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Instrowest was approached by a member of Large Lithium Processing Plant’s Electrical and Instrument Engineering Department to provide a solution for measuring and controlling the addition of a new non-conductive reagent into their process. Because this reagent was not electrically conductive along with the low flow rates desired, typically less than 500ml/min meant that a traditional small bore electro-magnetic flow meter and valve could not be utilized to measure and control the flow rate and totalized flow of the product.

Instrowest proposed the use of a stainless steel Hanbay electric multi-turn valve actuator, coupled to a metering valve that was sized correctly to allow extremely fine control with the low flow coefficients required. To measure these low flow rates we sized up a 4mm Siemens FC300 Coriolis flowmeter and Sitrans MASS 6000 convertor contained in a durable heavy duty stainless steel housing.

This valve, actuator and flow meter combination was sized so it would reach full required max flow rate at about ¾ of its stroke. This deliberate sizing allows the valve to open further to clear any blockages that may occur in the valve, before returning to the desired flow rate.

Results:

After some initial commissioning issues with the flow meter, the whole system has been working really well. This combination is able to accurately dose the non-conductive reagent at rates between 1500ml/min and 15 ml/min.

The onsite Metallurgy Department report that since the installation the product recovery has improved and that the dosing rate has been stable and predictable, thus reducing their spend on the reagent. Also with the addition of the totalization function of the flow meter the metallurgist’s have been able to monitor their total use per/tonne, allowing them to accurately control and budget their costs for this reagent.

Instrowest have had great success with these actuators and when used in conjunctions with suitably sized and selected valves we have been able to achieve excellent process and flow control on a number of different fluids.

If you have a reagent dosing need that you would like to discuss please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Email: sales@instrowest.com.au
Website: www.instrowest.com.au

Tags: Flow Meters, Flow Transmitter, Electric Actuator, Instrument Installation, Instrumentation