58 flowmeters head for furnace application

14 April 2009

Fives Stein is insuring the correct oxygen to fuel ratio in its industrial furnaces, used in the production of fibreglass, with 58 flowmeters. The Oxfordshire based division of the Fives Group selected Sierra Max-Trak products from Litre Meter, a flowmeter specialist based in Buckinghamshire.

Combustion skid under construction
Combustion skid under construction

Alan Stephens of Fives Stein explained: ‘The meters are used to ensure the correct oxygen to fuel ratio.

‘The meters are used in two furnaces – one fuelled by natural gas, the other by LPG. We chose these meters because they are capable of accurate measurements at very low pressure. This meant that we could use them where oxygen is supplied from an on-site VSA (vacuum swing) plant.’

VSA is a process whereby oxygen is separated from air at a low pressure and then, in this instance, used with combustion gases to power the furnaces.

Stephens said: ‘Not only is the Sierra flowmeter capable of operating at the low pressures associated with the VSA process, it is also very robust. We needed a meter that would cope with industrial conditions including the hot environment associated with glass furnaces.

‘Another deciding factor in the choice of these meters was the fact that Litre Meter was able to supply some customised software for the meters measuring LPG because the type of gas used is not standard.’


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