Chemical Technology January 2015

Instrumentation sunshade lowers cost of field protection Intertec has launched a large cube-shaped sunshade for process instrumentation. It provides plant engineers with a highly cost-effective means of shielding equip- ment such as electronic monitoring sys- tems, explosion-proof junction boxes or analyser installations from solar radiation. Dubbed CubeShade, the protective cover measures 600 x 550 x 500 mm (HxWxD). This provides a massive 165 litre capacity shaded environment that makes it easy to accommodate and protect large or multiple instruments, as well as simplifying mainte- nance access.

petrochemicals, and a low thermal conduc- tivity, which helps to prevent heat generated by solar radiation being transferred to the shaded area. It also combines excellent ri- gidity and mechanical strength – for protec- tion against impact – with a very low weight. CubeShade’s single-part design and SMC-based construction facilitates produc- tion using automated moulding techniques. As standard, the body of the sunshade is 5 mm thick but incorporates 8 mm thick reinforcing ribs around the rim and down the back of the unit. These ribs also help to channel rain and melt-water run-off. Intertec’s design incorporates structural side walls that also shade low-angle sun, as well as providing partial protection against rain, snow, wind-chill, blown dust or sand and accidental impact. The design is also suitable for use with equipment such as explosion-proof junction boxes or distribution units and is likely to prove especially popular for new-build processing plant projects. For more information contact Intertec In- strumentation on tel: 0800 756 1102, email sales@intertec-inst.co.uk or go to www.intertec.info.

FOCUS ON CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

The new sunshade design is manu- factured using an automated moulding process and offers a particularly economic solution for this common application. If Intertec needs to provide solar protection for larger installations – such as two or three process transmitters – sunshades are usually created to suit the specific ap- plication by building up multiple layers of glass reinforced polyester (GRP) in a custom mould to achieve the necessary thickness. Intertec’s new CubeShade is constructed entirely from glass fibre reinforced sheet moulding compound (SMC). This combines

chopped glass fibres, fillers, polyester resin and a catalyst in the form of a ready-to- mould composite that is ideal for low cost, high volume manufacturing. The material has similar advantages to GRP for this type of application, including a high resistance to UV and corrosion from salt and common

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Chemical Technology • January 2015