October 2007

Moore Industries Announces Free Sensor Giveaway

Moore Industries is giving away a free WORM flexible RTD or thermocouple sensor to any qualified user who wants one. The offer includes a choice of a thermocouple or RTD sensor, 24 inches of extension wire and an installation kit with all the necessary mounting components, including a spring, spacers and a clip. The free WORM sensor will fit into virtually all new or existing thermowells with a 0.260-inch ID. To obtain a free WORM sensor, go to www.miinet.com/freeworm , fill out the form and hit send.

Because the WORM is a flexible sensor, it can fit into existing thermowells that have problems, such as caked debris or those that are sagging from exposure to extreme heat. In many cases, conventional rigid sensors cannot be installed in such thermowells, and the thermowell itself has to be replaced.

The WORM also simplifies maintenance procedures, because a WORM can be “cut to fit” any application. A maintenance tech no longer has to take a dozen different rigid sensors into the field in hopes of finding one that fits; instead, he or she can take a single WORM and trim it to fit almost any length thermowell. This also simplifies spare parts inventories at a plant.

A coating system that can be applied directly by brush, roller or spray to hot surfaces for preventing corrosion under insulation (CUI) and protecting equipment exposed to high heat and severe thermal cycling is available from Dampney Company, Inc. of Everett, Massachusetts.

Dampney Thurmalox 218 Primer/219 Topcoat Protective Coatings are a VOC compliant system formulated for the protection of metal surfaces under insulation exposed to temperatures from ambient to 450°F and many other applications involving continuous and rapid wet-dry-wet thermal cycling. Allowing users to coat hot equipment without shutting it down, they can be applied directly to hot surfaces by brush, roller or spray methods.

Resistant to continuous immersion in ambient, hot and/or boiling water, Dampney Thurmalox 218 Primer/219 Topcoat Protective Coatings are a high solids, high build abrasion-resistant modified silicone formulation. Applications include vessels, reactors, process piping, furnaces, flare stacks, reactors, reformers and other equipment in high-temperature service.

Dampney Thurmalox 218 Primer/219 Topcoat Protective Coatings are available in 1- and 5-gallon kits.  Samples are provided upon request.

Honeywell Introduces HCH-1000 Series Capacitive Humidity Sensors

The HCH-1000 Series is in SIP (single in-line package) form and uses polyimide humidity sensing material; it does not require polarization and is compatible with wave soldering processes for easy installation. It offers a better response time, greater stability, higher maximum operating temperature compared to other competitive offerings and is available in uncased and cased (for dust protection) versions.

Potential applications include humidifiers and dehumidifiers, air conditioning/air movement, hygrometers, humidity transmitters, printer/copier workstations, medical and weather stations.

MTS Enhances Level Plus MG Sensor with Redesigned Temperature Capabilities

MTS Systems Corp., Sensors Division has completely redesigned the temperature sensors for its Level Plus MG digital sensor, increasing capacity to 12 measurement points. With the additional temperature measurement points, the Model MG meets API requirement for the number of temperature points necessary for custody transfer. The temperature sensor is still contained in the Model MG pipe requiring only one process opening for level and temperature measurement. The 3-in-1 sensing of product level, interface level and temperature is suited for applications such as process control, bulk storage and precision inventory control in the petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries.

“The new design provides increased capacity and is expected to increase accuracy, which will make the Level Plus MG sensor competitive with standalone temperature sensors,” said Lee Aiken, level product marketing manager, MTS.

The Model MG is available with either equal or custom measurement point positioning, with a choice of one, five or 12 measurement points. Average and individual temperature readings will measure across the full temperature range of the MG sensor and will output via Modbus.

EIC Solutions, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of thermoelectric air conditioners, also offers compressor-based units, making the company’s product line one of the most complete in the industry.

EIC’s thermoelectric air conditioners are lightweight and feature a simple, efficient solid state design for reliable performance. With no compressors, refrigerants or filters, the air conditioners offer long-term, maintenance-free operation. Thermoelectric air conditioners also have no air exchange between the ambient environment and the enclosure, resulting in complete protection for sensitive electronics.

EIC Solutions’ Thermoelectric models range from 200 to 2500 BTU and are available in NEMA 12, 4X and hazardous location configurations for indoor or outdoor use. Air conditioners operate on AC, DC or AC/DC power and are mounted on the side, rear, front or top of the enclosure. Air conditioners also are available with optional heating capability, rain shrouds, condensate drip pans, through-mount or flush-mount configurations, vertical or horizontal mounting orientations, high temperature alarms, digital temperature controllers, aluminum construction (versus stainless steel), special finishes (i.e. desert tan) and other custom features. 

The company’s compressor-based air conditioners are designed for applications requiring traditional air conditioners and/or higher levels of cooling output. They are available in 1,000 to 24,000 BTU/HR ratings in a wide range of configurations for indoor and outdoor use. Units can be furnished alone or in combination with a NEMA 12 (indoor), NEMA 4 or 4X indoor/outdoor) enclosure. EIC offers the air conditioners with vertical or horizontal mounting configurations in flush-mount or recess-mount designs. The compressor-based models feature a compact design and stainless steel or powder coated steel cover. Popular configurations call for the air conditioners to operate from 120VAC or 240VAC power, though other power options are also available. Units offer “closed loop” cooling, non-CFC type refrigerant and high capacity fans for continuous cooling. Other features include an adjustable thermostat and built-in condensate evaporator tray and/or drain line tubing. EIC Solutions provides a comprehensive one-year warranty with all products.

Ball Corp. Selects Allpax Retort to Test Shaka Process

Ball Corp. has selected Allpax Products’ Research and Development retort to test its containers viability and effectiveness for Shaka and other retort processes. Ball is the first container manufacturer to acquire Shaka testing capabilities.
 
“We chose Allpax because of their machine’s ability to provide every retort process that we need to test our containers in one compact unit,” said Michael Richardson, Ball’s Director of Product Innovation. “The flexible control software allows us to create custom temperature, pressure and agitation profiles quickly, a necessity for our research team. When a customer comes to us for a new container, we can test concepts under the full array of retort process modes and provide detailed results. With the Allpax Shaka R&D retort, Ball continues to invest in technologies that will benefit our customers.”

Shaka technology is a method of batch retorting in which packaged foods, pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals are rapidly agitated during the retort process. Shaka processing provides vigorous agitation in a back-and-forth motion, mixing the container contents thoroughly, allowing for rapid and even heat transfer throughout. The result is a better-tasting product with more appealing color, texture and mouth feel than products processed under other modes of in-container sterilization.

“When a major container manufacturer such as Ball purchases a Shaka R&D, it adds another layer of credibility and enthusiasm for the developing technology,” said Tyler Hudson, Business Development Manager at Allpax. “As a retort manufacturer, we’ve focused on providing our customers with effective machines and research tools to help them answer container-related questions. Our testing has shown significant reductions in thermal process times and dramatically improved product quality. Having container experts bring their knowledge to the process is a key step in the commercialization of Shaka-processed products.”

Frost & Sullivan Recognizes MEMSIC for its Technological Edge in the MEMS-based Accelerometers Market

Based on its recent analysis of the micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based accelerometers market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes MEMSIC, Inc. with the 2007 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Excellence in Technology.

This Award is in recognition of the company’s innovative thermally based accelerometer design that has done away with a number of drawbacks associated with capacitive- or piezoresistive-based MEMS accelerometers.

Capacitive or piezoresistive MEMS inertial sensors suffer from hysteresis, mechanical ringing, and surface adhesion. They are also susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Another significant obstacle for these inertial sensors is the complexity and cost involved in their design and fabrication since they are typically application-specific.

“MEMSIC takes a considerably different approach,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Prithvi Raj. “It has pioneered unique thermal-based MEMS motion sensors that boast of high reliability and low cost, thus making them ideal for high-volume applications typically found in the automotive and consumer electronic industries.”

The company’s accelerometer product family is based on a patented unique thermal technology with mixed signal processing circuitry on a single chip using standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The principle of operation of the sensor is heat transfer by natural convection.

“MEMSIC's sensors measure internal changes in heat transfer caused by acceleration and this is what makes it fundamentally different from all competing technologies available today,” said Raj. “By eliminating the need for a solid proof-mass structure MEMSIC accelerometers sidestep conventional issues present in other MEMS inertial sensors.”

When encountering an acceleration incident, the gas molecules within the sensor act as a proof mass and induce a change in temperature across temperature sensors embedded within the device. As there are no moving parts, MEMSIC accelerometers can withstand a theoretical shock limit of over 50,000 g, which is over five times that of traditional accelerometers. Surface adhesion or static friction is also, thus, eliminated.

MEMSIC’s technology also allows for integration into standard CMOS integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. This helps to keep costs down and scale up production to meet rising demand.

MEMSIC has a proven track record and provides some of the most reliable accelerometers aimed primarily at automotive and consumer sectors. Its accelerometers have the lowest failure rate for any device in its class. Their reliability coupled with low cost open up new applications especially in the coveted consumer electronic sector.

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