REPORTS

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Save production time!

I/EC

R E P O R T S

cleaned continuously to p e r m i t high filtration rates. T h e s e a r e but a few develop­ ments in process e q u i p m e n t design. T h e trends to r e d u c e costs a r e evi­ d e n t — a u t o m a t e w h e r e possible to r e d u c e labor costs, s t a n d a r d i z e to minimize inventory a n d p r o d u c t i o n problems, use research, directly or indirectly, to i m p r o v e e q u i p m e n t .

ods a n d the B l a w - K n o x d e c a r b o n i z ­ ing process. Chemical plants, too, can use these controllers to a d v a n ­ tage, especially on vessels g e n e r a t i n g excessive h e a t that otherwise would not p e r m i t installation of internal d e ­ vices. A complete setup costs from $1550 to $2250 f.o.b. R i c h m o n d , Calif., d e p e n d i n g u p o n the type of

DRAVER FEEDERS

Radioactive Eye

prevent overloading of

production

units

You can safely operate pulverizers, sifters, mixers, and other production machines at maximum efficiency without danger of over­ loading, when you control the feed of bulk materials with Draver Feeders. You save power and production time . . . eliminate wasteful reprocessing . . . avoid excessive wear on your equipment. Capacity adjustment is easy and positive, through speed control of the driving mech­ anism—thus inlet and outlet openings arc wide open at all times. Even stubborn, non-free-flowing products can be fed in a steady, uniform stream. Sturdy, accurate Draver Feeders are made in more than 100 sizes and models, with capacities from minute quantities up to thousands of pounds per hour. There's sure to be a standard model that will save you production time and money. Write for details and recommendations on your spe­ cific feeding problem, without obligation. Draver "Micro-Master" Feeders, mounted at floor level, feed bulk materials to mixing equipment below.

FEEDING · PACKAGING

MIXING · SIFTING · WEIGHING · PACKING EQUIPMENT FOR THE PROCESS INDUSTRIES

B.F.

GUMP

Γ ο ΰ » " * ^ — — Engineers & Manufacturers

Co.

Since 1872——'

1315 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago 5 0 , III. Circle No. 26 A on Readers' Service Card, page 117 A 26 A

Gamma

ray

gage

watches level in coke drums, boosting c a p a c i t y as much as

12.5%.

Can

also

used f o r measuring

be

liquids

U p to 5 0 mc. o f c o b a l r - 6 0 a r e p l a c e d on one side o f the drum

a n d slurries in other proc­ esses P O K I N G p l a n t operators n o w h a v e a n accurate, d e p e n d a b l e m e t h o d of following the level in their coke d r u m s t h r o u g h a g a m m a r a y device de­ veloped by T r a c e r l a b , I n c . T h e de­ vice reduces h a z a r d of spillover into overhead lines a n d adjoining frac­ tionation towers. A n d cost of a level-indicating system, according to T r a c e r l a b engineers, is usually less t h a n the cost of cleaning u p equip­ m e n t after a single spillover. Of further, a n d p r o b a b l y greater, i m p o r t a n c e is the increased coking capacity resulting from the avail­ ability of this i m p r o v e d control. I t is the practice to o p e r a t e such d r u m s only to a b o u t 8 0 % of their full height to avoid the possibility of spillovers. Better level indication allows this safe limit to be increased to as m u c h as 9 0 % — a n increase of 1 2 . 5 % in cok­ ing capacity. W h e n c o m p a r e d with the cost of a coking facility, such e q u i p m e n t provides a d d e d capacity a t a n o m i n a l cost. Several coking processes a r e read­ ily controlled by T r a c e r l a b e q u i p ­ m e n t , including the L u m m u s a n d M . W . Kellogg delayed coking m e t h ­

INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY

A set o f G e i g e r tubes or a scintilla­ tion detector picks up the count on the other side o f the drum

Signals f r o m a count r a t e meter a r e transmitted to a chart recorder, o r recorder-controller if automatic w a t e r flow is desired

I/ECREPORTS

The newly enlarged TECO Laboratory, officially opened during the annual meetings of National Lumber Manufacturers Association and Timber Engineering Company, November 8-10, 1956, provides ex­ tensive facilities for meeting increasing wood research and testing requirements of the manufacturers and users of wood and wood products, and their suppliers.

Λ nnouncing— Timber Engineering Company's new Pilot Plant, fully equipped for the de­ velopment of platen-type wood particle boards, with companion facilities for testing and evaluating both platen and extrusion types of boards, their raw ma­ terials, production processes, end uses, and markets. The only commercial laboratory in the United States and Canada offering complete services for present and future producers and users of particle board, and their suppliers of chemical prod­ ucts and other basic raw materials.

now ready — to assist manufacturers of Binders Preservatives Moisture Résistants Color Additives Fire Retardants and other chemicals, in d e v e l o p i n g , i m p r o v i n g , o r adapting their products for use in the production of wood particle boards. W e invite inquiries from suppliers to the fast-growing wood particle board industry.

TIMBER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1319 18TH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON 6, D. C. Research and Engineering Affiliate of National Lumber Manufacturers Association For further information, circle number 28 A on Readers' Service Card, page 117 A 28 A

INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERINS CHEMISTRY

ratemeter and chart recorder one chooses to purchase (exclusive of coaxial cable leads, priced at 15 cents a foot). The technique is simple for one skilled in the principles of gamma ray absorption methods. A radioactive source—up to 50 inc. of cobalt-60 for a 16-foot diameter drum— is placed on one side of the coke drum. On the opposite side of the drum, a set of Geiger tubes or a scintillation detector picks up the count. As the coke rises to the level of the source and detectors, it absorbs gamma rays emitted by the radioactive source, causing a decrease in the rate of arrival of gamma rays at the detectors. When the coke level drops below the source and detector, the count rate increases in a linear manner. The operator also picks up the water level inside the coke drum (which helps him prevent water overflow), because cooling water also decreases the count rate when it reaches the indicated level. Signals from a count ratemeter, coupled to the detectors, are transmitted to a chart recorder. If desired, the recorder can be provided with relays to close the cooling water valve when the desired level is reached. Some installations use two sets of detectors on each drum, one mounted at the level of the radioactive source and another 10 feet below the source. This arrangements gives two-level indication, providing information on the coke formation rate. All of the equipment is mounted completely external to the coke drum and its insulation. Hence, the source and detectors are not subjected to vibration and the jets often used for removal of solidified coke, nor is operation impeded by deposition of coke from the vapor phase on thermowclls. It isn't necessary to cut into the wall of the coke drum to install the gaging equipment. In most coking plants a number of drums are used, and special arrangements can be worked out for economizing on the number of ratemeterrecorder systems, by use of a selector switch on the ratemeter. No doubt even magicians would admit that gamma rays are quicker than the hand—or the eye. H.W.H.