Industrial Fluid Systems Blog

Edmonton Valve Training Opportunity: Featuring Tony Waters - March 2014

Tony Waters will be in Edmonton from March 17-21 leading the Process Analyzer Sampling System Course. Here we have a preview into the course as Waters troubleshoots your tough sample system questions.

  Tony Waters
 

Graduates of Waters' 
PASS course have said
“Whether you’re
troubleshooting or
building a sampling
system, these classes
can deliver what you
need to succeed.”

Swagelok has serviced the process analyzer market for more than 60 years and as a global company, we have addressed all kinds of process analyzer sampling system challenges in a range of industries. We have seen the importance in having the ability to recognize and diagnose common sampling system design flaws and offering courses to teach these skills.

From March 17-21st, Edmonton Valve will host Industry expert Tony Waters, who will bring his 45 years of experience with process analyzers and sampling systems to the Process Analyzer Sampling System training course (PASS).

Learn valuable skills

When you finish the course training, you’ll be able to:

  • Recognize and diagnose sample transport problems
  • Calculate pressure drop in a fast loop or return line
  • Prevent or control phase separation
  • Read and create sampling system schematics
  • Design and build your own sampling system
  • Return to work with valuable knowledge and skills you can apply right away. 

Troubleshooting

Over the course of his career, Tony has come across many troubleshooting questions about sampling systems. Lucky for you, we have a list of 10 questions and answers that Tony gets asked on a regular basis.

Q#1: “Why can’t I remove (or revaporize) the liquid condensate in my gas sample?”
A#1: “It’s because the sample has already fractionated and the gas analysis has changed.”

Q#2: “My filter blocks often, so should I be using a bigger filter?”
A#2: “Yes, a bigger filter will last longer, but it may cause an unacceptable time delay.”

Q#3: “Why is excessive time delay such a common problem with sampling systems?”
A#3: “It’s a common problem as time delay is invisible. An analyzer that is ‘99% reliable’ may be reliably measuring what happened yesterday!”

Q#4: “What can be done about a time delay problem?”
A#4: “A time delay problem is often easy to fix, since there are seven possible improvements.” You can find out what these seven improvements are in March’s PASS course…

Q#5: “Should I use a probe?”
A#5: “Most of the time, yes. A probe can exclude some of the solids or liquids in the process fluid, and provide a faster response to process change.”

Q#6: “What is the best size of tube or pipe for the sample transport lines?”
A#6: “The best size is the one that provides the desired speed, turbulent flow, and reasonable pressure drop, without having an excessive flow rate.”

Q#7: “Is there software to design sampling systems?” 
A#7: “Software is useless if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Q#8: “What pore size of sintered stainless steel filter is best to protect an analyzer?”
A#8: “Any one you like. They all stop the same size particles!”

Q#9: “What’s a key difference between the system design for a filter and for a coalescer?
Q#9: “The key difference is you can have a fast bypass flow from a filter, but the coalescer bypass flow must be slow.”

Q#10: “What is the most common mistake that people make with analyzer sampling systems?”
A#10: “The most common mistake is choosing the lowest bidder without having a clear specification of what is to be provided.”

If you have a question regarding process analyzers and sampling systems, contact us here>>> 

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