Like any other mechanical or industrial process, maintaining your control valves also play a big role in keeping the quality of the process at its peak condition. But keep in mind that there are different kinds of valves that can be seen in most mechanical counterparts. Today, we’ll be talking about the control valves.

To give you a brief idea, control valves play an active role in any industrial plant. They act as the “backbone” seeing as they are responsible for most flow and movement of things. These parts control the pace of fluids, chemicals, gas, and steam. These components are all vital parts of making an industrial plant work. This alone makes maintaining your control valves an important factor in the maintenance department.

What are control valves used for?

Aside from the ones mentioned above, control valves entail a heavier purpose in the process. They are responsible for product quality, maintenance, and safety. Keep in mind that these are also important factors when running an industrial plant, and control valves help promote these elements to perform well. With that said, let’s take a closer look at how control valves promote the product quality, maintenance, and safety of industrial plants.

Product Quality

What entails high-quality products are a flawless process execution. If there are any hiccups or mishaps that happen with a well-oiled process, then this will impact the quality of the products. Hence, the importance of perfectly functioning control valves. Let’s just say if one of the elements gets affected, then this impacts the entire process completely. It may have a chance to be a problem with product quality as well.

Maintenance

Every mechanical instrument whether it be as small as gadgets or as big as industrial plants, every one of them needs maintenance to ensure optimum performance for years and years to come. Now come to think of it, control valves are actually one of the most important aspects of processing. This knowledge is sometimes even neglected by most electrical engineers. But as we’ve mentioned above, control valves also play a very important role in industrial plants as they hold and control the pace of fluids, chemicals, gas, and steam. If not maintained well faulty control valves has the capacity to damage the industrial plant’s bottom line. With this said, daily maintenance checks are preferred to ensure that they are working well with the entire industrial plant process.

Safety

They say that the littlest things make a huge impact, well this also applies to control valves. Control valves are also key holders for safety in the industrial field. Loose screws may lead to explosions, high temperatures are also deemed unsafe, and low-temperature levels may create defective products.

Control valves: The possible problems

Like all matters of electricity and technology, control valves are also susceptible to faults. Control valves, when plagued with the most minor errors can become big problems in the long run. When the fault is part of an entire process then it may easily affect the performance of the whole. Remember, control valves are an important part of the process and are needed to function more precisely the entire day. Here are some of the possible control valve problems that you need to watch out for…

• Cavitation
• Flashing
• Erosion
• Valve leakage
• Choked flow
• Stiction
• Hysteresis
• Deadband
• Valve noise

Preferred maintenance strategy for control valves.

Fluke specializes in maintenance tools and test tools. If there’s a preferred maintenance strategy to apply in control valves, it’s definitely with the use of Fluke Precision Loop Calibrator. You’ll never know how accurate and handy Fluke tools are when it comes to analyzing faults and problems. This is an all-in-one tool to analyze quickly and efficiently any going on in your machines or in this case, your control valve.  

However dependable Fluke tools are, there will always be other best ways to maintain your control valves. One of the best ways is to continuously monitor and document the performance of your control valves every time you do maintenance testing. This way, you’ll be able to take note of any changes and adjustments made.

Get your Fluke tools through an authentic source!

Hey, you made it to the bottom! Are you currently looking for the best-performing test tools in the market to run daily maintenance checks on your machines? You’re in luck cause Presidium PH is an authorized distributor of Fluke test tools in the Philippines. Prevent these faults from penetrating your machine by using the best test tools there are!

If you want to know more about Fluke tools and their functions, visit our website for more info! This is a one-stop shop for the best test tools within Metro Manila. 

Sources:

• https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/learn/blog/calibration/assessing-control-valves-and-their-performance
• https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/learn/blog/calibration/control-valve-positioners
• https://www.wermac.org/valves/valves_control-valves_principles-of-operation.html
• https://automationforum.co/what-are-the-problems-in-a-control-valve-and-how-to-do-the-troubleshooting-and-maintenance-of-a-control-valve/
• https://www.dombor.com/101-guide-to-control-valve-troubleshooting-and-maintenance/

Gas is known as the third state of matter. It might not be easily visible to the naked eye but we can feel it. We consume gas by breathing the air and through compressed gas systems. How do we even use compressed gas systems and how do we handle them?

What is a compressed gas system?

A compressed gas system is a gas or mixture of gases in a container having an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also be a liquid having a vapor pressure. Usually, it is toxic, flammable, oxidizing, corrosive, or inert.

Uses of compressed gas systems

1. Schools. It might sound odd but yes schools use compressed gas systems. It is used in science and engineering buildings, shops, retail, and campus dining.
2. Laboratories and factories. It contains gases that are used for different experiments.
3. House. Your liquefied petroleum gas is a form of the compressed gas system! That’s why you must turn off your regulator to secure the gas from leaking and being in contact with heat.

Dangers imposed by compressed gas systems

1.  It may cause a fire. Since it is made of gases that are usually flammable, a small leak from a compressed gas cylinder is already a big threat to safety.
2. May cause health hazards. Gases that are not naturally inhaled by our body are tagged as a hazard already. Some gases may lead to nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and breathing difficulties.
3. Compressed gas cylinder explosion. Due to the elevated level of pressure inside a compressed gas cylinder, improper handling of it may result in a violent movement that might result in an accidental explosion.

Proper handling of compressed gas cylinders

Here’s a list of the proper handling of compressed gas cylinders from the University of Florida. You can visit their website listed on the source to check for more.

1. Secure all compressed gas cylinders and stick them to racks, walls, wall benches, or hand trucks with a strong chain to avoid the cylinder from falling over.
2. Report all questionable gas cylinders immediately to the supplier for correction or replacement.
3. Label all cylinders properly to identify the contents.
4. Only trained personnel can transport and handle gas cylinders.
5. Put in areas with adequate ventilation.
6. Do not violently strike a gas cylinder. Protect it from any impact of any kind.
7. Keep cylinders far away while in use to avoid contact with sparks, flame, or heat.
8. There should be a valve protection cap on every cylinder unless connected to a regulator.
9. Pair it with a functioning gas regulator when in use.
10. Do not connect any accessory equipment with any improvised hookups or adapters.
11. Close the cylinder valve after using it and release the pressure.
12. Empty gas cylinders must have closed valves.
13. Handle empty and full cylinders with care.
14. Do not direct any high pressure on anyone.
15. Evacuate, seal and isolate the area with a hazardous gas cylinder.

Most Adept Fluke Tools for Compressed Gas Systems

Fluke ii900 Sonic Industrial Acoustic Imager

This ergonomic and rugged acoustic imager is best used to detect leaks right away. Produced with safety as the primary concern, hence it can also be used even in noisy environments at a safe distance. With a 7-inch LCD touchscreen that shows the visual image for quick leak location identification, you won’t have a hard time looking at the measurements. It keeps your files organized by image and video tagging, annotation, and organization using folders. It visualizes the sounds that it detects from small leaks in compressed air, gas, and vacuum systems.

Fluke ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager

This acoustic imager can detect areas with insulators, transformers, high-voltage powerlines, switch gears, arrestors, busbars, high-voltage coils, breakers, and capacitors. This is an all-in-one tool for all your leaks and issues. You have full mobility and flexibility in using this acoustic imager because it has no secondary cables or devices needed. It uses the SoundSight technology that translates sounds into visual representations. This is voltage electricians, electrical test engineers, and a grid maintenance team approved!

Get your Fluke tools through an authentic source!

Hey, you made it to the bottom! Are you currently looking for the best-performing test tools in the market to run daily maintenance checks on your machines? You are in luck cause Presidium PH is an authorized distributor of Fluke test tools in the Philippines. Prevent these faults from penetrating your machine by using the best test tools there are!

If you want to know more about Fluke tools and their functions, visit our website for more info! This is a one-stop shop for the best test tools within Metro Manila.

https://presidium.ph/shop/?wlfilter=1&product_cat=fluke-industrial-imagers

Sources

https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/learn/blog/leak-detection/compressed-gas-systems

https://www.wisconsin.edu/ehs/hazmat/compressed-gases/#:~:text=The%20OSHA%20Hazard%20Communication%20Standard,104%20psi%20at%20130%20deg.

https://www.osha.gov/compressed-gas-equipment

https://www.ehs.washington.edu/research-lab/compressed-gas-cryogenic-fluids

https://ehs.princeton.edu/book/export/html/208

https://www.ehs.ufl.edu/about/policies/compressed-gas-cylinders-use-and-storage/

Air is one thing we can’t live without. We cannot see it but we feel it and we need it. But with all the commercialization that’s happening around us, air quality is one thing that declines as time goes by. How can we assure that we are still breathing clean air that’s good for us and does not cause us any problems?

What is air quality?

Air quality is the measurement of how clean or polluted the air is. Monitoring air quality is essential because polluted air is not healthy to breathe in. Air is mostly composed of nitrogen and oxygen – two of the most abundant gases on Earth. However, it contains small portions of other gases and particles. Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure air quality. AQI detects the following pollutants that may be present in the air that we breathe :

• Ground level ozone
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Airborne particles, or aerosols

Ground-level ozone and carbon monoxide are the leading pollutants that are present in smog (smoke plus fog). These are the pollutants that pose a threat to health. The ozone layer that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun also helps us keep the air quality on Earth. Ground-level ozone is produced when the sunlight reacts with chemical emissions. These chemical emissions are commonly found in industrial facilities and emitted by cars as well.

Steps in measuring indoor air quality

1. Locate moisture intrusion

As moisture enters a structure through joints and cracks, it may result in mold build-up. Molds may not be concerning at first but as it accumulates it may pose a serious threat to a structure. When the molds’ spores have already germinated, they may produce substances that are harmful to humans.

2. Monitor heat loss

Heat loss occurs in areas with cracks or breaks in building seals. Thus, checking the temperature in and out of the structure will tell you immediately if there are problems. Regularly checking the temperatures along the ceilings, floors, walls, windows, doors, vents, and pipes is important to monitor their state and spot any changes. Infrared thermometers can be used to scan those to locate the heat source and spot broken seals.

3. Measure indoor air quality

Measuring air quality promotes the overall health and productivity of the environment. It includes the measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, airborne particle concentrations, and levels of carbon monoxide gases. Using an airflow meter, we can measure the movement and pressure of air in the building. This will help us to assess the condition of the ventilation and exhaust systems.

4. Examine furnaces and boilers

Performing a scan of the furnaces and boilers will indicate the spots that need repair. CO2 levels also tell us if there are problems with the exhaust system or if there are any leaks around the area.

5. Verify HVAC system performance

HVAC, also known as Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning system is the system used for moving air between indoor and outdoor areas. It also includes heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings. Also, they include a filter to maintain a healthy level of humidity for the optimal comfort of the people. Since the HVAC system may run 24/7, especially for commercial buildings, it might be prone to electrical system failures.

Fluke Tools that work best in measuring air quality

There are different steps in measuring air quality. Thus, it is important to use reliable and durable tools for it. Do you still have no brand in mind? Fluke is the way to go! Known to deliver quality products that give accurate measurements, Fluke tools will help you make quick decisions. Here are the top Fluke tools you can use to measure air quality.

1. 561 HVAC Infrared & Contact Thermometer

This lightweight contact thermometer is used for measuring things at a distance. It measures temperature that ranges from -40°C to 550° C (-40°F to 1022°F). It can measure small objects and large areas without the need to shut down the equipment. This handy and easy-to-use IR thermometer can measure hot, moving, or electrically charged objects while keeping you safe.

2. Fluke 971 Temperature Humidity Meter

This compact and lightweight Humidity meter has a backlit display that will help you view the measurements even when it’s dark. The low battery indicator will inform you right away when it’s time to charge the meter again. It measures temperature range from -20 °C to 60 °C (-4 °F to 140 °F)  and relative humidity from 5% to 95%.

3. Fluke 985 Particle Counter

With its long battery life, you can work with it the whole day and measure a ton of essentials. The Large 3.5 QVGC Color display is for easy navigation and viewing with intuitive icons and large font options. The memory can store 10,000 record storage that gives you quick access to historical data. Data can be viewed in a traditional tabular or trend graph view at the user’s preference so you can personalize it based on what suits you better.

Get your Fluke tools through an authentic source!

Hey, you made it to the bottom! Are you currently looking for the best-performing test tools in the market to run daily maintenance checks on your machines? You’re in luck cause Presidium PH is an authorized distributor of Fluke test tools in the Philippines. Prevent these faults from penetrating your machine by using the best test tools there are!

If you want to know more about Fluke tools and their functions, visit our website for more info! This is a one-stop shop for the best test tools within Metro Manila.

Sources:

https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/learn/blog/energy-efficiency/best-tools

https://www.greencap.com.au/news/2021-07-moulds-damaging-impact-risk-review

https://www.petro.com/resource-center/what-is-hvac

https://scijinks.gov/air-quality/#:~:text=Air%20quality%20is%20a%20measure,Air%20Quality%20Index%2C%20or%20AQI.

https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/product/temperature-measurement/ir-thermometers/fluke-561

https://www.fluke.com/en-ph/product/building-infrastructure/indoor-air-quality-testing/fluke-971

https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/building-infrastructure/indoor-air-quality-testing/fluke-985

Little do people know, but battery storage systems actually play a big role in providing renewable energy while still meeting electricity demands. So, yes, if you’re still wondering what these battery storage systems are for, it is definitely not your typical stock battery at the back of the room. Battery storage systems are a one-of-a-kind tool that is beneficial in providing quality electricity without compromising nature’s health. 

What does it exactly do?

Battery storage power is a far cry from the batteries we put behind children’s toys and remote controls. Let’s give a more vivid explanation of how battery storage systems work. As we’ve mentioned above, it is a big contributor to providing renewable energy while not falling short of being a remarkable source of power in the industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. So to sum it up, these systems run on renewables such as solar power and wind power. 

These solar and wind power is stored in battery storage systems and is then reserved and used if the situation calls for it.  

How important are battery storage systems?

The simple fact that they encourage the use of green energy is already a valuable feature that is prized in electrical-related industries. Considering that anything power related is tagged as a plague to natural resources, battery storage systems are greatly favored in ensuring that the power supply can never run out. 

Just imagine, if the electrical supply only relies on, electric-generating machines, what of it if one of them falls short? This will only entail costly maintenance and repairs. On the other hand, if you have a source of power that relies on natural resources, then this will eventually be more beneficial in terms of having a more reliable and steady energy supply. 

Possible faults of battery storage systems?

Batteries are susceptible to faults because of their sensitive nature. This is why daily maintenance checks need to be in the works for these kinds of systems to prevent such defects. Just how sensitive are we talking about? They are preferred to work best between a given temperature. They must be between 15 and 35 °C so that they can prevent possible malfunctions. 

So to say, these kinds of batteries when exposed to low pressures can slow down the electrochemistry. Meanwhile, when they are at higher temperatures, this would allow corrosion to seep in. This is also why most batteries are placed in places that are shaded and well-ventilated. 

Terminal corrosion can also be a suspect for battery storage system faults. This happens when you tend to overcharge electrolyte leaking from overfilling with water. However, there are ways to remove corrosion and that’s by using antioxidant material. Make sure to check with your manufacturer if they have recommendations. 

The Fluke techs to use to ensure optimum performance!

With all of these faults possibly infesting your battery storage systems, you need to have the best of the best test tools there are. Fluke tools specialize in providing only the best quality test tools to ensure that your machine has zero issues. These yellow-holstered tools are trusted by professionals in different industries and sectors in the entire world! 

So, if you want to make sure that your battery storage systems are working well and fine for the next year to come, make a good investment by purchasing one of the finest test tools on the market.

You must be wondering, what’s the best Fluke tool to check up on Battery Storage Systems, considering that there are more than a hundred different Fluke tools in the market that specializes in different mechanical faults and maintenance issue. But given our topic for today, the best Fluke tool for the job must be the Fluke Battery Analyzers.

Get your Fluke tools through an authentic source!

Hey, you made it to the bottom! Are you currently looking for the best-performing test tools in the market to run daily maintenance checks on your machines? You’re in luck cause Presidium PH is an authorized distributor of Fluke test tools in the Philippines. Prevent these faults from penetrating your machine by using the best test tools there are!

If you want to know more about Fluke tools and their functions, visit our website for more info! This is a one-stop shop for the best test tools within Metro Manila.  

Sources:

• https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-battery-storage#:~:text=Battery%20storage%2C%20or%20battery%20energy,when%20customers%20need%20power%20most.
• https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/479891/handbook-battery-energy-storage-system.pdf
• https://www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/blog/renewable-energy/battery-storage-systems
• https://energystoragesolutions.com/maintenance-work-storage-system/