Solutions for electronics cooling.

The Chomerics Division of Parker Hannifin has released an updated version of its catalogue for thermal interface materials (TIMs). Providing a comprehensive overview of Parker’s solutions for electronics cooling applications, the latest catalogue includes all recently released TIMs, as well as a new dispensing guide to help customers ensure a correct and consistent application.

Many new-generation electronic products offer higher power in a smaller package, intensifying thermal management challenges for OEM and CEM electronics companies in the telecommunications, IT, consumer, power conversion, medical device, defence and transportation markets. To help engineers overcome these issues, Parker Chomerics showcases a wide range of TIMs in its updated catalogue.

For example, Parker Chomerics’ gap fillers (THERM-A-GAP™ series) come in two different types: gels and pads. Gels are low-closure-force, electrically isolating, fully cured materials that users dispense into place, while gap filler pads are highly conformable to accommodate an even wider gap range.

The updated catalogue also features Parker Chomerics’ THERMFLOW® phase-change materials. OEMs and CEMs can place these thin pads between a heatsink and semiconductor where they change phase into a liquid at higher temperatures to achieve a very thin bond line.

THERMATTACH® thermal tapes have adhesive on both sides to hold a heatsink in contact with an IC component without the need for mechanical fasteners, while another focus product in the updated catalogue is the THERM-A-FORM™ range of potting and underfill materials. Users can dispense these one- or two-component silicone elastomer materials prior to subsequent curing in place, whereas thermal gap filler gels are already cured when dispensed.

Other solutions highlighted in the updated publication include:

• The CHO-THERM® series of dielectric pads. As well as offering thermal conductivity, CHO-THERM higher-closure-force pads for discrete power devices are electrically isolating.
• Parker Chomerics’ heat spreaders (T-WING® range), which utilise two different thermal transfer methodologies: conduction to remove heat from an integrated circuit and convection air flow over the product to remove that heat from the assembly. These thin heat spreaders are suitable for use in restricted spaces.
• Thermal greases (T series), silicone-based pastes with a thermally conductive filler material that draws heat away from a heat-generating component on a circuit board while filling very thin bond lines.

To complement the products, the updated catalogue offers added value to engineers with its new dispensing guide for thermally conductive gels, cure-in-place potting compounds and thermal greases. There is also a section on heat transfer fundamentals, ensuring readers fully understand this key electronics application before formulating ideas about the optimal solution.

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@ParkerChomerics @ParkerHannifin @NapierPR #PAuto #Electronics

Shielding for high-temperature.

Breakthrough for electronic device designers seeking complex, non-rectangular gasket profiles.

The Chomerics Division of Parker Hannifin has launched their SOFT-SHIELD 3800, an electrically conductive fabric over silicone foam EMI shielding and electrical grounding gasket for low closure force and high temperature electronics applications. The first product of its type to reach market, SOFT SHIELD 3800 profiles come in complex and unique non-rectangular shapes, and are an extension of the conventional rectangular profiles within Parker’s existing SOFT-SHIELD 3700 series.

Both SOFT-SHIELD 3800 and 3700 are economical solutions to EMI shielding and grounding for electronics applications across various sectors. The product offers 100 dB shielding effectiveness in the range 20 MHz to 10 GHz.

Among the applications that can benefit from these innovative products include computer server faceplates and inserts, consumer electronics, electronics enclosures, door seals, and EMI window and vent gaskets.

With an operating temperature range up to 125°C, SOFT-SHIELD 3800 is ideal for applications exposed to high heat, supported by a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating.

In terms of composition, SOFT-SHIELD 3800 comprises an electrically conductive nickel-plated copper polyester taffeta weave fabric wrapped around open-cell silicone foam. This abrasive- and shear-resistant wrap-around technology grounds the gasket from point to point, representing an electrically conductive solution to eliminate EMI gaps.

The new solution offers additional benefits to customers, as Ben Nudelman, global market manager, Chomerics Division, explains: “This product typically requires less than 80g/mm of closure force for effective electrical contact. It also takes less than 10% compression set, delivering reliable and repeatable shielding performance over the service life of the device. SOFT-SHIELD 3800 represents a first-class shielding and grounding alternative to traditional spring finger type products.”

RoHS- and REACH-compliant, dozens of standard SOFT-SHIELD 3800 parts are available in bulk or cut to length. In addition, Parker offers custom profiles upon request. The product comes with conductive or non-conductive PSA adhesive, or without.

@ParkerChomerics @ParkerHannifin @NapierPR #PAuto 

Filters protect generators.

Invenergy has selected Parker’s clearcurrent™ ASSURE filters for its new high efficiency gas turbines at the Lackawanna Energy Center.

Pic: Invenergy Lackawanna

The 1,480-megawatt Lackawanna Energy Center in Jessup, (PA USA) is one of the most efficient power plants in the United States. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including three of GE’s latest H-class gas turbines which provide net efficiencies greater than 60% in combined cycle mode and faster start-ups, this combined cycle facility is significantly more advanced than earlier generations of natural gas plants. The ability to generate energy more efficiently reduces environmental impact and improves the sustainability of energy production in the future.

The move to GE H-class turbines is a significant investment and includes the installation of Parker clearcurrent™ ASSURE filters. These highly innovative filters are specifically engineered to protect the intricacies of the latest high efficiency gas turbines. Based on decades of knowledge and experience with turbine installations for power generation, these filters have been tested far beyond standard requirements and were specifically engineered to ensure gas turbine performance, reliability and availability are not compromised and that the system is protected from damage caused by contaminates in the airstream.

“The H-class turbines provide us with significant increases in performance and responsiveness to energy demands,” said Jason Carey, Plant Manager at Invenergy. “By producing energy more efficiently, we are also reducing the environmental impact of the plant. Having invested in this technology, the clearcurrent™ ASSURE filters give us peace of mind that this performance has optimum protection to ensure its ongoing performance, reliability and longevity.”

For the Lackawanna Energy Center, clearcurrent™ ASSURE filters compliment the upgrade to the latest gas turbine technology. The purchase of H-class turbines reflects the future of power generation in the greater Pennsylvania area and with clearcurrent™ ASSURE filters, Invenergy is protecting that investment.

@ParkerHannifin @ParkerUKandIE @ParkerProcess @bcm_pr #PAuto #Power

Five million deliveries!

HMS Industrial Networks has shipped its five-millionth Anybus product to Parker Hannifin — a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. The five-millionth Anybus is an Anybus CompactCom B40 which is to be used in one of Parker’s new valve control unit. Anybus CompactCom will enable these valve controls to communicate on any fieldbus or industrial Ethernet network and consequently be used in any type of application, anywhere.

The 5,000,000 Anybus unit is presented!
From left: John Garbarino, Business Development Manager, Tim Faillo, Global Program Manager,Erick Rudaitis, Senior Market Development Engineer, all Parker Hannifin; Kevin Knake, Executive Vice President & General Manager HMS Americas; Dan Maurer, Sourcing Manager, Parker Hannifin; Rob Lodesky, Sales, HMS Americas

Anybus CompactCom products are interchangeable communication products which are integrated into industrial devices to provide connectivity to different fieldbus and industrial Ethernet networks. Once the Anybus concept is implemented, it is possible to switch to another network by simply changing to another Anybus module.

The five-millionth Anybus product that was delivered to Parker Hannifin is an Anybus CompactCom B40. This is a stripped-down version of CompactCom without housing, connectors and network isolation giving the user a lot of freedom when designing the product. The Anybus CompactCom is to be used in Parker’s new valve control system which is just going into production.

Parker Hannifin and HMS have been working together successfully for more than 10 years.

John Garbarino explains why they have chosen Anybus for their new valve controls: "Parker Pneumatic Division North America and Europe chose the Anybus CompactCom B40 from HMS for several reasons. It provides network flexibility because it can be flashed to meet regional fieldbus or Ethernet protocol preferences. CompactCom also provides design flexibility since form factors include chip, brick, and module versions.”

Kevin Knake, Executive Vice President of HMS Market Unit Americas comments: "The Anybus communication products have support for all the major fieldbus and industrial Ethernet networks that Parker Hannifin requires in their valve controllers and this enables them to connect to the various control systems used in automation technology. We are very happy that Parker Hannifin continues to trust in HMS as their industrial communication partner when launching this new state-of-the art valve controller."

@HMSAnybus #PAuto @ParkerHannifin 

Fast drinking water analyser optimises treatment.

An advanced precision analyser has dramatically reduced the time and complexity of measuring trihalomethane levels in drinking water at Anglian Water (GB).

Photo: Anglian water

Capable of analysing samples in less than 30 minutes, with no reagents or sample preparation, the powerful instrument has been supplied by the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin.

Anglian Water is the first water company in Britain to install the technology. During the last five years, the company has invested more than £100 million in drinking water improvements, surpassing some of the most stringent quality targets in the world. In July 2015, Anglian Water took the strategic decision to further enhance its water treatment and supply processes by installing an in-house trihalomethane (THM) sample monitoring and analysis system.

In England and Wales, water supply regulations enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) set a maximum limit of 100 micrograms/litre for total THM concentration. Water supply companies therefore closely monitor THM levels to ensure compliance with this regulatory limit and maintain water quality and safety.

Until now, like many water supply companies, Anglian Water has relied on a laboratory for THM analysis. This involved sending samples to the laboratory and waiting for the results. Anglian Water therefore decided to look for an alternative on-site method which would take pressure off its laboratory and deliver a same-day result.

The THM Analyzer that Parker has supplied is an integrated purge-and-trap system connected to a compact gas chromatograph column and a very sensitive surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector. It provides a completely self-contained solution for real-time measurement and analysis of THM concentration levels, down to as low as 1 part per billion (ppb) for each individual species of THMs. The analyser can measure chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform – the four species that make up total THMs – to within 10% accuracy.

Mark Berry, Innovation Project Manager for Anglian Water, said: “Using the Parker THM analyser we are now able to measure THM concentrations in-house, and in less than 30 minutes. We are currently analysing over 20 samples a week and have found the system to be very easy to use. Aside from the potential cost-saving benefits, the much faster analysis capabilities provide scope for further improvements in operational efficiency.”

Mark Berry adds, “We’re always looking for new technology and innovation to help us deliver a more efficient service for our customers, keep bills down and ensure we protect our environment and drinking water quality. This is a great way to do that, and we’re really pleased to be the first water company in the UK to use it.”

Graham Johnson, Downstream Applications Product Manager for Parker’s Instrumentation Product Division, highlights the significance of the Anglian Water order, “This is the first THM analyser that we have supplied in Europe, following its recent CE marking. The feedback from Anglian Water is very positive and we believe that there is a ready market for this versatile type of water quality monitoring and analysis equipment throughout Europe. Along with its speed and simplicity of use, the analyser’s annual running costs are very low – the only consumables are high purity helium and concentrated standard solutions for verification runs.”

Parker supplies the THM analyser as a complete turnkey package. The high purity pressure regulators and precision control valves for its helium carrier gas system are manufactured by the company’s Veriflo Division.

@FestoAG #PAuto @AnglianWater

Oil giant standardises manifolds.

Total RC, the refining and chemicals arm of French oil giant Total SA, is standardising on manifolds produced by the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies. The decision follows several years’ extensive temperature, pressure and corrosion testing of products from different manufacturers – Parker is the first company to have secured a 100 percent pass rate.

Under the terms of the contract, Parker will supply all the instrumentation manifolds that Total RC needs for new installations and upgrades across its entire European base of refining and petrochemical operations. Most of the company’s requirements will be for manifolds designed to connect process transmitters to ANSI Class 1500 or 600 piping, together with some for use with pressure gauges and lower rated instrumentation tubing.

The manifolds cover a diverse range of 2-, 4- and 5-valve configurations. They all either feature flanged inlets and outlets, or utilise Parker’s PTFree connect system. All of the Class 600 and 1500 manifolds that Parker will supply under this contract are NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 compliant and rated for service in sour gas (H2S) environments. All metallic components are manufactured from heat code traceable 316 stainless steel. The valves are high performance globe style bonnet designs, with externally adjustable sealing glands and Graphoil packing. Every manifold includes steam trace ports for heat tracing and all vent valves feature anti-tamper bonnets.

Tube connection breakthrough speeds assembly of instrumentation systems.

A breakthrough in high integrity tube connection technology offering instrumentation system designers and installers major performance and time-saving advantages is now available from Parker Hannifin. 

Designed for working pressures as high as 22,500 PSI (1,550 bar), the new ‘flared cone’ technology advances the performance of compression style tube connections. It provides users with a simple and reliable means of speeding the assembly of instrument tubing systems for use in higher pressures applications in the oil and gas industries.

Developed by Parker Autoclave Engineers, the new flared cone connection (FCC) technology is a significant advance on the type of ‘cone and thread’ tube connections pioneered by the company. 

The new flared cone connections are much simpler to make up (see pic right). Installers can typically complete the task in less than four minutes, after only minimal training. This time-saving can result in significant cost reductions on installations with a large number of tube connections. Flared cone connections are also especially cost-effective in applications where leaks caused by vibration are an issue.

According to Michael O’Keane, Product Marketing Manager for Parker Autoclave Engineers, “Our new FCC technology offers the best of both worlds. It combines the make-up and installation simplicity of compression style connections with the strength of cone and thread, and has more features and higher pressure capabilities than similar technologies.”

Parker Autoclave Engineers’ patent-pending FCC technology is based on a single sleeve compression style system. However, unlike conventional designs, the tube end is flared to prevent any possibility of ejection – and also provides the connection’s primary metal-to-metal seal. When the gland nut is tightened, the inside surface of the anti-ejection flare mates with a cone in the fitting or valve. The compression sleeve then mates with the body of the component to form a second, redundant, metal-to-metal seal. This dual seal approach has a major reliability benefit; in the unlikely event that the primary seal fails, the secondary seal preserves the integrity of the connection. Installing a flared cone connection is simply a matter of screwing the gland nut into the fitting or valve and tightening it to the prescribed torque.

Challenging offshore North Sea project will use special anti-corrosion instrumentation from Parker!

An offshore oil and gas project that will site new offshore platforms in challenging conditions in the North Sea has selected high-reliability valves and tube connection fittings from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin.

Gina Krog 1847-1916

Named after the pioneering Norwegian feminist  Gina Krog, the new oil and gas field is located some 250 km west of Stavanger (N). The offshore platforms for the Gina Krog project will be constructed rapidly. Parker anticipates that this could result in more than £10m of orders over the next 12 months for its Barnstaple facility - which employs over 200 directly and many more at local subcontractors.

Parker estimates that it will supply at least 10,000 individual valves, tube fittings and other components for this project, as well as some 10 kilometres of tubing. These will be used to construct liquid and gas instrumentation systems that will measure parameters such as temperature, pressure and flow to help control gas and oil and processing operations.

As well as manufacturing using high-grade stainless steel materials, this project will make extensive use of titanium and the 6Mo steel alloy in key parts of the fluid tubing systems. These specialist materials are required to combat the threat of corrosion, which is a major problem in harsh offshore environments such as the North Sea.

Parker's know-how about machining valves and fittings using 6Mo and titanium, and its proven supply chain for these specialist raw materials, were important factors in securing this business. Another key aspect was the global nature of the Parker business, as the engineering and construction work for Gina Krog is taking place in numerous locations around the world.

"In the oil and gas production sector today there's an intense focus on extending equipment lifetimes and eliminating the threat to reliability that corrosion brings. The know-how that Parker has built up in the area of anti-corrosion materials is bringing us considerable success," says Parker Hannifin's Andy Guest. "A large proportion of our production output is now manufactured from corrosion-resistant alloys instead of more conventional stainless steels."

"Our products have a performance edge because we always focus on adding value to industry-standard instrumentation products by employing unique features and superior materials and quality to design-out potential failure modes and improve reliability," adds Ian Huggins, General Manager of the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin. "This is particularly relevant in the oil and gas marketplace which is doing all it can to improve safety and reliability, and it's helping our business to flourish even in the face of intense competition from low-wage Asian economies."

Turnover at Parker's Barnstaple facility has grown significantly in the last two years alone - largely as a result of being selected as the instrumentation supplier to major engineering projects for offshore platforms. North Sea oil and gas production continues to be a major business opportunity as production innovations continue to increase the volumes of oil and gas that can be extracted from existing and mature fields. As a result, lots of offshore platforms are being refurbished and extended. Parker's share of this market has grown so much that it believes it is the largest supplier of fluid instrumentation components in the North Sea sector today.

Another interesting aspect of the latest North Sea project order will be the specification of tube connectors for critical parts of the fluid tubing system that are able to withstand higher working pressures. This is being met by Parker's new Autoclave product line, which is the result of an acquisition in 2012. Although these products are manufactured at a sister factory in Wexford, Ireland, both the R&D and customer service departments for this advanced product line have recently been relocated to Parker's Barnstaple facility for efficiency. The ability to offer instrumentation solutions for both conventional pressure ranges and higher pressures is also helping Parker to win more business.

To help cope with the higher levels of business, Parker has invested around a million dollars in eight further computer-controlled machining centres for the Barnstaple facility. These new machines will be manufacturing many of the tube fittings required for Gina Krog. The automated machines add to the capability of one of the Parker Hannifin's corporation's most sophisticated manufacturing businesses worldwide. Parker in Barnstaple manufactures products using advanced build-to-demand 'lean manufacturing' principles. It was the first plant worldwide to be awarded 'Lean Model Plant' status by the $13 billion Parker Hannifin corporation - a major accolade.

Multifunctional stream switching system simplifies gas & liquid control in analytical application!

A new multifunctional stream switching system for process analytical instrumentation that is capable of integrating stream selection and filtering functions into one compact, modular assembly is now available from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin.

Parker’s new Gen II R-max system for gas and liquid analytical applications is based on the proven technology of its popular R-max stream switching system and incorporates numerous enhancements to further improve application flexibility, process integrity and serviceability. Backward compatibility allows the features of the Gen II R-max to be installed on existing R-max units very easily and quickly.

Modules feature an enhanced position
indicator to provide easy recognition of
valve actuation.

The original R-max, the predecessor to the Gen II system, has been widely adopted by the process analytical community since its introduction in 2001. The system is popular because it offers the flexibility of delivering multiple sample streams to an analytical system with a single, small footprint assembly. Other important advantages include the system’s modular design, which simplifies configuration and maintenance, and the availability of normally-closed, normally-open and single 3-way configurations. During development of the Gen II R-max Parker took the opportunity to add a number of features requested by customers, which differentiate the system from similar commercially available products. These enhancements include a captured vent that prevents cross contamination, an improved position indicator for quick recognition of valve actuation, easier removal of cartridges for maintenance, and an atmospheric reference vent module.

Designed to control both gases and liquids in analytical systems ranging from vacuum to 500 PSIG (34 bar), the Gen II R-max only requires 65 PSIG (5 bar) actuating air pressure. The new system was engineered with a focus on improved product reliability and reduced cost-of-ownership. It is designed for use in the analytical, oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical industries.

The Gen II R-max utilises state-of-the-art surface mount technology to reduce leak paths, internal volume and dead volume. With surface mounting, system components can be easily removed and replaced without breaking process connections. In addition, the Gen II R-max system features an internal self-purging outlet header that eliminates the need for an additional outlet loop.

New features of Parker's Gen II R-max stream switching system include a captured vent that provides a low pressure header to separate the sample stream from the actuation air, thus preventing cross contamination of the sample stream. An enhanced position indicator also displays a yellow band against a black background, to provide easier recognition of valve actuation. 

The Gen II R-max stream switching system retains all the advantages of its R-max predecessor, such as the use of surface mount technology that enables users to add additional streams or functions very easily, and the modular valve design that helps to simplify field maintenance and reduce system downtime. Overall system efficiency is maximised by the system’s low internal volume and low dead volume, which reduces purge time.

The Gen II R-max, like the R-max, is also available on the Parker IntraFlow ISA/ANSI–SP-76 compliant (NeSSI) modular surface mount system. IntraFlow substrate fittings have been developed specifically for analytical, laboratory and other complex general-purpose instrumentation flow control systems. IntraFlow fittings provide maximum flexibility with minimum space requirements. All flow paths, regardless of direction, are maintained on a single plane within the system, as no lower level manifold blocks are required. Every feature of the Gen II R-max system is available within the IntraFlow product line.

Modular distribution manifolds are configurable for individual applications!

A choice of three styles of modular fluid distribution manifold, backed by a factory configuration service, has been announced by the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin.

Parker's new manifold range supports a wide range of applications, from the distribution and control of low pressure instrument air or plant air, to high pressure instrument or hydraulic applications operating at up to 6000 PSI.

Two of the distribution manifold options are based on ball valves for quick on-off actuation and control. A further option offers a needle valve manifold, to suit applications that might require lower flow rates or more precise control, or compact construction.

The first of the ball valve options, the Hi-Pro Distribution Manifold, is based on a 10 mm orifice version of Parker's Hi-Pro ball valve - which is rated for pressures up to 6000 PSI. Up to 20 of these 316 stainless steel valves can be factory-assembled to order by Parker onto the distribution manifold base. Users can also specify other build options including fitting a purge valve.

A similar style of manifold is available for lower pressure air distribution applications. This version - the Hi-Pro Air Header Manifold - provides up to 20 Hi-Pro 10 mm ball valves mounted onto on a distribution manifold body made from a two-inch 316 stainless steel pipe with either a flanged or threaded inlet at one end. The manifold is rated for pressures up to 800 PSI depending on the options specified.

Parker's third option - H Series Distribution Manifold - provides a compact manifold body that accepts a user-defined choice of five or 10 metal-seated needle valves - rated for pressures up to 6000 PSI. Users can also specify numerous build options including the addition of a single isolate valve connected to the inlet.

'How to' seminars on raising performance and reducing risk!

An educational resource focused on raising the performance and reducing the risk of small-bore tubing systems will be on site at Offshore Europe 2013 (3-6/9/2013, Aberdeen GB)

The educational centre will be part of one of the most recognisable booths at this regular exhibition: the mobile demonstration centre runbythe instrumentation products division of Parker Hannifin - the global leader in motion and control technologies.

This year, Parker will be hosting mini training sessions, with experts providing no-cost tuition on the best practice installation of small bore tubing systems using industry-standard two-ferrule tube connections, and another version of the training for medium and high pressure connections up to 150,000 PSI. These valuable seminars will be complemented by many other useful educational presentations from Parker experts. Topical presentations throughout the show include materials selection for corrosion resistance, achieving close-coupling of instruments to piping connections, and improving integrity and reducing potential leak paths by eliminating threaded connections.

"Process instrumentation connections have evolved over a hundred years, and inevitably, connection and valve techniques are steeped in tradition," says Parker Hannifin's Charles Harris. "There's enormous scope for rethinking how things are done to provide more reliable systems and improve performance. Our mobile presentation centre gives us the means to give practical introductions on such innovations to instrumentation and piping engineers."

Parker's trailer will also feature the industry's most comprehensive selection of instrumentation valves, manifolds and tube fittings. Many of these are displayed in a real-world format using a long process pipeline equipped with the spectrum of common plant instrumentation, but interfaced using components based on next-generation principles.

Ultra-reliable small bore systems for tomorrow's offshore operations

Advanced fluid connection and control components for process instrumentation and hydraulic systems that greatly reduce the risk of system failure, leaks and downtime will be highlighted at Offshore Europe 2013 by the instrumentation products division of Parker Hannifin.

Among the major potential problem sources that Parker's instrumentation technology combats are the reliability risks posed by corrosion, the large numbers of potential leak paths that are inherent with traditional small-bore system building techniques, and the risks posed by welding or 'hot work'. At this year's exhibition, Parker will additionally demonstrate the broadest choice of valve, manifold and tube fitting components available in the world today, following more than a decade of intense development and corporate acquisitions.

The exceptional choice that Parker offers means that instrumentation and piping engineers specifying and building small-bore tubing systems can source everything they need for projects from a single supplier, backed by the assurances that Parker's high quality manufacturing and comprehensive materials traceability programs deliver. Parker's core values of 'faster, smarter, cleaner, safer' capture the company's goal of leadership in the process instrumentation market.

In terms of product choice, Parker's range is unparalleled. In the tube fittings segment for instance, choices include advanced two ferrule connectors, cone-and-thread connectors for medium and high pressure applications, and ferrule-less connectors for permanent connections. In the valve and manifold area, options include small bore valves that meet the medium pressure requirements that oil and gas operators are now demanding, ultra low emission valves, and an exceptional selection of high-reliability and close-coupled manifolds for installing instruments and interfacing instruments to pipelines. These product choices are complemented by Parker's renowned supply chain and machining capability for special purpose alloys, such as the 6Mo material which has emerged as the preferred choice for many offshore engineering design consultants designing for corrosion resistance and longevity.

"A key focus of our engineering effort is enhancing the long term reliability of small-bore fluid instrumentation systems," says Charles Harris of Parker Hannifin's instrumentation products division. "With the aid of the new generations of instrumentation connectors and valves we have developed, engineering firms and operators now have a truly comprehensive selection of advanced system building solutions, to achieve the highest attainable levels of reliability and safety on offshore projects."

An important aspect of Parker's display this year is the company's widening range of fitting and valve products that eliminate leak-prone taper threaded connections, and with it any need for PTFE tape or anaerobic sealant - a common cause of problems in the field. Parker's products in this area include valves and manifolds with integral compression tubing ends, and threadless piping interfaces that convert a standard flange to a compression tubing connection.

A key advance in this area being highlighted for the construction of tomorrow's offshore platforms and process equipment is Parker's threadless fluid connection solution that meets the need for operating pressures in excess of the typical 6000 PSI maximum of the industry-standard two-ferrule connectors. Parker's novel Phastite connector will withstand working pressures up to 20,000 PSI and offers a high-integrity alternative to permanent connections made using welded connections - which might require a 'hot work' permit because of the fire risks and are typically not allowed on operational platforms.

API-rated instrumentation valves deliver system-level gains for wellhead OEMs

Wellhead equipment suppliers and operators can make major enhancements to their 'Christmas tree' and related equipment designs by using a new range of API-rated integrated valve assemblies from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin - the global leader in motion and control technologies.

The integration offered by Parker's new valve assemblies reduces weight by as much as 40% compared with double-block-and-bleed configurations using discrete valves, and can reduce space envelopes even further - by as much as 75%. Users can choose from a range of connection styles including flanged, welded, Grayloc hubs and Autoclave cone-and-thread connectors - to suit the particular installation.

The new product range provides integrated process-to-instrument interfacing solutions that dramatically reduce weight and size, and eliminate many potential leak paths and risk, compared with configurations based on discrete valves and connectors - the typical implementation approach used up to now.

Based on the design of one of the leading process to instrument valve manufacturers, Parker's Pro-Bloc range of integrated manifolds for interfacing instrumentation to process piping, the new Pro-Bloc API range integrates a complete double-block-and-bleed assembly of fire safe isolation and venting valves that is suitable for interfacing process pressure and temperature instruments. The assembly is available in three main forms: with ball valves, needle valves, or high-performance needle valves that can also meet the Class A or Class B ultra-low-emissions levels of the ISO 15848 standard. The new valve assemblies are initially available in three choices of pressure ratings: 5K, 10K and 15K PSI, and have all been independently tested for conformance with the API 6A specification for wellhead and Christmas tree equipment.

Up to now, OEMs and operators producing Christmas tree configurations and wellhead control systems have typically constructed any instrumentation interfacing subsystems required using larger process-sized valves that are rated to the API specifications preferred in this application sector. These systems have not benefited from the substantial size and weight savings - and designed-for-purpose flow paths - that are typical of the double-block-and-bleed manifolds that are readily available for instrument interfacing in other parts of the process world.

The integrated design also eliminates numerous interconnection joints, each of which is a potential leak path and source of unreliability, and system building cost; this can amount to a reduction of as many as four potential leak points compared to a system built from discrete valves.

The close-coupled flow paths inside Parker's Pro-Bloc API process-to-instrument valve assemblies provide another significant advantage, as they are ‘purpose-designed’ to support accuracy of measurement. In the case of the ball valve variant of the design, the flow path is completely straight, with a uniform bore. It is not possible to create such a short flow path with a system based on discrete valves, and it can also be very difficult to avoid bends - and sometimes changes of bore sizes - that impact measurement accuracy by generating turbulence. Parker has already had feedback from end users that its close-coupled designs are helping to support novel measurements that are being made on wells for asset integrity investigations.

Parker developed these new integrated process-to-instrument interfacing solutions rated to API 6A after application-specific project experience on wellhead applications, and is now making the technology available to the wider market.

"The API valve assemblies will cut the weight and size of the instrument-interfacing parts of their equipment to a small fraction of many current implementations," says Spencer Nicholson, Business Development Manager of Parker Hannifin's Instrumentation Products Division, Europe. "The highly integrated nature of the designs also provides near-perfect flow paths - with many fewer potential leakage points - a considerable reliability advantage for the harsh and remote operating environments in which many of these systems will be installed.”

The new integrated valves have been tested for conformance to API 6A specifications by an independent test house, as well as by the internal test laboratory that Parker operates at its European design and manufacturing facility in Britain.

Instrumentation tubing optimised for high reliability in harsh environments

The design of fluid instrumentation systems for use in harsh and corrosive environments has been boosted by an optimised new grade of 6Mo tubing. The mechanical characteristics of the new ‘Parker Grade’ 6Mo tubing have been optimised to ensure integrity of connections made using instrumentation compression type fittings from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin – the global leader in motion and control technologies.

Parker’s long history in special-purpose alloy tube fittings has enabled it to build up a wealth of expertise and knowledge about corrosion resistant materials such as 6Mo. The company has played a formative role in the industry take-up of the alloy, which is now the material of choice for many instrumentation tubing systems on new and refurbished North Sea oil and gas production platforms.

Containing at least 6 percent molybdenum, 6Mo alloy is a super-austenitic stainless steel. The material is more resistant to chloride-induced pitting, crevice attack and stress corrosion cracking than standard 300 series or duplex stainless steel, making it ideal for offshore applications demanding durability and reliability in a hostile environment. Parker produces 6Mo versions of various types of instrumentation tube fittings, together with a series of 6Mo tubing clamps, and can also machine instrument valves and manifolds in the material.

Many instrumentation system designers specify two ferrule compression fittings for the assembly of small-bore tubing, with the 6Mo version of Parker’s A-LOK design proving a popular choice for today’s offshore projects. As with all two ferrule fittings, the rear ferrule needs to be harder than the tube it is gripping so that it ‘bites’ into the tube material during assembly helping to create a reliable, pressure-tight seal. Parker hardens the rear ferrule of 6Mo A-LOK fittings using its unique Suparcase process, which provides market-leading corrosion resistance.

However, when ordering instrumentation tubing, customers often simply specify an ASTM standard to their supplier. These standards do not always guarantee an optimum material property for a high integrity tube and fitting combination. The result can be tubing that is harder than necessary, for example, and therefore less than ideal for use with twin ferrule compression fittings.

As part of its ongoing commitment to helping users improve the integrity and corrosion resistance of instrumentation systems, Parker ensures that all tubing stocked by the company and its distributors is fully compatible with its range of fittings. After exhaustive testing and analysis of 6Mo tubing, Parker has defined a stringent specification and tolerances for its manufacture that allows the material’s properties to be controlled very precisely. By collaborating with its supplier and auditing the company to verify compliance, Parker is able to provide the new Parker Grade 6Mo tubing with mechanical characteristics that are optimally matched to the capability of its 6Mo instrumentation fittings.

According to Paul Shaddick, Product Manager for Parker Hannifin's Instrumentation Products Division, “Extending the reach of our quality control standards to encompass the manufacturing processes used by our supplier of 6Mo alloy tubing is a major step forward in our product development strategy. Our customers can now obtain all the 6Mo instrumentation connection technology they need for an offshore project from a single source, secure in the knowledge that the components are compatible. This simplifies component procurement and distribution, helps speed installation, and eliminates potential leak paths in 6Mo compression fittings.”

Parker Grade 6Mo instrumentation tubing is available in a wide range of imperial and metric sizes up to 1 inch/25 mm OD, and its 6Mo A-LOK two ferrule compression fittings are suitable for the majority of topside applications involving pressures up to 413 bar/6,000 PSI.

Fittings conform to strict material standards

Oil and gas process design projects targeting extreme resistance to corrosion and extended service lifetimes have been boosted by a new metal processing technology. The advance comes from the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin – the global leader in motion and control technologies – which is the first company to make fluid instrumentation products manufactured in the specialist alloy 6Mo and conforming to the stringent material quality specifications of the NORSOK M-650 standard.

The Norwegian petroleum industry is pioneering higher standards for equipment manufacturers and the NORSOK M-650 standard verifies that a manufacturer has the competence and equipment to produce reliable products from a number of specialist materials. Parker is the only instrumentation fittings company to have secured this level of product conformity, which applies to all the small bore instrumentation valves, manifolds, tubes and fittings it manufactures from 6Mo, a standard material with 22 years’ service in the North Sea.

Parker is one of the world's largest suppliers of instrumentation for offshore applications, and 6Mo super austenitic stainless steel alloy has become the most popular design choice for new North Sea oil and gas instrumentation engineering projects. Compared to standard 300 series and duplex stainless steel, the material offers much greater resistance to chloride-induced pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking, making it ideal for applications demanding long in-service life in hostile environments. The alloy contains a minimum content of 6% molybdenum, and has a pitting resistance equivalent (PRE) of at least 40.

One of the first bodies to investigate the quality of materials such as 6Mo was the Norwegian petroleum industry, which discovered that the current international standards for this material were not stringent enough. The introduction of NORSOK M-650 follows an earlier standard which defined appropriate processing methods for various materials – including 6Mo – used in the manufacture of pipes, but these methods are not suited to the production of small bore instrumentation components such as fittings, valves and manifolds.

Underlying its commitment to producing products that make a significant contribution to safety, Parker wanted to ensure that its 6Mo instrumentation products are the best available and could be offered with much reduced testing and qualification due to the Norsok M-650 requirements. The company sources this material from highly reputable mills, and took the decision to implement all necessary changes to ensure even higher levels of quality and traceability during product manufacture. To achieve this, the company first had to write a new material and manufacturing specification and collaborate with its suppliers to ensure that they could produce the necessary raw material.

Next, Parker modified its 6Mo manufacturing processes, test methods and quality management systems to comply with the requirements of the NORSOK M-650 standard. Part of this procedure involves validation by an interested third party, so Parker worked closely with a leading Norwegian energy company during this time. Although the new manufacturing process is patent pending and commercially confidential, it involves special treatment stages that guarantee the quality and consistency of the raw material as set out in the Norsok M-650 requirements. The entire process is defined in a new ESSM standard code held by Parker, which is referenced in the Qualification Test Record (QTR) verifying that the company fully complies with the NORSOK M-650 standard for production of 6Mo parts.

“Achieving NORSOK M-650 conformity for 6Mo products is a considerable accolade for Parker and the culmination of extensive development and investment”, says Spencer Nicholson, R&D director at Parker Hannifin’s Instrumentation Products Division Europe. “Many oil companies are set to follow the lead of the Norwegian oil and gas industry by demanding instrumentation products that conform to this standard, to help ensure the continued safety, reliability and 40 year operational life of their offshore platforms.”

High integrity process ball valve features bolted construction for installation security

A high integrity ball valve for process applications that combines a forged body with a novel bolted construction to ensure installation security has been launched by the instrumentation products division of Parker Hannifin – the global leader in motion and control technologies. The new valve is available in a wide range of sizes and with a variety of connection schemes to help simplify installation. Designed for use with liquid or gas, the valve is suitable for diverse process isolation applications across a broad range of industries, including chemical, petrochemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The process ball valve uses the same technology as their renowned Hi-Pro range of ball valves to maximise performance and reliability. It is available with a wide range of bore sizes, from ½ to 2 inches, and a choice of tube connection schemes, including welded and NPT (National Pipe Thread) male and female fittings. The valve is manufactured from just three principal components – the body, end plate and insert – unlike conventional valves which require two inserts. This eliminates a potential leakage path.

Parker’s valve employs a novel two-piece body construction, with the end plate secured by four bolts; this ensures that the body cannot be unscrewed accidentally in the field, when connecting or disconnecting threaded fittings on the valve or adjacent components. This preserves the valve’s integrity following installation or maintenance operations. The design also simplifies installation by minimising the risk of damage being caused by over-tightening when fitting connections – some competitive products require a separate spanner to prevent movement of the valve insert.

The valve is fully bidirectional and is actuated by a 90 degree turn for fast on/off action. The operating handle features a spring-loaded detent mechanism to provide positive positioning with tactile operator feedback, and is fitted with an ergonomically-designed protective sleeve to facilitate operation. An integral locking nut enables a padlock to be fitted to prevent unauthorised operation. The valve mechanism utilises the floating ball principle and provides 100 percent bubble tight shut-off.

The valve is fabricated from duplex stainless steel as standard, with super-duplex available as an option, and is offered in NACE (corrosion) and HCT (heat code traceable) versions. Parker goes to considerable lengths to guarantee the quality of this valve. By employing material that has been forged, instead of the bar stock used by most competitive products on the market, the valve body has a highly oriented microstructure that is inherently stronger. Furthermore, the company sources its raw materials for the valve from mills and foundries in western Europe, ensuring that only very high quality steel is used for manufacture and providing a fully traceable record for quality audit purposes.

As standard, the valves feature PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) packing and a PTFE valve seat. PEEK (polyetherketone) valve seat material is available as an option, and allows operation over a very wide temperature range of -54 to 232 degrees Celsius (-65 to 386 degrees Fahrenheit).

Parker’s process ball valve is additionally firesafe to API 607 and BS6755 Part 2, and is available in 800 and 2000 Class versions, suitable for operating pressures up to 6,000 psi (414 bar).

Bidirectional valve range

A new monoflange-style ball valve for interfacing instruments to process piping has been launched by the instrumentation products division of Parker Hannifin.

The bidirectional valve range - designated Monoball - is available in four sizes with bores of 10, 15, 20 or 25 mm and offers a full cold working pressure rating of 6,000 PSI (414 bar) with 100% bubble-tight shut-off.

Monoflange-style construction makes the new valve lighter and more compact than conventional flange-to-flange mounted ball valves. This makes it ideal for space- and weight-sensitive applications such as offshore platforms, as well as the many common isolation requirements found in oil, gas and chemical processing installations.

In addition to being used an isolation valve, Monoball's compact construction makes it a versatile building block for configuring multi-valve manifold arrangements. This provides a simple means of coupling instruments closely to process piping, to allow the safe removal of an instrument valve if it needs replacing due to damage or plugging.

Additional construction features employed by Parker further enhance reliability and safety for users. The valve body is machined from a single forging, reducing potential leak paths to the minimum. In addition to NPT threaded interfaces, Parker can also supply the valve with two-ferrule tube fitting ends, thereby eliminating taper threads and the subsequent need for thread sealants, which can cause be a source of problems in the field.

As standard, Monoball valves are available in stainless steel (ASTM A182 F316/F316L), carbon steel (ASTM A350 LF2/A105), or Duplex (ASTM A182 F51) materials. Other high performance alloys, and NACE MR 0175/ISO 15156 compliant versions are available on request. Depending on the bore size chosen, the valve comes with flange sizes from 1/2 to 2 inches NB (15 to 50 DN), compatible with ANSI B16.5 flange classes from 150 to 2500. Users can also specify the valve with a range of seat materials, including PTFE and PEEK. A fire-safe version is optionally available.

Benefits of close-coupled instrumentation for leakage control

A diverse range of flanged products aimed at eliminating potential leak paths in process instrumentation connections will be highlighted at the Global Petroleum Show (12/14 June 2012) by the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin. In particular, the company is showing the latest additions to its extensive monoflange and Pro-Bloc ranges of block and bleed valves, including versions that comply with the Class A ultra-low-emission requirements of the international ISO 15848 standard. Also on display is a new series of flushing rings that eliminate the need for port adapters.

Parker's monoflange and Pro-Bloc valves are designed to couple instrumentation to the process lines as closely as possible, and to eliminate any use of threaded components - the valve vents can incorporate single- or two-ferrule compression type tube fittings. By combining all necessary primary and secondary valves on a single one-piece body, which mounts directly onto a process flange without use of additional fittings, both series of products reduce the number of potential leak paths substantially. They also help cut installation time and cost. A wide choice of valve configurations - including single block and bleed, and double block and bleed - provides a very flexible interconnection scheme, enabling plant engineers to match requirements very easily.

Parker goes to considerable lengths to ensure the material used for its flanged products is of the highest quality. Raw material is sourced from mills and foundries outside the Asia-Pacific region, with fully traceable records for quality audit purposes. Furthermore, each flange is forged from a single piece of grain flow controlled steel. As standard, they can be fabricated from A105 carbon steel, AF350 LF2 low temperature carbon steel, A182-F316 stainless steel and A182-F51 duplex stainless steel. Optional exotic alloy materials include super duplex, alloy 400, 6Mo and alloy 625. Parker has developed considerable production expertise in 6Mo - which is fast becoming one of the most popular materials for high integrity process applications - and is able to deliver custom valve configurations with very short lead times.

Also showing is a new series of flushing rings which employ a novel 'oversize' design to maximize flexibility. Flushing rings are normally used between a process isolation valve and the diaphragm seal of a pressure transmitter; side ports on the ring allow flushing media to be injected and ejected so that the diaphragm can be 'washed' free of deposits which affect measurement accuracy. A conventional flushing ring has a smaller diameter than the process and diaphragm seal flanges, and is simply held in place by the pressure exerted by the flange bolts. The flushing ports consequently require extension adapters to bring their valves clear of the flanges, potentially introducing additional leak paths.

Parker's flushing rings are the same diameter as the flanges, eliminating the need for flushing port adapters, and the valves can be supplied screwed or welded directly onto the ring's external face, reducing installation time and costs. Parker produces two types of flushing rings. One has through-holes for the flange bolts and is designed for use with same-size flanges on both sides. The other has a tapered internal bore and two different flange faces with captive studs, designed for fitting between flanges with different diameters. Typically, this could be used when a 2-inch process-side flange is coupled to a 3-inch transmitter-side flange, to maximise diaphragm size for improved measurement accuracy

Single source supplier for the provision of instrumentation products

Shell's Enterprise Framework Agreement with Parker Hannifin covers the supply of instrument tubing fittings, manifolds, valves, process-to-instrument valves and related products

Parker Hannifin Corporation has signed an Enterprise Framework Agreement (EFA) with Shell as a single source supplier for the provision of instrumentation valves, manifolds, process-to-instrument valves, fittings, tubing, protective enclosures and related products. Under the terms of Shell's EFA - which runs for an initial period of five years - Parker's Instrumentation Group will supply Shell and its affiliates worldwide with a broad range of process instrumentation products.


"We are delighted to win this contract with such a major player in the oil and gas business, and are confident that our manufacturing resources on three continents and our global Parker Sales Company support network will meet the enormous challenges of this supply agreement", says Ian Huggins, General Manager of Parker Hannifin's Instrumentation Products Division in Europe. "We are also excited with the prospect of closer engineering cooperation, as this will give us a front row view of emerging technical challenges in critical application areas."


"We see this agreement marking the start of a sustained period of progress in instrumentation technology", adds Sheldon Banks, EMEA Sales and Marketing Manager of Parker Hannifin Instrumentation Products Division in Europe. "We believe that such a cooperative relationship between major players in their respective spheres will help to establish many new standards for performance, safety and cost reduction."

Over the last decade, Parker has invested heavily in innovation, and has made many significant advances in areas including safety, speed of installation and maintenance, and lowering emissions. In particular, Parker's new products can dramatically reduce the number of potential leak paths in a fluid flow system, and improve ergonomics for instrumentation and maintenance engineers. Its core values of 'faster, smarter, cleaner, safer' capture the company's goal of leadership in the process instrumentation market.

Also important is Parker's long experience in designing and manufacturing instrumentation using specialized alloys that optimize protection against corrosion - a major problem for many current oil and gas projects.

The Instrumentation Group is dedicated to being the global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of high quality, critical flow and ultra-high purity components for the petrochemical, chemical processing, oil and gas, power generation, water analysis, biopharmaceutical, semiconductor, and analytical equipment industries.

Small bore training!

New expert training targets the safety and integrity of small bore tubing systems

A new approach to training for best practice installation of small bore tubing systems has been launched by the Instrumentation Products Division of Parker Hannifin. The company's new Small Bore Expert (SBEx) courses provide a detailed and personalized understanding that allows users to specify and install efficient, safe and leak-free small bore tubing systems.

Small bore tubing systems are used extensively in a wide range of industries, ranging from fluid instrumentation systems in processing plants to laboratory equipment. Yet choosing the correct tube materials, tube sizes, fixtures and fittings to suit a particular application, and securing high integrity leak-free connections, can sometimes prove daunting to inexperienced users.

Parker's new SBEx course replaces its well-known Safety at Work programme, and following feedback from customers, places far greater emphasis on small bore tubing issues including tube selection, fittings and installation. Each course lasts half a day, or a full day if participants wish to gain practical hands-on experience of preparation, cutting, bending, installation and verifying connection integrity.

SBEx courses are run by professionally-trained and equipped Parker distributors. They are currently available from four key  distributors in Britain, with a further 95 lined up to extend the service level across Europe. The courses will also be run by Parker's 22 direct sales facilities and become available in the Middle East and Africa in the future.

According to Stuart Jessop, European Business Development Manager at Parker, "We are constantly looking to help users achieve high integrity, leak-free systems. We believe that our new SBEx courses, which are run by distributors who have undergone an intensive five days of training covering all aspects of small bore tubing, will widen the opportunities for users to gain precisely the skills and experience they require for their particular installations. Unlike traditional training programmes, which simply demonstrate how to assemble a tube fitting correctly, SBEx courses can be tailored to suit individuals' needs. This will result in higher integrity tubing systems and safer product installation."

Parker's SBEx courses can be run at distributors' or customers' premises, or at one of Parker's facilities. Depending upon availability, there is also the possibility that the Parker mobile exhibition vehicle can be used by distributors to provide customer training facilities.