This article was originally published on January 31, 2022 by John Varkonda and was updated on May 8, 2024, by Todd Thomas. Keeping pressure measurement instruments from becoming damaged in harsh environments is a challenge in many industries, including water/wastewater. Diaphragm seals play a vital role in these applications by creating a leak-tight and corrosion-resistant barrier between a pressure instrument and your process. For many, a flanged diaphragm seal connection is a great choice because it provides a convenient way to attach instrumentation directly onto flanged process piping without having to use threaded connections. But proper installation of these seals is the key to getting the most protection. Ashcroft is a recognized global leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation and uses our decades of experience to educate and guide customers to the solutions that best meet the challenge at hand. In this article, you will learn a bit about flanged diaphragm seals, the basic principles of torque and best practices for installing a flanged diaphragm seal in your process. When you are done reading, we will also share additional resources that may be beneficial to you.

This article is based on a white paper written by John Carissimi and Jeremy Payne in 2015 and rewritten on May 6, 2024. Sour gas and crude oil operations involve harsh conditions with a high risk of corrosion. Metals and alloys used in environments with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are especially prone to corrosion and stress cracking, which can lead to material failure and dangerous fluid leaks in your system. To enhance safety and prevent equipment failures, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) established control standards for any instrumentation used in these types of applications. As the Product Marketing Leader for process gauges at Ashcroft, a global leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, I have spent the past 15 years answering questions and guiding customers on the importance of ensuring compatibility between your instruments and process media. In this article, you will get an overview of the NACE standards that specifically address corrosion that can occur with exposure to sour gas or sour crude. You will also learn what to look for when selecting pressure and temperature instruments for your sour gas and crude applications. When you are done reading, you will be able to access additional resources to help make informed decisions about selecting instrumentation for corrosive operations.

This article was originally published on July 24, 2023, by Rick Zerafin and was updated on April 29, 2024, by Dave Dlugos. Maintenance, reliability, process and Health Safety Environment (HSE) teams rely on accurate and stable temperature measurements to meet their goals. Thermocouples, new out of the box, are a critical tool for these measurements that help plant personnel maintain safe and efficient operations. Today, instrument designers use a wide array of thermocouple types, such as Type K, Type E and Type T to measure temperatures in applications ranging from cryogenic temperatures of -196 °C to the extremes of 1700 °C. This article will discuss how thermocouple calibration offers added benefits that promote process improvements and support compliance requirements. When you are done reading, you will also find additional related resources that can help you gain more insight into these important instruments.

This article was originally published on October 18th, 2021 by John Varkonda and was updated on April 24, 2024, by Dean Moyer. Anyone working in the water/wastewater industry knows just how important it is to maintain accurate and reliable pressure measurements throughout the process. Without the proper instrumentation to do the job, your operation is at risk for pump damage, clogging and other issues that could bring the entire system to a halt. At Ashcroft, it is our business to know the challenges you may encounter to keep your operation running safely and effectively and to provide solutions that will address your specific needs. In fact, in my 30 years of experience, I have seen just about everything that can go wrong (and right) in water/wastewater applications. In this article, you will get an overview of common water/wastewater application issues, and learn how the proper instrumentation, including isolation rings and accessories, can help you prevent these issues from happening to you. Throughout the article, you will also see links to additional resources that you can use as a reference to answer other questions you may have. Let's get started.

If you experiencing issues with diaphragm seal failure in your process, you are not alone. In harsh applications that involve corrosive media and other challenging conditions, diaphragm seals are your primary line of defense in protecting your pressure instruments from becoming damaged. At Ashcroft, we've seen practically every scenario that can cause a diaphragm seal to fail, leading to inaccurate readings and costly downtime. In this article, we will review how a diaphragm seal works, explore the three conditions that account for the majority of diaphragm seal failure — corrosion, high temperature, and fluid fill leakage — and offer some corrective measures to fix these issues. When you are done, you will have a better understanding of why diaphragm seals can fail and be able to identify and prevent potential issues in your own process. You will also find links to additional resources that will help address other diaphragm-related questions you may have.

This article was originally published on April 18, 2022, and was updated on April 17, 2024. No matter what industry you work in, diaphragm seals (also referred to as isolators) and welded assemblies are used to protect your pressure and temperature instrumentation from corrosive process media. After decades of making quality pressure and temperature gauges and sensors to help keep processes performing reliably and efficiently, Ashcroft has seen just about every scenario where something can go wrong. One reason we like to share our expertise is to help people like you who may be experiencing a similar issue that we can help solve. In this article, you will learn what a welded diaphragm seal assembly is and how it is used to help mitigate the damaging effects of high temperature, pulsation and vibration endured by your instruments. You will also see how these assemblies can ensure reliable and accurate pressure readings of your process. When you are done, you will find links to additional resources that can help you learn more about related topics.