Company says their Smart-Flow™ PRV is optimized for safety and performance
SKOKIE, IL – June 2, 2016 – Midland Manufacturing, part of OPW, is proud to announce that it has received approval from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to begin field trials of its latest external pressure relief valve (PRV),
Smart-Flow™. Developed to optimize product flow rate and extend tank-car integrity after a tank-car derailment, Smart-Flow is the perfect balance of safety and performance.
"Maximizing post-derailment safety of a tank car carrying crude, ethanol or other flammable material has always posed a quandary for the industry," said Bill Galbreath, Midland Product Manager. "How do you give first responders enough time? How much lading should be released to relieve pressure? What flow rate should you use?"
Using Midland's established design expertise in pressure relief valve flow dynamics, its engineers worked closely with its customers to answer the aforementioned, and developed an optimized solution.
That solution is the Midland Smart-Flow, a PRV that achieves 10,730 SCFM at 75 psig. Verified by the AFFTAC (Analysis of Fire Effects on Tank Cars) model, Midland's results showed a tank car could easily surpass the 100-minute survival requirement as stipulated by the Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains (HM-251) regulation while attaining more than a 99% reduction in the lading's original volume at the point of tank failure, minimizing the amount of potential accelerant released.
"The analysis also shows that the Smart-Flow can do this more effectively and safely than higher flow pressure relief valves," said Galbreath.
Rail tank-car owners, builders and lessors should contact Midland Manufacturing to receive more information, specifications and diagrams for Smart-Flow. For additional information on this and other Midland products, including its products for DOT-117 tank cars and complete line of fittings, visit:
http://www.midlandmfg.com.
About Midland Manufacturing:
Midland Manufacturing is part of OPW, a global leader in fully integrated fluid handling, management, monitoring and control solutions for the safe and efficient handling of critical petroleum-derived fluids from the refinery to the commercial and retail points of consumption, including loading systems, rail and transport tank truck equipment, tank gauging equipment and automated fuel management systems, valves and fittings, underground and above ground storage tank equipment, spill containers, overfill prevention devices, secondary containment sumps and flexible piping, fuel dispensing products, including swivels, breakaways, industrial and automatic dispensing nozzles for vapor recovery, gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels, and clean energy fueling nozzles and accessories for LPG, Hydrogen and CNG. OPW also manufactures automated vehicle wash systems. OPW has 1,650+ employees with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Brazil, China and India and sales offices around the world. OPW is an operating company within the Fluids segment of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV). For more information on OPW, please visit www.opwglobal.com.