LEARN ABOUT THE PREVENTION OF GAS-FUELED EXPLOSIONS …

8TH EDITION, DECEMBER 2019 NUTEC BICKLEYNUTEC BICKLEY

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LEARN ABOUT THE PREVENTION OF

8TH EDITION, DECEMBER 2019

PAGE 11

SUCCESS STORY:RINGS OF FIRE

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

page 13OUR EVENTS

GAS-FUELED EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES

8TH EDITION, DECEMBER 2019 NUTEC BICKLEY

In this e-bulletin, the final one of the year, I would like to share some reflections on

what 2019 has meant for Nutec Bickley. Once again, I’m pleased to report that we

have had a good year serving our many customers by completing furnace and kiln

projects, retrofitting equipment and providing a wide range of technical services,

while not only maintaining our healthy financial position but in fact enhancing it.

However, what is equally important – if not more so – is the fact that during our

planning and strategy sessions earlier in the year, the company’s executive and

management team unanimously came to the conclusion that our path forward should

be to focus even more strongly on our customers, declaring our mission statement

to be: ‘To delight our customers with equipment performance, quality, execution and

service’. That sums us up. We are, and will be, about just that.

I can promise that everything we do will revolve around this mission. We are already in

the process of designing and implementing strategic actions with the aim of enhancing

each of the central principles underpinning this mission statement. Regardless of

how well we are meeting the challenges, and/or what positive results are already

being achieved, we will continue to improve – as that it why we exist as a company.

So, in conclusion, I’m happy with what we have accomplished this year, but more

important is how excited we all are here at Nutec Bickley about what we will be doing

in 2020, having you, our customers, as our reason to be.

EditorialDANIEL LLAGUNO, CEO

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In an interview with our VP Combustion,

Controls & Services, Alberto Cantú, we talked

about the manufacture of Prevention of gas-

fueled explosions and fires.

MANUFACTURE OF PREVENTION OFGAS-FUELED EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES

Boiler burners, process furnaces and incinerators

must be properly protected against gas-fueled

fires and explosions in the event of some

combustion system failure.

For this reason, we usually find various

mechanisms being employed on the factory floor

as protection measures,

such as:

Remember – safety valves may fail

The National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA) has determined that the

automatic gas shut-off valve is the most

important safety device for protection

against possible explosions or fire

risks that could lead to the unplanned

interruption of various services or

operations in the plant.

Unfortunately, numerous combustion systems

rely entirely on a single manual-reset gas shut-

off valve to take the action required by safety

interlocks in the event of an emergency.

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Safety protocols

Fire-fighting equipment

Preplanned emergency procedures

Combustion system interlocks to automatically turn off the gas feed when hazardous problems occur

In the following article, we will talk to you

about what checks you should make to your

safety valves to prevent explosions caused by

possible gas leaks.


Although valve manufacturers create their

equipment as resistant as possible to various

elements such as dirt, damage and water, the

reality is that even the most expensive valve

is susceptible to failure, so in accordance with

NFPA 86 it is mandatory to have a second

automatic gas shut-off valve in series with the

first.

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Clean, close and seal the device components and wiring boxes, and lubricate the valves as specified by the manufacturer.

The only leads that should be allowed to remain are those in which a similar valve is in parallel.

Remove the wedges, cables or blocks that have been attached in order to keep the circuits closed or the valves open and remove the bridges unless the manufacturer’s wiring diagram specifies that they should be left inside.

1.Inspection of open side panels and covers on safety switches or gas shut-off valves


4. Testing the flame monitoring system by simulating a flame failure

6. Checking the safety switch that protects against high pressure

3. Testing the action of the trip solenoid and the gas shut-off valve spring

5. Checking the safety switch that protects against low pressure

7. For all other security interlocks

Connect a rubber hose to a port in the pipe at the outlet of each valve.

Insert the open end of the hose into a glass of water and allow the flow of gas.

Bubbles coming out of the end of the hose indicate that the valve has not closed tightly.

Consult the NFPA 86 standard for the number of bubbles allowed.

Close the valve being tested, but allow supply pressure to be exerted on its upstream side; then close the valve downstream.

2.Testing your gas shut-off valves for leaks

When the pressure is too low to maintain a stable burner flame at the correct air/fuel ratio, close a manual valve upstream;

The gas shut-off valve should then close quickly.

Simulate the problem for which the device has been designed.

Verify that the gas shut-off valves close quickly.

When the pressure is too high to maintain a stable burner flame at the correct air/fuel ratio or is higher than the recommendations of the regulator and other system component manufacturers:

Adjust the value to the existing pressure to see if the gas shut-off valve trips.

Be sure to return the switch to its original set point after the test.

Close a gas tap upstream.

The gas shut-off valve should close in a few seconds.

This test can be performed at the end of the working day when the gas is turned off.

Disrupt the power supply to the solenoid with a simulated power failure.

It is not always possible to determine if the valve was closed by a sound or a built-in indicator; therefore, it is necessary to check the line pressure between the valve and the next resistance to downstream flow.

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RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The high costs of industrial accidents,

changing codes and constant improvements

to equipment make it vital for safety devices

to be checked frequently. Therefore we advise

you to use several distinct safety devices with

almost all combustion systems:

Emergency stop buttons at the exits or in the guardhouse to turn off the gas in the event of a potential fire.

At Nutec Bickley we have the latest technology

in combustion systems and our designs

comply with current regulations. Come and

tell us about your project so that we can help

you realize it with the support of the latest

technology available to the market.

Pilots interrupted when electronic flame monitoring systems are used; intermittent or constant pilots should not be used with flame monitoring, except in some special situations.

Electronic flame monitoring systems by means of safety relays.

High and low gas pressure switches; low air pressure switches.

Flow switches or other indicators of furnace recirculation air failure.

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Box Furnace - burn-off type

· Location: Mexico

· Industry / Segment: Heat treatment of rotors

· Currently operating at customer’s facilities

· Operational Temperature: 620°C (1,150°F)

Bell Furnace

· Location: Mexico

· Industry / Segment: Annealing

· Currently installing at customer’s facilities

· Operational Temperature: 350°C (662°F)

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RECENT PROJECTS


Shuttle Kiln

Curing Oven

· Location: Belgium

· Industry / Segment: Refractories


· Operational Temperature: 350°C (660°F)

· Location: Belgium

· Industry / Segment: Refractories


· Operational Temperature: 680°C (1,250°F)

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Nutec Bickley is exclusive authorized distributor of

Combustion and Control equipment brand Fives North

American in Mexico.

Fives North American designs and supplies a wide range of

combustion equipment and systems for industrial processes:

Adjustable Port Valves for hot or cold air, gas, oil, water, steam;

special materials available for other fluids.

Dual fuel burners have a wide range of capacities, control variety and

many applications.

They can be used for process, water and liquid asphalt Heaters. Also

useful for aluminum melters, dryers, boilers, incinerators, etc.

Gas burners and mixers are compact, with a flexible construction

for greatest ease of installation and can be mounted in any position.

VALVES AND VALVE OPERATORS

DUAL-FUEL BURNERS

GAS BURNERS AND MIXERS

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All Industrial Blowers in metal construction including mild steel, cast aluminum, or corrosion resistant stainless steel create a nearly indestructible blower.

Oxygen and oil burners have a superior luminous flame heat transfer with low oxygen pressure requirement, simple installation and low maintenance operation.

Fives North American Accessories include y-type strainers, metering orifice systems, igniters, pressure gauges, manometers, pressure switches, observation ports and more.

Accurately maintain a constant air/gas ratio over a wide range of firing rates in both nozzle-mix and premix gas burner systems. Molded diaphragms ensure excellent tracking, repeatability, maximum flows, and superior turndown.

INDUSTRIAL BLOWERS

OXYGEN BURNERS AND OIL BURNERS

ACCESSORIES AND COMPONENTS

FOR COMBUSTION SYSTEMS

REGULATORS

Fives North American’s TwinBed II® system recovers waste heat from furnace exhaust gases to preheat the combustion air to significantly increase efficiency over conventional burners or burners with recuperators during combustion process, obtaining a regenerative combustion.

TWIN BED II

RINGS OF FIRE

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RINGS OF FIRE

Nutec Bickley has recently installed

another new rotary furnace at the Bensalem,

Philadelphia, USA plant operated by Specialty

Ring Products (SRP), the leading provider

of high performance quality forgings and

machining to the aerospace, defense, energy,

industrial and bearing industries. The furnace

will be producing steel ingots weighing

between 1kg and 23kg (2 lb and 50 lb), used

for the manufacture of alloy steel rings. These

billets are vertically loaded on to the hearth

at a rate of around 50 pieces per hour. SRP

produces seamless rolled rings and sleeves,

contoured rolled rings, and also forged discs.

Nutec Bickley’s Metal Furnaces business

unit was contracted by SRP to manufacture

and install the rotary furnace complete with

vertical lift doors, gas-fired combustion

system, PLC controls complete with I/O units,

and ancillary equipment. The furnace has a

total diameter of 3.5m (11.5ft), with hearth

diameter of 2.4m (8ft) and it operates in the

range 815°C–1175°C (1500°F–2150°F).

The Nutec Bickley design integrates the

latest concepts in order to provide this valued

customer with one of the most modern

furnaces available for the heat treating

process, and one that can operate effectively

over a very wide range of temperatures

yet that can maintain the required levels of

uniformity.

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SUCCESS STORY RINGS OF FIRE


Variable excess air control technique for homogeneous and excellent temperature uniformity without the need for circulating fans.

Superior quality high-velocity burners that produce high gas circulation and better heat transfer to product.

PLC with Honeywell HC900 interface, giving precise automatic control of heating, outputs for control zones and temperature via paperless recorder.

High limit temperature controller.

Flame safety system with UV sensor for each burner.

Automatic internal pressure control system to improve process stability (high temperature

resistance multi-louver with silicon carbide shaft dampers). The new furnace was manufactured and installed extremely quickly, thereby causing minimal disruption to operations at Bensalem.

Both sidewall and roof hot face insulation is

with Nutec’s own proprietary, ceramic fiber

HTZ MonsterModule system. High thermal

efficiency Monster Modules allow for faster

heating and cooling cycles.

Other notable features in the furnace’s

advanced design include:

SRP was founded back in 1890 and is a fourth generation, family-owned business that has remained

a leader in the forging industry. As customers’ requirements have become more exacting, SRP has

extended its capabilities and expertise and – as evidenced by this latest furnace installation – is

continually refining its processes to deliver the highest quality rings.

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“We are proud to have been chosen to design

and manufacture this very latest furnace and

play our part in the continued modernization

program at the Bensalem facility. The

efficiencies offered by every aspect of the

furnace construction will, I am sure, contribute

significantly to reduced operating costs at

the same time as maintaining the high quality

standards that SRP’s customers expect”,

commented Arturo Arechavaleta, VP Metal

Furnaces at Nutec Bickley.


THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

OUR EVENTSWATCH VIDEO

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https://www.nutecbickley.com/events


Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a well-known tradition, celebrated

on the second day in November throughout the country and by those of

Mexican heritage right across the world. Families and friends join together to

remember their loved ones who have died.

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DÍA DE MUERTOS

8TH EDITION, DECEMBER 2019 NUTEC BICKLEYNUTEC BICKLEY 14

There are many different ways to express love

for those who have passed on, one of which is

the creation of an elaborate altar. These altars

contain a group of symbolic elements: seven

levels, representing the stairway to Heaven; an

arch, representing the entrance to the world

of the dead; water to symbolize the purity of

the soul; incense to purify the environment;

pictures of those being remembered; bread,

food and fruit to feed the soul; salt to purify

the spirits; scented flowers to guide the soul

to the ‘world of the living people’; candles

to guide the spirit on its way home; colored

paper ornaments, representing joy; and a mirror

for the dead to check on their appearance.

In line with this widely celebrated

tradition, this year Nutec Bickley

staff organized an altar contest at the company’s

Monterrey headquarters. Employees from

various departments worked together, forming

three teams, to design and create special

altars which they then showed off to all their

colleagues. Additionally, photos of the three

altars were posted on the company’s Gente Nutec

Facebook page so that relatives and friends could

vote for their favourite. In the end, the winner was

the operations team, who demonstrated a great

deal of creativity and team spirit in this activity.

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WE HOPE YOU’LL JOIN US

16

Ceramics Expo USA

Booth 438

Cleveland, OH

May 5 - 6, 2020

International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar & Exposition

Booth 211

Orlando, FLMay 19 - 21, 2020

15th World Conference on Investment Casting & Equipment Expo 2020

Booth 423

Disneyland Hotel,Anaheim, CA

Oct 18 - 21, 2020


CHALLENGEInstructions:Analyze the problem below and answer the question that appears at the end of the text.

Albert and Bernard just become friends with Cheryl, and they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl gives them a list of 10 possible dates.

Possible Dates

Here’s the question: So when is Cheryl’s Birthday?

Get yourself featured in our e-bulletin

Answer this problem correctly and send your solution to [email protected]. We’ll publish the solution and a list of winners in our next edition.

Cheryl then tells Albert and Bernard separately the month and the day of her birthday respectively.

Albert: I don’t know when Cheryl’s birthday is, but I know that Bernard does not know either.

Bernard: At first I didn’t know when Cheryl’s birthday is, but I know now.

Albert: Then I also know when Cheryl’s birthday is.

May 15June 17July 14August 14

May 16June 18July 16August 15

May 19

August 17

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DO YOU NEED A QUOTE FOR ANY OF THESE SOLUTIONS?

Contact us at [email protected] and let us know about your project requirements so that we can respond effectively and as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.

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LEARN ABOUT THE PREVENTION OF GAS-FUELED EXPLOSIONS …