M.S. Jacobs & Associates

M.S. Jacobs & Associates is a leading manufacturer's representative and distributor of industrial instrumentation and controls in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. MS Jacobs services and supplies products in all major industrial markets, including power generation, chemical processing, pulp and paper, oil and gas production, water and wastewater treatment, and nuclear power generation.

https://msjacobs.com
800-348-0089

Two New Products From SVF Flow Controls

New products from SVF Flow Controls

SVF Flow Controls, manufacturer of valves and actuators for industrial process control (learn more here), recently released their new rack and pinion actuator, the EZ-Tork™. The line of pneumatic valve actuators features bi-directional stroke adjustment, a continuous position indicator, hard anodized aluminum housing, and universal mounting. The line offers 33 models spanning a broad range of operating torque. Units are available in double acting or spring return variants.

The SL Series of butterfly valves feature direct mounting for electric or pneumatic automation. Manually operated units have a ten position locking handle or gear operator. Epoxy coated ductile iron body, 316 stainless steel disc, and EPDM or BUNA seats enable the application of this valve throughout many industrial settings. Sizes range from 2" to 12".

More detail is available from valve and fluid control specialists. Share your application challenges and combine your own process knowledge with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

M.S. Jacobs Expands Valve Product Line

Alcon industrial solenoid valves
Courtesy Rotork Instruments

M.S. Jacobs recently broadened the company's offering of solenoid valves for industrial use. The addition of the Alcon brand line, part of the Rotork Instruments Group, adds solenoid valve products suited for severe conditions and extreme temperatures often encountered in industrial settings. M.S. Jacobs has a full range of solenoid valves for general and special purpose applications, including air, water, steam, cryogenic gases and liquids, oil and fuel, corrosive media and vacuum.

More information is available. Share your fluid process control challenges with product application specialists and make the latest available product information part of your solution.

Foot Valves: Basic, Hidden, Essential

Foot valve showing inlet filter screen
Colton Industries

A foot valve is a purpose specific check valve. Designed for immersion in a well, tank, or other liquid containing vessel, it serves as a one-way inlet valve on piping leading to the suction side of a pump. Foot valves and their connected piping will extend downward from the pump suction elevation. The purpose of the valve is to maintain prime on the pump by preventing the water column in the suction line from collapsing, due to gravity, and draining all the liquid from the suction side of the pump system.

For industrial applications, there are numerous versions of foot valves available in varying sizes, capacities and materials of construction. The function of the valve is simple, so the key selection criteria can be focused on features that will contribute to longevity and reduce or eliminate any maintenance burden.

The data sheet below provides some good illustrations of a foot valve and how it is installed. Share your fluid processing and control challenges with application experts, combining your process and facility knowledge with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Foot valve for industrial pump applications from MSJacobs-Cali

New Metal Seated Ball Valves Introduced

Cutaway view of a metal seated ball valve
Courtesy SVF Flow Controls

Ball valves are utilized across a wide range of industrial process fluid flow control applications. Consequently, there are many ball valve variants, each designed to satisfy a particular range of application requirements.

Reviewing some of the attributes of ball valves that might make them the best choice:

• Tight closure.
• Very low resistance to flow.
• Best suited for applications requiring fully closed or open control.
• 90 degrees of rotational motion from open to closed position yields rapid response.
• Comparatively compact, without the space requirement for extending stem movement as required by some other valve types.
• Wide range of construction materials for the body, stem, ball, and seals.
• Moderate force required for actuation.
• A full size port provides for very low pressure drop across the valve when fully open.
• Requirements for maintenance are generally low. 
• No lubrication required.

One limiting factor for the application of ball valves, as with many other valve types, is the seat material. Most often, seats are fabricated from elastomeric or other "soft" materials. While these materials provide good sealing performance, their inability to withstand higher fluid temperatures makes them unsuitable for some industrial applications. To satisfy a wider range of process applications, some manufacturers offer metal seated ball valves. The metal seated valves are designed to meet severe service applications involving high temperature, erosive fluids and other challenging shutoff requirements where soft seats would rapidly deteriorate.

One manufacturer, SVF Flow Controls, provides metal seated ball valves in sizes 1/2" through 12" with a full port design. Because of their intent for severe service applications, metal seated ball valves are generally provided with other design features that enable their application across a wide range of high temperature or erosive fluid applications.

I have included a data sheet below that provides additional technical information, or you may contact a valve application specialist for any assistance you need. Share you fluid control challenges and get effective solutions.

SVF Flow Control M-Seat Metal Seated Ball Valves from MSJacobs-Cali