In the chemical industries, potential harmful substances are required to manage efficiently. These substances carry devastating consequences if not managed properly with great care. Because of these consequences, the need for electronic pressure control is high in the chemical industries to monitor and provide precise flow rate.

A flow control is essential due to various reasons such as controlling the temperature in a process vessel, controlling mix ratios and limiting the flow rate etc.  

Uses of Flow Control in Chemical Manufacturing

Here we have listed some important uses of electronic flow control:

Prevention and Control of Hazards

In chemical industries, it is necessary to provide the accurate delivery of the gas or liquid to a chemical process. This can easily happen with the help of a flow control. These controllers manage the flow rate of the fluid electronically to speed up and improve the process while maintaining a safe environment. That’s why they are widely used in petrochemical plants, agrochemical sectors, in the inorganic chemical processes. An electronic flow control reduces the overall risk of any dangerous incident. 

Petrochemical Plants

They are the largest segments having olefins and aromatics utilized for the preparation of various products. For instance, ethylene is produced by the process of the steam cracking and is further used for the production of the polyethylene. While using the steam cracker you have to handle various control loads that can be done easily with the assistance of an air flow control valve. If the load is not managed properly then it can lead to potential hazards.  

Agrochemical Sector

Electronic flow control valves are used in the agrochemical sector to prepare various fertilizers. Nowadays nitrogenous fertilizers cover 50 % of the market having ammonia as the vital component. Ammonia is produced from hydrogen and nitrogen. A mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen is admitted to the synthesis loop and is compressed in two stages under the pressure of 2200-4400 PSI(150-300 bar). To make that happen you have to get the controlled amount of the pressure.

You can only obtain it with the help of a high pressure flow control valve. The presence of high temperature and pressure is very challenging for any valve. The valve used in this kind of environment should have the capability to bear the high temperature and pressure. 

Inorganic Chemical Processes

Titanium dioxide is commonly used in the manufacturing of plastic, paint, paper, rubber, ceramics and fabrics as a white pigment. TiO2 is natural, ilmenite or synthetic rutile. These types of raw materials are used for the process of wet sulfuric acid while rutile is used for the high temperature process. In these processes, a proportional flow control valve is necessary to maintain the required flow rate and temperature for the process to happen precisely.  

Final Words

The most simple and reliable way of flow control within the chemical industry are electronic flow controls. In the chemical production process valves are often exposed to high temperature, pressure and corrosion. That’s why it is essential to consider the power requirements and the environment while buying a flow control. #livehyd #hydnews

By David Johnson

Guest Writer