Flowserve launches Bluetooth actuator app

Flowserve Corp., a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has released the Flowserve FlowSync™ Bluetooth Actuator App. The cross-platform mobile application provides plant operators with a smarter way to commission, monitor, control and update actuators in a safe and convenient manner.

The FlowSync App offers easy and straightforward configuration and diagnostic options that can be accessed through a touch-screen device (FIG. 1), enabling operators to digitize their equipment and processes and save time and money on the commissioning and maintenance of actuation equipment.

With equal parts durability and sophistication, Flowserve Limitorque^® electric actuators have supported the process needs of customers for decades by delivering reliable valve control in a variety of applications. In addition to providing customers with value through its technical solutions, the company is focusing on elevating the actuator user experience with the Flowserve FlowSync app.

The FlowSync App is available for download in the Apple and Google Play app stores and is compatible with Limitorque MX Series B (MXb) non-intrusive, multi-turn, smart electric actuators in the oil and gas, chemical, commercial power, general industries, petrochemical and water industries.

Compatibility with other Limitorque electric actuators is foreseen as part of future development initiatives.

Plant operators and technicians benefit by using the Flowserve FlowSync app because they can connect easily and securely from safe and comfortable distances to configure or change actuator settings remotely. They also can set up, monitor and control actuators using familiar touch-screen devices and commands.

The app’s dashboard helps users identify conditions or issues by displaying actuator status, valve/actuator position, torque and speed, along with temperature measurements. In addition, fast and reliable expert support from Flowserve support specialists is available through the app.

To learn more about the FlowSync Bluetooth Actuator App and its capabilities, visit Flowserve FlowSync.

Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager

Seeq Corp., a leader in manufacturing and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) advanced analytics software, has released the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager. The solution enables sustainability teams to extend the power of Microsoft Sustainability Manager, a Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability solution, to integrate time series process data preparation, analysis and continuous improvement, reducing the environmental impact of process industry operations.

Analyzing time series data from equipment sensors is critical for measuring sustainability impact at process manufacturing companies (FIG. 2). Microsoft Sustainability Manager enables these organizations to unify their data to record, report and reduce their environmental impact. By leveraging the new Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager, these organizations can extend this experience by radically decreasing data connectivity, preparation, and analytics efforts.

With the solution, the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability data model is incorporated into the Seeq workflow for consistency of emissions data. Process experts leverage Seeq’s live data connectivity and auditable data cleansing, and contextualization capabilities to enrich their time series emissions data, reducing manual data preparation time by up to 80%. Sustainability teams can seamlessly access this contextualized data within Microsoft Sustainability Manager to track direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions for reports and to set and track accurate emissions reduction goals.

In addition to providing access to the operational data for the corporate sustainability teams, the Seeq solution empowers subject matter experts (SMEs) to identify root causes of issues and opportunities for optimization on an asset operations level. These insights provide continuous-improvement feedback as reports and system-wide emissions views are assembled and utilized by corporate teams in Microsoft Sustainability Manager. Real-time collaboration capabilities within Seeq enable asset operations teams to streamline communications with the broader organization, improving cross-functional awareness and emissions management.

For more information, visit www.seeq.com.

Load monitor improves equipment protection, worker safety

ITT Inc.’s PRO Services has introduced the PumpSmart PS30, a next-generation load monitor that uses a pump’s motor as a sensor to protect industrial equipment from common machine failures. Using advanced logic, the user-friendly PS30 shuts down a pump by stopping its motor at the first signs of equipment malfunction, avoiding costly damages and operational disruptions while protecting workers.

Suitable for industries including petrochemicals and bulk chemicals, green energy and municipal applications, new features of the PS30 monitor include a large-format, externally mounted HMI screen to review data and programming, event backlogging capabilities, and the capacity to manage voltages from 100 VAC–500 VAC with a single model.

In addition, three independent alarm relays have been included to notify operators and send a signal to the plant’s distributed control system when failure modes like cavitation or dead head are detected. Easy to mount and maintain, the monitor is also configurable via Modbus, a common serial communication protocol used with programmable logic controllers.

It is designed to ease of operation and reduce the total cost of ownership, and customers that adapt the PS30 will be able to install the monitor independently for retrofit applications with little need for maintenance and upkeep.

For magnetically driven pumps, the PS30 monitors power usage to minimize the risk of catastrophic bearing damage. The PS30 features the ability to set power limits to determine if there are variables to energy consumption and automatically alert the user to these conditions. Notably, customers can also apply future software updates to PS30 units, lessening the need to purchase new products as requirements and technology evolve.

The PS30 will replace PumpSmart’s former PS20 monitor offering for new customers. For more information, visit www.pumpsmart.com/products/ps30.

Largest heat exchanger and exclusive Hastelloy-C Crossflow Exchanger

Aggreko, a leading provider of mobile modular power, temperature control and energy solutions, has launched two new rental heat exchanger fleets, the Large Node Heat Exchanger and the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger. The readily available equipment provides customers in petrochemical and refinery operations with the industry’s largest heat exchanger, as well as the only exchanger made from Hastelloy. Both products are designed to ensure seamless operations for petrochemical plants, refineries and complex chemical contexts by maintaining customer production rates and enhancing the equipment processes.

At 5,700 ft², the Large Node Heat Exchanger is the largest on the market and enables petrochemical and refinery customers to reduce their carbon footprint by replacing several smaller heat exchangers with a single Large Node Heat Exchanger. This makes them ideal for plants and refineries where space is at a premium, while their ready deployment means Aggreko can quickly install the exchangers with limited production disruption.

Made from a unique corrosion-resistant nickel alloy, the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger is designed for particular applications in petrochemical plants, refineries and complex chemical contexts. Unlike other heat exchangers on the market, this material allows for higher resistance to a wide range of corrosive chemicals and gasses. The composition of the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger enables it to meet unique PCR applications beyond the capabilities of typical exchangers, the company says. With the launch of the Hastelloy-C Crossflow Heat Exchanger, Aggreko is the only solutions provider to offer a heat exchanger with this metallurgical composition for PCR customers.

The launch of these two exchanger fleets is the latest step in Aggreko’s ongoing mission to provide temporary solutions to customers that rely on mobile power solutions without compromising reliability or negatively impacting budgets.

To learn more about Aggreko’s heat exchanger solutions, visit https://www.aggreko.com/en-us/products/heater-rentals/heat-exchanger-rentals.

OTORIO secures U.S. Patent for operational network risk mitigation system and method

OTORIO, a leading provider of operational technology (OT) cyber and digital risk management solutions, has secured a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the company’s risk management model and attack graph analysis algorithm. This marks a significant milestone for OTORIO's proprietary technology and further validates the company as a pioneer in the OT security market.

The USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 11637853, "Operational network risk mitigation system and method," for OTORIO's algorithm simulation model, which underpins its end-to-end OT cybersecurity platform. The company’s unique technology calculates OT cybersecurity threats by analyzing and visualizing four key components—threat, likelihood, vulnerability and impact—and provides risk mitigation actions prioritized according to actual exposure and potential impact on operations. This enables organizations to take proactive measures to safeguard their critical assets and processes.

OTORIO’s attack vector graphs offer a dynamic visual representation of network topology for easy navigation between assets, vulnerabilities, their connections and the security controls' influence. This provides crucial context to OT cybersecurity posture, along with concise calls to action, enabling organizations to prioritize and address risk effectively.

These monitoring capabilities empower organizations to proactively manage vulnerabilities and harden security by evaluating the likelihood of incidents across all assets, threats and potential scenarios. Any variations in the security posture serve as a clear signal for proactive measures, enabling organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats and safeguard their operational technology.

The company’s proprietary algorithm incorporates industry-standard metrics and adheres to the NIST CVSS system for vulnerability scoring, ensuring compliance with industry standards and avoiding the need for re-scoring of common risks. 

To learn more, visit OTORIO.com.

Gas and liquid trading marketing application

Quorum Software, a global software leader dedicated to the energy industry, has announced a major release for its eONE application, a leading solution for gas and liquids marketing in North America.

The latest release of eONE includes several new and improved features that deliver additional value for customers such as:

1. Lease contract display, which saves time, reduces errors and enables better decision-making for lease agreements involving purchase or sale at oil and gas lease locations.
2. Petrotranz interfaces that automate communication and data exchange with crude and liquids pipelines, improving efficiency and reducing manual work.
3. Gas accrual process, an efficient workflow for the month-end accrual process, with increased transparency and fewer clicks.

Operating at scale and speed is vital to the success of midstream operators in today’s volatile and competitive marketplace where every interaction, process and minute counts. With these significant eONE enhancements, Quorum’s customers gain even more operational efficiencies, and new workflows for greater accuracy and significantly reduced risk.

eONE has been a trailblazer in the market for advanced gas and liquids trading and marketing software for more than two decades, introducing several significant innovations. Established in the 1990s, eONE serves major clients across North America, optimizing complex midstream processes and enabling informed business decisions. By providing transparency on supply, demand and transportation, eONE maximizes energy delivery performance for small and large-scale energy marketers.

To learn more about eONE, visit https://www.quorumsoftware.com/solutions/midstream/energy-marketing/eone/

Ultra-high-solids epoxy CUI-mitigation coating

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine has introduced ideal solutions to mitigate the dangerous condition of corrosion under insulation (CUI) with its new line of Heat-Flex^® CUI-mitigation coatings. The line includes Heat-Flex^® ACE (Advanced CUI Epoxy), an ultra-high-solids epoxy novolac developed with a functional chemical enhancement for CUI mitigation. The coating performs the best at mitigating CUI out of any other formulation available. In addition, three coatings featuring a high concentration of micaceous iron oxide (MIO) pigment round out the lineup, including Heat-Flex 750 (shown in FIG. 3), Heat-Flex 1200 Plus and Heat-Flex 650. The MIO-enhanced coatings offer significantly improved CUI-mitigation performance compared to similar formulations on the market.

The battle against CUI is never-ending, as coated steel encapsulated in insulation will inevitably corrode over time. All four Heat-Flex CUI-mitigation coatings have passed extensive lab testing, showing good-to-excellent performance in a variety of tests. These tests included various heat cycling, simulated CUI, BS EN 927-6:2016 erosion and dry film thickness (DFT) tolerance testing for thermal resistivity performed on all coatings, as well as cryogenic testing performed on the MIO-enhanced coatings. Heat-Flex 750, Heat-Flex 1200 Plus and Heat-Flex ACE also showed excellent results following ISO 12944-9 CX cyclic anticorrosion testing. In addition, Heat-Flex ACE showed exceptional results in a series of CUI simulation tests performed in accordance with ISO TM21442 in excess of 204°C (400°F).

Representing a new class of CUI-mitigation coatings, Heat-Flex ACE is a complete advancement over other similar coatings on the market. The two-component, organic, ultra-high-solids epoxy novolac coating is solvent free, unlike most other CUI-mitigation epoxies, which typically have between 60% and 80% volume solids. Being an ultra-high volume solids coating, Heat-Flex ACE reduces the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for better environmental stewardship and reduced permitting costs for applicators. In addition, the coating has been developed with a functional chemical enhancement and is free from the flake-filled pigmentation that’s common in alternative CUI-mitigation coatings.

In testing, Heat-Flex ACE far surpassed the capabilities of solvent-based epoxy phenolic and novolac coatings designed for CUI mitigation. For example, it displayed best-in-class temperature, corrosion, chemical and mechanical resistance, while providing the most versatile DFT range among CUI-mitigation coatings.

To better meet the needs of current CUI-mitigation specifications, Sherwin-Williams also enhanced three existing formulations by adding MIO reinforcements. Each coating features a minimum concentration of 25% MIO pigment by weight in the dried coating film, which helps extend the life of the coatings and reduces risk by addressing typical CUI failure mechanisms experienced while in service and during shipping and construction.

The coatings’ heavy load of MIO reinforcements provides greater durability against impacts, chemicals and corrosion when coated assets are insulated and placed into service. In addition, the MIO provides enhanced UV erosion resistance, which protects the epoxy-based coatings from degrading before insulation is installed on assets.

The new Heat-Flex lineup of MIO-enhanced CUI-mitigation coatings includes:

1. Heat-Flex 750: Enhanced with MIO, Sherwin-Williams Heat-Flex 750 is a two-component, high solids alkylated amide epoxy (AAE) coating that offers excellent protection from CUI for long-term asset durability. The coating consistently outperforms comparable alternatives in terms of heat, corrosion, erosion and thermal shock properties. A variety of accelerated testing methods have shown that Heat-Flex 750 outperforms traditional epoxy phenolics and other AAE technologies in a CX environment with excellent rust creep resistance, no adhesion loss or blistering, as well as excellent heat and crack resistance at high DFTs, and minimal chalking and DFT erosion. In addition, Heat-Flex 750 features epoxy-type mechanical resistance, minimizing damage potential during the transport and erection of shop-coated steel. The 78% volume solids coating features much less solvent than other AAE CUI-mitigation coatings, which typically have a maximum volume solids of 65%, helping applicators reduce VOC permitting costs. The product is suitable for temperatures ranging from –196°C–205°C (–320°F–401°F).
2. Heat-Flex 1200 Plus: Sherwin-Williams Heat-Flex 1200 Plus offers robust CUI-mitigation protection for broad-temperature applications ranging from cryogenic to 649°C (1,200°F). That includes application on insulated pipes, valves and process vessels that face very high-temperature service and aggressive cyclic service at high temperatures. As a two-component version of the company’s original Heat-Flex 1200 coating, Heat-Flex 1200 Plus provides added mechanical resistance and corrosion protection even in extreme CX atmospheric environments. The MIO-enhanced inert multipolymeric matrix (IMM) coating is harder than any other silicone-based coating used in the petrochemical industry, providing superior protection from impacts and abrasions during transit and installation, as well as from chemical attacks and moisture penetration. At the same time, the material is flexible enough to withstand the thermal shock of assets expanding and contracting during extreme temperature fluctuations. Heat-Flex 1200 Plus also offers improved corrosion protection and mechanical resistance in extreme atmospheric environments, providing confidence of corrosion protection from the application shop to the field. The coating passes atmospheric testing without a heat cure, saving application shops the time and expense of heat curing.
3. Heat-Flex 650: Finally, for applications requiring high-temperature epoxy novolac phenolic coatings, Sherwin-Williams offers MIO-enhanced Heat-Flex 650. With its higher MIO concentration, the coating represents the next generation of the well-known Sherwin-Williams Epo-Phen™ FF CUI-mitigation coating. Testing proved that the combination of MIO with the epoxy phenolic resin in Heat-Flex 650 provides improved crack and UV erosion resistance compared to traditional epoxy phenolics, with the coating showing positive results for use on pipes, valves and vessels operating from cryogenic temperatures to 205°C (401°F). The coating has a higher volume of solids than other traditionally used high-temperature epoxy phenolics, making it a good choice for reducing VOC permitting costs.

For more information about the entire Heat-Flex lineup of CUI-mitigation coatings, visit: https://industrial.sherwin-williams.com/na/us/en/protective-marine/resources-downloads/oil-and-gas-resources/heatflex-corrosion-under-insulation-coatings.html. HP