Parker claims instrument mounting breakthrough
24 Jun 2006
Monitoring devices often prove difficult to mount onto process piping as the tolerances used when machining pipe flanges tends to create misalignment with the instrument along different axes.
Engineers commonly resolve these issues by using a series of customised connections typically involving around 20 discrete components, such as treaded tubes, isolation valves, instrument manifolds, brackets and welded joints.
Parker Instruments is now claiming a breakthrough in mounting technology with a system, which, it said, can provide typical savings of around Euro200,000 in installation and maintenance costs.
The company's newly launched CCIMS (close coupled instrument mounting solution) is an integrated mounting and manifold block for differential pressure monitors (DPMs). The unit features a pipe interface module to connect to the instrument, two primary isolation valves and a universal tubing joint to compensate for misalignment with the flanges.
The mounting system will be the first of a four- or five-phase development programme that will encompass fittings for other instruments, Brian Rice, Parker Instruments' market development manager, said at a 5 May press conference in London.
According to Rice, the target markets for the DPM unit include the oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical and power generation sectors.
