More Website Tools for the Taking

One of the ways many valve and actuator companies are appealing to Internet audiences is to offer useful and unique technology tools. Valve Magazine took a spin around VMA member websites and asked companies to share some of what they offer. We found an array of diagnostic and other software, helpful tools such as calculators, and a wealth of informational papers and articles.

SIZING SOFTWARE AND MORE

Cameron International Valves & Measurement has compressor sizing software for free download: eAjax, Superior Compass (basic and complete) and Superior Cascade, which use thermodynamic modeling. Go to the Resources List, Search by Category, and then scroll down to Compressor Sizing Software. At the same location are a configurator (available only to signed-in members), downloadable firmware, plus a number of software programs for cone meter sizing, cooling towers and more.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Crane Energy Flow Solutions has come up with a list of its own experts and listed them on its site. Subjects are broken down by valve type and are further broken into subcategories. Those seeking information can click on the appropriate email address for answers. Also from Crane, the 2009 edition of Crane’s Technical Paper No. 410 (www.tp410.com) introduced Web-based calculators that can solve equations found within the paper.

MORE SIZING SOFTWARE

DeZurik has its Alpha-I Valve sizing program available for free download. While the software is intended for use with Dezurik’s own valves, the reference material provided includes a good deal of universally useful information, tables and equations.

SIZING, MONITORING AND MORE

Dresser (now GE Energy) has a good selection of material, available at both the Dresser Masoneilan and Dresser Consolidated websites under the heading of “Customer Tools.” Included are descriptions and demos of ValvKeep, fully-customizable valve maintenance and management software that enables the user to keep a centralized database of the service and repair histories of pressure relief valves, control valves and other equipment; ValScope Pro valve management software; EVT, an in-situ electronic valve tester; and the ValVue Lite Software Suite that allows the user to monitor the device information, change its operation state, set and stroke the valve, operate the PID, and perform calibration, configuration and tuning.

Available for direct download are the ValSpecQ sizing, selection and specification tool (includes an interface with Intergraph’s INtools program), plus a set of digital communications software packages for company products.

VIDEO LIBRARY, SIZING HELP AND TUTORIALS

Emerson Process Management has a video center that offers a host of educational demo videos on a number of technical topics related to the types of products the company makes. The videos review the features of the specific technologies and explain how they work. The topics are divided into different categories including Valves & Regulation, Systems & Software, Wireless, Safety, Measurement & Analytical and Asset Reliability. Each video features Emerson technical experts that focus on their area of expertise, and each of the categories have dozens of videos that show hands-on how the technology works. There’s also a good selection of technical articles written for industry magazines by Emerson people over the years.

In addition, Emerson’s ASCO Valve business has a set of interactive valve sizing programs for liquids, gases and steam, plus a unit conversion calculator.

In the regulator area, Emerson’s Fisher unit has a series of tutorials on regulators in PDF form. Titles include Regulator Control Theory, Regulator Components, Introduction to Regulators, Principles of Operations & Regulator Sizing Theory, Vacuum Control, Valve Sizing (Standardized Method), Temperature Considerations, Sulfide Stress Cracking, Reference, Glossary, and a Complete Technical Section.

FINDING THE RIGHT PRV

Farris Engineering (a division of Curtiss-Wright Flow Control) offers a free download of SizeMaster Mark IV, a tool that can help size and select the right pressure-relief valve for a job. The tool calculates the pressure relief valve orifice area required to relieve any process scenario or combination of scenarios (such as blocked flow, fire vapor generation or liquid expansion), under best-case and worst-case conditions. The tool is available at no cost to registered users.

DIAGNOSTICS PLUS

Flowserve has a diagnostic solution for control valves that can be integrated seamlessly into a host control and/or plant asset management system. The tool has an intelligent diagnostic engineer that can detect emerging performance, safety or environmental problems with the valve, actuator or positioner and advise on corrective actions. Flowserve (www.flowserve.com, see “Online Tools”) also has a tool for selecting steam traps and an accompanying guide. The steam trap tool uses criteria such as upstream pressure, condensate load, nominal connection size, pressure class and other critical variables, and the guide covers the basics of steam traps in specific processes. In addition, the company offers a sizing and selection tool for its control valve products that configures valve packages suited to a customer’s application. The tool has intelligent application rules that provide more efficient sizing and includes tools for common calculations such as Cv, noise, cavitation, sigma, warnings and other parameters.

There is also an Automated Drawing System that enables the user to generate a dimensional product drawing that will then be sent by email. Also, you’ll find a link to FlowStar equipment management software.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Mueller Co. has an interesting collection of material, including a unit conversion calculator and a set of pipe engineering information. There is more material available from some of Mueller’s Water products subsidiaries: Henry Pratt Company has some interesting reading matter, including a white paper, “Manual Actuators for Use with Large Size Butterfly Valves,” which compares traveling nut actuators (scotch yoke and link lever) to worm gear actuators for large butterfly valves; an excerpt from a 2006 Hydro Review article entitled “Using Valves to Manage Water Flows;” and an application case history entitled “Designing Outside the Box.

Another Mueller Water products subsidiary, Milliken Valve Co., has several application case histories and a technical article from Valve Magazine entitled “Energy Conservation Through Increased Valve Performance & Efficiencies.”

SOFTWARE, VIDEOS AND ARTICLES

Richards Industries Valve Group, Inc. (Jordan Valve) offers downloadable software that helps in selecting the correct valve for a particular application. Also included are: videos on installing repair kits, visual maintenance guides, a sliding gate valve Flash demonstration; videos on Blowing Steam and Flash Steam to help with distinguishing flash steam vs. true steam leak videos; and articles written by the company’s engineers.

ELECTRIC ACTUATOR SIZING GUIDE

Rotork’s sizing guide allows the correct electric actuator to be selected for all valve types and sizes, taking into account power supply, enclosure types and mechanical interfaces. The latest version includes hand wheel-gearbox combination sizing for all types of manually operated valves, ensuring efficient valve operation at user-specified hand wheel “rim-pull” force. For both electric actuator and hand wheel sizing, selected combinations of details provide comprehensive information for specification, inquiry or a quotation. Access requires opening an account on line to access the company’s Internet portal.

Rotork also has an e-learning site with training tools—a series of modules aimed at anyone who must commission and use the company’s actuators and associated equipment in the field. The modules consist of interactive learning solutions that will take around 30 minutes to complete.

STEAM RESOURCES

Spirax Sarco, Inc. has Steam Engineering Tutorials, a line of educational modules explaining the principles of steam engineering and heat transfer as well as a providing a comprehensive engineering best practice guide that covers all aspects of the steam and condensate loop. The company also has redesigned its steam needs analysis tool to be a Web-based tool. It is a sizing and selection software program that guides users through a Q&A format that allows them to select products for specific needs. It includes application information as well as a library of engineering tools. The company also offers a number of site calculators for valve sizing, pipe sizing, startup and running losses from tanks and pipes and more.

SIZING PRESSURE RELIEFS

Tyco Flow Control has a pair of downloadable valve sizing software packages. First is PRV²SIZE valve and vent sizing and selection software that provides sizing for all types of pressure relief devices. It includes low pressure tank protection products as well as regulators, in a single sizing and selection platform. There is also Yarway ARC Sizing, a Web-based Automatic Recirculation Control (ARC) Valve sizing software application for the company’s Yarway products.

LOTS OF LINKS

UniTorq Actuators & Controls has a page of useful links to international standards and other organizations, including ISA—International Society of Automation, ISO—International Organization for Standardization, ODVA—Open DeviceNet Vendor Association, IEC—International Electrotechnical Commission, DIN - Din Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V, ANSI—American National Standards Institute, Standards Council of Canada, Standards Australia, SEMI On Line, Industry.Net, Fieldbus and Industrial Wireless Networks.

SOFTWARE…AND A MAGAZINE

Velan Valve Corp. has a collection of catalogs, industry brochures, product certificates and the like, but there is additional material available to logged-in members (which requires online application and an approval process). Available tools include print literature requests and online access to restricted documents; online registration for upcoming Velan events, conferences and training seminars; VELPRO valve specification software; and VELCERT, to create MTRs and retrieve Certificates of Conformation.

In addition, visitors to the Velan site can read or download a copy of the company’s new magazine, Velan View.