June 2008
Volume XIV, Number 6
Big Ideas in Fluid Handling

Measuring a 1% Gain In a $4.5 Billion Market
Newer Technologies Continue Upswing in Flowmeter Space
Many claims have been made about the extent to which new-technology flowmeters are replacing traditional forms of flow measurement. The markets for ultrasonic, Coriolis, and vortex flowmeters, some say, are growing far faster than those for positive-displacement and turbine flowmeters, as end-users choose reliability and accuracy over the moving-parts designs and periodic maintenance that goes along with such systems. All this is true, but how fast is the transition from old to new occurring?

The Value of OEM Valve Remanufacturing
Tighter NAR Requirements Call for More Technical Expertise
Today, many products moved by rail are considered hazardous. As a result, the focus of railroads and the federal government is to eliminate non-accidental releases (NARs). The integrity of the valves used on rail tank cars is the most important component in reducing the number of NARs.

Performing Under Pressure
How Physical Properties Affect Units of DP
Pressure can be defined as the force acting on a surface divided by the area of the surface. This seems rather straightforward, but common practices can make expressions of pressure confusing and can result in measurement errors.

Cheat Sheets: The Affinity Laws
Considering the Relationship Between Pumps & VFDs
In an earlier article in this series on the “Cheat Sheets,” I stated, “At 1,800 RPM, the impeller diameter in inches, multiplied by itself (or squared), is approximately the shutoff head of the pump in feet.” (“Unwritten Pump Rules,” Mar. ’08, page 40). That article, and those words, sparked some comments from readers, many of which can be answered by the Affinity Laws.

QUIZ CORNER:
Pressure Measurement Errors in Steam Service
What is the approximate pressure measurement error when the transmitter is located 10 meters (approximately 30 feet) below the flow element in an 80 bar steam header when the pressure measurement is not corrected for the pressure generated by the condensate in the seal?

VIEWPOINT:
At Your Service?
Here at Flow Control, we’ve had an ongoing debate since I took over as editor of the magazine in October 2003. The discussion revolves around Reader Service Numbers and my belief that this mode of providing reader’s information about the advertisements and products featured in the magazine is, essentially, archaic and outmoded. In fact, I suspect some of you may not even know what a Reader Service Number is, and that just further proves my point … but I digress.

Big Ideas in Fluid Handling
2008 Flow Control Innovation Awards Nominees
The Flow Control Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize industry's most compelling advances in fluid handling technology, showcasing new product releases in the categories of fluid measurement, control, and containment. The following products represent the finalists for this year's Innovation Awards program. We are asking you to evaluate these products and vote for the technologies you believe to be the most innovative. As an incentive to vote for this year's Innovation Awards, we are offering all voters the opportunity to enter a random drawing to win an Apple iPod nano MP3 player (see sidebar on voting page for details).