Cross Process Solutions Newsletter – September 2022

Cross Helps Tactical Fabrication Upfit Facility for Smisson-Mathis Biodiesel Production

Cross was engaged by Tactical Fabrication, the main contractor of Smisson-Mathis Energy Solutions (SMES) responsible for the construction and commissioning of new facilities, to help with the safety equipment needed for their new flagship facility in Dublin, GA. SMES is a waste management and biodiesel production facility based in Dublin, GA. Their proprietary technology converts fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and brown grease into Ultra-Low sulfur biodiesel.

Sarah Parrish, Executive Assistant at Tactical Fabrication, said they “looked up flame arrestors online and Cross popped up, so I sent an information request. Your team was very knowledgeable and quick to help.” She went on to share that the Cross team was “helpful and thorough in every area.”

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The new SMES facility had already been used as a biodiesel production facility by another company. However, because the process used by SMES was a proprietary one, their facility needed to be retrofitted to ensure safe operation and maximize output. The Cross team reviewed SMES six vessels and optimized their process for maximum safe inflows and outflows. This included specifying pressure and vacuum protections, flame arrestors, and gas detection devices.

The new flame arrestors and gas detectors allow for safe 24 hour operation for the plant and personnel. This helps them to reduce risk of downtime and serious injury. When asked about the importance of the safety equipment, Parrish said, “we run at high temperatures and work with Methanol. The sniffers and alarms installed to assist with any methanol spills or fires, not only would we not smell the vapors, but the flames are light blue and hard to see. We are notified if even the smallest amount of fumes are present in the vicinity. This helps us to assess the situation and determine the severity of our surroundings.”

Continue reading about this case study then reach out to a Cross Process expert to discuss your application.

Selecting MFCs for Rugged and Hazardous Environments

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Understanding the level of protection needed for mass flow controllers is critical to selecting devices that are both reliable and safe. Take a look at this article from Brooks Instrument, featured in Process Instrumentation.

Chemical plants and petrochemical refineries have some of the most hazardous operating conditions of any industry. As a result, stringent safety procedures and protocols have been established to protect both people and production systems from explosions that can happen from running process equipment. This equipment includes mass flow controllers (MFCs).

MFCs are instruments used to measure and control the flow of gases in a process where factors such as flow range, gas conditions, flow accuracy and device communication are important to successful plant operation. Take a look at the full article: Selecting MFCs for rugged and hazardous environments.

The experts at our process solutions group have a long standing history of working with Brooks Instrument and can help your team determine which equipment is best for you operation. Take a look at the article and contact our team to discuss your application.

Cross Can Assist with All of Your Process Requirements

Jason Hicks, President of Cross Process Solutions, explains how we can be a trusted extension of your service department for all of your process needs. Take a look!

See how our team can help improve quality, increase efficiency, and reduce risk

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Did you know… Cross Company is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Our ESOP started in 1979 and as of 2006, we are 100% employee-owned! Learn more about our ESOP and how that benefits both team members and our customers.
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