INTRODUCTION
Established in 1974, Fluid Controls is an ISO 9001 certified company with certificate no. 03749-2006-AQ-BOM-RvA dated 27.3.2000 from Det Norske Veritas. The company is involved in the manufacture of Double Ferrule Compression Tube Fittings, Valves, Manifolds and specialized accessories for use in instrumentation, hydraulics, pneumatics, and lubrication. The company has a wide range of products for the Oil and Gas Industries, Petrochemicals, Rotating Machinery, Power Generation, Cryogenic and Vacuum Applications among others.
Fluid Controls offers a series of Manifolds Compact Piping and Control in lines involving pressure and differential pressure instruments. Manifold eliminates several parts used in the conventional method of piping with individual valves and adaptors resulting in costs saving. Their compact design reduces space requirements for operation and installation. Internal porting. Arrangement within the Manifold eliminates leakage points.
Fluid Controls Manifolds are available in 2, 3 or 5 Valves construction.
Two Valve Manifolds are used in pressure instrument such as pressure gauges, pressure transmitters, pressure switches, etc.
Three Valve and Five Valve Manifolds are used in differential pressure instruments such as differential pressure transmitters, differential pressure switches, differential pressure gauges etc.
Three Valve Manifolds are the most commonly used manifolds. They may be provided with test ports on the process sides and drain ports on the instrument side for drawing of the process and instrument lines respectively.Five Valve Manifolds are normally used with differential pressure instruments where drain valves are required on the instrument side. They are also useful for flushing of the system and prevention of loss of expensive Fluid Controls in the impulses.
Fluid Controls Manifolds are available in four different types of designs.
Separately Mounted Manifolds meant for installation from the instrument and are usually connected by means of pipes or tubes, pipes and pipe fittings/tubes and tube fittings.
Direct Mounting“T” Type Manifolds for the direct mounting on the instrument and screwed process connections.
Direct Mounting “H” Type Manifolds for stacked assembly between the instrument and flanged process connection
Co-Planar Manifolds mounted directly on to the instrument eliminating the adapter plate.
At the heart of the Fluid Controls Manifold is the design of the pressure sealing system for each of the valves which has the following advantages:
• The stem threads rolled to reduce friction
• Stem threads are coated with silver teflon mixture to allow for smooth operation.
• The stem plug has swivelling design and uniquely hardened to provide for wear and long life.
• The pipe sealing system to prevent blowout of the stem and reduce gland leakage.
Fluid Controls Manifolds are available in variety of materials depending on the usage. The most common materials of construction are:
• Carbon Steel ASTM A 105
• Stainless Steel ASTM A 479/A182 F 304, F316, F304L and F316L, F321
• Cupro Nickel: Monel
• Inconel
• Hastealloy “C”
• Titanium
The choice of the materials is based on the workings of Fluid Controls and the installation location where atmospheric conditions may vary and require materials to prevent corrossion and withstand vibration.
Manifolds in Stainless Steel and Monel are also available with conformity to NACE MR 01 75 for corrosion resistance.
Fluid Controls Manifolds are available in three specific designs:
The standard design is with a case hardened swivelling stem plug suitable for most applications in low, medium and high pressure range.
• Where gas at high pressure is encounterable eroddable swivelling plug with soft seat is preferred. The standard seat materials are reinforced PTFE, Delrin and PEEK.
• The thread design is for a case hardened ball plug in 316 Stainless Steel. Alternatively, Hastealloy, Monel, Inconel and Titanium manifolds have Tungsten Carbide ball plug.
• All these designs are available in a standard thread above the seal design so that stem threads are not wetted by the fluid flowing in the system.
The gland sealing arrangements used in Fluid Controls Manifolds vary wit the temperature requirement. The most common material is RPTFE for temperatures upto 1800 C. For temperatures in the range 180 to 2700 C graphitized asbestos is a common gland seal material. Beyond 270 and upto 540 0 C, graphoil is the standard use.
