The swift performance capability of the Rotork Type K vane type damper drive has provided the successful retrofit solution to a critical application involving the safe and efficient operation of balanced-draft power generation boilers.

Inlet draft (ID) fan inlet dampers at power stations regulate the fan-induced pressure and airflow supply to balanced-draft power generation boilers. These boilers require a consistent internal operating pressure for efficient and safe combustion. Boiler pressure fluctuations create combustion problems that can, in extreme conditions, lead to catastrophic failure and structural damage. The maintenance of consistent operating pressure relies entirely on the swift operation of the ID fan inlet dampers.

At the three-unit 2735MW Florida Power & Light Manatee Power Station at Parrish, Florida, the ID fan inlet dampers demand full 90 degree damper movement at full torque load in three seconds or less in order to safeguard the operation of the boilers.

In a recent outage at the station it was necessary to replace the ID fan inlet damper drives on Units 1 and 2, which were over thirty years old and incompatible with the HART protocol of the station’s new Distributed Control System. In addition the manual overrides on the drives had proved to be unreliable.

The equipment selected to replace the obsolete equipment was Type K ‘PM Series’ pedestal mounted TK-6 damper drives, delivering a torque of 5000 lbs-ft at a tested time of less than three seconds for a full 90 degree stroke. Operated by vane-type direct drive pneumatic actuators, these units offer a smoother and faster acting performance than any alternative design.

Type K provided a ‘drop-in-place’ retrofit installation, matching the dimensions of the existing damper drive footprint on all eight of the replacement installations in Units 1 and 2. Integrated air volume boosters were fitted to obtain the required rotation speed and the control interface was provided by smart positioners.

With the award of another landmark ruling in the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court of China, Rotork has again successfully defended its internationally recognised trademarks.

In the latest judgment, Shanghai Rotork Automation Instrumentation Co. Ltd. and Rotork Actuator Co. Ltd. (based in Zhejiang) were found to have infringed Rotork’s English and Chinese trademarks by using the name Rotork either in English or Chinese on products and in advertising for goods, not covered by their China registered trademark, in so doing creating a misleading and undesirable influence in the market for Rotork’s electric actuator products.

In addition to ceasing these activities, the defendants were ordered to pay a total of 2 million RMB in damages, which is four times the maximum statutory damages figure. The defendants were also ordered to publish a declaration in the international valve industry magazine Valve World to eliminate the undesirable influence created by their infringements. The defendants have lodged an appeal against the judgment to the Shanghai Higher People’s Court, pending the outcome of which the lower court’s judgment is stayed. Rotork is confident of its position on appeal.

This is the third successful judgment for Rotork in relation to its proprietary rights in China. In 2009, Rotork successfully defended its internationally recognised trademark and copyright in the Shanghai Courts against infringements by Autork Digital Instrument Co. Ltd. (also known as Greatork). The Shanghai Intermediate People’s Court and Higher People’s Court also found Autork to have been engaging in unfair competition through the use of false publicity for which they were fined the maximum amount of statutory damages. Furthermore, Autork was ordered by the Courts to cease these infringements with immediate effect.

Rotork has also been successful in defending its intellectual property rights in other parts of the world. In 2007 the Dutch District Court found Autork liable for slavish imitation, breach of copyright and violation of design rights relating to Rotork’s IQ and IQT series of actuators and also infringing Rotork’s internationally recognised trademark.

In a wide ranging judgment, Autork was ordered by the Court to stop infringing Rotork's proprietary rights throughout the whole of the expanded European Community. The Court further instructed Autork to remove infringing product from storage addresses, distribution points and customers.

In Germany and Holland the Autork stand was removed from high profile trade shows after Court action by Rotork in the German and Dutch Courts established intellectual property infringement by Autork against Rotork. An appeal by Autork was dismissed by the Court in 2009, thus concluding the proceedings.

Brooks Instrument continues to innovate instrumentation for the fuel cell industry and will showcase its SLA 5800 and GF 40/80 Series thermal mass flow controllers at the 2012 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition. Brooks will also exhibit its direct liquid injection (DLI) vaporizers from November 5-8, booth 211 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Brooks SLA5800 Series offers unparalleled flexibility and performance to the fuel cell industry. These mass flow controllers provide super-high flow control accuracy for excellent experiment control, as well as ultra-low drift, which ensures data is accurate and repeatable. Their fast response time permits accurate simulation of rapidly changing process conditions. In addition, their broad turndown reduces the number of MFCs required to cover flow ranges and permits simpler piping for fuel cell test stands. The SLA5800 Series also ensures a stable process even under changing conditions.

Brooks will also feature its DLI vaporizers, which provide unique atomization and heat exchanger technologies for testing fuel cell membranes. The DLI vaporizer can accept multiple inlets and will generate perfectly mixed vapors. Brooks offers several heat exchanger designs to accommodate a wide range of liquid properties: extremely low vapor pressures, very low flow rates and very high flow rates.

AMETEK Solidstate Controls, a leader in highly customized uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), has launched its new website: www.solidstatecontrols.com. The site offers visitors easier navigation, greater content control and the availability of live document readers.

On the new website, Solidstate Controls features a host of new product offerings, including the DP2, the latest addition to its digital ProcesPower® line of industrial uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and the DCR, the latest addition to its ProcessPower line of industrial battery chargers, as well as two new families of newable energy inverters—the EPP for off-grid applications and the RECon line of grid-tied UL 1741 inverters.

With the launch of the website, Solidstate Controls offers its customers additional decision-making tools for selecting industrial power conversion equipment. The site also strengthens Solidstate Controls worldwide presence, which currently consists of a sales and technical assistance network in more than 20 countries and installed equipment in more than 70 countries worldwide.

AMETEK Solidstate Controls is a recognized leader in highly customized inverters and UPS systems for critical processes involving harsh environments such as power generation (including fossil fuel and nuclear power utilities).

In 2012 Solidstate Controls celebrates 50 years of building the world’s most robust and reliable inverters and UPS systems. All AMETEK Solidstate Control inverters and UPS systems come with custom design assistance, global 24/7 field service and 40-year design life.