Tech article highlights the SLAMf Series MFC as one of the best in the industry for measurement and control of process gases with different levels of protection required for rugged and hazardous environments.
Steve Kannengieszer, Global Marketing Director at Brooks Instrument, publishes an article in a recent edition of Process Instrumentation magazine.
HATFIELD, Pa. (USA) July 6, 2022 - Process Instrumentation magazine, a leading trade magazine covering technology and solutions in flow, pressure, and temperature measurement in industrial processes, recently featured the Brooks Instrument SLAMf Series mass flow controller (MFC) by discussing this next generation MFC built to operate in the harshest environments.
Appearing in the July 2022 issue, the article “Selecting MFCs for Rugged and Hazardous Environments,” by Steve Kannengieszer, Global Marketing Director at Brooks Instrument, highlights the company’s digital SLAMf Series mass flow controller with a specially engineered NEMA4X/IP66 enclosure. The SLAMf Series is widely used in rugged environments such as chemical and petrochemical facilities and commonly found in research labs and pilot plants where exact measurement and control of process gasses are necessary.
When assessing whether an MFC can be safely used in a hazardous environment, it is necessary to understand key classification standards and labeling to determine if the device is right for your needs. For MFC products, the most common classifications are NEMA 4/4x, IP65, IP66 and IP67. For example, IP66-rated MFC housings are dust-tight and protected against heavy water jet spray, which could degrade the housings and potentially allow ingress of explosive gases or dust that could potentially ignite. Brooks Instrument created a dedicated resource page to help users understand this challenging topic.
The digital SLAMf Series mass flow controller with IP66-rated housings is designed to provide longer operating life cycles even if exposed to moisture from washdown conditions or weather. They are reliable for use in outdoor process equipment without requiring additional housing or enclosures. In comparison, standard MFCs are housed in separate enclosures designed to provide protections from outside hazards. This can lead to additional costs due to the enclosure itself as well as installation related to connecting gas feed lines and wiring for power and device communications.
"When selecting MFCs for hazardous-area applications, it is important to also consider the digital communications, sensor and other built-in diagnostic capabilities available on the MFCs you are specifying. High-speed digital communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP and PROFINET are becoming widely adopted within the process control architectures in both chemical and petrochemical industries," said Kannengieszer.
To read the full article from Process Instrumentation magazine, click here.
You can also visit the SLAMf mass flow controller product page to access a data sheet and explanatory videos detailing how the SLAMf Series is specially engineered with NEMA4X/IP66 enclosure to protect advanced digital electronics and ensures stable, accurate measurement and control of process-critical gas mass flows.
About Brooks Instrument:
Since 1946, Brooks Instrument has been a leader in precision fluid measurement and control technology. Providing instrumentation for flow, pressure and vapor delivery, the company serves customers in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceuticals, fiber optics, thin film manufacturing, solar cells, LED, alternative energy, oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical and semiconductor manufacturing. With manufacturing, sales and service locations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Brooks Instrument has the world’s largest installed base of mass flow controllers. Its broad family of products includes brands such as UNIT Instruments, Tylan, and Celerity. For more information, please visit www.BrooksInstrument.com. The company is also on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/Brooks-Instrument) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/Brooks407).