Sanitary Steam Traps and the Role They Play in Temperature Validated Steam-in-Place

This video explains the role of the steam trap in successful temperature-validated SIP. Courtesy of Steriflow. Click here to watch video.

Steam trap design and operation play a fundamental role in successful temperature-validated SIP. If the steam trap does not open at the correct time and temperature to drain condensate, it can adversely affect heat-up time and whether the temperature hold is successful. It will negatively affect your revenue because of asset startup delays if it isn't.

SIP (Sterilize, or Steam In Place) is timed sterilization of the upstream and downstream biopharmaceutical production train using clean Steam. It is part of a 5 step sanitization routine that occurs after every production batch and follows the final rinse after CIP (Clean In Place). SIP ensures that every square inch of the production train that comes in contact with drug substance inputs, drug substance, or the final drug product is "sterilized" to ensure no microbiological activity in the system.

Clean Steam (made from USP Purified Water) is circulated through all of the process tubing during this stage and enters large vessels through spray balls embedded in the vessel ceiling.

SIP is a temperature-validated process, meaning that sterilization events are proven by measuring the event's temperature and recording the data. The minimum sterilization regimen requires the injection of clean Steam into all piping and vessels for at least 1/2 hour after reaching a minimum temperature of 250°F (121°C). If the temperature falls below 250°F (121°C) during the temperature hold period, a temperature validation fault gets logged, and SIP repeats.

Validation temperature sensors (usually RTD's) are placed at the condensate outlets of process equipment to ensure that the sterilization temperature meets the specific regimen designed for the process system. The sensing elements are usually designed with integral sheathes and Tri-Clamp™ connections and clamp directly to tubing tees, or the element inserts into a Tri-Clamp™ thermowell connected to the tee. The sensors usually are twelve to eighteen (12 - 18) inches (300 - 450mm) upstream of the clean steam trap where the condensate exits the piping or vessel.

Hile Controls

800-536-0269

https://hilealabama.com

Kayden Instruments CLASSIC™ Series Thermal Dispersion Flow, Level, Interface & Temperature Switches & Transmitters

Kayden Instruments is a leading manufacturer of flow, level, interface & temperature products in the process control community.

Their products assist organizations in the global oil and gas, pipeline, power, mining, chemical, transportation, water and wastewater, food, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, plastics, pulp & paper, and semiconductor industries to improve process efficiency.

Features that make their CLASSIC™ 800 standout amongst the competition:

Patented Design

• Kayden’s patented designs provide the ultimate performance and features package for flow, level, interface, and temperature sensing.
• Kayden’s products combine precision welded, highly accurate sensors, extremely rugged enclosures, and advanced digital electronics.
• The CLASSIC 800 Series combines the failure resistance inherent in Thermal Dispersion technology with the performance and features usually reserved for much more expensive instruments.

Universal Power Input

• Some manufacturers require upfront specifying of all options, such as relay-energized mode, at the time of order. Still, with the Kayden CLASSIC 800 series, you can select your choice of operation modes by simply pushing a few buttons.
• The universal power input capability of the Kayden CLASSIC 800 series provides flexibility for use in all power input situations.

Discrete & Analog Outputs

• Modbus registers via RS-485 4-20 mA analog representation of Thermal Signal.
• Two SPDT sealed relay contacts rated @ 4 amps resistive 230 VAC or 24 VDC maximum.

Adjustments

• Adjustable Set Point Deadbands
• 4 Adjustable Independent Switch Point Timers

Advanced Diagnostics

• Kayden’s CLASSIC 800 series uses an advanced microprocessor to perform continuous self-test diagnostics on the electronics and the sensor elements.
• Any open or shorted connection will result in a FAULT indication that deactivates all relays and disables the heater circuitry.
• An internal watchdog circuit ensures that the microprocessor code is performing as expected, and a secondary external watchdog circuit confirms the microprocessor itself is functioning. Both circuits force the contacts open, illuminate the Fault LED, and force the heater off in a malfunction, preventing the possibility of a “run-away” heater or a high thermal offset.

Intelligent User Controls

• The Kayden CLASSIC 800 series Display Panel features very bright LED indicators for easy viewing even in direct sunlight.
• An adjustable power-on Start-up Bypass Timer is accessible from the Display Panel for low-flow alarm pump protection applications. This feature makes it possible to disable a pump on low flow and have it automatically restart after a predetermined time in the event of a power interruption.
• Four adjustable delay timers introduce repeatable time delay into the (setpoint) relay trip function. For example, in a pump protection application, this function will shut down the pump after the switch sensor has gone “dry” for the pre-set time (delay) limit.
• The Kayden RCM (Remote Communications and Monitoring) Software allows all the settings to be configured remotely and saved as a file, transmitted as an email attachment, and printed for future reference.
• The Kayden RCM Software includes the option of locking the CLASSIC 800 Series Display Panel to eliminate field adjustments or tampering.
• Modbus allows multiple Kayden units to be connected to the same communications bus (via RS-485) and monitored simultaneously.

For more information about Kayden in Alabama, Mississippi, Western Tennessee, and Florida, contact Hile Controls of Alabama. Call them at 800-536-0269 or visit their website at https://hilealabama.com.

Non-intrusive, Non-invasive Fluid Identification and Condition Monitoring with Perceptive Sensor Technologies

Did you know there's an innovation that can now identify any fluid inside any sealed container, or that you can continually monitor and detect fluids in a closed pipeline or tank? Well it is possible to do with real-time and spot-check accuracy using Perceptive Sensor Technologies patented technology.

The technology was originally developed by the us government to monitor treaty agreements pertaining to chemical weapons, specifically as an efficient way to inspect artillery shells and ensure they did not contain chemical agents. If they did, the sensor also identified the chemical agent inside the artillery shell.

Perceptive Sensor Technologies controls the patented technology and is introducing this technology to the worldwide marketplace to fill an unmet demand to efficiently track and monitor liquid materials. 

Here's how Perceptive Sensors Technologies works:

Just like every person has an identifiable fingerprint, at any given temperature every fluid has a one of a kind acoustic signature fingerprint. When a sound wave travels through a fluid, it produces a unique identifiable measurement. Perceptive Sensors patented science produces an acoustic signal, measures it, and computes the signature to accurately identify the fluid authenticity. This technology offers fast, reliable, and economical inspections. It's easily scalable it works on any sealed container, pipeline, machinery, or system now. Any fluid can be strategically spot-checked or continually monitored to expedite transit, manage product quality, deter theft, and find contraband.

For more information about this exciting new technology contact Hile Controls of Alabama. Call them at 800-536-0269 or visit their website at https://hilealabama.com.

Your Choice for Process Control Instrumentation - Hile Controls of Alabama

When you need pressure, temperature, level, flow, gas detection or analytical instrumentation, think Hile Controls of Alabama.  Hile provides process instrumentation for the oil and gas, chemical, power, plastics, mining, water and waste water, pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and government-related industries. Located in Pelham, Alabama, Hile Controls of Alabama proudly serves the states of Alabama and Mississippi, as well as Western Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle.

https://hilealabama.com
800-536-0269

Wrap Up 2017 for Hile Controls of Alabama

The current year is closing out quickly. Here at Hile Controls of Alabama, we want to extend our thanks to all those that have supported our business and provided us with opportunities to build and improve our business and yours.

A number of product line expansions were put in place this past year.

• The Eurotherm product line was expanded to include programmable automation controllers.
• Equipment enclosure cooling equipment is now part of the Hile Alabama product mix with addition of the Advanced Cooling Technologies product line.
• HART communications software from ProComSol delivers consolidated solutions for working with HART based transmitters.
• Tektrol products for flow, level, temperature and pressure measurement, and control valves and analyzer systems empower our applications team to meet even more customer requirements and challenges.
• Premier Industries, a designer and manufacturer of proprietary specialty gas and hydraulic regulators, valves, and systems for a diverse range of applications and markets, is now represented by our company.

In addition to new products, we also continued to train and learn, in order to better meet whatever challenges we face. We look forward to every opportunity to serve our customers in the new year.

Product Overview: Autrol America Smart Transmitters for Process Measurement and Control

Smart Pressure Transmitter
Courtesy Autrol America, Inc.

Autrol America provides pressure measurement instruments for process applications throughout every industrial segment. Pressure measurement, as an application, involves a wide range of special challenges which must be accommodated by variations in the instrument configuration and capability. Pressure measurements are used broadly for determining flow, level, and the degree of gauge or absolute pressure in a vessel or pipe. Smart transmitters provide a host of useful functions that include unit conversion, diagnostics, error detection, transfer function, signal processing, and more. Signal transmission via 4-20mA, or communication using HART for Fieldbus protocol, provides the level of connectivity needed for control systems of all types and any scale.

In the Autrol line, you will find and extensive variety of configurations and variants to meet the specific needs of almost every application.

• Absolute pressure transmitter
• Gauge pressure transmitter
• Differential pressure transmitter
• Coplanar pressure transmitter
• High pressure transmitter
• Direct flanged pressure transmitter
• Remote mount pressure transmitter with diaphragm seal
• Nuclear products pressure transmitter
• Flow transmitter with rate and totalizing functions

A product overview flyer is included below. Share your process measurement requirements and challenges with an application expert, combining your process knowledge with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Product line illustration for Autrol America - Industrial Pressure Transmitters from Hile Controls of Alabama, Inc.

Turbine Flow Meters for Process Measurement and Control

Turbine Flow Meters
Courtesy Flow Technology

Hile Controls of Alabama represents Flow Technology Inc., a manufacturer of turbine, magnetic, ultrasonic, and positive displacement flow meters utilized in process measurement and control. The company also manufactures flow meter calibration equipment, and they have summarized some useful information regarding turbine flow meters into a concise white paper, which is included below. The paper provides a description of how a turbine flow meter operates, and continues with a short narrative of turbine flow meter advantages for certain applications. Calibration procedures are also outlined, with a combination of technical and non-technical language that provides useful information and understanding to the expert and not so expert reader. Concepts are illustrated to provide additional clarity.

Browse the paper. The text portion is just a few pages. Share your flow measurement challenges with a product specialist and combine your process experience with their product expertise. That is where the best solutions come from.

Selection and Calibration of a Turbine Flow Meter from Hile Controls of Alabama, Inc.