Category Archives: Articles

Blending of Oils at Home and at Production Facilities

Oil blending,

The need to blend oils most often occurs when operating oil filled equipment that from time to time requires topping off the amount of oil in the equipment.  One of the main problems in topping off, is the compatibility of natural and synthetic oils and their interaction with additives.

The driver who is always on the road may be unable to use the services of auto repair/service centres to timely change the oil, so he has to blend motor oils.   Due to the fact that the base components and additives of synthetic and mineral oils differ significantly, their blending can cause engine problems, or even failure.

Oils by different manufacturers most likely will have different types of additives.   The physicochemical and performance characteristics of oils therefore, should be compared and examined prior to the topping off with a new or different type of oil.  In any case, after such operations are completed, the engine should be cleaned and the oil should be removed and replaced.  This is known as changing the oil.

It is much easier to handle this problem with industrial oils.  According to the latest research of a national scientific institute, oils of different brands that have various performance characteristics will not form a mixture.  In addition, there are no new chemical and intermolecular bonds between the components of oil.

In practice, prior to mixing, industrial oils are tested to determine the tangent delta (tan delta) that reflects the dielectric strength of the oil.  Many industrial energy facilities in the course of fuel mixture production, use special blending equipment to obtain a high-quality final product.

The following is the list of benefits of modern industrial fuel blending equipment:

(1) possibility to set the desired formulation based on individual calculations for each component;

(2) precise metering of components and formulas;

(3) precise blending temperature control;

(4) low power consumption;

(5) trouble-free maintenance; and

(6) several different technological operations performed by one piece of equipment.

The Domestic Production of Soft Drinks

Articles,

The market for soft drinks is divided into three main segments:  (1) mineral and drinking water; (2)  juices and juice-containing drinks; and (3) fizzy/carbonated drinks.  The first segment of the market includes mineral water, well water and purified water (with or without flavouring agents but with no added sugar).  The second segment includes fruit and vegetable juices, nectars, juice-containing drinks, and fruit puree.  Sweet fizzy/carbonated drinks, based on water and with sugar, include soda, rye beer, fruit drink and alcohol-free champagne for children.

The gross market share of such well-known international corporations as Bonaqua, owned by Coca-Cola and Aqua Minerale, owned by PepsiCo that function in the domestic market,  exceeds 50%.  It is therefore, very difficult to compete with them.  Still, there are possibilities to promote national and international soft drink brands other than Coke and Pepsi.

The profitability of soft drink products is achieved by original investments, good positioning of goods in the market and the quality of the soft drinks.  The technology of soft drink production is based on the blending of different ingredients such as water, sugar, fruits and berries, and other semi-finished products.  All the components, and especially the production processes, are strictly regulated by special documents and should comply with national and international quality standards to make the products competitive in the market.

Soft drinks are characterized by a wide range of goods.  The uniqueness of the formulation is realized by the proper metering of components and the technology of of modern blending equipment.

In today’s world, there are many kinds of blending equipment available for the soft drink market.  Industrial-type blending units enjoy wide popularity.  For example, the USB unit available from GlobeCore was originally designed for fuel blending.  Being mobile and versatile however, this unit has obtained a wide circulation in industrial energy markets and now, food processing markets.

GlobeCore USB units were tested not only on oil products, but also on different types of paints, soaps, vegetable-based fluids and “edible fluids.”  The results exceeded expectations!  GlobeCore USB units are so versatile, they can be used for blending limitless kinds of different fluids and liquids.

The introduction of liquid components into soft drink production is performed using all the capabilities of the technology.  The blending units cycle through different modes of blending with constant monitoring of temperature conditions.

Each component of GlobeCore’s USB units is designed and manufactured with account for the individual needs of each customer.  This system may be easily integrated into the existing production processes, or can operate autonomously.  According to industry analysts, it could cost you as much as 1.5 million dollars to set up a plant that will produce soft drinks and mineral water.   The pay-off period is 5-7 years.

According to different estimates, the profitability of soft drink production is between 10 to 20%.  Sales of soft drinks exceeds more than 2 billion litres per year therefore, the market is huge and continues to grow each year.

Though there is a tendency towards drinks that are more healthful such as juices and mineral water, between 70% to 75% of the population still buy soft drinks.  It is therefore, a fair assumption to say that GlobeCore’s USB blending systems are an effective investment that will greater benefit the manufacturer of soft drink products.

Demand for New Items – a Metering Pump

Articles

As often happens, complicated technological processes and developments are adjusted to be used in different branches of industry.  Easy-to-use and versatile equipment is an integral part of the production process of different items.

Facilities that specialize in the production of household products adopt practices from heavy, power and oil and gas industries.   This is due to the fact that  they use the same components such as chemical elements and natural resources that are suitable for industrial and general purposes.

GlobeCore USB blending units are used at facilities that blend fuel mixtures and try to re-use the supplies from third parties for their own benefit.

Custom-made equipment allows you to keep trade secrets secret and saves money on fuel.  The possibility to adjust formulations and use different liquids or many different components during the blending process draws a lot of attention.  Especially the companies engaged in soap production.  In the Soap Industry it is very important to be very different and to not to be like the products of other companies.

Blending equipment is characterized according to the operations it performs.  Each part of the blending equipment affects the quality of the final product.  A “Dosing Unit” is one such part.  It may be applied as independent equipment or as a part of a larger, more complicated piece of equipment used in different branches of industry.  In particular, dosing units are indispensable when working with chemical reagents.

A Metering pump is one of the pieces of equipment that is considered to be a  dosing unit.  It facilitates the blending of different components.  A metering pump is used to purify wastewater, improve the quality of water with the help of reagents and for cleaning swimming pools.

In the home care industry, a metering pump is used to produce cosmetic products, soaps and shampoos.  There are many different classifications of metering pumps,  but as a rule they are characterized according to,  (1) the nature of the work performed; and (2) the method of supply.

According to the first classification, there can be piston-type, flexible-tube and membrane pumps.   A piston-type pump is the most widely used since it can operate with different fluids that have a range of various characteristics.  The piston pump is characterized by a high-performance supply of components.  The operation of this type of pumps is regulated by changing the length of the stroke of the piston.  The working chamber of a piston-type pump is small so that the possibility of leaks is eliminated.

The piston features a long metal bar.  When in operation, it does not make contact with the walls of the working cylinder.  As a result if the up and won movement of the piston, a metering pump draws in and pushes the liquid out.

Piston-type pumps can work with liquids that are under high pressure. They can increase the capacity and volume of the dosing procedure.  The material the metering pump is made of however, should be checked for compatibility with the chemical reagents being pumped.

The operational principle of other kinds of metering pumps is quite different due to their design.  For example, a membrane-type metering pump protects the future composition of mixtures from contaminants.  It should be made therefore, of anti-corrosion materials that are resistant to chemicals and toxins.  Additionally, membrane-type metering pumps are unable to match piston-type pumps in accuracy.  Membrane pumps have a lower capacity and a reduced service life due to the constant influence of harmful chemicals.

Due to the shorter service life of membrane type pumps, designers and engineers have made constant improvements to the pumps that have resulted in the creation of models with a double membrane to increase resistance to aging and decomposition.

In addition to the piston type and membrane type pumps,  there are electromagnetic, electromechanical and peristaltic metering pumps.  Metering pumps range in capacity depending on their purposes and individual needs of the facility.

Being an integral part of the blending process, a metering pump increases the efficiency of many industries.

GlobeCore’s USB Line for Blending Paint: A Semi-Automatic Technology

Articles, ,

GlobeCore’s integrated USB line is a modern example of versatile equipment that can be used in different branches of industry to perform different tasks.  The term ‘blending of paints’ does not refer to the services of a beauty salon.

Equipment for paint blending is applied in the chemical, construction and automobile industries.  Unmanageable rack-type blending units for paint blending can be replaced with a compact, mobile GlobeCore USB unit that can be custom-made to meet the individual needs of the client.  The final product is homogeneous and of high-quality since blending is performed by hi-tech systems.

In earlier years, paint blending equipment belonged only to facilities involved in the paint production industry.  It is however, much more profitable for every entrepreneur to invest money in his own production.

The following is the list of benefits of paint blending equipment available for your production facility:

(1) low-cost production of paints using your own materials;

(2) no delays with paint supply;

(3) the desired color of the paint produced;

(4) a scheduled paint production, independent of the working hours of stores and stocks of paints;

(5) no need to buy paints to keep them in stock to meet unanticipated needs.

One of the main benefits of GlobeCore’s USB line for paint blending is the homogeneity of the mixture.  Special dosing and programming systems produce mixtures that are resistant to breakdown and improves the quality of paint.

GlobeCore’s USB blending units are based on the hydrodynamic process of blending.  This kind of equipment allows you to set the necessary blending formula according to a specified amount of each component that is supplied through the special dosing systems to the unit.  The advantage of this process is the possibility to control the dosing of each component of the mixture at a considerable reduction of the blending cycle.

The USB line of blending units available from GlobeCore can be used for compounding different liquids within different formulations.  Paints, blended with GlobeCore blending equipment, meet all international and national standards and regulations, do not separate, and are serviceable.

Shampoo Production: From History to the Modern World

Articles,

Shampoo is one of the most important and widespread hair-care products in the national and international markets.  The international financial crises of 2008 did damage to many branches of industry worldwide.  Some of them are still  trying to recover to their pre-crisis-levels.  Despite the 2008 crisis, the market for household wares, including shampoo did not suffer and actually has seen steady growth.

Manufacturers have changed their needs and preferences due to the 2008 crisis, but not the average consumer.  Consumer goods such as soap, shampoo and detergent always enjoy a wide popularity regardless of the macroeconomic situation.

The rate of inflation usually affects the salary of ordinary people, but very rarely does it effect their taste.  Additionally, positive tendencies in the home care market are observed every year.  For example, about 40,000 new beauty care products appear on the market each year.

Shampoos became a part of everyday life in the 1960s.  This was due in part to the production of the efficient surface-active substance known in the industry as ethoxylated sodium lauryl sulfate.

Today, the size of the beauty care market is growing by 10% each year.  Given that 90% of the world’s population uses shampoo on a daily basis, demand will continue to increase as the global population increases.

According to the analysts of the Discovery Research Group, the volume of the hair care products market as of 2010 was about 3.3 billion dollars.  The home care market is characterized by import dependence.  More than 80% of the raw materials used for the production of cosmetics and care products is not produced domestically, but is imported from countries all around the world.

Soap and shampoo companies use modern equipment to obtain high-quality and efficient soap mixtures that serve as cleaning agents with no harm to human health.  Additionally, cosmetic product establishments follow the development of the technology market and its latest offers to remain efficient and cost effective.

At production facilities, shampoo is made from chemical components that are thoroughly blended.  Modern shampoo consists of water, surface-active agents, additives, favors and non-organic salts to maintain its viscosity.  The composition of the shampoo surface layer may be compared with biological fuel and chemical mixtures that are becoming more and more popular in the oil products market.  Natural oils and vitamins serve as additives.  That is why the fuel blending systems, used at industrial and energy production facilities can be also used to produce personal care products such as shampoos, soaps and detergents.

These versatile industrial blending units are designed to blend water and various liquid components with active natural and alcohol additives to improve the final product.

The blending equipment, that  was once considered to be an object of luxury even for industrial manufacturers, has now become an integral part of any technological blending process that is connected with liquid blending.

Due to these modern blending units, manufacturers can produce shampoo that is characterized by low power consumption, possibility to perform different technological processes on one unit and trouble-free operation.

A High-Level Task: Blending of Industrial Solutions

Articles,

The expression: “blending of solutions,” takes us back many years to our high school chemistry class.  The calculation of the mass fraction of the matter, dissolved in a solution; the mass of dissolved matter in a solution; the mass of solution, these are things that seemed to be unnecessary when we were young students.

In today’s modern world, people can buy most anything.  The only question is the price.  Whether you own a small or big enterprise, you should play by the rules of the market and profit from it as much as possible.  No self-respecting businessman will intentionally waste his company’s money.

In speaking about Industrial Solutions, it is safe to assume that they are one of the main raw materials of many industrial production processes.  There exist many ways to blend different solutions for various branches of industry.

GlobeCore has developed one of the most effective and safe methods of blending industrial solutions.  The modern equipment for production and blending of solutions makes the daily work of any company efficient and safe.  Sometimes the standard equipment for the production and blending of construction or industrial solutions does not meet the individual needs of a customer.

That is why GlobeCore always considers the wishes of its customers and offers individual solutions to meet the needs of a particular client.

GlobeCore’s  engineers design equipment that meets the individual needs of the customer and complies with international quality standards and national labor safety regulations.

GlobeCore’s USB blending units are designed to blend liquid components of various industrial solutions.  High-quality assembly and individual design provide for reliable and trouble-free operation of equipment for many years of service.

Maintenance of the USB blending systems does not require specially trained staff since the operating program is set prior to commissioning and does not need reconfiguration one in operation.

The GlobeCore USB line of blending units has shown itself to good advantage, being reliable and long lasting equipment.

Commercial Grade Diesel Fuel Production

Fuel blending, ,

The units in GlobeCore’s USB line provide for production of high-quality commercial grade diesel fuel from cheap or inexpensive components.  The high-quality commercial grade diesel fuels such as Euro-2,3,4, and 5 can be made from inexpensive components due to the hydrodynamic cavitation technology found in GlobeCore’s advanced equipment.

The following components may be used to produce summer diesel fuel:

  • light stove fuel;
  • old, segregated and contaminated diesel fuel
  • dark stove fuel;
  • used oil; and
  • biodiesel fuel.

Additionally, different additives that increase the cetane number of the final product may also be used when producing diesel fuel with GlobeCore USB units.

The following is the technological process of commercial-grade diesel fuel production. First, original components are purified and then, together with metered additives, are supplied to the hydrodynamic blender to be processed.  As a result, there is commercial-grade diesel fuel that meets customer’s needs.

Diesel fuel, obtainted by using GlobeCore USB equipment, is homogeneous and does not separate if it is stored even for a long periods of time. Cavitation technologies allow for water to be included into the fuel production process.

Diesel fuel, that contains approximately15% of water by volume, is able to eliminate hazardous waste emissions and is very important and useful when working in poorly ventilated production facilities.

Production of Multicomponent Mixed Fuels

Fuel blending,

GlobeCore’s line USB units produce high-quality mixed fuels as well as ensuring their homogenization.  All the fuel components are supplied to a common collector through a blending process that is realized in a hydrodynamic mixer.

The following is the list of the components used in fuel blending:

  • low-octane gasoline;
  • distilled gasoline;
  • stable gas gasoline;
  • biological components of motor oils; and
  • additives that increase gasoline’s octane rating.

The main benefits of GlobeCore USB units are as follows:

(1)    precise components for metering and control;

(2)    reduced blending cycle times; and

(3)    no mixing tanks for final product homogenization;

If the resuling mixture is properly homogenized, it will not separate into its component parts even if it is stored for a long period of time.

Petrol: Additives and Coefficient-Factor

Petroleum blending, ,

Gasoline is one of the most expensive sources of energy.  The process of its production is very complicated and includes primary and secondary stages of oil processing at refineries as well as the introduction of various additives.

In practical terms, oil refineries use such additives as MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) and ETBE (Ethyl tert-butyl ether) to obtain gasoline with defined characteristics.  In general, additives constitute not more than 8 to 10% of the total amount of substances in gasoline.  Of course, the price of the finished product is heavily influenced by the price of the additives.

It is therefore, oil refineries, as well as traders, that find it very important to price the additives in a proper way.  Nowadays, the coefficient-factor helps to indicate the price ratio index ‘additive-petrol’ and reflects a correlation among the petrol components that is of great practical value.  Table 1 shows the coefficient-factors as of August-November 2010.

Table 1

The coefficient-factors as of August-November 2010

No.

Date

10 ppm

MTBE

Coefficient-factor

ETBE

Coefficient-factor

1

27/08/10

690.0

765.0

1.1

979.0

1.42
2

15/09/2010

728.0

857.0

1.18

1070.0

1.47
3

12/10/2010

790.0

890.0

1.13

1090.0

1.38
4

09/11/2010

784.0

875.0

1.12

991.0

1.26

Mainly, the MTBE price has been determined by the 10 ppm petrol price as of August-November 2010.  In this case, the coefficient-factor was stable though it was low (1.1-1.18).  It is therefore, the import of MTBE from the Persian Gulf countries that has been reduced.  Such additives as ETBE was characterised by sufficiently high European prices (1070-1090 dollars per ton).  It was due to the fact that the price for ethanol in Europe was very high.  Additionally, there was an increase in ETBE consumption in countries of the European Union as compared with MTBE in accordance with the Directive 2009/28/EC.  Table 2 shows the European prices for fuels as of August-November 2010.

Table 2

Fuel prices NWE ARA

No.

Name

27/08/10

15/09/10

12/10/10

09/11/10

1

Brent

75.02

79.16

83.70

88.46

2

Gasoline 10 ppm

690.0

728.0

790.0

784.0

3

MTBE

765.0

857.0

890.0

875.0

4

Methаnоl T1

290.0

359.0

387.0

387.0

5

ETBE

979.0

1070.0

1090.0

991.0

6

Methаnоl T1

756.0

805.0

827.0

846.0

7

Ethanol T2

979.0

1030.0

1067.0

1085.0

The cost of raw material, used to produce ethers is considered to be the most important factor that determines the price of additives.  Approximately 50 % of the ETBE is accounted for fuel ethanol.  MTBE contains 33% methanol.

Table 3 shows prices for petrol and ethanol all over the world as of November 23, 2010.

Table 3

The prices for ethanol and gasoline in the world (November 23, 2010), $

Ethanol (T2) (Rotterdam)

Ethanol (Brazil)

Ethanol (the USA)

Ethanol (Ukraine)

Gasoline Regular (the USA)

Gasoline A-95 (Russia)

Gasoline Super 95 10 ppm (Germany)

0.82

0.69

0.55

0.81

0.75

0.64

 1.96

As the table shows, the cheapest gasoline was in Russia and the most expensive – in Germany.  In the USA, ethanol was the cheapest when in Ukraine and Rotterdam it was considered to be the most expensive.

Fuel Oil Emulsions

Fuel economy

Nowadays much importance is placed on the problems of energy saving and environmental safety. In particular, these issues are of great significance while servicing fuel equipment.

The water-fuel emulsions are proved to contribute to conservation of fuel and energy resources and improve environmental conditions.  The water-fuel emulsion may consist of different components such as:

(1) water – fuel oil;

(2) water – diesel oil;

(3) water – gasoline; and

(4) water- fuel oil – coal dust.

Water that has entered into fuel oil during transportation, storing or warming up increases its viscosity and it may have negative consequences.  But properly prepared water-fuel emulsions makes it possible to achieve good results.

Often, the content of  water in fuel oil exceeds the admissible limit value (12-16% instead of 1.5 %). It may be difficult to separate water from fuel by sedimentation as density of water and fuel oil are almost the same.  Water does not settle to the bottom of the container and distributes unevenly in the diesel fuel.  As a result, the flame is disturbed, the injectors go out slowly and sometimes it may be troublesome to fire the injectors.

Restarting of the boiler units can cause strong puffs and damages because of accumulated combustible gases.  The regulatory documents state that the water content of the fuel oil that is to be burnt must be 0.3 -1 %.

According to the traditional technologies, there are only two procedures of fuel oil preparation: dehydration and heating.  Water expulsion is an energy-consuming process that leads to the loss of fuel volatile components.

As previously mentioned, sedimentation is time-consuming and does not provide a desirable effect. It is not reasonable to apply chemical or biological methods since they require additional areas, operational and financial expenditures.

The fuel oil emulsion combustion provides for substantial economic effect, improves boiler’s efficiency (3-5 %) and reduces the amount of harmful discharges into the air.

The significant cost savings are possible when adding 10-15% of water into the fuel oil.  More than 20 % of water in the emulsion will lower the quality of the combustion process.  But it is desirable to increase the water content with a view to the waste water disposal. If to increase the water content in fuel oil emulsion up to 50 %, there may be observed some positive environmental impacts since waste water is the main component of the fuel oil emulsion.

The use of homogenized fuel oil emulsion allows for fuel saving, reduction of such discharges as NO x and CO x and improves the quality of the fuel combustion.

How are these effects achieved?

The atomizer disperses fuel oil that is supplied to the burner.  The size of the droplets should be 0.1 – 1 mm.  If there is water in the droplets, it will turn into vapor when heated.  The dispersion of the fuel, being supplied to the burner is increased due to the breakdown of the fuel oil droplets.

Additionally, the fuel and air contact area is extended that will lead to the improvement of the fuel-air mixture quality.  The homogenized fuel oil emulsion is less viscous than fuel oil, which makes the fuel transfer process much easier.

No less important factor that weighs in favour of fuel oil emulsions is that they benefit the durability of the fuel firing equipment.

How to achieve all these effects?

The answer is simple – just to make finely-dispersed and non-segregating fuel oil emulsion. GlobeCore has developed and is still producing  the USB units that contribute to the fuel oil emulsion production.  They are designed to blend liquid petroleum products such as fuel oil, diesel oil or stove fuel with additives and water.  The USB units are equipped with high-accurate electronic control system that ensures the precise metering of components.

The ready-made emulsions can be applied in any heating equipment and stored during a long period of time without settling.