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Attempts to regulate the air conditioning (AC) and commercial refrigeration markets for the benefit of the environment are nothing new. During the past 25+ years, various legislative actions have limited the use of various refrigerants that depleted ozone or emitted greenhouse gases, both of which have been shown to contribute to global warming potential (GWP). 

The most recent actions, including the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program and the much more recent American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM), are further driving growth of low-GWP refrigerants. While this is good news for the environment, these low-GWP refrigerants are not without their own challenges. They may increase energy consumption, introduce added safety risks and require significant equipment modifications. 

 

A history of efforts to benefit the environment 

Refrigeration systems contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases when a leak occurs of a high-GWP refrigerant. The two refrigerants most commonly used in the early days of refrigeration were ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO2). Both proved to be problematic for different reasons. Ammonia is toxic and carbon dioxide requires extremely high pressures to operate in a refrigeration cycle. 

As a result, both refrigerants lost popularity when Freon 12 (dichloro-diflouro-methane) hit the market. Among other benefits, Freon is extremely stable, non-toxic, and operates at moderate pressures. Unfortunately, it was also shown to have a high ozone depletion potential (ODP), which is the primary reason is has since been banned from use globally. 

Numerous other refrigerants have also been banned through SNAP, which was established under the Clean Air Act to identify and evaluate substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. The EPA has since published numerous rules about what is and is not acceptable under SNAP, creating tremendous confusion in the industry. The policies established under SNAP took on greater meaning due to the AIM Act, which went into effect in 2020. The AIM Act requires the EPA to implement a phase down of the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC refrigerants) to reach approximately 15% of their 2011-2013 average annual levels by 2036. HFCs are of particular concern since they are classified as potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. 

 

Pros and cons of preferred low-GWP alternatives carbon dioxide (CO2) and propane (R290) 

Tighter environmental legislation is opening the door for increased demand for low-GWP refrigerants.  

Two of the more popular options on the market today are CO2 and propane (R290). Both have a long history in refrigeration but have recently again emerged as front-runners due to their low environmental impact. CO2 is the more commonly used for many reasons, including: 

• Environmentally safe with a GWP rating of 1 
• Non-toxic and non-explosive, which means it is safe for use in public locations, such as supermarkets 
• Less expensive than synthetic refrigerants 
• Non-corrosive to most component materials and compatible with most compressor lubricants 
• High density, which allows for a smaller pipe size 
• Less noticeable pipeline pressure drops 
• High heat transfer efficiency so heat exchangers can be smaller 
• SNAP-approved for use in many different types of systems 

A key challenge of using CO2, however, is that it operates at a far higher pressure than other natural and synthetic refrigerants. This increases the risk of leaks which, in turn, necessitates the use of more durable, costly components and piping to handle the greater pressure and added controls and other safety features, many of which increase energy consumption due to high ambient temperatures. 

As a hydrocarbon, R290 provides several equally attractive benefits, including superior thermodynamic properties and greater heat capacity. These combined characteristics allow R290 to absorb more heat at an accelerated rate, resulting in higher device energy efficiency with faster temperature recovery and lower energy consumption.  

More importantly from an environmental standpoint, R290 (like all hydrocarbons) has no ozone depleting properties and a low GWP of 3. It is also compatible with materials commonly used in the construction of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, is readily available and relatively inexpensive. It can be stored and transported in steel cylinders similar to how other common refrigerants are handled.

A major concern about R290 is that it’s highly flammable. That’s why refrigerant charge limits are in place, as well as other special safety standards when using R290. 

 

Overcoming the challenges of CO2 

The higher operating pressure of CO2 creates a few design challenges. But most of these can be overcome, albeit at a higher cost. Key are material upgrades, such as thicker-walled piping or high-strength K65 copper alloys. 

Parker manufactures an array of valves, seals and controllers that are specially rated for CO2 high-pressure refrigeration systems. This includes pressure-rated electric expansion valves, ball valves with integrated pressure relief, stepper motor-driven pressure regulating valves, pulse width modulation valves that manage refrigerant flow and pressure-regulating gas cooler/flash gas bypass valves.

Steel piping is also being used in some instances for high pressure CO2 and the addition of electronic controls which can monitor and record pressures, temperatures and additional parameters. This includes pressure-rated electric expansion valves, ball valves with integrated pressure relief, stepper motor-driven pressure regulating valves, pulse width modulation valves that manage refrigerant flow and pressure-regulating gas cooler/flash gas bypass valves. The use of remote monitoring systems is growing. Not only is remote monitoring a safer option, but it is also in response to the current shortage of trained HVAC technicians, allowing companies to monitor multiple systems and locations with fewer workers. 

 

Overcoming the challenges of R290 

With the high flammability of R290, refrigerator manufacturers need to make the necessary system design changes to align with applicable UL and ASHRAE standards that include charge limits, marking requirements and ventilation requirements. System charges of up to 150 grams are currently allowed for most R290 applications, though a few are even lower. Proposed and under-revision UL safety standards seek to raise this limit as high as 500 grams for open refrigeration appliances, and 300 grams for closed appliances. While some systems or applications would remain with more restrictive charges, these increases promise to open R290 to many more applications and enable new applications. 

To address flammability concerns, Parker manufactures innovative filter driers and thermostatic expansion valves (TEVs) that are designed to minimize the amount of refrigeration system charge when using flammable refrigerants.that are designed to minimize the amount of refrigeration system charge when using flammable refrigerants. 

In addition, some system manufacturers use a sealed design that seals off the spark inside by isolating the R290 from the electrical switch assembly. This type of design reduces the potential for explosion by stopping the gas from entering the electrical switch compartment. 

Another option is to fit the leak detection and control systems such that, when activated, it will pump down the propane charge into a liquid receiver and then shut off the electrical supply. If the compressor is enclosed, a ventilation fan must be installed and activated by the leak detection system to remove any gas that might leak from the compressor into the enclosure. 

 

Preparing for an uncertain future 

Despite the ongoing changes and obstacles presented by various environmental regulations in the U.S. and abroad, the good news is that the necessary product and material innovations are already available to help engineers overcome the design challenges presented by low-GWP refrigerants, such as CO2 and R290.  

 

This article was contributed by Parker Sporlan Division.  

 

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The COVID pandemic impacted the way many industries do business, and the HVAC industry is no exception. Ongoing concerns regarding infection risk and indoor air quality have prompted an unprecedented demand for filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) value of 13, commonly known as MERV 13 filters, as well as those with even higher MERV ratings. As part of its COVID response, ASHRAE recommends increasing outside air within buildings as much as possible, as well as upgrading air filters to a minimum MERV 13 efficiency rating.

The rush to upgrade to high MERV filters, however, opens the door to a practical discussion about whether that is the best action in all cases. The reality is that using the wrong filter for the wrong application in the wrong place can substantially limit HVAC systems’ efficiency. The result is that air quality will suffer, and the system will consume more power than it should to function.

 

Is MERV 13 really the best choice for your HVAC system?

A MERV rating is determined by the filter’s particle-size removal efficiency. The higher the number, the higher the filter efficiency. Before considering ratings, however, it’s important to determine the purpose of the filter.

If the primary purpose is to keep heating and air conditioning systems clean and block contaminants from interfering with the operation of key components, you likely don’t need as high a MERV rating. If the primary objective is to protect breathing air quality, then a higher MERV rating might make sense.

An option worth considering in some applications is the use of a multi-filter system that includes final filters and pre-filters. A less expensive, lower MERV-rated filter, functioning as a pre-filter, can trap dirt and large particles before the air reaches the final filters downstream which then remove the small particles. Multi-filter systems can extend the life of the more expensive final filters, creating overall cost savings.

When choosing a filter, it’s also important to consider the conditioned space’s activities and the types and sizes of particles those activities generate. Contaminants of greatest concern need to be evaluated to determine the level of filtration efficiency required for that contaminant’s size (measured in micrometers/microns). Once a full list of contaminants of concern has been identified, you can use the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2017 to select the proper filter with the appropriate MERV.

 

Additional considerations when choosing a filter

Of course, particle-capture efficiency matters. But there are also other filter characteristics that should be considered when determining the best filter for a specific application. Cost is always a consideration and should include the purchase price, as well as service life and maintenance requirements. The filter’s resistance to airflow also is a key consideration, as it is proportional to the energy consumed by the filter. Energy expenditures can account for about 81% of an air filtration system’s annual operating costs, while its purchase price and maintenance can account for about 18.5%.

Other considerations include the design and materials used in filters. Some designs are easier to install, seal better, and don’t absorb moisture or shed. Pleated filters, which are commonly made with a blend of cotton and polyester or synthetic media, provide a larger filter-surface area than panel filters. Most pleated filters are MERV 6 to 13. Depending on the filter, capture efficiencies for particles in the 3 to 10-micron range can be 35% to 90%.

There are also extended-surface filters that are made with synthetic, fiberglass or cellulose/glass-fiber media. These include bag or pocket, rigid-cell, aluminum-separator and V-bank filters. Pocket filters provide an even greater filter surface area than pleated filters to provide maximum efficiency with the lowest pressure drop and longest life. They typically have MERV ratings of 11 to 15.

 

Other factors that can affect efficiency          

Even a filter with the highest MERV rating can’t achieve high-quality air if some of the air is not going through the filter. Gaps around high-efficiency filters or filter housings can decrease filter performance. They occur when filter media are not sealed properly in the filter frame, when filters are not gasketed properly in filter racks, or when air-handler doors and duct systems are not sealed properly.

For a 1-mm gap, bypass flows can increase to 25% to 35% of the total airflow. The percentage increases based on the filter’s efficiency because air naturally flows through areas with the least resistance. Since higher efficiency filters have a greater resistance to airflow, bypass air has a larger effect. This, in turn, reduces the efficiency rating. For a 1-mm gap, for instance, a MERV 15 filter will perform only as well as a MERV 14 filter. A 10-mm gap, in contrast, causes a MERV 15 filter to perform as a MERV 8 filter. That’s why building operators and maintenance personnel should perform regular field inspections to ensure filter seals and gaskets are installed properly.

To combat gap problems, Parker created its QuadSEAL® HVAC filters with proprietary E-Pleat® media technology. The molded polyurethane frame incorporates a QuadSEAL integrated gasket on all four sides and can flex without damage. Since the media pack is 100% bonded into the foamed frame, bypass is eliminated as is the need for additional sealants or adhesives.

 

Challenges with MERV 13 filters (and what can be done)

If it were just a matter of choosing the filter that produced the best air quality, the decision would be simple. Everyone would install filters with the highest MERV ratings they could find. Unfortunately, it’s not quite so simple. The challenge facing engineers, building owners and maintenance personnel tasked with specifying and installing filters is that more efficient filters cause higher pressure drops because the smaller pores create more resistance to air flow.

Not only are higher efficiency filters less energy efficient (causing increased energy consumption by the fan), but your air handling unit simply may not have enough capacity to function with a high-efficiency filter. The reality is that most commercial HVAC systems today can only handle MERV 8 filter or MERV 9 filter types.

So, what are your options?

• Upgrade to the most efficient filter you can without exceeding the operating capacity of your ventilation system (including investigation of newer filter designs that may have higher ratings and less pressure drop)
• Upgrade your system so that it can overcome the additional pressure drop and handle a higher-efficiency filter. This often requires, at minimum, upgrading fans.
• Use portable air cleaners with high-efficiency filters to complement your current HVAC system.

MERV 13 vs HEPA -- Limited applications for highest efficiency ratings

When COVID hit, suddenly industries that, for years, had functioned well with filters with MERV ratings of 8, 10 or 11, were scrambling for MERV 13, 14 and 16 filters. The reality, though, is that there are filter options even more efficient than MERV 16 filters.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and Ultra-Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filters are designed to trap the smallest airborne particles and contaminants. HEPA filters have a minimum efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns, whereas ULPA filters have an efficiency rating of 99.999% at 0.12 microns or higher. This does not mean that ULPA filters are better than HEPA filters when taking air flow and other variables into account. In fact, HEPA filters cost less, have a lower resistance to air flow and offer a longer service life than ULPA filters.

Parker offers a complete line of HEPA and ULPA standalone and pre-filters for removing particles and contaminants with efficiencies up to 99.9995%. They also are designed to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

So why doesn’t everyone simply switch to a HEPA or ULPA filter since they represent the gold standard in air quality? Because most commercial and industrial HVAC systems on the market today simply aren’t compatible with them. Since they are so efficient, HEPA and ULPA filters cause a higher pressure drop than filters with lower MERV ratings.

The best option today for using HEPA and ULPA filters is as part of stand-alone systems. Many school districts are looking at options for installing portable air filtration systems with HEPA filters in each classroom to augment their central air filtration systems. HEPA and ULPA filters are also frequently found in critical medical applications and cleanrooms.

  Newer innovations offer superior efficiency while overcoming problems with air flow

Parker’s approach to balancing the need for efficiency with minimum pressure drops has been the development of its LoadTECH® filter that utilize Parker’s proprietary E-pleat® technology. This patented design molds filtration media into a series of pre-formed channels that direct the air smoothly through the filter, allowing for even loading, minimum resistance and complete media utilization. The previously mentioned QuadSEAL® filters offer a similar benefit of improving efficiency without restricting air flow. The advanced media used in these filters also resists tearing, damage, moisture and microbial growth, leading to a long filter life and the need for fewer filter changeouts.

The decision to use a filter with a MERV 13 rating (or higher), in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and ASHRAE, is complicated by the fact that most commercial HVAC systems cannot handle the highest efficiency-rated filters. While there are options for upgrades, redesigns that include a multi-filter system, and new technologies that balance efficiency and air flow, specifiers need to be careful that they choose the right filter after considering all the variables, including cost, maintenance requirements, operating efficiency and, of course, air quality.

 

This article was contributed by the Parker HVAC Filtration Division.

 

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For decades, futurists have been dreaming of “flying cars” that are easier and nimbler to operate than a helicopter and accessible to everyone. Today, many aerospace technologies are coming together helping numerous companies develop small passenger electric aircraft as soon as 2023.

It’s no secret that Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is going to be a hotly contested market with legacy aircraft builders, nimble startups, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems providers clarifying their vision of the future. This new market aims to transport passengers and cargo at lower altitudes through urban, suburban, and regional landscapes. Aircraft that will meet these needs will utilize more- or all-electric technologies. 

Vast possibilities, by any measure

According to a 2020 Roland Berger study on Urban Air Mobility (UAM), a submarket of AAM, “the passenger UAM industry will generate revenues of almost $90 billion a year, with 160,000 commercial passenger drones plying the skies.” Further, Morgan Stanley Research projects that the UAM market could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2040. 

Even the most conservative forecasts indicate the AAM market has huge potential as evidenced by the hundreds of vehicles in development.

AAM is evolving toward reality

In early 2021, Air One, the world’s first airport for electric aircraft, was launched in Coventry, England by Urban Air Port, a subsidiary of sustainable tech company small (Six Miles Across London Limited) in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, Coventry City Council, and the UK government. 

As technology evolves, infrastructure is built, and the regulatory/certification requirements established, AAM vehicles will take different forms:

• Hybrid electric vehicles will be using on-board electrical generating equipment, such as hydrogen power plants or small gas turbines, to generate the electricity needed for propulsion as well as for other systems like flight controls, environmental controls, accessories, and electric braking. Hybrid aircraft may be tasked with shorter regional routes – as opposed to short-hop intra-urban routes – and could be fixed-wing types that take off and land traditionally, or those that takeoff and land vertically. Such hybrid vehicles, which have the potential of significantly reducing emissions, are bridging the gap between today’s conventionally powered aircraft and all-electric ones.
• All-electric vehicles will primarily utilize rechargeable battery packs for flight energy. These aircraft will likely be of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) type, using distributed electric propulsion systems where the propulsive motors are distributed around the vehicle in proximity to the rotors that provide lift, forward motion, and flight control.

MEA: a pathway to an all-electric future

More-electric aircraft (MEA), which have been in production for over a decade, utilize electric power for all non-propulsive systems. The trend toward more-electric aircraft has been driven by the desire for improvements in aircraft weight, fuel efficiency, emissions, life-cycle costs, maintainability, and reliability.

Technology advancements in the areas of electric motors, motor controllers and inverters, electromechanical actuators (EMAs), and thermal management equipment are providing the building blocks that enable development of systems for more-electric aircraft.

Technologies for more-electric and all-electric aircraft

Parker Aerospace, via its dedicated AAM systems team, offers a broad range of products and systems expertise for present-day applications as well as future-state aircraft:

• Cockpit controls – Parker Aerospace cockpit controls provide functional and ergonomic interfaces between pilots and aircraft fly-by-wire systems. Compact and lightweight, these solutions can be seamlessly integrated into cockpit designs, including sidestick or yoke-based cockpit layouts.
   
• Electro-mechanical actuators –These types of actuators are used for primary, secondary (flap/high lift/electronically synchronized), utility, stabilizer trim, and more. Of note is Parker’s development of patented jam-tolerant EMAs.
   
• Electric motors and controllers – Motor and controller technology is at the core of many Parker solutions for more-electric and all-electric aircraft. Parker is developing families of motors and controllers to reduce cost and development time, while also looking at the newer high-power market needs for motors and controllers/inverters.
   
• Electric braking development – Applying its broad and deep experience in hydraulic aircraft braking systems, Parker is developing advanced electric braking systems for next-generation hybrid and all-electric aircraft.
   
• Integrated power management systems – These higher-voltage solid-state electric power distribution systems are required by the AAM market to address the higher-voltage power architectures noted below.  
   
• High-voltage power architectures – AAM vehicle builders are looking for high-voltage system architectures on the order of 500, 700, and even 1,000 volts and higher. These types of systems enable electronic equipment OEMs to design products that are much smaller and lighter-weight than the systems currently in use on commercial aircraft.
   
• Advanced thermal management solutions – Parker’s offering includes thermal management for electric motors and battery systems utilizing cooling pumps (ePumps), reservoirs, heat exchangers, valves, conveyance equipment, and more. This recent blog article explores the challenges and solutions available for eVTOL thermal management.
  
   
• Vibration attenuation and motion control – Technologies that safely and securely attach the propulsion system and airframe equipment, while mitigating the effects of vibration, shock, and sound disturbances, providing longer equipment life and noise reduction.
  
   
• Localized hydraulic powerpack solutions – When electric power solutions may not yet be feasible – flight controls for larger aircraft, for example – hydraulic powerpacks offer a robust, compact, and lighter-weight answer. This blog article provides a deeper dive into the benefits of hydraulic powerpacks.

 

Certification: where concepts meet reality

The AAM market is dynamic and changing rapidly. New ideas for platforms, infrastructure, and the technologies that make this exciting segment possible are surfacing daily.

Amid this excitement, these aircraft must be certified for their intended purpose, as do the systems and components that enable the platforms to execute their missions. Regulatory agencies such as the FAA and EASA are presently establishing the parameters under which AAM vehicles can be approved to fly.

Platform builders need to know that their partners have the engineering muscle and experience to not only design an innovative solution that meets requirements, but to also produce a solution that can be certified. This is where an experienced aerospace technology partner is crucial.

Over decades, Parker Aerospace has built thousands of certifiable components and systems for commercial and military aircraft. All Parker equipment is conceived and engineered to offer redundancy, safety, and reliability with the certification process in mind. Contributing to Parker’s track record of certification success is its state-of-the-art simulation capabilities, advanced test equipment, and thorough knowledge of global regulatory requirements.

Helping customers seize opportunity

As the market continues to ascend, Parker Aerospace and its AAM team are actively innovating to help customers take full advantage of these new and fast-changing opportunities. 

To learn more about how Parker Aerospace innovation is shaping the AAM market, email the team at airmobility@parker.com.

 

Making the world a better place is in our DNA  

As a trusted partner, Parker's team members work alongside customers to enable technology breakthroughs that change the world for the better. We help our customers and distribution partners meet the newest standards for safety or emissions, reduce power usage, improve efficiency, and move faster to optimize resources. Parker's Purpose is at the core of everything we do. Watch the introduction video with Parker's CEO Tom Williams.

 

 

This blog was contributed by Chris Frazer key account manager and UAM/eVTOL/AAM business development lead of Parker Aerospace. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Since the introduction of aviation fuel monitor cartridges in aviation fueling, super absorbent polymers (SAP) have been the essential materials used in the final stage of airport ground fueling systems for the protection of on-board systems from water contamination. The material’s ability to absorb and chemically lock in water have its challenges―potential media migration downstream. In 2017, the aviation industry through the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Air Transport Association (ATA) and Joint Inspection Group (JIG) introduced interim procedures while SAP-free filtration was developed. Parker has introduced Water Barrier Filtration technology for interplane fuel filtration solutions. 

 

Runway for change is fast approaching with the Phaseout of EI 1583 SAP filter monitors

The EI specification for filter monitors has been retracted and is no longer available or applicable to the industry, as of December 31st, 2020. Phaseout of the 1583 SAP monitor has been mandated by the industry regulators.

Parker's new drop-in solution for new and existing monitor vessels, the CDFX Water Barrier Filter, guarantees removal of water and dirt from fuel without requiring any additional sensing equipment, removing the water rather than simply detecting it. You can ensure that the clean dry fuel is delivered every time, avoiding costly downtime, potential flight delays, and/or removal of contaminated fuel from your aircraft.

All of Parker's products are fully certified, making switching easy and cost-effective.

 

Learn more about the new Parker Velcon revolutionary technology. 

  Considerations and questions for SAP Phaseout options

There are several things to consider when deciding on various options available for SAP phaseout solutions. 

What are your choices?

• Filter water separators
• Dirt defense and electronic sensors
• Water barrier filters

Questions to ask and factors to consider:

• What is the tolerance to risks?  Is water removal important at the wing of the aircraft?
• The competitor's dirt defense filters do not remove water.
• The sensors alarm and then you must decide what to do when it does alarm. Procedure? Who makes the "all good" call after an alarm.
• What is the expense of a fueling shutdown? Does it matter if it's a truck, hydrant servicer or a hydrant system?
• How robust is the sensor under adverse conditions? Can it fail prior to annual certification?
• Who does the managing of sensor calibrations? Who manages the spare certified sensors? What is your sensor life expectancy in operation or on the shelf? 
• Filter water separators can be disarmed, do not protect against water slug and are not a drop-in solution. And often these filter water separators are larger, heavier, and expensive to change out requiring considerable labor.

 

This means costly equipment design, installation, vehicle design limitations, meter capability, electronics, etc., resulting in expensive downtime

The Parker Velcon water barrier technology is approved to the EI 1588 test specifications. There are 22 tests that were similar to the 1583 specifications. However, we removed the tests associated with SAP testing. The rest of the 1588 requirements are part of the specifications:

• Water slug testing
• Emulsified water testing
• Solids testing
• Compatibility testing
• Structural testing

 Performance requirements for 1588 are as stringent as 1583, however, without the SAP media.

  Phase 1 testing

At Parker Velcon safety is our priority.  In April of 2019, Parker Velcon successfully qualified the CDFX Water Barrier filter to the EI 1588 specification. Members of the Energy Institute witnesses were present at our Colorado facility.

Once qualified, we entered the EI robustness Phase One testing. This consisted of:

• 400 stops and starts
• Adding additional additives to the fuel
• Doing pull tests
• Running at 125% of rate of flow
• Swapping the vessel for 12 hours with water

 

Test data shows that all 20 tests passed Phase One testing with no failures, achieving maximum effluent water of fewer than one parts per million. All the tests met the minimum pull force specification above 500 Newtons.

              Phase Two testing for field trials

Two locations were selected and testing was done at these airport tank farms. These tests were accelerated with more than 10 times the typical daily throughput. Upon completion, filters were sent back to our Velcon lab and a witness was present, through EI, to verify the water removal capabilities. Test runs from the two trial locations show vessel throughputs of over 3 million and 5 million gallons per vessel.

When breaking that down to throughput per element, it is approximately 180,000 or 310,000 gallons respectively. During the field trials, elements were returned to our Velcon lab for testing with an EI witness present. These tests included the 50 parts per million slug test and pull tests. Results were consistent with the EI qualification.

Filtration performance and filter integrity have exceeded expectations with no signs of degradation, disarming or reported issues with additives in the fuel.

 

Water Barrier filtration technology timeline

To summarize the developments of the CDFX Water Barrier filter technology, we review the timeline:  

• The EI 1588 development and specification published.
• We successfully qualified the water barrier filter with Witnessed EI 1588. 
• Electrostatic charge generation test completed.
• We completed the phase one and phase two robustness testing and are currently in field trials with nine months into the trials.
• Once field trials are complete, we expect acceptance into the industry operating standard.

  How does the water barrier filter work?

Here's a short video of the water barrier filter and operation. As you can clearly see, water in the fuel is repelled by the water barrier filter and droplets fall to the bottom of the vessel where eventually they must be removed at the low drain points.

 

  Differences in technology application

Some product application differences with the water barrier filter include daily sumping that will be required and some education on the differential pressure effects.

Any water collected will need to be drained from the vessel drain point.

Parker CDFX elements are designed to replace SAP monitor elements and operation will be essentially the same. Since they do not absorb water, there are a few things to note:

• The low point in the vessel should be sumped daily.
• The differential pressure should be closely monitored.
• If differential pressure does increase, it's most likely from either solid contaminants, slow buildup of entrained water or water slug.
• If it is a water slug differential pressure rises quickly and shut down the flow.

Even if the entire vessel is filled with water, no water will pass through the filter. In any case, what is important to note is the differential pressures should not fall below the initial starting differential pressure when operating at rated flow.

 The Parker Velcon solution

There are three available technologies:

• EI 1588 water barrier filter  
• EI 1581 filter water separators
• EI 1599 dirt defense filters in conjunction with the EI 1598 water sensor

As you can see, only the 1588 water barrier technology offers removal for all three capabilities.

The CDFX Water Barrier filter is a true drop-in replacement, innovative at removing water and dirt while not allowing anything to pass through. It offers only clean dry fuel without the use of SAP media. Cost and resource-efficient, it fits deployed vessels in service, but without the needed cost of retrofitting or adding electronic sensors. All materials are compatible with fuels in the industry and simple product procedure changes are in place. Same diameter, same lengths, same flow rates all as with the two-inch monitor elements.

 

Ease of replacement

This is a short video demonstrating the ease of converting from the SAP monitor to the Parker Velcon water barrier filter.

 

 

General aviation fueling

Our water barrier filter technology was further developed for general aviation fueling applications.

The ACOX family of Water Barrier filters are ideal for slow throughput. From an operations perspective, there are minimal changes to your current operating procedures, no modifications to the filter vessel and filter change at a maximum of 22 PSID or three years of service life.

The performance of gas turbines (GT) for power generation has a fundamental influence on the bottom line. Lack of availability, reduced power output and maintenance overheads all link directly back to profitability. As the efficiency of GTs continues to increase, with models such as the GE H-class now pushing power plants above 60% net efficiencies, the cost for loss of performance gets higher. It doesn’t take a math whizz to see that the more power generated by a GT, the more power is lost if it underperforms or has to be shut down! 

This new breed of efficient GTs aids the global push in the reduction of CO2 emissions to address climate change. They offer:

• Fast start-up and ramp rate capabilities.
• Greater turn down, and more cost-effective spinning reserve.
• Better fuel efficiency, and lower operating costs, which, in turn, equates to reduced environmental impact. 

 

To learn more download our White Paper, Driving Gas Turbine Efficiency: Maintaining Greater than 60% Efficiency for Gas Turbine in Power Generation. 

 

 

Consuming vast quantities of air, however, the quality of this air has a huge impact on GT performance, and the higher the GT efficiency, the greater the potential impact. This means the design of the filtration system has an even more crucial role to play in overall operational efficiency and reliability. 

But what is so different about these high-efficiency GTs and why do they need different protection to older E-class or F-class models? They face all the same environmental perils as current GT installations – but their finely tuned performance is precision-engineered, packed with technology, latest advanced materials and finishes. This means they require more rigorous protection from the fouling, pitting and corrosion that finer particulates and contaminants in the inlet air flow cause to blades, stators and buckets.  

You might consider just using finer filter media to catch the contaminants. Along this path, however, lies many troubles. Often the worst thing to do is to employ the finest, high-efficiency media as this easily blocks, can cause quick rises in differential pressure leading to unplanned GT “runback” or even shut down and increased maintenance overheads. On the business side of things, huge dollar losses from drops in power output are even more preeminent with pressure rises when operating these bigger, more efficient machines. 

If you want to find out how you can ASSURE the performance of high efficiency GTs, the answer is multi-faceted. It requires deep understanding of real-world operating conditions and the demands of these impressive machines. And an understanding of what really matters inside the inlet house – and that can only come from experience. 

The filtration system is only as good as its weakest part. Many different factors about filter design equate to assured performance, including:

• Construction
• Sealing
• Pleat design
• Choice of media, across multiple filtration stages

 

At the end of the day, assuring the performance of H-class or equivalent GTs, requires a revolution in filtration design to provide maximum protection and reliable performance in the harshest installation environments. 

 

Introducing clearcurrent® ASSURE

clearcurrent® ASSURE range of filters features an innovative design that helps to boost GT performance, reduce lifecycle costs, improve safety, increase availability and extend GT life. Features and benefits include

• Hydrophobic and oleophobic properties remove problematic contaminants carried through to the GT in liquid forms.
• Self-cleaning.
• Consistent performance through all filtration stages equates to predictable differential pressure.
• Made to an exact fit in the inlet house to prevent them from being bypassed.
• Extended service life.
• Reduced lifetime cost.
• Robust construction stands up to the harshest environments.

 

 

Download our white paper, "Driving Gas Turbine Efficiency: Maintaining Greater than 60% Efficiency for Gas Turbine in Power Generation" to learn more.

 

 

This article was originally published in the print and digital magazine 2-2021 Issue of Power Engineering International and again in the online version here:  Why compromised filters mean compromised gas turbines.

 

This post was contributed by Tim Nicholas, market manager, PowerGen,  Parker Gas Turbine Filtration Division.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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High performance QSFP-DD optical modules must use thermal interface materials to help dissipate heat efficiently and effectively to ensure the optimum operating performance, reliability and dependability of the high-speed transceiver.

The introduction of QSFP-DD, or Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density optical modules, have now doubled of the number of high-speed electrical interfaces that the module supports compared with a standard QSFP28 module.

Greater density, greater heat

QSFP-DD modules are the newest standard in high speed pluggable connectors, as they are the smallest form factor 400 G/s transceivers, offering the highest bandwidth density while leveraging the backward compatibility to lower-speed QSFP pluggable modules and cables. Highly integrated and advanced PAM-4 DSP chips, externally modulated laser (EML) diodes, and GaAs laser diodes enable the 400 G/s performance, yet these ICs come with significant thermal issues.

Power loads of up to 25W require significant considerations for heat dissipation, including the application of thermal interface materials.

The goal of a system thermal design is to remove the heat from the module case to ensure that the internal components in the module stay within operating temperature ranges to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

The role of thermal interface materials (TIMs)
Thermal interface materials such as thermally conductive gap filler pads, thermal greases, and dispensed thermal gels improve heat dissipation by filling minute air gaps and voids and by being dispensed or in contact with heat generating chipsets. Maximizing the contact area of the heatsink to the module lowers the thermal resistance and improves the system’s ability to cool the module.  Types of TIMs available

High power thermal gels, such as Parker Chomerics THERM-A-GAP GEL 75, with 7.5 W/m-K thermal conductivity, as well as high performance single component thermal greases such as THERM-A-GAP GEL 8010 3 W/m-K, are typically robotically dispensed for high volume applications such as optical modules.

Robotically dispensing thermal interface material can dramatically reduce costs, save valuable time, and greatly improve the overall performance of the QSFP-DD module. Thermal gap filler pads can be die cut into exact shapes to help dissipate heat from any heat generating component. Thermal gap filler pads provide a soft and effective method of heat dissipation as well as helping to reduce vibration stress for shock dampening. 

Need help deciding on a thermal interface material? Our recent blog Thermal Gels or Gap Filler Pads? Top 6 Things You Should Know can help!

A TIM for every design; yes, even yours

Whatever your design is, be it a stacked card cage, or belly-to-belly, the thermal interface between the optical cable connector module and the heatsink attached to the outer case/cage is important to your design.

With speeds of 400 G/s being introduced now and 800 G/s on the near horizon, you must also consider the thermal heat dissipation needs of not only the module itself, but the interface connection on the PCB, as well as at the rack unit or cabinet level. 

Cabinets featuring 40U to 46U racks require immense thermal heat dispersion featuring both active and passive cooling technologies. Higher data transfer speeds, low latency, and constant availability require more computing power, which in turn means higher power densities per rack.

No matter what your thermal interface material need, Parker Chomerics can help, download our Thermal Interface Materials for Electronics Cooling Guide now!

 

 

 

 

 

This blog post was contributed by Jarrod Cohen, marketing communications for Parker Chomerics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We receive many requests regarding seal retention but why is it so important? There are 3 main reasons: ease of component assembly, serviceability, and transit issues. For example, seal retention is important when you have complex groove paths where your groove wanders around bolts or ports. It is also valuable in improving operator ergonomics by reducing installation strain or fatigue in high volume applications.  Additionally, seal retention improves serviceability by eliminating the need for liquid sealants which can be difficult to clean. Last but not least, seal retention resolves transit issues by ensuring seals are retained from workstation to workstation or if components are assembled in different locations.

Parker offers an array of Press-in-Place (PIP) Seals to accommodate these application challenges. Additionally, each particular profile provides performance properties to address issues like larger tolerance stock, low seal load, and complex groove paths to name just a few. 

Press-In-Place Benefits

Parker’s Press-In-Place (PIP) seals are custom designed to fit into complex groove patterns without having to be stretched. These custom seals are designed to withstand a wide variety of environments, fluids, pressures and temperatures.

In comparable seal heights, a standard PIP groove is 60 percent narrower than traditional grooves. Seal retention is achieved by sidewall interference, requiring no adhesives. The PIP design also maintains high pressure differentials, provides lower seal load, optimizes material use and is easy to install.

Compared to dispensed Form-In-Place (FIP) seals, PIP seals have several advantages. For example, during maintenance, PIP seals can be easily and quickly changed out, where FIP removal often damages the groove. FIP seals also require a considerable investment in machines and fixtures while PIP seals deliver higher performance and robustness without expensive tooling or fixture costs. 

Parker offers a variety of PIP standardized profile options. These include:

• Molded Diamond—molded to the shape of the groove path using retention beads intermittently along the seal to keep it secure. This PIP seal can save space up to 60 percent versus traditional seals and allows a much smaller bend radius. The diamond seal can combine multiple parts into one and enables fast assembly. Applications include high volume automotive and low volume military programs.
• Hexapod—excellent for retention and lower pressure applications. It is also extruded and spliced which makes it a great choice for large enclosures. Applications include EV battery and heavy-duty engines.
• Keyhole—also extruded and spliced with reduces deflection and number of fasteners thanks to its low load. This PIP seal is also great for environmental sealing (little or no pressure) and larger tolerances, and is easy to install. Applications include plastic housings and stamped covers.
• Jigsaw—extruded and supplied in long lengths with no splicing required. The Jigsaw seal can be cut to size and requires no adhesive but does require a groove overlap. Applications may include multiple port sizes where just one part number can be used for the whole assembly, and in field installations where a pre-sliced or continuous part may be impossible to install.
• O-Ring—this seal is a good solution for retention and comes in three types: standard & custom sizes; extruded with spliced rings and cord stock; and custom molded plan view. Each type has its own benefits and limitations including cost effectiveness, bend radius, customized cross-sections and more.
• EZ-Lok—an axial seal designed for retention in dovetail grooves. the EZ-Lok seal is designed specifically to simplify and error-proof the installation process. In addition, this PIP seal minimizes seal wear on groove corners and removes the parting line from the sealing surface. It is currently used in the semiconductor market and is recommended when seal installation and performance are critical. 
• Hollow O-Ring—extruded, spliced and low load which allows for a reduction in fasteners or clamps. They are easily customizable and are slightly oversized compared to the groove. However, they will not overfill the groove like a standard O-Ring. Like other hollow profiles, the Hollow O-Ring is not suitable for high pressure applications.
• Bulb—come in standard and custom profiles and are highly compliant to variation, i.e., your components to flex, run out, etc. If you have a groove that is already machined or spec’d in and you need a seal to fit, a custom bulb seal may be your best option.

Other retention options include: Friction Fit Hollow O; Friction Fit Hollow Profile; PSA on Profile; Dart Profile in Custom Groove; Dart Profile in FF Groove; Hollow Profile Mechanically Fastened; PSA on Hollow D; and Hollow Profile Pressed into Metal Track.

A full summary of our PIP options with performance properties and our recommendations are provided in our Press-In-Place (PIP) Sealing webinar below. For help in determining the right solution for your application, please contact our O-Ring & Engineered Seals design team at OESmailbox@parker.com or 1-859-335-5101.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

This blog was contributed by Samantha J. Sexton, marketing communications manager, Parker O-Ring & Engineered Seals Division.

 

Press-in-Place Seals for Axial Sealing Applications

Press-in-Place Seals Solve Problems for Automotive Applications

Innovative Solutions Improving Seal Retention

Challenges abound for oil and gas companies during drilling and well completion operations. Drilling mud and frac fluids are some of the harshest and most destructive media to be sealed. It takes tough, rugged sealing components to last long run-time hours and continuously move high volumes of abrasive frac fluid that cause wear and tear on parts. And thermoplastic polyurethanes are raising the bar for performance expectations and proving out as preferred sealing materials.

Polyurethane has been an industry standard for dynamic sealing in hydraulic applications for more than 30 years. But polyurethane materials are not all formulated from the same hard- and soft-segment chemistry. The specific diisocyanate and chain extenders used in the synthesis of a polyurethane affect its physical and mechanical properties. When looking to achieve the best performance with mud and frac pumps, Parker’s Resilon® polyurethane is recommended. Our proprietary PPDI (p-phenylene diisocyanate) TPU formulation is specifically suited for injection molding of both large and small articles while retaining superior high-temperature performance.

The characteristics common to Resilon formulations make this PPDI class of material a leading choice for high pressure, dynamic sealing applications. These characteristics include exceptional:

• Wear resistance
• Thermal stability
• Hydrolytic stability
• High bond strength
• Compression set resistance
• Resiliency

 

Where to Use Resilon

 

Resilon polyurethane can be used with high effectiveness in many areas on mud and fracking pumps. The advantages are evident in each area.

Pony Rod Seals.  Eliminate hydraulic fluid leakage and simplify installation by replacing standard two-piece seals with the single-piece design made from Resilon 4300. With its high contact force sealing lip design, coupled with compression-set resistant Resilon seal material, this patent-protected pony rod seal design retains lubricating oil in the power end, eliminating necessity of shut down to replenish lost hydraulic fluid. When maintenance and change over is called for, pony rod seal installation is much simpler. The integrated, single component oil seal/rod wiper can be secured via press fit so there’s no need for snap rings or retaining plates. 

 

 

"Our sales team members receive inquiries from well completion operators who are frustrated when they are interrupted and have to shut down to replenish gallons of hydraulic fluid lost from leaking seals. These operators and their service technicians who are in the field doing the change-overs make it known they 'want the the tan colored pony rod seal,' referring to Parker's recognizable tan-colored Resilon 4300 formulation. Some operators are so pleased with the performance of the Parker pony rod seal they are demanding that the mud pump manufacturers install it as a condition to deploy their pumps on the job site."

Dana Severson, oil and gas market sales manager for Parker's Engineered Materials Group

 

Suction and Discharge Cover Seals. Our HGP Profile suction and discharge cover seals provide four times the reliable service life compared to traditional elastomer D-rings. Owing to its combination of unique geometry and Resilon 4300 polyurethane material, the HGP Profile resists wear due to the abrasive fluid proppant, high pressure and vibrating motion generated by high frequency pulsating pressurization. The tough, rugged material improves sealing reliability and minimizes degradation of fluid end mating hardware.

Fluid End Valve Seats. Valves take a beating from repeated cycling in highly abrasive drilling fluids and aggressive fracking fluids. But valves made with our unique geometry and Resilon polyurethane have shown to extend valve life by over 50 percent. Resilon valves reduce material failure caused by hysteresis and the optimized geometry increases service life and reliability of the valve seal. These can be formulated in both bonded and snap-in configurations.

Mud Pistons. Our design expertise in piston sealing applications has resulted in piston cups that outlast the competition, reducing costly downtime and eliminating leaks. Resilon polyurethane piston seals are long wearing and outperform traditional urethanes in hot water. Enhanced resilience/rebound characteristics allow the sealing lips of the mud piston to conform to the seal interface – maintaining consistent critical sealing lip contact under rapid cycling conditions, plus reduce frictional heating. In addition, Resilon formulations are compatible with oil and water-base drilling muds. 

Well Service Packings. For positive displacement pumps, the materials used in our well service and vee-ring packings have exceptional compressive force resistance to manage side loading yet remain pliable enough for sealing. The material range includes Resilon polyurethanes to aramid fabric reinforced HNBR/FKM. Resilon is compatible with a wide range of hydraulic fracturing fluids.

 

Resilon® Material Formulations Help Overcome Oil & Gas Completion Challenges

 

With well conditions becoming increasingly challenging and taking a toll on equipment and expendables, you require sealing products that will enable you to achieve greater production efficiencies, improve performance and reduce down time. Whether you service frac pumps, run completion operations, or build frac pump equipment, Parker’s proprietary Resilon materials can improve your bottom line by:

• Reducing frequency of component replacement (MTTM)
• Reducing cost for maintenance since less maintenance and fewer replacement parts are needed
• Providing better compatibility in water application
• Ensuring rugged, resilient sealing force

Learn more about Resilon® and watch Parker’s video on temperature/pressure challenges and sealing requirements for Oil & Gas.

 

This blog post was contributed to by Shannon Johnson, marketing communications for Parker Engineered Polymer Systems Division.

 

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Today, lasers are used in a variety of industries including automotive, plastic, packaging, clothing, furniture, toys, label production, musical instruments, and medical. In order to be competitive, meet market expectations, and adhere to strict quality standards, businesses around the world are turning to industrial lasers to support their manufacturing processes.

 

Effective operation

The key to the success of implementing a laser system is not just having a laser, but ensuring it functions properly. In order to do this, it's very important that close attention is paid the to temperature of the water running through it. Variations in operating temperature will affect the laser's performance and increase downtime levels, resulting in costly maintenance and lost production.

These high-powered lasers generate a large amount of heat and must be dissipated to avoid overheating critical components. Regardless of whether it is a Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Neodymium, or Fiber laser, it will require a cooling system to remove excess heat. Water cooling is used for most industrial lasers because of its availability and high thermal capacity. It is necessary to maintain a high level of control over the temperature and cleanliness of the cooling water for three main reasons:

1. Water temperature affects the precision of the laser wavelength
2. Thermal management is required for higher output efficiency
3. Reduction of thermal stress is critical in achieving the desired beam quality

A reliable supply of cooling water is required to keep the laser functioning properly. If there are variations in operating temperature, the laser machine performance is negatively affected, resulting in costly, time-consuming downtime.

 

A flexible solution

Parker Hannifin has been serving the laser industry for years with a specialized range of industrial water chillers for precision cooling. Parker's Gas Separation and Filtration Division has recently expanded the product line and introduced a new chiller solution—the Hyperchill Plus. The Hyperchill Plus is designed for safe and reliable operation in the most varied working conditions, providing precise and accurate control of the process fluid temperature. The availability of a wide range of accessories and options makes Hyperchill Plus a flexible cooling solution. 

Features and benefits

• Cooling capacities from 4,500 btu/hr to 65,000 btu/hr. 
• A differential pressure switch ensures a system shut down in the case that the circuit runs dry.
• Non-ferrous hydraulic circuit maintains the quality of the coolant ensuring stable working conditions, improved productivity and decreased maintenance costs.
• Compact design provides a space saving and easy to install solution.
• Condenser filters reduce dirt, preventing system downtime.
• High reliability and low energy consumption even in extreme ambient conditions

 

A partner you can trust

We know each application in the industry is different, that is why our dynamic engineering team can design and optimize the chiller for your process, providing you the benefits of reliable laser performance. Trust Parker’s global service network and our years of industry experience for your water cooling needs. 

 

For more information on the new Hyperchill Plus, view this interactive presentation and download the brochure.

This post was contributed by the Gas Generation Technology Team - Parker Industrial Gas Filtration and Generation Division.

 

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The future of air travel is evolving beyond fossil fuels with hybrid electric and all-electric aircraft leading the way. The growing need for low emissions and carbon neutrality has created a new focus on more electric aircraft (MEA), as aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) look to satisfy the growing needs of travelers while achieving the environmental goals being mandated around the world.

Power for all systems on conventional aircraft today is derived primarily from jet engines, fueled, of course, by fossil fuels. Engine gearbox-driven generators provide power for standard electrical equipment like avionics, lighting, and general cabin power. High-pressure engine bleed air is used to drive pneumatic systems such as cabin pressurization, anti-icing, and air conditioning. The engine gear box also drives hydraulic pumps for flight controls, landing gear, braking systems and door actuation as well as mechanical systems such as oil and fuel pumps. Parker Aerospace has a deep pedigree stretching back decades with sub-systems and components in conventional engines. 

 

Moving towards more electric aircraft

The evolution to MEA changes the way these systems are implemented. Whether it’s a more electric aircraft with jet engines, a hybrid electric, or a fully electric aircraft, mechanically-driven pumps for hydraulics, pneumatics, oil, and fuel will be replaced with fully electric pumps and actuators for everything including flight surface controls, environmental systems, and braking. 

Initially, gas-powered engines will still drive the electric generators for these systems. Ultimately, gas turbine engines may be replaced entirely with fully electric motors and batteries. This migration will start small, with commuter transports and urban air mobility platforms first reaching the market.

Migration from hydraulic and pneumatic energy to electric energy requires improved power-handling capability and efficiency. System voltages for MEA will climb from 28VDC and 115VAC to upwards of 1,000VDC. This power will be delivered by a complex combination of generators and batteries and requires a highly advanced and flexible electrical distribution system capable of managing system needs.

Developing improved solutions for new demands

Along with the increase in demand and capacity, the potential for significant damage during short or overload conditions must be recognized. For example, a 270V Li-Ion battery can deliver more than 2,000 amps into a short in a matter of microseconds. The typical electrical interfaces on today’s aircraft consist of mechanical relays and contactors, which are not fast enough to prevent fault propagation, and may even fuse during a fault event. This drives a need for an effective solution for high voltage, high-power buses with enhanced capability.

To answer that call, Parker Aerospace’s Fluid Systems Division has been developing a modular solid-state power controller (SSPC) for use as a standalone unit that is an electronic replacement for a relay or contactor. As part of a larger electrical distribution system, multiple SSPCs can be configured into a solid-state electrical distribution unit (SSEDU). Think of an SSPC as an individual circuit breaker whereas the SSEDU would be the entire circuit breaker box containing multiple breakers. An SSEDU can be configured with two or more SSPCs, with each SSPC being an individually controlled channel.

Utilizing advanced silicon carbide technology, Parker’s SSPC design is a modular architecture that yields the potential to accommodate multiple platform applications without costly redesigns and qualifications. Some features include:

• High-speed, high-efficiency, high-power density per channel.
• High-speed fault mitigation and bus reconfiguration.
• Programmable I2T fault protection.
• Inrush current mitigation (for high capacitive input loads).
• Low RDSon to maximize efficiency.
• Bi-directional and bi-polar SSPC options.
• Discrete input or communication bus control.
• Support for ARINC 429, Mil-Std-1553, CAN bus & others. 

Multiplying the benefit from solid-state power controllers

An individual SSPC can be programmed and coordinated with other SSPCs to provide staggered power on/off configurations when used in a multi-channel configuration. Power sequencing, source and load isolation, power routing, and bi-directional flow for battery charge/discharge, can all be configured in the same SSEDU. Voltage, current, temperature and other performance and fault data is available for each SSPC.

The Parker Aerospace modular SSPC design provides benefits beyond the technical specifications. The initial concept was to provide the protection and control in a format that would allow scalability and flexibility in an electrical distribution system implementation. Taking advantage of the common SSPC design allows for:

• Reduced application non-recurring engineering (NRE) and development time
• Reduced platform certification cost and time.
• Certification by similarity of sub-components across applications and platforms.
• Reduced reliance on key components/suppliers.
• Increased flexibility to integrate new technologies.
• Ability to use the same part number across multiple applications.

Parker has completed testing of a first-generation, eight-channel SSEDU, with each channel configured for 270VDC and handling loads from 20 amps to 150 amps. The capability demonstrated included programmed and manual switch control, bolted short fault mitigation, startup and operational overcurrent protection, thermal efficiency with continuous loads, and bi-directional power flow on individual channels.

Current development on the second-generation SSPC will culminate with a two-channel unit in a more compact, thermally efficient, and lighter unit. This fully capable demonstrator will provide an example of how the Parker Aerospace SSPC and SSEDU can be utilized for multiple applications and configurations requiring the control, protection, and flexibility required to satisfy the needs of the new generation of more electric aircraft.

 

 

This blog was contributed by electronics engineering manager Andrew Walsh from the Fluid Systems Division of Parker Aerospace.

 

 

 

 

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Follow our Aerospace Technology page and learn more about Parker's products, technologies, and engineering solutions that are advancing the global aerospace fleet.

 

Due to the processes involved, many industries such as oil and gas, chemical and petrol-chemical, energy or pharmaceutical industries may encounter flammable substances (gas, vapour, mist, liquid, dust, small fibres) and could involve an explosive atmosphere. Where dynamic performance or compact dimensions are required, servo motor technology provides the best solution. Parker has developed specific ATEX Permanent Magnet AC (PMAC) motors where compact dimensions and dynamic response with torque, speed or positioning control are required. These 10-pole servomotors are up to five times more compact than comparable asynchronous motors. 

Parker’s EX series is also ideal for applications that include: filling machines in the packaging sector, oil and gas valve actuators, automotive paint shop robots and feed mills in the food sector.

What is an explosive environment?

An explosive atmosphere is a mixture of air and flammable substances such as gas, vapour or dust under atmospheric conditions that can explode, where for an explosion to occur, three circumstances must be fulfilled: the presence of fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition. Ignition sources, such as flames, electric arcs and sparks, ultrasound, chemicals or electromagnetic radiation have the potential to cause an explosion in certain circumstances.

Parker EX servomotors, characterized by excellent motion quality, great acceleration/deceleration capabilities and high torque output over a wide speed range, are specifically designed to follow the European ATEX regulation for explosive atmospheres, based on the following European directives:

1- 1999/92/EC: Under the end-user responsibility, 1- 1999/92/EC regulates worker safety and explosive zone classification. EX servomotors are designed and certified to be safe under normal operating conditions both in a place where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur only occasionally (between 10 to 1000h/y) as well as in a place where it can occur for a very short period (>10/y) (see left-hand side of the chart below).

2- 2014/34/EU: Under the supplier's responsibility, 2- 2014/34/EU regulates the device's design compliance for operation in explosive environments. EX servomotors are designed to guarantee safety with a high level of protection, giving single fault tolerance. (see right-hand side of the chart below).

Standards and certifications

EX servomotors are ATEX compliant for operation in surface industries (Equipment Group II) and in accordance with given levels of flammability for substances present in the atmosphere, such as propane (IIA), ethylene (IIB), Hydrogen & Acetylene (IIC) regarding gas reference and combustible flying (IIA), non-conductive dust (IIB) and conductive dust (IIC) regarding dust reference.  While the temperature classification is T4 (135°C). 

In 2016, Parker extended the EX servo motor compliance to the IECEx standard as well as to the regional Kosha certification for the Korean market. More recently,  EX servo motors have been CCC certified to guarantee compliance with Chinese legislation, where CCC certification is mandatory for explosion proof products (Ex products).  Apart from the specific nameplate, CCC motors have the same construction as IECEx motors. They are intended for use in the same areas (gas or dust) and have the same degree of safety.

As an option, Parker offers a version of the EX series that is certified UL for the North American market in accordance with the UL674 standard. Importantly, Parker’s extensive portfolio of ATEX-rated motors, gearheads and actuators ensures the right combination of application-compatible products can be selected every time. Various winding variants and numerous options are available to offer maximum flexibility.

The precision helical gearing design of the GXA gearbox series associated with the powerful Parker ATEX servomotors range offers smooth and quiet operation for the most demanding high-performance applications. Finally, our well-known ETH electro cylinder range for explosive atmospheres are certified for use in explosive gas atmospheres (device group II, category 2G)

Want to know more about our motor series and international standards? View the slideshare presentation.

 

This article contributed by Gérard Bernardon, motor application engineer, Electromechanical and Drives Division Europe, Parker Hannifin Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The global wine market has never been more competitive, and customer expectations have never been higher. Facing a world of choice, buyers in the wine industry are increasingly turning to familiar brands for the reassurance of consistent quality, taste and affordability. The challenge for producers is to supply consumers’ favorite wines at the volume and cost required while ensuring that taste, character and enjoyment remain undiluted.

From fermentation to bottling, nitrogen has an important role to play in modern winemaking. Nitrogen is used for purging or blanketing tanks, racking barrels, flushing bottles, and at any point where the wine comes in contact with air.

Benefits of using nitrogen in wine production and processing include:

1. Nitrogen can be generated on-site from your air compressor.
2. Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the earth's atmosphere, making it far less expensive than argon.
3. Unlike carbon dioxide, nitrogen does not add the risk of adding carbonization to your wine. 

 

A cost-effective alternative

On-site generation provides a reliable source of nitrogen at the lowest total cost available. Generating your own nitrogen eliminates the hassles of supplied cylinders, dewars or bulk nitrogen. A nitrogen generator, such as the Parker WineMaker series, produces 98 to 99.9 percent pure, dry nitrogen on-demand and dispels any concerns about lines icing up, running low, or running out of nitrogen. Features include:

• Complete package with prefiltration, and receiving tank.
• Digital Oxygen analyzer and Digital gas flow meter.
• Plugs into 110 volt outlet.
• Portable and expandable.
• Lease to own options available.
• Services wineries producing from 5,000 to 1 million+ cases.
• Ensures minimal DO pickup.

 

Easy installation and operation

Installation is simple: pipe in compressed air and pipe out nitrogen. Just connect a standard compressed air line to the inlet of the generator, connect the outlet to your nitrogen line and the unit is ready for trouble-free operation. The system is designed to operate 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. There is no complicated operating procedure or labor-intensive monitoring involved. Simply select the purity your process requires and set the flow and
within minutes, high purity, dry nitrogen is available. Once the nitrogen generator is installed, the system requires very little maintenance.

 

Check out our infographic

 

From Amarone to Zinfandel, Parker provides solutions for every variety of winemaking, and for the key stages in the production, storage and bottling process. We partner with food and beverage customers around the world, sharing expertise and know-how to develop new, better and more productive ways of making wine. 

Connect with us to learn more about on-stie nitrogen generation for your winery.

 

This post was contributed by the Filtration Technology Team, Industrial Gas Filtration and Generation Division

 

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Searching for a water chiller for an industrial application? 
The use of cold water is very common in industry, as cold water improves productivity, secures industrial processes and reduces costs. There are several methods of creating cold water, but water chillers are increasingly becoming the preferred solution. Primarily because chillers always supply the exact water temperature requested, even with differing ambient conditions and load requests, thus ensuring optimum efficiency.

Chillers, by operating in a closed circuit, continuously reutilize the same water, and thereby avoid unwanted water wastage. Add to this fact that a number of directives have recently emerged to safeguard both the quality of the water being utilized (for health reasons) as well as the discharging of impure water into the ambient (to protect the environment): closed circuit chiller operation greatly simplifies conformance to these regulations. The needs of industry are changing, and a water chiller increasingly satisfies these needs.

Hyperchill water chiller with wide product range

The Hyperchill product line offers a wide range of cooling capacities from 1/2 to 50 ton, and a huge variety of options to fit every application. Parker’s ability to easily configure and package these options in a turn-key assembly allows for reduced installation costs and easy start-up.

Common installations: Single process closed loop

About 80% of installations are straightforward, single process, closed loop cooling applications. In such an application the piping is simplistic and flow demands are unchanging. The chiller is sized for worst-case site conditions, the pressure drop is calculated for the piping and the process, and there are few, if any, options required. The standard Hyperchill process water chiller includes a pre-programmed PLC, an electrical cabinet with motor overloads, a refrigeration system, and an internal water system.  

The two standard pump sizes are “3 bar” with a nominal head pressure around 40 psi, and “5 bar” with a nominal head pressure around 70 psi. The vast majority of applications use high quality, low noise level, axial fans which are installed as standard on the Hyperchill. There is a large cold-water storage tank built into the chillers which allow the compressor(s) to cycle off when load requirements are low in comparison to the available cooling capacity.

This configuration allows the customer to take advantage of seasonal conditions which increase the efficiency of the refrigeration circuit, thereby reducing electrical consumption. The pre-programmed and integrated controller makes set-up a snap. All the customer needs to do is install piping, supply power, fill the unit, and select the desired outlet water set point. From there, the unit is ready for startup!

Solutions for outdoor installations     

Beginning with our 5-ton unit, model PCW060, a variety of additional options are available. For outdoor installations where the units are subject to cold ambient conditions, Parker offers two different low ambient packages. These packages can allow the chiller to operate outdoors in ambient temperatures as low as -4°F (-20°C). For conditions beyond this temperature range, the unit must be installed indoors. In such an application, it may be beneficial for the customer to look at our centrifugal fan option, which allows the user to duct hot exhaust air outside the building during summer. The user can also benefit from such an installation by installing a second exhaust port indoors. This would allow the customer to direct the hot exhaust back into the plant during cold winter months, reclaiming the heat and decreasing the cost of heating the facility.

In addition to the centrifugal fan option, Parker offers two additional condenser options. The “Bio Energy” option includes a corrosion resistant epoxy coating on all of the exposed copper piping. This is an excellent option for Bio Gas or Landfill Gas sites, as well as for installation near coastal waters where the environment may be salty. There is also an option for a water-cooled condenser. This is a great choice for High Ambient conditions or for indoor applications where the customer has an existing cooling tower. The water-cooled condenser option may also be selected when the customer has the desire to reclaim the heat expelled by the chiller. Parker can even quote the water-cooled condenser with special corrosion resistant materials of construction for applications where it is desired to use seawater for cooling.

Parker’s highly knowledgeable Applications Engineers can work with you and your team to select the options required to optimize the chillers for your specific installation. For a full list of available options – including special pumps, remote controls options, special voltages, and more.  If you’d like to request a quote, please contact our applications engineers at GSFquotes@parker.com 

By pairing industry leading quality with a wide variety of easily configurable options, Parker’s Hyperchill is the solution for your industrial cooling needs!

 

Process Cooling Applications:   • Coating Systems
• Chemical & Pharmaceutical Processes
• Plastics Processing
• Thermoform Machines
• Plasma Coating
• Medical Imaging Systems
• Food & Beverage Industry
• Injection Molding
• Machine Tools • Electroplating Baths
• Biogas & Natural Gas Treatment
• Compressed Air Treatment
• Laser Technology
• Extruders
• Surface Processing
• Welding Engineering
• Blow Mold Machines
• Flexographic Printing Systems

 

 

This post was contributed by the Gas Generation Technology Team - Parker Industrial Gas Filtration and Generation Division.

 

Additional related content:

Sizing a Chiller for Your Application - What You Need to Know

The Difference Between a Process Water Cooler and a Chiller

How to Distinguish a Process Water Cooler from a Chiller

What Is Process Cooling and How Is It Used in Industrial Applications?

 

 

If you’re in the business of buying, selling, or working with hydraulic hoses, you may be aware that up to 80% of hydraulic system failures can be attributed to contaminated oil. And, removing internal hose contamination, will help prevent hose system failure altogether. That’s why a proper hose cleaning kit should be an essential part of your hose assembly process.

 

Why do hoses require cleaning?

If you neglect to clean your hose, there is a good chance that residual contaminants within the hose will affect productivity, possibly even leading to a hose malfunction. This can cause costly downtime.

Several factors, which occur during the cutting of hydraulic hose, can affect the hose assembly performance. Proper cutting and preparation of the hose prior to assembly is important to ensure maximum effectiveness of the hose assembly.

It is important to clear the hose immediately after the hose cutting process and this cleaning needs to be done correctly, rather than simply blowing compressed air through the hose assembly.

 

"Just blowing compressed air through the hose assembly is not entirely effective. This removes most particles but some can remain, having only been redistributed throughout the hose.”

Jim Henighan, marketing and support services manager for Parker's Hose Products Division.

 

This is when the Parker Hose Cleaning Kit becomes necessary. These kits are designed to handle the wide variety of media our customers have moving through their hose assemblies. One of these kits should be an essential part of your hose assembly process.

 

Economy Hose Cleaning Kit

This kit is designed for hoses, tubes, or pipes with inside diameters from a quarter inch up to one and a quarter inch. It has a durable brass launcher with aluminum inside and features a quarter-turn locking ring to make nozzle changes and projectile-loading easy. This kit is what you need if you're making your own assemblies, or if you're working with a limited range of hose sizes. It is also ideal for mobile and job site applications because of its size and portability.

 

 

Ultra Clean Hose Cleaning Kit

This kit is perfect for production hose and tube shops, as well as mobile fabricators. It works with ¼” up to 2” hose, tube, or pipe. Its launcher and nozzles are made from precision-machined aluminum and are fully anodized, so they can handle harsh environments and heavy use.

The Ultra Clean Hose Cleaning Kit has a full-flow quick release coupling, and a unique 360-degree rotary plug comes with the launcher to ensure proper airflow and no fatigue for the operator. There's also a safety release bar that locks the faceplate into a closed position for firing Ultra Clean foam projectiles.

 

Parker offers foam projectiles of various sizes for hydraulic hoses, plus projectiles designed for use with various types of tubing and pipes.

  Cleaning your hydraulic hose

1. Insert the correct nozzle into the launcher along with the correct size UC projectile.

2. The nozzle will make an air-tight seal when pressed against the hose and fitting.

3. Press the trigger, and the projectile will push the contaminants out of the hose assembly.

4. You should fire a projectile through the hose in both directions.

5. At this point, you must seal your hose ends to ensure your assembly remains clean.

6. If you don’t have sealing equipment, bring the hose to your local ParkerStore.

The Ultra Clean kits will help you keep your hoses operating at maximum efficiency, and will prevent the ever-dreaded downtime. Plus, they'll help you maintain industry standards used to measure hydraulic fluid cleanliness, which also saves you money when considered against the expense of replacing clogged filters and valves.

Each of these hose cleaning kits comes in durable cases and is portable. A hose cleaning kit from Parker shouldn't be an afterthought -- think of it as an integral, mandatory part of your hydraulic hose assembly.

Remember, you can always speak with your local ParkerStore professional if you have questions on hose cleaning or the Parker Hose Cleaning kits.

Watch the video and see Mike, our ParkerStore professional, demonstrate how easy it is to clean a hydraulic hose using a hose cleaning kit:

 

 

Post contributed by: MRO Authority - Parker Store Team, Parker Hannifin

 

 

 

 

 

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In southern California, Mulligan Sales, Inc. blends dry dairy and other food ingredients for makers of baked goods, snack foods and confections. These powdered ingredients typically create high dust levels that tend to absorb moisture in the air, requiring cool, dry in-plant conditions.

 

Dust collection and constant air conditioning create a challenge

In its powdered ingredients processing facility, Mulligan Sales required both substantial dust collection and constant air conditioning for temperature and humidity control. Running both systems simultaneously was not an option with the company’s existing dust collectors—an external baghouse unit with envelope-type filters and a manual shaker for filter cleaning. The existing system vented outside, returning no air back into the mixing and batch-weighing areas. And because the unit would have extracted conditioned air as well, the air conditioning could only be run when the unit was off and the facility was not blending. Additionally, the facility had limited power available for their dust collection equipment, so a bigger system alone was not the answer.

Mulligan needed a solution to:

• Improve collection of high levels of dust while integrating with the facility’s environmental controls.
• Save costs and losses associated with external venting.
• Provide vastly updated filtering technology for improved performance and reduced maintenance.
• Fit the solution to the limited available power.

 

A Parker Hannifin representative performed a detailed assessment of Mulligan’s existing equipment, identified its key design inefficiencies and areas in need of dust collection, and considered the company’s potential need for additional processing equipment in the future. The representative then arranged a tour of a successful DustHog® installation at a leading snack food maker’s facility. Impressed with its performance, Mulligan chose to work with Parker.

 

Parker Hannifin solved Mulligan’s temperature control needs with an external DustHog® SFC 12-3 downward flow cartridge dust collector, customized with a C-3600 Cyclone pre-cleaner for each of the existing large mixer and batch-weighing areas. This achieved measurably more effective, efficient dust collection than the previous baghouse unit. Unlike the former externally vented design, the new SFC system returned clean air into the facility. For further assurance, the system featured an exterior safety filter, as well as a silencer to keep the noise level well under OSHA guidelines. As for system size, Parker Hannifin tailored the design to meet Mulligan’s equipment and airflow goals—as well as the facility’s limited horsepower requirements.

Maintenance was also substantially reduced since the SFC system required far less frequent filter change-outs than the previous baghouse unit. This resulted from the SFC’s patented pulse-jet technology that pulses dust off filters. Parker Hannifin designed this pulse-jet system to clean the full length of the cartridge filter for better, long-lasting performance while allowing the unit to clean the filters during operation. Further, the pulsing is delivered in regulated blasts of air, so fewer pulses are needed, which conserves costly compressed air.

 

Additional value and future needs addressed

According to Mulligan Sales Plant Manager Byron Tobin, the facility went from having “tremendous dust challenges” to an “85 percent decrease in residual airborne dust.” With no external air discharge, the company also began saving thousands of dollars in state permitting fees, while reinforcing its good-neighbor commitment.

This solution also resolved the challenges of dust collection in conjunction with temperature and humidity control. UAS (now Parker Hannifin) worked with our vision all the way,” Tobin said. He also cited quality details that are yielding added value, including the system’s washable filter cartridges with a spare set for less downtime during change-outs, explosion relief vents for protection, powder-coated finish on the collectors for corrosion resistance and three additional flexible dust collection arms that allow reconfiguration of the processing room equipment for other projects.

 

To accommodate Mulligan’s future needs, the new system can be expanded. Tobin noted that his facility is initially optimizing 30 to 40 percent of the new system’s capacity, allowing for expansion or reconfiguration to improve productivity at any time.

“We knew we needed to step up. The result is impressive, and we have future capability.”

Byron Tobin, Mulligan Sales Plant Manager

Exhaust duct from the DustHog® SFC downward flow dust collector with in-line silencer and safety filter.

“The facility went from having tremendous dust challenges to an 85 percent decrease.”

Byron Tobin, Mulligan Sales Plant Manager

Integrated dust collection system delivers results

As a result, Mulligan Sales, Inc. faced their production challenge with a DustHog® SFC Series Dust Collector with Cyclone pre-cleaner dust collection system integrated with their facility’s environmental controls.
 

• Decreased residual airborne dust by 85%.
• Enabled dust collector and air-conditioning systems to run simultaneously.
• Dramatically reduced filter maintenance, time and labor.
• Provided flexibility and capacity for future expansion.

 

Learn more about Dust Hogs from our dedicated website.

 

 

Download your copy of this case study with all the details.

 

 

 

Article contributed by the Filtration Team at Industrial Gas Filtration and Generation Division. 

 

Related case studies to read:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

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As new markets emerge and off trade consumption increases, the shelf-life of canned and bottled craft beer has become increasingly important. 

Brewers of craft beers carefully select and balance the ingredients to generate the unique and distinctive characteristics of their brand. And as competition between breweries heats up - and drinkers become more adventurous in their choices - the range of flavours available is blossoming. Coffee, chocolate, vanilla and even smoky flavours are joining citrus fruits, sours and high-intensity hops in the battle for beer drinkers' palates. 

Beer's unique characteristics, which include colour, brightness and taste such as bitterness and sweetness, should remain unaffected by any microbiological stabilization treatment prior to bottling. In a competitive market, it's vital that a brewery's products are protected — and that consumers can enjoy their chosen beer's unique flavours as intended. 

 

Read the full application note "Cold Stabilization of Ale"  

 

 

 

 

Sterile filtration (or cold stabilization) is the final microbial filtration of beer using a microporous membrane to remove yeast and typical spoilage organisms to provide extended shelf life. It's an alternative to the flash pasteurization of beer, which deactivates yeast and spoilage organisms by heat. Flash pasteurization demands higher relative water and energy consumption, therefore making cold stabilization a more appealing process to craft brewers who wish to keep operational expenditure low and reduce their carbon footprint. 

The final stabilization of beer by microfiltration has commonly been accepted as a gentler method of stabilization, generating a cleaner, fresher, more natural flavour when compared to flash pasteurization. 

A number of independent tests have investigated the effect on the taste of both flash pasteurization and cold stabilization by Parker's BEVPOR microfiltration range.

 

Cold stabilization as an alternative to flash pasteurization, a brewer's perspective

A trial, conducted by a leading UK brewery, indicated that beer packaged after cold stabilization produced a beer that protected the desirable, crisp and bitter taste profiles when compared to pasteurization in a triangular taste test.

The test, carried out with an experienced taste panel, tested the same batch of beer after cold stabilization and flash pasteurization to identify if the method of stabilization impacted upon the finished product characteristics of the beer. In this case, the data generated helped the brewery to select cold stabilization as their preferred method of microbial stabilization. 

  Protecting shelf-life

The studies performed not only established the immediate characteristic changes of the beer that had been pasteurized, but they also identified that the method of stabilization had an effect upon the beer's characteristics for the duration of the product's shelf-life. 

The work identified that cold stabilization through BEVPOR filtration increased the time taken for the beer to display a stale/oxidized characteristic. Not only did the oxidized characteristics take longer to develop in the microfiltered beer, but it was far less pronounced over the 12-month trial. 

A second brewery in the south of England conducted a trial looking at flash pasteurization and cold stabilization to determine which method would be used in the bottling of a leading premium ale. The same batch of beer was sent to two different contract packagers, one packaged the beer after flash pasteurization and the other after cold stabilization. 

The brewing team commented that microfiltration appeared to be a 'gentle process' which protected the late hoppy characteristic of the ale. As a result of this process, the brewery installed an integral cold stabilization unit utilizing Parker's BEVPOR microfiltration cartridges and fabricated housings.

 

Choosing the right filter materials

Products from Parker's BEVPOR microfiltration range - such as the BEVPOR BR and BEVPOR PH filter cartridges - utilize a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane which has been carefully selected due to its excellent performance characteristics in beer stabilizing applications. 

One of the key performance requirements of the PES membrane was making sure the unique characteristics of the beer were protected while guaranteeing the removal of yeast and typical spoilage organisms. 

Microfiltration elements are designed to remove spoilage organisms through size, however, they will also remove other material such as suspended solids, proteins, polysaccharides and colour through adsorption. Depending on the extent of the adsorption, changes to the final characteristics of the beer may be possible. 

Studies into the adsorption of head retention protein components during membrane microfiltration were conducted using two commonly used membrane materials: polyetersulphone (PES) and polyamide (PA) for both 0.45 micron and 0.65 micron ratings. Results showed that the membrane material had an effect on the protein content of the filtrate. PES reduced the protein content to a lesser degree than the PA membrane. Micron rating was also shown to affect the adsorption of proteins with 0.65 micron filters having a lesser effect than 0.45 micron filters. 

 

Protecting the unique characteristics of your beer

A further study was carried out in order to demonstrate the low levels of protein adsorption expected with PES membrane compared to other materials used for beer filtration and serves to demonstrate the functional benefits of using PES on a number of levels. 

Firstly, due to the lower protein adsorption characteristics of PES, the filtration has a negligible effect on the physical and sensory properties of the first run brew, so qualities such as head retention , colour and taste remain unaffected. Secondly, due to the low adsorption affinity, the PES membrane does not foul as readily as PA and is easily cleaned by clean-in-place processes so the system can be regenerated and used again.

Both of these qualities have been observed by multiple brewers who have reported the associated functional benefits of using BEVPOR filters. 

 

Read the full application note "Cold Stabilization of Ale"  

 

 

This post was contributed by Lee Pattison, Food and Beverage Product Manager, Parker Bioscience Filtration, United Kingdom.  

Parker Bioscience Filtration offers filtration solutions to protect the quality and taste of beverage products. By working with our application experts, manufacturers can develop a tailored solution to ensure their beverage is free from contamination, full of flavour and visibly clear. 

 

Find out more about Parker Bioscience Filtration's sterile filtration solutions for the brewing market

 

 

Related content

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9 Benefits of Sterile Filtration Over Flash Pasteurisation of Beer

Improving the Shelf-Life of Your Beer with Sterile Filtration

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The Sterile Filtration of Beer - Keeping up with Consumer Trends

Speed to market is critical for bio manufacturers. The faster a process can be scaled up, the faster a return on investment on drug development costs can be realized. With a strong trend towards the use of single-use technologies (SUT) in bioprocessing, what strategies can be implemented during research and development (R&D) to ensure successful scale-up to commercial manufacturing?

 

 

Benefits of using single-use technology Research and Development

• Components are inexpensive while durable enough for multiple uses.
• No need for cleaning or regeneration of components which decreases turnaround times.
• Using pre-made disposable manifolds rather than building a flow path for each different processing run gives more consistent results.

Manufacturing

• Separation of capital and disposable equipment budgets allows more time to make the final decision on single-use configuration.
• Changing out configured single-use components often does not require modification to capital equipment.
• Single-use components can be supplied pre-sterilized and ready to use.
• Single-use technology can provide increased capacity as needed without requiring a second piece of equipment.

 

Benefits of consistency  Research and Development

• Materials are pre-qualified at the R & D stage and approved for use in the application.
• Vendors are pre-qualified, audited and already in the supply chain.
• Operator training time is reduced and user confidence with technology is increased.
• Using scaleable automation solutions and single-use components increases the likelihood that control parameters developed on small scale system are available on a larger system.

Manufacturing

• Terminology is consistent between R & D and manufacturing.
• Awareness of potential pitfalls in the large-scale process means future manufacturing problems can be prevented.
• All steps can be performed aseptically so a cleaner process will be developed.
• All stages of the process can be developed and perfected in conditions that do not require overhead of special facilities and areas that require constant maintenance.

 

Want to learn more?

At Parker, we specialize in automating and controlling single-use processes. By integrating sensor and automating technology into a process, parameters can be controlled more effectively, ensuring the quality of the final product from process development to GMP manufacturing. www.parker.com/dhsingleuse 

 

Check out our infographic on Bridging the Gap in Automated Single-Use Technology Between R&D and Manufacturing. . 

 

 

Learn more at our website about the many solutions Parker provides for bioprocessing and biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

 

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Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

5 Benefits of Single-Use Technology vs Stainless Steel

Early Adoption Single-Use Technology Can Ensure Successful Process Scale-Up

Overcoming Barriers to Single-Use Implementation

Automated Single-Use Technology and Its Impact on Quality

How Automation Takes Single-Use Technology to the Next Level

A safe, effective cooling system to remove waste heat from computer servers is vital when creating a data center infrastructure. While many data centers rely on large air conditioning systems to remove heat, it is no longer the most efficient or cost-friendly solution. The highest operating expense for data centers is often electricity. As servers are pushed to their limits and running faster than ever, it is becoming increasingly impractical to rely on moving air to offer effective cooling.

Because of this, IT managers are turning to liquid cooling systems to efficiently perform thermal management. Since today’s microprocessors are smaller and more powerful than ever, they are producing even more heat. While this evolving solution is being scaled for complex data center operations, the most important aspect is quickly changing out servers without drips, leaks, or spills.

Parker works with cooling system manufacturers by providing component parts for those systems – non-spill couplings, tubing and hoses. Having worked in this space for several years, we understand what’s needed to implement a successful server rack cooling system.

The following are several factors to consider when implementing a new system.

Ensure scaling capabilities

While you might be confident that your current system can handle today’s thermal management standards, what about tomorrow? It’s important to think beyond the present and prepare for the future to accommodate the increasing densities. Ensuring your ability to scale is pivotal before starting with a new server rack cooling strategy.

The simplest and quickest solution is to add more enclosures or cabinets, which gives you the ability to save floor space and store equipment with different cooling needs within the same rack. By eliminating the need for a separate system for each, you can significantly reduce cooling costs.

However, before adding more enclosures, make sure you have the correct couplings and connections to handle the increased thermal load. With an increase of powerful devices, you must ensure that any additional heat can be accounted for and removed within the existing infrastructure.

Control the environment with non-spill couplings

As technology continues to advance in the form of IoT capabilities and Edge deployments, server racks are being placed in areas that aren’t intended to protect IT equipment. Frequently, spaces are not well-equipped for climate control and exposed to dust, debris and moisture.

IT managers often make the mistake of thinking that additional server usage and thermal load can be countered by the building’s existing air conditioning system. However, the air conditioning systems are not designed to keep sensitive equipment cool and offer the proper humidity and airflow requirements.

Liquid cooling strategies paired with reliable, dry-disconnect products are an effective way to control the environment while efficiently performing thermal management. Using quick non-spill couplings, IT managers can quickly change out servers without worrying about drips, leaks or spills. This compact solution for smaller and more powerful servers gives the necessary cooling attention to each server rather than depending on a less effective air conditioning system that can bump up your electric bill.

Account for increased thermal loads

Before thinking about the bigger picture of a liquid cooling system, you should first determine the existing thermal output of each of your current enclosures. If the heat buildup in those current enclosures is extremely high, it means that you should consider a closed-loop cooling strategy, which is designed for high heat areas and uncontrolled environments.

Liquid cooling is the prime example of a closed-loop system, where heat is removed from inside each individual enclosure as opposed to the overall row or room. Closed-loop cooling will maintain the proper internal climate conditions despite the outside conditions. Due to its ability to remove a higher volume of heat, liquid cooling and other closed-loop cooling strategies allow for higher installation densities. This cuts down on the number of necessary server enclosures.

Reviewing all your options   

Your existing infrastructure affects the requirements of the rack server cooling system you choose. For example, if your data center has hot aisle and cold aisle containment, you have many more options as to what server cooling system you can implement.

Optimizing the organization and placement of your data center equipment is cost-effective and possible through hot/cold aisle arrangements, containment strategies and rack placement. Still, it may not be the most efficient strategy for large increases in the volume of heat.  

Currently seen as the most effective method of thermal management, liquid cooling ensures that heat is removed from the highest installation destinations. By placing the cooling mechanism closer and more directly to the sources of heat, whether it be by rows or individual racks, liquid cooling provides a more potent and efficient solution. The most successful liquid cooling systems have dry disconnect, non-spill couplings to ensure that liquid does not spill into the server during changes.

Purchasing the right parts

There are many factors to consider when deploying a server rack liquid cooling system. If done correctly, you could be installing a more efficient, cost-effective solution to account for high-density installations and increased thermal output. Parker has years of experience in designing products that maximize flow and decrease pressure drop. Its experts’ technical knowledge in leak prevention designs makes them a prime candidate to provide components in the workspace.

With liquid cooling strategies becoming the most effective form of thermal management for data centers, Parker offers support by providing expertise in the most cutting-edge non-spill couplings, tubing and hoses. As a leader in the space, find out how Parker can help you take thermal management to the next level.

Learn more about liquid cooling connections and other products offered by Parker.

 

Article contributed by Todd Lambert, market sales manager, Parker Hannifin’s Quick Coupling Division.

 

 

 

 

 

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By 2025, forecasts say there will be more than 75 billion Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices in use, which would be a nearly threefold increase from the IoT installed base in 2019. In addition, data volume created by IoT connections is projected to reach a massive total of 79.4 zettabytes.

Much of the data generated by IoT devices – from smartphones and smartwatches to tiny computers embedded in machines and infrastructure – is processed in the cloud, with relevant information then sent back to the device, telling the device how to react.

IoT devices use sensors and processors to collect and analyze data acquired from their environments. The data collected from the sensors is shared by being sent to a gateway or to other IoT devices. It can then be either sent to the cloud or stored and analyzed locally on the edge of the network.

As smart sensors and devices in edge locations like factories, offices, homes, stores, vehicles, warehouses and cities have become smaller, less expensive and more interconnected, the Internet of Things has created a significant boost of data created and shared. Organizations in every sector – including business, manufacturing, telecommunications, healthcare, financial services, retail, transportation, government, energy and education – are trying to determine the best way to analyze and capitalize on this data.

What is Edge computing?

In recent years, there has been strong consensus that Edge computing, where the processing and storage of data from IoT devices is located as close as possible to where it’s used, is the next big idea in information technology. Digital transformation, contactless commerce and data-driven decisions are driving the shift to more distributed, hybrid networks that Edge computing can deliver. 

Edge computing is a distributed computing framework that brings enterprise applications closer to data sources such as IoT devices or local edge servers. This proximity to data at its source can deliver strong business benefits, including faster insights, improved response times and better bandwidth availability.

The chief aim of Edge computing is to move data computation away from data centers toward the edge of the network, manipulating smart objects, mobile phones, or network gateways to perform tasks and provide services on behalf of the cloud. By moving services to the edge, it is possible to provide content caching, service delivery, storage, and IoT management, which results in better response times and transfer rates.

The three main factors driving Edge computing are network latency, bandwidth costs and application availability. Let’s take a look at each one:

• Network latency causes poor performance or total failure for time-sensitive or interactive applications that require near-immediate response times. Edge computing shortens distances and requires fewer network jumps to minimize latency and guarantee application viability.
• Bandwidth costs can increase significantly when continuously transferring large volumes of data from edge to core/cloud and back again. Edge computing reduces bandwidth requirements and congestion, while communicating required information to the core/cloud data center significantly more efficiently.
• When an edge location relies completely on a core/cloud data center to process data, productivity is solely dependent on the network connection. If that connection goes down, business stops. Edge computing preserves application availability, even during a network failure, by eliminating the need for constant communication with a core/cloud data center.

How the Edge works

When information is stored in the cloud instead of on the edge of a network, there can be a delay in communicating critical information to the machine. A big advantage of edge computing is that the software can talk to PLCs, CNC machines, robots and large equipment operations network connected to manufacturing equipment. That means that not only is the information accessed much faster but it can quickly be communicated to a machine’s controls and automation network when immediate action may be needed.

For example, if a machine’s sensor measures that the pressure inside a hydraulic line is too great, it can send that information to the edge software where it can be analyzed and communicated to the controls network, which can then tell the valves to adjust the pressure or shut the machine down to avoid an accident or damage.

Essentially, the edge provides important connectivity and functionality that can’t be attained when information is stored solely in the cloud. Edge computing provides a more efficient and effective way to communicate with machinery because it allows read and write capabilities (analysis), rather than just data storage. Edge technology can monitor many variables that affect production and take actions based on equipment performance.

Parker’s Voice of the Machine Edge solution

Parker understands the impact and potential of Edge computing and how it makes businesses smarter, more connected and efficient. Our SensoNODE™ Gold sensors and Voice of the Machine™ Edge software platforms are IoT-empowered solutions that create new, advanced condition monitoring possibilities to reduce downtime and decrease maintenance costs, helping businesses maintain production and improve efficiency.

The technology provides a customized solution that allows data to be pumped and analyzed to wherever the customer needs it. It can be inserted into existing production processes to increase efficiency and affect immediate change when needed. A programmer is recommended to help ensure that the technology is properly customized for customers’ specific applications.

Our Voice of the Machine Edge Software is designed to work seamlessly with a web browser-based user interface. Data is ingested from virtually any industrial asset. Edge allows businesses to run various applications utilizing data at the Edge or send it securely to the Cloud for seamless enterprise integration.

The system’s key benefits include:

• App & industrial driver marketplace: Get started with free drivers such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus RTU, TCP, RS232, RS485 and more.
• Security monitoring: Instantly find anomalies in access, external hacking, and non-permitted data transmission.
• Remote device management: Gateways are capable of being provisioned to
• Voice of the Machine Cloud or other system.
• 3rd party cloud integration: Send processed and filtered data to Voice of the Machine Cloud or other third-party Cloud connectors to enable end-to-end solution creation.
• Private marketplace: Voice of the Machine Edge provides OEMs and System Integrators with the ability to host a private marketplace applications for their customers.
• Easy to use graphical programming interface: An extensive UI and flow-based configurations make solution building simple and easy.

Edge provides several key functionalities necessary for IoT deployment. Using a management UI, Edge enables the distribution of drivers at the gateway level to collect data from almost all legacy industrial protocols. Run applications locally (at the Edge) for quick and effective processing, so you don’t bombard your Cloud infrastructure with unnecessary data.

Features include:

• Industrial device connectivity: Using a simple drag and drop interface, collect data from many different types of legacy or modern systems with Flows. Many downloadable drivers are available.
• Application deployment: Includes an application marketplace where businesses can effortlessly deploy and run docker container applications at the Edge. Applications include data filtering, analytics, data enrichment, rules and alerts engine, and more.
• Secure access: Login/password protected access to gateway with the ability to setup multiple levels of permissions.

Don’t get left behind

Edge computing is quickly gaining traction and changing the landscape of the Internet of Things and how data is utilized, analyzed and communicated all over the world. Now is the time for businesses to consider how converting to Edge computing technology can keep them from getting left behind and can help them strive to be at the forefront of the industry when it comes to data collection, storage and application.

Read more about Parker’s IoT-based condition monitoring solutions including Voice of the Machine™ Edge Software.

 

Article contributed by Marc Williams, IoT project lead, Parker Hannifin Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

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Efficient metro systems stand for the mobility of tomorrow. In order to efficiently advance underground expansion and new construction, clients and construction companies have relied on Herrenknecht's experience and technology for decades. All components that are installed on highly complex tunnel boring machines have to meet high demands regarding vibration resistance. It is one key reason why Parker's High Performance Flanges and EO2-FORM fittings are selected and put to the test in challenging tunnel emissions.
Herrenknecht - a unique manufacturer

The Herrenkneckt company, based in Schwanau/ Germany, is a global technology leader in this segment with around 5,000 employees. It is the only company in the world to supply customized tunnel boring machines for all geologies and in all diameters, technologies for laying pipelines, additional equipment and service packages. Herrenknecht also manufactures drilling equipment for vertical and inclined shafts as well as deep drilling rigs. To date, about 2,500 kilometers of metro tunnels have been built worldwide by Herrenknecht tunnel boring machines. 

Tunneling in different soils

Depending on the geology when constructing rail tunnels, metropolitan subway systems or highway tunnels, various tunneling methods are possible. Modern, industrially operating tunnel boring machines (TBM) make it possible to construct underground routes exactly where they are needed. TBM are adapted e.g. to ground conditions, diameters, depths, gradients, curves along the route. When the tunnel route is in soft soil Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Shield is often used. With this machine type the excavated material is used to support the tunnel face. For more heterogeneous soils, the application range of this machine type can be enhanced by soil conditioning. This means changing the plasticity, texture and water permeability of the soil by injecting various conditioning materials such as water, bentonite or foam - thus providing great flexibility. A screw conveyor transports the extracted material from the bottom of the excavation chamber onto a conveyor belt. The support pressure at the tunnel face is precisely controlled by the interplay between the screw conveyor’s throughput and the TBM’s advance rate. It quickly becomes clear that even the smallest component and hydraulic systems must be able to be relied upon to function reliably over the long term.

Screw conveyor key to transporting overburden

One of the main parts of a EPB Shield is the screw conveyor - where failure "really hurts" in the figurative sense. The soil loosened by the cutting wheel is converted into a paste-like consistency with the help of injected foam in the excavation chamber if necessary. This mixture is conveyed by the screw conveyor onto a conveyor belt for further transport on the back-up of the machine and over long distances throughout the tunnel. The Parker High Performance Flange System (HPF), for example, is one of the connecting elements used for the hydraulic system.

 

"Among other things, we decided on this flange system because it has been proven to be highly resistant to tearing and vibration. Especially the latter is a decisive criterion for the product selection of our tunnelling machines. The compact design of the flanges also supports our fitters when installation in tight spaces is required."

Simon Weisbach, master pre-assembly technician at Herrenknecht

 

The High Performance Flange System is a mechanical flange system for weldless pipe connection systems with pipe dimensions up to 150 mm diameter and maximum wall thickness of 20 mm. The flanges are manufactured according to ISO 6162-1 (3,000 psi= 210 bar), ISO 6162-2 (6,000 psi= 420 bar) and ISO 6164 in sizes from ¾"-5" consist of an HPF insert, the flange body with hardened inner contour, screws and gaskets. The pipes to be connected to these flanges are first flanged from 10° to 37° with the Parker HPF machine in a "tulip shape".

 

 

High performance flanges are suitable for working pressures up to 420 bar with 4-fold safety. They have proven themselves as a replacement for welded systems of thick-walled pipes and the advantages for the user are obvious:

• On the one hand, the time-consuming work steps of classic welding are no longer necessary.
• On the other hand, completely prefabricated high-pressure pipes are delivered directly to the installation site.

"We can install the pipelines immediately," continues Simon Weisbach. An additional advantage is that the flanging process prevents impurities from getting into the tubes. This pays off in the form of a significantly reduced flushing time of the pipelines before commissioning.

 

Parker EO2-FORM fittings for increased vibration resistance

In the area of the horizontally and vertically moving drill head, another Parker product is used, the EO2-FORM fitting series.

"Here, too, vibration resistance played the most important role for our customer when selecting the fittings. The customer uses EO2-FORM on hydraulic lines and pipes. When using the classic cutting ring couplings, incorrect processing can lead to e.g. over-assembly and this could lead to enormous problems when the machine is used later on in demanding underground conditions."

Robert Becker, Parker global account manager for Herrenknecht

The typical features of the EO2-FORM system are the classic EO-2 sealing ring and the cold forming of the tube. The large-volume elastomeric seal plays a major role, especially when used on hydraulic lines. The elastomer effectively blocks the only possible leakage path between the inner cone of the fitting body and the tube surface. The sealing geometry and arrangement are designed so that the sealing effect is supported by the system pressure. 

"The fitters from Jäger, Service Partner of Parker and Herrenknecht, find the cold forming of the tube by the EO2-FORM F3 machine a particular relief. For final assembly, the EO2 sealing ring is simply placed on the tube and the union nut is tightened. This allows the connections to be made quickly and reliably."

Robert Becker, Parker global account manager for Herrenknecht

 

High vertical range of manufacturing for Herrenknecht tunnel boring machines

Anyone taking a closer look at the tunnel boring machines under construction will see how many other products, in addition to flanges, fittings, filters and hoses, are used to build the gigantic machines.

"At Herrenknecht, we have a high vertical range of manufacture. The tunnel boring machines are developed, assembled in our workshops, disassembled and reassembled at the jobsite. But we cannot avoid using the services of system suppliers. It has been shown that our ordering system can be streamlined and the assembly work at the installation site can be significantly simplified if we procure several components from one source. In addition, the Parker service team supports us in the permanent optimization of our machines and gives us valuable advice on product selection and installation techniques."

Josef Gruseck, member of the Herrenknecht management board, who is convinced of the external support.

With Baden's modesty, Josef Gruseck does not mention Herrenknecht's exemplary attitude towards sustainability - a term that is currently on everyone's lips. Depending on the agreement with the customer, the underground pioneer also buys back tunnelling machines after the end of the project, dismantles and overhauls individual parts in order to then re-use them in new business in a resource-saving manner. In this sense: Good luck with the next tunnel breakthrough!

 

 

 

 

 

Article contributed by Thomas Rüdiger, product manager flange systems, High-Pressure Connectors Europe Division and

 

 

 

 

Robert Becker, global account manager Herrenknecht, both Parker Hannifin Corporation

    

 

 

 

 

 

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