Swanson Flo Valve Automation Services

42 inch electrically (Limitorque) actuated butterfly valve.

Swanson Flo, an industrial valve and control company headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota is also one of North America's leading valve automation specialists.

From simple, small pneumatic or electrically actuated valves, to very large, critical-control valve systems, Swanson Flo delivers tested, certified, and reliable product to customers located in the Upper Mid-West. Swanson Flo designs, engineers, and assembles actuated valve assemblies for the best fit, highest performance, and optimal application life. Their engineers and technicians combine decades of experience and knowledge. Coupled with a broad variety of carefully selected, readily available components, Swanson Flo customers are provided the best quality and best value possible.

Building upon 50+ years of industry and applications experience, Swanson Flo boasts the largest, most comprehensive automation facility in the mid-west, with capabilities for electric, pneumatic and electro-hydraulic actuation. A team of experienced design engineers and fabrication technicians construct automated valve systems from virtually any valve, actuator, monitor or positioner technology.

For more information, visit http://www.swansonflo.com or call 800-288-7926.

Swanson Flo Performance Brochure

Swanson Flo specialize in valves, automation and instrumentation.  Swanson Flo Performance sets the standard for process control optimization and training that maximizes plant uptime, safety and operating efficiency.

Swanson Flo Performance from Swanson Flo

Understanding Motor Operated Valves (MOV) in Industry

The video below demonstrates the operation a small (Worcester) motor operated ball valve (MOV). Also known as an “electric actuator”, motor operators come in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Some electric actuators are intended for quarter-turn valves (such as ball and butterfly valves), while others are designed to operate linear valves (such as gate and globe valves).

The MOV / electric actuator consists of an electric motor with the gearbox assembly which rotates the shaft of the valve. Most MOVs operate at 120, 240 or 480 volt, single or three phase. Basic features include adjustable limit switches to limit valve travel and to notify valve status, directional settings, analog inputs to allow for precise control, analog outputs to provide a feedback signal and digital communications. MOV enclosures can be either NEMA 4, NEMA 4X and NEMA 7 and are available in a wide range of torque outputs to match the valve it is operating.

Understanding Control Valves: The Flowserve Valtek Mark One

Control valves are an integral part of many process control loops. Understanding their basic operation is important for any process control professional. The following video demonstrates the reassembly of the Flowserve Valtek Mark One control valve and introduces the viewer to a control valve's main components.

There are a variety of styles of control valves. A globe control valve is a specific type of valve used for regulating flow in a pipe. The design includes a movable plug, connected to a stem, which can be moved linearly to close or open the valve. Globe control valves are referred to as “linear” valves because of this movement to open and close is directed by a piston type, linear movement actuator. Generally, globe control valves provide better overall flow control than quarter-turn valves due to the design of their flow path.

For more information, a Valtek Mark One specification sheet is also included with this post.

Flowserve Valtek Mark One Control Valve from Swanson Flo

Virtual Tour of Swanson Flo Illinois

Swanson Flo has facilities and teams of skilled experts who are uniquely equipped to rapidly combine resources and skills for the maximum benefit of their customers. As the company continues to grow, their investment in new technologies, equipment, facilities, and solutions demonstrate their commitment to build solid client partnerships.

The video below provides a virtual tour of our new Addison, Illinois warehouse, instrument calibration lab, and valve automation center.

For more information, visit Swanson Flo at http://www.swansonflo.com or call 800-288-7926.

Rupture Discs Are Designed to Fail. That's Their Job.

Rupture disc and holder
(courtesy of Continental Disc)

A rupture disc (pressure safety disc, burst disc, bursting disc) is a “one and done” pressure relief device most often used to protect a vessel, pipe, or container from over pressurization. As opposed to pressure relief valves, rupture discs are designed to function only one time by providing an instantaneous response to an over-pressure condition.

These sacrificial parts are designed to burst when pressure within production equipment exceeds a certain threshold by breaking down, stopping the process to prevent or mitigate hazardous events. Rupture discs are critical instruments utilized so that companies can ensure process safety as set forth by the International Safety Standards (IEC 61508/61511).

Rupture discs prove most effective when they fail according to pre-established specifications. Inferior rupture discs often cause unnecessary and expensive production shutdowns due to the lack of quality testing and expertise in manufacturing.

Rupture discs are commonly used in chemical, petrochemical, nuclear, aerospace, medical, railroad, pharmaceutical, food processing and gas & oil applications. They provide primary or backup protection. Very often rupture discs are used in tandem with safety relief valves, protecting them from the process media and extending the life of the relief valve.

For more on rupture disc's call Swanson Flo at 800-288-7926 or visit http://www.swansonflo.com.

Continental Disc HPX Rupture Disc Family from Swanson Flo

Instrumentation Isolation Rings for Harsh, Viscous, and Sticky Pressure Applications

Isolation ring installed view (courtesy of Ashcroft)

Hard-to-measure fluids such as harsh acids and bases, slurries, adhesives, sludge, paint pigments, and mine slurry can quickly clog or destroy pressure gauges, switches, and transmitters.

For these kinds of applications, the instrument must be isolated from the process media by using a barrier that accurately transmits any pressure changes, while isolating the instrument from direct contact with the media being monitored.

When a pressure instrument is connected directly to a pipeline, solids from the process media can quickly plug the pressure port resulting in erroneous readings. The pressure port on diaphragm seals are prone to clogging too, and won’t solve the problem. The best solution is an isolation ring.

Isolation rings use a flexible inner liner backed with a clean, captive, non-compressible liquid. As the media flows through the pipe, the pressure exerted on the flexible liner is transferred through the liquid directly to the pressure sensing element of the instrument, keeping it completely isolated from the process media.

Isolation rings are designed to protect you from the challenges of clogging, plugging, corrosive media and pulsation. As professionals in the water and wastewater, pulp and paper, mining, and food processing industry know all to well, slurries and digestion processes can clog unprotected pressure instruments, resulting in dangerous conditions and down time.

Isolation rings prevent those problems by protecting the pressure sensing element from the medium. They're designed to overcome the most extreme applications and keep processes running day-in and day-out.

For more information on process instrumentation, call Swanson Flo at 800-288-7926 or visit http://www.swansonflo.com.

The video below gives you a quick look inside an isolation ring and shows how they are used.