal during installation, which is often seen with more conventional seals.
The combination of retention ribs with a fundamental D-ring profile makes EZ-Lok the ideal geometry for effective use of the high-performance compounds typically required for aggressive semiconductor chemistries. EZ-Lok seals allow for lower cost of ownership through PM-minimization and reduced seal overhead costs, made possible by effective mechanical design. This is an example of how Parker’s effective design engineering can reduce the cost of ownership and bring premier solutions to the table.
This article was contributed by Nathaniel Reis, applications engineer, Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division.
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Parker's High Pressure Connectors Europe (HPCE) Division recently completed the process to become designated as a "Best Places to Learn" site in Bielefeld, Germany.
This independent quality certification is granted by AUBI-plus, a German recruiting and training company that links recent graduates with the workforce. The certification is a recent step in HPCE's ongoing efforts to prioritize talent acquisition and retention through effective continuing education and partnerships with local universities and trade schools.
The "Best Places to Learn" seal helps high-performing graduates identify Parker HPCE as an attractive place to begin their careers, and also helps HPCE align its training procedures with current industry standards so that it can remain competitive in talent acquisition.
Input from apprentices, students, and trainees
In order to earn this certification, HPCE participated in a 360° survey that included the division's apprentices and students to determine the efficacy of the division's training program. The survey reviews how well trainees are integrated into the broader organizational culture, how well the organization aligns with industry and internal training standards, the quality and accessibility of trainers, and how well-prepared trainees are to begin working in their field upon completion of the program, among other factors.
"While we cleared the certification standards with above-average scores, the survey provides valuable insight for adjusting our training standards to better meet the needs of incoming apprentices and recent graduates. Through the survey, we are able to identify trending gaps in knowledge so that we may set up our apprentices and students for greater success for years to come."
Denise Heinemann, human resources generalist, Parker HPCE division
Three-year certification
Parker HPCE received this three-year certification in March 2019 and celebrated the occasion by displaying a banner at the division headquarters in Bielefeld with the slogan,
"We are working with high pressure – and also on your career."
"Wir arbeiten mit Hochdruck - auch an Deiner Karriere".
The "Best Places to Learn" seal of approval joins HPCE's robust and growing talent acquisition and retention program, which also includes the division's new training center portfolio of partnerships with local universities and trade schools, and talent development initiatives for promising young professionals.
“The ‘Best Place To Learn’ certification is a vital element of our five-year HR strategy. It confirms that we provide young people with outstanding education and training. I am really proud that the hard work of my team has paid off so positively.”
Carsten Hiddensen, Division HR Manager.
Article contributed by Carsten Hiddenson, HR manager, HPCE Division
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Doing more with less is a common theme in business and the pump market for medium-duty applications is no exception. With the overall hydraulic system size becoming increasingly smaller and smaller, mobile, medium-duty end-users in industries such as oil & gas, construction, agriculture, transportation and material handling industries are in search of a flexible, high-performance compact pump.
With two hydraulic pump loop options, open circuit or closed circuit, a closed circuit loop saves valuable system space by offering continuous fluid flow without the need for additional parts. In comparison, an open circuit loop typically requires a larger reservoir and as a result, increases the system’s footprint. To fulfill the market’s need for smaller hydraulic components, Parker recently introduced the PC3 Compact Closed Circuit Pump. This article explores three primary benefits of the PC3 pumps:
1. Compact size
On trend with hydraulic mobile systems decreasing in size, each system component has to do more in order to save valuable system space. PC3 is a solution for this market trend with a closed-circuit design, resulting in fewer components than an open circuit hydraulic pump. In addition to the closed-circuit design, it also offers a built-in bypass valve and hot oil shuttle valve eliminating the need for third-party components, conserving valuable system space.
2. System efficiency and streamlined performance
To achieve greater system efficiency and streamlined performance, PC3 includes a variety of features, such as:
- A hydraulic pressure override to ensure that the prime mover is not loaded in excess
- A built-in hot oil valve to increase operational efficiency and reduce system complexity
- Cross port reliefs to prevent system overload by limiting the maximum pressure in your system
Each of these features ensure system performance and efficiently deliver the exact power required for each unique application.
3. Flexibility
Finally, Parker’s PC3 offers the hydraulic pump market flexibility through various product features and sizes to use in a wide variety of applications.
PC3’s modular and interchangeable controls include options for a manual servo, hydraulic proportional and electric proportional controls, providing end-users with further customizations.
In addition, the product line offers ten standard displacements options: 7, 11, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 52 and in three different frame sizes to help customer choose the best option for their medium-duty applications ranging from turf care to transportation.
When designing hydraulic systems for mobile equipment, getting the right pump is crucial. Resources are available to help ensure the right selection is made—use an online configurator for assistance in selecting the best compact closed-circuit pump for the application. Full system supplier such as Parker can also assist with overall system designs that optimize all of the components to work together. For more information, contact us.
Article contributed by Justin Wheeler, product manager, Hydraulic Pump and Power Systems Division
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A team of students came together earlier this year for Girls' Day 2019 at Parker's Cylinder and Accumulator Division Europe production facility in Cologne, Germany, to get hands-on experience with manufacturing to produce not just finished parts, but also a deeper understanding of their potential future careers.
Every year, girls and boys across Germany spend a day exploring occupations traditionally held by the opposite gender as a part of "Girls' Day" and "Boys' Day." This day is the culmination of a nationwide campaign to transform attitudes about "vocational orientation" and open new opportunities for the next generation.
Cylinder and Accumulator Division hosts students
The girls participated in each step of the production process. They were able to take home the cylinder they made as a souvenir of the day's activities and as a reminder of the opportunities that await them within the manufacturing industry. Throughout the day, they expressed enthusiasm and amazement at the production process, which they never might have seen if not for the Girls' Day initiative.
Article contributed by Erica Isabella, internal communications manager, Parker Hannifin.Other articles by Parker Global Team:
Ball valves are used in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, oil, and gas, automotive, marine, agricultural and heavy truck. Applications may vary but include operations for processing, transferring, pneumatic circuits, cooling, and measuring such as
• Fuel line shutoffs for gasoline and diesel equipment
• Air service lines
• Water service lines on capital equipment
• Plant design plumbing requiring total shutoff capability
To select the right type of valve for your application, it helps to understand what a ball valve is and the differences between the key types: full port or standard port ball valves.
The full port valve design
A full port or sometimes called full bore, ball valve has a straight flow path where there is not a reduction of flow as it travels through the valve. In other words, the internal diameter of the pipe or tubing at the inlet and outlet of the valve has the same diameter as the interior of the ball valve. The diameter remains constant and does not narrow as it passes through the valve.
A standard port also has a straight flow path, but there is a flow restriction that produces a pressure drop as the flow passes through the valve. Basically, the valve inlet and outlet connections are the same sizes as the tubing or pipe, but the interior component (the ball), which fits within the valve, has a smaller bore (hole) than the pipe or tube that it is connected to, therefore producing the pressure drop due to the flow restriction.
Some applications require a full port ball valve due to a characteristic of their application; for example, if low flow resistance is needed. In the case of a pump suction pipe where a pressure drop can impact the performance of a pump, a full port valve may be the best choice to maintain flow.
Yet, unless your application requires a full port, the standard port is the default valve for most functions. It provides the most cost-effective way to control the flow in many applications. Concurrently, where so often space constraints are an issue, their relatively compact design gets the job done with a smaller ball valve body, so long as a pressure drop or flow turbulence is acceptable in your system.
Parker's V525P industrial ball valve solution
Parker Fluid System Connectors Division offers a wide range of industrial standard port ball valves in a variety of materials, configurations, and handle options to meet your application needs. Our new V525P standard port ball valve offers the superior quality of a Parker industrial ball valve that you are accustomed to, and a cost-effective solution when a full port valve is not necessary.
Parker offers the widest range of brass fittings and valves. From extruded, forged, plated, and composite materials, we make connections to bring increased efficiencies and higher productivity.
Get complete specification and configuration information on our full offering of brass ball valves.
Choosing industrial versus commercial
A final note on choosing industrial and commercial ball valves. Your best choice should be designed and manufactured to provide years of service at an economical price. Ultimately, those valves will deliver increased performance over any lightweight throwaway valves.
For more information about our industrial ball valves or the rest of our vast offering of valves and fittings, please contact Parker Fluid System Connectors Division at (269) 694-9411 or locate a distributor near you.
Article contributed by Samantha Smith, marketing services manager, Fluid System Connectors Division.
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Since 1979, Parker Aerospace has supported AirVenture, the world’s largest fly-in air show, previously known as the Oshkosh Air Show. It’s now the “Woodstock” of the aviation industry, drawing huge numbers of exhibitors and attendees from all over the world.
The show is organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association or “EAA.” However, EAA might just as well stand for Everyone’s Aviation Association because this US-based event draws so many people from so many different parts of the aviation industry: pilots, mechanics, aircraft enthusiasts, builders of unique aircraft, civil aircraft OEMs, and even kids interested in aviation.
KidVenture is a series of interactive booths within AirVenture where kids learn basic aviation concepts and skills. *** Knapinski, the director of communications at EAA, reports that in 2018 KidVenture had approximately 25,000 young people visit the booths. While they were of all ages, the biggest groups were between seven and 13 years old.
“KidVenture is vitally important not only as a part of AirVenture, but to the future of aviation,”
“One of the best ways to inspire young people in any pursuit is to give them memorable experiences that they keep talking about, especially when they’re learning while having fun. That’s what KidVenture is all about. Kids often don’t have the opportunity to discover aviation and aeronautics through their usual activities, so this gives them the possibility to be open to a whole new area that we hope will spark additional discovery.”
— *** Knapinski, the director of communications at EAA
To give kids a memorable and valuable experience, KidVenture organizers go beyond just showing aircraft and telling kids what aviation is. They engage kids on a deeper level. It’s similar to the old Chinese proverb: Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.
The interactive part of KidVenture is essential to its success.
“Kids (and anybody, really) would find ordinary presentations and demonstrations tedious after a while, especially in an event so full of sensory engagement as AirVenture. Engaging young people by having them put their hands and minds to work is a sure-fire way not only to create fun but also something tangible that kids and their parents often take away as a memory of the event.”
— *** Knapinski, the director of communications at EAA
Parker Aerospace has supported the KidVenture event for the past eight years with funding from both Parker’s Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division and Stratoflex Products Division. Parker’s support includes interactive displays that involve and engage kids of all ages. For the upcoming 2019 event, Parker Aerospace is working on a unique interactive wheel and brake display. It’s a hands-on activity that allows kids to see how the wheel and brake system functions. The display is designed so the kids have to take it apart, remove the wheel lining and brake pads, then reinstall them and put the assembly back together into a functional, working unit.
In all, there are two dozen interactive stations on the airport grounds for kids to play with. If the kids attend all of them and are successfully signed off at each station, they are then eligible to receive a complete set of tools at the end of the process. This gift for kids is intended to help them remember what they learned at the event and get them involved in aviation at an early age.
KidVenture also encourages and enables parents to hang out with their children for the entire day and share in the activities at each station. In this way, it’s not just an event for kids. It also becomes a special time for parents to bond with their children.
“Our participation in the show is an opportunity to get in front of people and reinforce our brand,”
“We get a chance to remind people that the engineering, design, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and other aspects of our products are all carried out right here in America, by Americans.”
— Vern Rodgers, business development and marketing representative at Parker’s Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division
Parker Aerospace is also sponsoring a Young Eagles gathering in 2019. The money donated for this activity goes to general aviation airports and helps teach young people about how to maintain aircraft. Wheel and brake products are also donated to the event’s aerial acrobatic performers.
Parker Aerospace employees attending the show often answer questions, go to the airplane parking lot with customers, diagnose issues, provide consultation, and offer other services for the AirVenture attendees who own aircraft, as well as pilots and mechanics at the event. Employees of Parker’s Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division use this opportunity to get to know the customers who use Parker products.
“Because aircraft parts are normally sold through Parker distributors, this event provides an important opportunity to meet our customers face to face,”
“Success in this business is built on trust. It helps establish a higher comfort level with customers when you can shake hands and look them in the eyes. You can’t do that in an email, a text, or even over the phone. Meeting with top management from our OEM customers in this setting can also open up conversations about their new projects and new applications of Parker products.”
— Vern Rodgers, business development and marketing representative at Parker’s Aircraft Wheel and Brake Division
2019 is the AirVenture show’s 50th anniversary. This year, AirVenture is also dubbed the “Year of the Fighter.” Parker Aerospace has products on nearly every fighter jet in operation around the world today, including the Lockheed Martin F-35 (arguably the world’s most advanced fighter jet after the F-22). To learn more about Parker’s role in supporting this aircraft, click here to read about Parker on the F-35 fighter.
Coincidentally, 2019 is also the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which happened in July of 1969. This moon landing marked the first time that humans landed on the moon and returned safely. Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins will be the featured guest as EAA’s AirVenture 2019 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the mission. Parker Aerospace had more than 120 components on each of the Apollo missions.
This post was contributed by Sandi Schickel, eBusiness manager for Parker Aerospace’s Aircraft Wheel & Brake Division.
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Whether you choose distillates, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or scrubbers to meet the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) fuel regulations in 2020, it will be even more critical to regularly monitor the condition of vital equipment to ensure there is no adverse effect on operational efficiency.
Understanding the physical characteristics of fuel, hydraulic and lubricating oil, coupled with an awareness of sampling and testing systems and processes, the significance of test results will become vital for engineers and operators. With the industry disjointed on how best to achieve compliance, it’s difficult to predict what the multi-fuel market of the future will look like. Indeed, it is likely to comprise a whole range of options, chosen to suit a host of factors including vessel type, size, and operating pattern – all of which will be influenced by fuel price.
A common question often asked by our customers is the reason why flow rate is reported on datasheets of liquid-dispensed thermal interface materials instead of viscosity. And it’s a fair question; viscosity is a fundamental property of fluids such as thermally conductive pastes. But measuring viscosity, however, is more complicated than meets the eye.
Parker Chomerics THERM-A-GAP Thermally Conductive GELs belong to a class of fluids referred to as “thixotropic.” In case you’re not familiar, thixotropy is a time-dependent decrease in viscosity as shear stress is applied.
This shear stress may be introduced during mixing, pumping, or dispensing of the product. The extent of the viscosity decrease depends of the duration and magnitude of the agitation, and viscosity recovers gradually over time after the stress is removed. The act of measuring viscosity introduces shear stress, so gathering repeatable data requires carefully controlling the duration of the test and the relaxation time between trials.
To complicate the measurement further, viscosity is strongly influenced by sample temperature. A warmer dispensable thermal paste flows more quickly than one at room temperature, a characteristic that is particularly relevant in thermal interface materials.
Therefore, a viscosity measurement is only accurate for a given shear stress, duration, and temperature. The resulting value of viscosity is difficult to generalize, so it is more convenient to use flow rate, as it is a measurement that is more representative of actual end-use conditions.
Automated dispensing is one of the primary advantages of dispensable thermal pastes, such as Parker Chomerics THERM-A-GAP GELs. Publishing flow rate data provides a framework with which to compare different gels based on their dispensability.
Additionally, measuring flow rate instead of viscosity controls the critical parameters described above, such as:
Measuring flow rate is repeatable and more representative of actual dispensing situations than a viscosity value.
So, the next time you’re reading a datasheet, you’ll be armed with the knowledge that flow rate is a more accurate representation of real-world conditions.
This blog post was contributed by Jon Appert, R&D engineer, Chomerics Division.
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Bain’s projections show that the Internet of Things (IoT) market will grow to $520 billion in 2021. Specific to the construction market, 6.8 million connected heavy construction machines will be shipped between 2018 and 2025. Although no one in the industry has a crystal ball, it is predicted that the future of mobile IoT will be driven by machine learning and 5G networks to power further data collection and analysis, enable autonomous equipment operation and overall innovation in the field.
Technology that can remotely analyze millions of points of data in real time, make decisions and report on the data as necessary will enable machine intelligence to begin moving from the cloud to the machine itself. For instance, a recent case study by Parker’s Mobile IoT team illustrates how an OEM was able to improve their time-to-service, hydraulics-related efficiencies and customer loyalty with the use real time diagnostics and over the air programming. This is by contrast to the current method of telematics systems sending limited data to a server based on thresholds and events.
The basis of competition is changing for OEMs, and it's important for organizations to monitor the basic assumptions of competition to redefine the space going forward. For the longest time, the industry was based on driving machines through engine power, however, electrification is changing how an OEM manufactures off-road equipment. Electrification, as well as remote monitoring, positively impacts the priorities during the engineering process such as the safety element. Furthermore, off-road machines have been operated by people for decades but with the development of robotics and other autonomous capabilities, those assumptions are changing. Electrification reduces the safety concerns centered around hydraulic and autonomous machines can eliminate the human safety factor during operation.
Semi-remotely operated or semi-autonomously operated equipment opens up a host of possibilities in terms of machine design. But when you understand how connected machines will be sold or distributed, OEMs are not only looking at selling products but at offering services that can be remotely monitored, controlled or operated. This opens us up to a whole host of things in terms of business models. As part of Parker’s Tech Tuesday video series, Parker’s Business Unit Manager for Mobile IoT discusses the trend of IoT for off-road equipment and how the business model is evolving.
The challenges of autonomous machines in off-road industry
Although the push towards autonomous equipment follows in the path of the automotive industry, the challenges for autonomous machines in areas such as construction and agriculture differ from automotive. The environments these machines operate in lack lane lines, signage, sidewalks and other indicators that automotive vision systems rely on to guide cars. The additional “appendages” of booms and buckets must also be taken into account for their operation. In sectors like mining, autonomous equipment is highly attractive. It can take hours to properly ventilate an area after blasting to make it safe for operators to enter. Removing humans from that equation will increase productivity and safety in operation.
It will take time for this technological evolution for the off-road industry to occur, though, due to the uncontrolled environments in which off-road equipment is typically used. More advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be required than what is currently available. The future of mobile IoT lies in building the fully connected environment where all elements of the contractor’s job are seamlessly integrated.
Applying artificial intelligenceWith AI, users can learn patterns that lead to failures or how to operate the equipment to maximize its useful life, offering trade-offs between performance and longevity.
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), AI will empower construction teams to handle critical tasks but there are challenges that must be overcome in order to achieve widespread adoption, including fear among workers of AI taking away their jobs, cultural resistance to new technologies and security. These are challenges that OEMs, suppliers and AI partners are already addressing in order to move their industries forward.
Embedded IoT systems rely on cellular communication technology. As 5G networks are being rolled out, it’s clear that they will change the way that data is transmitted via IoT systems. With the coming of 5G, telematics companies have spearheaded the development of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications capabilities. This sophisticated level of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication will be critical to autonomous vehicle operations. It would very difficult to implement to implement autonomous today given so few data points going to the cloud. Data being sent to the cloud today is limited, simply because of the cost to not only send it, but to store it, process it and then drive decisions with it. The promise of 5G is the ability to send a lot more data with less latency, which will enable more real-time operations such as streaming video and the other necessary functions for autonomous mobile equipment.
Transformation of job responsibilities
In the future off-road machine operations will change from being hydraulic driven to more electrical driven, to more software driven. That means that our industry, not only in designing machines but also building, and servicing, and maintaining the machines is going to have to migrate to a having talent that is capable of operating in that software digital space. That's why you see a lot of companies in our space starting to hire more and more software engineers.. The addition of an IoT solution is positively impacting job responsibilities by increasing efficiencies at the same time IT job titles within OEMs are becoming more and more necessary to support IoT, electrification and the development of autonomous operated equipment.
Holistic approach to adopting digital technologies
The introduction of digital technologies in the off-road equipment industry is here. Therefore, organizations need to consider the following technology roadmap:
Digital disruption has already made multiple industries more competitive. Similar situations will be faced by the off-road equipment industry when digital technologies become more broadly leveraged. Traditional operational and service-related tasks need to be executed faster and more efficiently, and mobile IoT solutions can help.
Article contributed by Clint Quanstrom, IoT general manager, Motion Systems Group, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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The design and deployment of aerial lifts, truck-mounted cranes, telehandlers, scissor lifts, man lifts and other modes of vehicular material handling demands two requirements above all others:
Safety for the operators
Operational integrity for the vehicles
Achieving these dual goals requires constant monitoring of out-of-level conditions. For three-quarters of a century following the Industrial Revolution, analog technologies addressed this challenge with visual indicators at each axis, which an operator then had to diligently monitor, making mechanical adjustments to ensure personal safety and the safety of the load—a task that required extreme vigilance and precise execution.
By the last decades of the 20th Century, electronic controllers powering audio signals and flashing lights had arrived on the scene to help reduce a handling system’s dependence on the operator’s monitoring of individual gauges for each axis of control. Many of today’s material handlers continue to rely on such electronically powered alert systems.
But with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the near-limitless interconnectivity possibilities it presents, a seismic shift has occurred in material handling control. The Universal Tilt Sensor (UTS) technology was specifically designed to optimize operator and load safety while facilitating interconnectivity.
Download the Universal Tilt Sensor Technology white paper and learn how smart sensor technology optimizes operator and load safety while facilitating interconnectivity through the IoT.
OEM designers benefit from open protocol connectivity
Universal Tilt Sensors operate over a CAN bus using an industry-standard SAE J1939 communication protocol and an integral Deutsch DT four-pin connector. With UTS, OEM designers can deploy one product to achieve single, dual or three-axis mobile control, while it's plug-and-play connectivity with a full range of Parker hydraulics and electronic control components ensures system-compatible data collection, monitoring, and alerts. The communication scheme also facilitates daisy-chain-style single-harness configurations that reduce exposure to accidental cutting and pinching and other operators or environmentally induced damage.
For OEMs and their customers, this means one single part can perform the many functions that formerly required a multitude of individual products, slashing inventory requirements, simplifying both installation and replacement, as well as reducing related labor.
Compactness and versatility
UTS technology features a low-profile form and three slightly offset mounting holes around its diameter that make it easy to install and remove, even in challenging field conditions. This fool-proof mounting profile ensures the UTS is properly and consistently mounted across a vast array of machines while enabling a full range of horizontal, vertical and angular mounting positions.
Meets robust and reliability
UTS technology features glass-filled hybrid-plastic construction with no moving components and is designed to resist corrosion and vibration. Its robust sensor technology can withstand rugged material handling environments. With a spin weld design and a sealed connector, environmental protection for outdoor as well as indoor applications is ensured. The UTS is rated IP68/IP69k in all orientations, and IP68 upside-down. For lifts working around electric or magnetic fields, UTS provides effective insulation against electromagnetic and electrostatic interference, meeting or exceeding EMI and ESD ISO environmental protection standards. In addition, customers who have field tested the UTS reported it providing predictable linearity over its specified operating temperature range (-40°C to 85°C) and without deviations experienced with competitive products.
Where the IoT connectivity comes into play
Perhaps most exciting of all is the infinite possibilities for connectivity possible using UTS technology. This closed-loop electro-hydraulic solution communicates over an open, industry-standard protocol, enabling plug-and-play IoT connectivity to controllers, hydraulic components, data collection, and reporting software, as well as to the entire family of Parker hydraulic and electronic products and accessories.
Design engineers, OEMs, and operators new reality
Ladder engines using UTS for auto leveling and boom elevation transmitting operational behavior back to an OEM design team, which they can use to analyze safety-lapse trends and improve next-generation vehicles
Refuse trucks, dump trucks or forestry equipment operating on steep inclines transmitting individual route profiles back to the home office to identify problem areas and improve safety training
Material handlers transmitting information on operator behavior to spot and intervene when irresponsible handling repeatedly requires override intervention
Every mobile hydraulic vehicle’s field performance being monitored by OEMs to facilitate warranty reviews and reduce liability
Bringing this all together
As more and more components and processes attempt to leverage the IoT, UTS technology will become a drop-down configurable component within an increasingly complex, interconnected system that:
Promotes operator safety
Optimizes equipment performance
Provides comprehensive reporting for analysis and improvement
Increases productivity through predictable maintenance and improved uptime IoT connectivity
Improves customer satisfaction and loyalty through proactive data-driven service engagement
Selectively shares data across distribution and supply channels
Download the Universal Tilt Sensor Technology white paper to see the UTS technology solution in action from a multi-angle standpoint and operational point-of-view.
Article contributed by Marcel Colnot, regional application engineer, and Chase Saylor, product manager - sensors, Electronic Controls Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
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