The Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk Solids · 2017-05-28 · The Global Leader in Valves for...
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The Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk Solids The Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk Solids Vortex® News & Events from around the globe. OCT-NOV-DEC 2010 ■ Case history reviews on specially engineered valves ■ Spotlight on Paul Deegan ■ New agents in Europe ■ Tour the new Tech Centre ■ Vortex offers food-certified valves ■ Not-So-Serious Desk challenges your IQ ®
Transcript of The Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk Solids · 2017-05-28 · The Global Leader in Valves for...
The Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk SolidsThe Global Leader in Valves for Dry Bulk Solids
Vortex® News &Events from around the globe.
OCT-NOV-DEC 2010
■■ Case history reviews on specially engineered valves
■■ Spotlight on Paul Deegan■■ New agents in Europe■■ Tour the new Tech Centre■■ Vortex offers food-certified
valves■■ Not-So-Serious Desk
challenges your IQ
®
www.vortexvalves.com
Versatile Materials Equals Versatile Valves
The characteristics of dry solids are endless…bulk density, flow-ability, abrasiveness, corrosiveness, particle size, shape, temperature sensitivity, stickiness, hygroscopic traits, degra-dation, and saltation points are just a few. Matching the right valve to mate-rial characteristics and application parameters is essential for successful processing.
If a valve is not designed correctly for the material and proc-ess, the costs can quickly stack up. This includes produc-tion downtime, lost or wasted material, inaccurate weighing, conveying inefficiencies, atmospheric leakage, unneces-sary parts inventory, frequent maintenance cycles, and increased safety risks.
Since 1977, Vortex’s pivotal ethos is that any valve design should start with the characteristics of the dry solid it is intended to handle. Once you accept that premise, it fol-lows that valve designs need to be as multi-faceted as the materials they work with. Vortex has compiled a wealth of dry material handling experience, from Acrylonitrile Butadi-ene Styrene to Zircon. From that direct experience, Vortex has developed over twenty-one standard product lines, with a wide range of modification options to cope with the vast range of dry solids and variations in operating conditions. Despite this range of catalogued products, nearly 40% of all projects Vortex executes in a given year could be consid-ered bespoke.
As a result of this wider engineering capability, Vortex is equipped to tackle just about any dry solids handling situa-tion. In four decades, we have accumulated countless case studies and the following examples are typical in that their solutions are unique.
Case History One: Cross Over Seal Tite™ DiverterA laundry detergent manufacturer was looking to replace a stack of flapper diverters handling soda ash. The challenge for Vortex was to produce a gravity diverter valve to route two different mixes of soda ash, from two source bins, to either of two production lines.
Welcome to QL!Welcome to the latest edition of Quantum Leap! As many of our read-ers know, the varying characteristics of dry solids mean that no particular slide gate or diverter design is a “one-size-fits-all” solution. The wrong valve configuration can result in downtime, material loss/waste, inaccurate weigh-ing, conveying inefficiencies, atmospheric leakage, unnec-essary parts inventory, frequent maintenance cycles, and this list goes on and on!
With all of this in mind, this issue of QL will spotlight Vortex’s unique engineering capabilities and expertise. With 33 years of dry material handling experience and a comprehensive knowledge of material characteristics, our customers can rely on Vortex engineers to meet the demands of each ap-plication every time. This dedication to solutions-based en-gineering has saved our customers tens of thousands, and in some cases millions, in efficiency gains over the years.
On behalf of everyone at Vortex we would also like to wish all of our readers, a very happy and safe holiday season. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this edition of Quantum Leap!
Warm regards,
Jeff Thompson, CEO & PresidentSalina Vortex Corporation
Vortex’s Corporate Headquarters in Salina, Kansas - USA continued on page 3
By Travis Young, Vice President Global Business Development
www.vortexvalves.com
A Vortex Cross Over Seal Tite Gravity Diverter, model ZEC10-2SS-30-2X2-RTP solved the problem. In addition, a 200mm (8”) Vortex Orifice Gate™ was installed above each inlet port (A and B) to provide material shut off from each source bin. Equipped with an electric actuator and built-in potentiometer, the special Cross Over Seal Tite Diverter al-lows the customer to convey material from:
• source A to destination C• source B to destination D• source A to destination C and source B to destination D at the same time• source A to destination D• source A and B (at the same time) to destination D• source B to destination C• source B and A (at the same time) to destination C
Although a minimal amount of cross-contamination was acceptable in this application, a special seal was installed to minimize migration of material to the off leg. The seal is designed to come in contact with the blade seal when the blade is in the vertical position. State-of-the-art manufac-turing technology, including laser cutting and TIG welding, reduce heat distortion and allow for closer tolerances within all Vortex Seal Tite Diverters. The Vortex Cross Over Seal Tite Gravity Diverter gave the customer a dependable valve, better material seal, and additional options for their material routing process.
Case History Two: Conveying and WeighingA regional bakery producing cookies needed to increase plant efficiency and expand its product line. At this time the plant conveyed a single grade of flour from four silos to seven weigh hoppers. During the production expansion, however, the company added a fifth silo and an additional weigh hopper.
A combination of valve models provided the per-fect answer to the bakery’s problem. Through the installation of Vortex Multi-Port and Fill Pass Divert-ers (stacked two high), the new process allows various grades of flour to be se-lected from any of the five silos and conveyed through two conveying lines to any of eight weigh hoppers within the facility.
While the Multi-Port automates the transfer of product from multiple sources to multiple destinations, the Fill Pass diverts flour from the conveying line into the hoppers, provides positive shut off of conveyed material and offers a faster fill time for each hopper.
Case History Three: Two Sources to Eight DestinationsWhere donuts are made on a commercial scale, bakeries need to handle bulk flour efficiently. A national producer in the USA was equipping a new facility for automated flour conveying and premixing when it approached Vortex for a special diverter.
The plant was designed to pneu-matically convey graded flour, from two sources, to any of eight pack-aging stations. In order to facilitate automatic switching of material to the different destinations the Vortex solution was a Vortex Cross Over Wye Line Diverter™, model number D6-2ALY-SL-MG-P10-SB-X. The diverter’s special design allows con-veyance of material from either, or both of two sources to either, or both of two destinations. Material may be conveyed from:
• source A to either of destinations C or D• source B to either of destinations C or D• source A to C and source B to D at the same time• source A to D and source B to C at the same time
Each destination port (C and D) of the Cross Over Diverter is attached to a Vortex 4-way Wye Line Diverter. Source A conveys to any of destinations 1 through 4 while source B
continued on page 4
B
C D
A
C
A
D
B
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conveys to any of destinations 5 through 8. This is easily switched allowing source A to convey to any of destinations 5 through 8 while source B conveys to any of destinations 1 through 4. Simple!
Case History Four: Coffee Bean DistributionFor some solids, particularly foods, any build up of mate-rial in a valve is undesirable, as it can cause spoilage. This was the case for a leading multi-national coffee processor handling whole coffee beans. Vortex was required to engi-neer and manufacture a unique distributor, utilizing shut-off valves to deliver coffee beans from a single feeder to four separate convey lines. The design specification allowed no internal ledges or areas where material could build up. To meet the customer’s needs we manufactured a transition with a 375mm (15”) inlet with four 200mm (8”) outlets. In order to avoid any dead pockets, all joints were welded and a four-sided pyramid was designed into the centre of the valve. Four 200mm (8”) Roller Gates where used to control flow through the outlets.
Flexibility and Ingenuity
This handful of case studies hardly covers the thousands of individual projects that Vortex engineers have dealt with over the years. But they illustrate a fundamental principle held by our company – that the endless variation in dry solids characteristics, compounded by the many different demands of processors, requires real flexibility and ingenu-ity in valve design and construction. QL
For more information about Vortex’s engineering capabilities, please contact one of our global offices:
Vortex Valves North AmericaSalina, Kansas – USATel: +1-785-825-7177Email: [email protected]: www.vortexvalves.com
Vortex Valves Europe LtdDarlington, United KingdomTel: +44 (0) 870 770 9861Email: [email protected]: www.vortexvalveseurope.com
Vortex Valves Europe GmbHFrauenfeld, SwitzerlandTel: +41 52 721 21 77Email: [email protected]: www.vortexvalveseurope.com
Vortex Valves Asia PacificPudong, Shanghai – PRCTel: +86 (0)21 5835 0100Email: [email protected]: www.vortexvalvesasia.com
Vortex Valves Latin AmericaTel: +1 785 309 2138Email: [email protected]: www.vortexvalvesamericas.com
www.vortexvalves.com
Who’s Who at VortexPaul Deegan, Product Development Manager
Prior to his career at Vortex, Paul Deegan was an Armor officer in the U.S. Army for 10 years serving at Ft. Knox, Ft. Riley, Korea and Iraq. Paul holds a BS degree in Metallurgical and Material Engineering from Colorado School of Mines.
Paul joined Vortex as a Design Engineer in 2006. He quickly learned the ropes at Vortex and is currently Vortex’s Product Development Manager, who oversees the development of new products as well as supporting Vortex’s efforts in devel-oping valves that require special modifications or designs to meet and exceed customers’ expectations.
Describe what you do as the Product Development Manager? I manage the projects that are in development which include new products and upgrades to existing prod-ucts. I am involved at various levels of each project ranging from designing the actual valves and managing individual projects to oversight of other projects.
What projects are you currently working on? It is an exciting time for Vortex because we are developing several new valve lines both in industries that we are familiar with and many that we are not. Our immediate focus is products for use in highly sanitary systems. We are also working on a knife gate for use in high temperature and high pressure applications.
What do you like best about Vortex? I enjoy what I do and the people with which I work. When I was in the Army I looked forward to going to work everyday and when I left I was worried that I wouldn’t find a similar job but my job at Vortex has been even better.
What changes are in the future for the engineering field? The tools we use, such as design software, are get-ting increasingly better and allowing us to visualize designs and design faster. Manufacturing techniques and machinery are also getting more sophisticated allowing us design com-ponents that were previously too difficult or too expensive to manufacture.
Outside hobbies? I enjoy restoring old cars, working around the house and spending time with my family. My wife Manda is a violinist with the Salina Symphony and also
Vortex Establishes New Agents in the UK and DenmarkVortex is pleased to announce the appointment of International Procurement Limited (UK) and Special Powder Technologies (Denmark) as agents.
IPL specialises in providing valve solutions for clients in the food, petrochemical, power generation, pulp, and mineral industries. Special Powder Technologies is based in Federicia, Denmark and specialises in a wide range of material handling and conveying systems. QL
INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT LTD.International Procurement LtdBlue House Point RoadPortrack Industrial EstateStockton-on-TeesClevelandTS18 2PWUNITED KINGDOMTelephone: +44 (0)1642 625495Fax: +44 (0)1642 625496Email: [email protected]: www.ip-ltd.net
SP TECHNOLOGIESHovedkontorStrevelinsvej 367000 FredericiaDenmarkTelephone: +45 76 24 04 71Fax: +45 76 24 04 72Email: [email protected] Website: www.sptech.dk
plays both violin and viola with other regional symphonies. She also teaches private violin and viola lessons. My son Jaimisen is a 6th grader at South Middle School. He is learning to play the drums and enjoys football and reading.QL
www.vortexvalves.com
Vortex Unveils UK Technical Centre
Darlington, UK -- Vortex Valves Europe Limited recently opened a new Technical Centre to support UK and Northern European based clients. The Technical Centre supports a wide range of fully operational valves with testing and refur-bishment capabilities. Since its initial unveiling in October, it has already hosted several courses on valve design and application for dry bulk solids. If you are interested in know-ing more about theTechnical Centre, please contact Vortex Valves Europe Limited by telephone at +44 (0) 870 770 9861 or by email at [email protected]. QL
Top photo: Clients can experi-ence the working valves in the demo room.
Above photo: Work centre offers a place to disassemble and rebuild valves.
Right photo: Office offers spacious room for meetings or R&R.
Vortex Meets the Demands of Global Food Contact RequirementsFor many Vortex customers the issue of food contact in handling systems is a primary concern so it is vital to us that our quality and safety accreditation meets food industry standards in all respects.
The question, “Is it food-safe?”, arises in particular with valve seals and seats, where these are manufactured in polymer materi-als governed by food industry regulation. Seal materials used by Vortex in food applica-tions include Nylon 6,6, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE).
In short, we ensure that our polymer suppliers provide full certification of compliance with the requirements of both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union. In Europe these food contact materials must be acceptable under the framework regulation EC 1935/2004 and appropriate EU Directives.
By using certified, approved materials we make sure the safety basics are covered. But there can be operating temperature limitations and other factors that can apply to specific foodstuffs. Contact our technical staff at your near-est Vortex location for any information related to valves and food contact. QL
www.vortexvalves.com
Quantum Leap Staff:
Editors:
Travis YoungEmail: [email protected]
Russ BarragreeEmail: [email protected]
Layout and Graphics:
Lisa JohnsonEmail: [email protected]
Industry Affiliations & Events:
EuroBulkSystems
Powder and Bulk Engineering
Vortex’s quality management system is registered to ISO 9001:2008.
www.vortexvalves.comwww.vortexvalves.com
From■the■Not-So-Serious■DeskWe believe those that tune into the Not-So-Serious-Desk for its intelligent and thought provoking content, must have a higher IQ than the average Hominidae. This might explain why MENSA has decided to put NSSD on their Preferred Publication List.
To prove our theory, this edition of NSSD will challenge your telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon, cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata (collectively known as your brain) to an unprecedented test of mental might.
The■Not-So-Serious-Desk’s■“GI”■(General■Ignorance)■TestAre you smarter than a Lumbricus Terrestris? This more intelligent edition of the Not-So-Serious-Desk features our own General Ignorance Test. Be careful, the most obvious answer may be incorrect! One point for a right answer, but minus-one for anything which is incorrect! Send your answers to [email protected] and see how you scored. Those with the highest scores will be published in the next edition of NSSD.
Also, avoid the temptation to cheat (example, Googling answers). You’ll only be cheating yourself!
The editor of the Not-So-Serious-Desk contemplates the smooth four
dimensional Poincaré conjecture.
1) Jean Luc’s father has five sons named Ten, Twenty, Thirty, and Forty...Guess what would be the name of the fifth?
2) Complete the series. 9 = 4, 21 = 9, 22 = 9, 24 = 10, 8 = 5, 7 = 5, 99 = 10, 16 = ?, 17 = ?
3) There is a casino and it has 4 gates (let’s name them as gate A, B, C and D). Every time you come inside the casino, you have to pay $5 and every time you leave the casino, you again have to pay $5. Also know that, whatever amount of money you carry with you inside the casino, it doubles. For example if you carry $5, it will become $10. You have to go inside the casino through gate A, come out of B, again go inside the casino through gate C and finally come out of gate D. Now, how much money should you carry inside the casino so that when you finally come out of the gate D, you should be left with no (zero amount) money?
4) Which country’s name means “Big Village” when translated to English?
5) Can a Dutch man legally marry his widow’s sister?
6) Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10, what is the answer?
7) In the city of Boa Sorte, Panama you cannot take a photo of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?
8) Some months have 31, how many have 28?
9) In the “Pac-Man” video game, what are the names of each ghost?
10) Which country features an AK-47 assault rifle on its flag? Al■knows■the■answers.
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Interesting■Exam■Answers■from■the■Future■Leaders■of■Humanity
Rejected■Vortex■Ad■of■the■Month! Who kicked the most tail in the 1970s?
The vote is in and the winner is… Bruce Lee
Congrats to Jaime Gomez Ramirez of Indisa S.A., Medillin, Columbia
…your Bruce Lee poster should arrive soon!
At Vortex, our people have an unusual pas-sion for valve design. Some have labelled us as Geeks, Nerds, and even Dweebs. It doesn’t bother us. We take comfort in ridding the world of problem-atic valves.
It is a hard job, but somebody has to do it.
