PROCESS EXPO 2017 is Right Around the Corner!

Get a free pass to the PROCESS EXPO 2017 courtesy of Kinetrol USA!

September 19–22, 2017 • McCormick Place • Chicago, IL USA 

PROCESS EXPO is the nation’s largest trade show dedicated to bringing the latest technology and integrated solutions to all segments of the food and beverage industry.
Kinetrol is featuring the new Blueline Actuator series specifically for the food and beverage industry. Kinetrol Blueline Rotary Vane Actuators provide a superior alternative for actuating quarter-turn valves in food and beverage applications and are guaranteed for up to 4 million operations.

Stop by the Kinetrol booth #2670 and see the difference!

Instructions for your free pass: Visit this link and fill in your information. Or, go to the PROCESS EXPO 2017 site and use code 74768 when registering.

Dampers and Louvers Used in Power Plants, Refineries, Boilers, and Furnaces

parallel damper
Parallel damper with electric actuator.
A damper (otherwise known as a louvre) is a multi-element flow control device generally used to throttle large flows of air at low pressure. Dampers find common application in furnace and boiler draft control, and in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems.

Radial damper
Radial damper.
Common damper designs include parallel and radial. Parallel-vane dampers resemble a Venetian blind, with multiple rectangular vanes synchronously rotated to throttle flow through a rectangular opening. A photograph of a parallel-vane damper is shown above, part of an induced-draft (suction) air fan system on a separator at a cement plant. The vanes are not visible in this photograph because they reside inside the metal air duct, but the electric actuator mechanism and linkages connecting seven vane shafts together are visible.
pneumatic vane actuator damper drive
Pneumatic vane actuator damper drive.

Radial-vane dampers use multiple vanes arranged like petals of a flower to throttle flow through a circular opening. A photograph of a radial-vane damper is shown here (note the levers and linkages on the periphery of the tube, synchronizing the motions of the eight vanes so they rotate at the same angle).

Dampers are opened and closed by electric or pneumatic drives. In recent years, the pneumatic vane actuator  has earned an reputation for modulating dampers. Used in critical applications commonly found in power plants, refineries, boilers, and furnaces, these unique damper drives provide precise combustion gas management, are proven to increase boiler efficiency, lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions, and reduce maintenance cost.


Parts of this post are reprinted from Lessons In Industrial Instrumentation by Tony R. Kuphaldt – under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License.

New Blueline Section on Kinetrol USA Website

The Blueline Series actuators and spring return units with food grade coating have been added to the KinetrolUSA.com website.

More information can be found here - http://www.kinetrolusa.com/blueline.

Pneumatic Vane Actuators for Food Processing Applications


Kinetrol USA's "Blueline" Series of pneumatic vane actuators are designed for use in foodservice and beverage processing. The actuators are intended to be installed in areas where harsh chemical wash-down is required. These areas are very tough on most types of pneumatic actuators because the caustic or acidic chemicals used in cleaning adversely effect the actuator. All stainless steel actuators are an alternative, but they are prohibitively expensive. Kinetrol's Blueline Series provides a very economical option.

Blueline Actuators are permitted for use in contact with food in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDA) and all applicable regulations, including 21 CR 175.300 (Code of Federal Regulations).

For more information, call 972-447-9443 or visit http://www.kinetrolusa.com