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APRIL 2024 –  BLAC INC. is looking ahead to RefComm Galveston coming up shortly – April 29th to May 3rd.

The May 2nd agenda includes Refurbishment and TA Maintenance for Actuator Systems.

BLAC INC. has decades of experience in valve and actuator systems and understands what maintenance issues are required to prevent unplanned shutdowns and to keep refinery operation difficulties to a minimum.

At last year’s conference, BLAC INC. presented an overview of the Husky Superior 2018 FCC Explosion based on the US Chemical Safety Board Final Report on the incident (see CSB Final Report in pdf format).

For more information on the event or for registration, view the CRU Group RefComm page.

NOVEMBER 2023 – We are proud of our refurbishment done at turnarounds for our equipment as well as the equipment from other manufacturers.

No matter the OEM, we can maintain your electro-hydraulic actuator systems, hydraulic power units, hydraulic control units and control systems.

Rebuilding cylinders, manifolds and accumulators is just a small part of the services BLAC INC. can provide during a turnaround. We provide upgrade services to bring your equipment into compliance with new or existing laws or specifications.

BLAC INC. can enhance performance and efficiency while improving the longevity of operation. Increased positioning speed and functionality can be achieved with information services relaying alarms to your control room.

BLAC INC. has extensive experience with hydraulic systems and can evaluate and solve operational problems with your FCC valves and actuators.

OCTOBER 2023 – BLAC INC. took part in the 2023 American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Summit.

BLAC INC. focused on stuffing box issues concerning FCC slide valves and how improper stem purge flow can lead to sticking valves and jeopardize FCCU operation.

Previous AFPM summits included BLAC INC. presentations including the patented TightCat™ assembly (2022) and on FCC Actuator Systems: Past, Present and Future (2021).

Future BLAC INC. presentations and events with AFPM to be announced.

JUNE 2023 – A client in the Middle East recently upgraded their controls for several FCC service applications with the BLAC INC. U-1000 amplifier for analog position control.

The standard U-1000 consists of two boards (top and bottom). However, the customer specifics for these systems required an additional alarm board.

The alarm board allows for the individual dry contacts for Command, Feedback and Loss of Tracking alarms to be used through relay outputs.

Besides the U-1000 boards, the controller panel assemblies have displays for the command to the valve actuator and the feedback indicating the actual valve position.

Check out more on the U-1000 analog controller here.

APRIL 2023 – When an international client had their FCC unit go down due to a competitor’s valve failure, BLAC INC. was there to assist the client by supplying all new orifice, guides and stems within a few weeks.

When analyzed, the subject flue gas valve had the wrong bolting supplied by the OEM. This led to bolt yielding which caused one of the discs to drop. The second disc was on the verge of dropping prior to immediate unit shutdown from loss of control.

After the OEM was unable to supply the needed parts within the time constraint posed by the client, BLAC INC. was presented with the challenge of manufacturing and supplying the parts with the engineering accuracy and urgency required by the client.

BLAC INC. took on this round the clock effort that was successful!

Whether your refinery or plant has an emergency, spare parts inquiry or some other service support need, please contact us. Team BLAC is here to help!

FEBRUARY 2023 – The 14th FCC Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, included the BLAC INC. presentation TightCat™ Slide Valve – The World’s First Tight Shutoff FCCU Slide Valve.

TightCat provides FCCU standpipe shutoff protection through development of an ANSI Class IV tight shutoff valve for critical FCCU services.

The FCC Forum is a by-invitation-only event dedicated to FCC Technology and its related topics.

DECEMBER 2022 – Although BLAC INC. does not recommend such length between rebuilds, we also recognize that the 24 years one of our self-contained actuators was in use before being rebuilt is testament that BLAC INC. equipment lasts a long time!

The self-contained unit with such distinction is from a power station in the United States. Its original installation predates by a couple of decades our latest self-contained HPCU system, the BLAC INC. Pantera Series.

For more power plant equipment we offer, also see Power Generation Valve and Damper Actuator Systems.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2022 – Part of the BLAC INC. 550 Series HPCU development was the 550 Series Manifold itself. This design reduces potential leak sources by putting into a single manifold what previously required multiple manifolds.

This all-in-one design includes the servo control, accumulator(s) valves, manual directional control hand valve, cylinder bypass manual isolation valves, auto–manual hand valve and other project applicable components such as those for the optional jog control.

The 550 control manifold may be integrated with the ESD manifold (typically 2oo2 or 2oo3 voting) as required.

Another 550 Series manifold version is available for a single accumulator.

***Contact us to discuss if the 550 Series Manifold is right for your application***

Launching in January 2021, the 550 Series HPCU combines the Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) and Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) on a single skid.

The quality design that BLAC INC. has always provided was redeveloped for competitive pricing while providing a level of safety and the ultimate reliability that is not provided by other suppliers.

***Contact us to discuss the 550 Series Hydraulic Power and Control Unit (HPCU)***

OCTOBER 2022 – BLAC INC. attended the 2022 American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Summit in San Antonio, Texas.

BLAC INC. brought the patented TightCat™ assembly for display and discussion outside of the meeting rooms.

In 2021, BLAC INC. presented FCC Actuator Systems: Past, Present and Future – Parts 1 & 2 as part of the AFPM Webinar Series.

Among the many topics discussed were FCC slide valve history and HPCU evolution, component reliability and common failures, upgrades to maintain reliability, and new BLAC INC. developments.

Future BLAC INC. presentations and events with AFPM to be announced.

AUGUST 2022 – BLAC INC. attended the 2022 Duke Energy Regulated & Renewable Energy TechX Conference in Concord, NC.

An operational Pantera linear demo unit was on display for TechX attendees. The Pantera Series are electro-hydraulic actuators designed for both modulating and on-off applications. The self-contained hydraulic power and control unit may be mounted directly to the cylinder or located remotely with hose connections to the cylinder.

The TechX event showcases power generation technological advancements and brings in suppliers, end users and Duke Energy personnel focused on the latest products and services in the industry.

Future BLAC INC. events, displays and presentations to be announced.

Update AUGUST 2022 – The revolutionary BLAC INC. TightCat™ is now patented!

As the WORLD’S FIRST tight shutoff valve for FCCU catalyst service, TightCat provides FCCU standpipe shutoff protection that is not available with any other valve in the industry.

That is because no other supplier has developed an ANSI Class IV tight shutoff valve like the TightCat for these critical FCCU services.

***Discuss the BLAC INC. TightCat innovation with our experts***

MAY 2022 – BLAC INC. presented twice at the RefComm 2022 Training, Conference, & Exhibition in Galveston, Texas.

One discussion included The Benefits of a Tight Shutoff Slide Valve to FCC Operations, which highlighted FCC operational and emergency issues associated with traditional slide valve design. The BLAC INC. TightCat™ slide valve, which has the design features that can achieve ANSI Class IV shutoff, was also on display at RefComm.

Another talk was on Debunking Hydraulic System Myths for FCCU Valves where the functions required of FCCU slide, plug and butterfly valve actuator systems were addressed along with the need for reliability, performance and safety of each of those functions.

Future BLAC INC. presentations and events at RefComm and the Refining Community to be announced.

FEBRUARY 2022 – BLAC INC. presented the Benefits of High-Performance Valve Actuator Systems at an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Chicago Section event. The talk discussed the pros and cons of different valve actuator systems and highlighted examples of how electrohydraulic actuators are currently used in industrial valves.

Future BLAC INC. presentations and events with AIChE to be announced.

MAY 2021 – BLAC INC. provides the technical information on FCC Slide Valve Emergency Shutdown (ESD) Functions and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) for the purpose of technical evaluation and comparison.

The two out of two (2oo2) solenoid ESD voting system that had been typical for several decades has led to the development of the BLAC INC. design for our two out of three (2oo3) ESD voting system that is used in new systems as well as for retrofit replacements in older 2oo2 systems.

The BLAC INC. 2oo3 design was developed because of our belief that simply using 3 ESD solenoid valves like other suppliers is inferior. Unlike BLAC INC., other supplier designs incorporate no ‘logic’, no diagnostic monitoring, simplex hydraulic valves, no accumulator precharge measurement and no continuously operating fluid cleaning systems.

The design we are offering is far superior to other electro-hydraulic actuator emergency shutdown functions available in the marketplace.

***See the full description of our 2oo3 Voting Emergency Shutdown Function within our TECHNICAL REFERENCE***

SEPTEMBER 2020 – BLAC INC. announces the new Pantera Series electro-hydraulic actuators. These self-contained units are designed for both modulating and on-off applications. The design was developed with the Power Generation market in mind as well as for applications in the Pipeline industry and in other Refining areas.

The Pantera Series has simple construction with a hydraulic power and control unit that may be mounted directly to the cylinder or located remotely with hose connections to the cylinder.

The Pantera actuators are available in linear rising stem and in quarter turn applications. All area classifications for NEC or ATEX explosion proofing can be provided.

***See our PANTERA Series Self-Contained and Split Unit Electro-Hydraulic Actuators***