While most consumers are familiar with the gasoline and diesel that power their vehicles, do they know where the fuel originates? Oddly enough the same gasoline and diesel that is in your vehicle comes from the same barrel of crude oil that produces other products like asphalt, jet fuel, motor oil, and tires. It is truly amazing how many different products are produced from the world’s most valuable fossil fuel!
In the last two years, we have seen crude oil prices fluctuate from trading at historic lows of $13.78 price per barrel in April 2020 to a new eight-year high of $111.53 in March 2022. Quite the increase wouldn’t you say? A +709% increase to be exact. Oil prices have been notoriously volatile throughout our country’s rich history. Why? Because of the long list of everchanging factors that contribute to the fluctuations of this raw material’s price.
No, this is not a blog about expanding a company by creating internal growth. Internal expansion as it pertains to the manufacturing industry is the process of internally expanding a hose coupling to allow for “full flow” in a hose assembly. A full-flow hose assembly reduces the amount of buildup in the hose at the hose/stem interface and is best suited for thicker media that includes plaster, concrete, and slurries.
In an earlier blog post on natural gas, we introduced LNG. Next, we will discuss Dixon's role in the LNG transfer and bunkering sectors. To begin, let us review the characteristics of LNG. LNG is natural gas methane that is composed of one Carbon atom and four Hydrogen atoms (CH4), then cooled to -260°F (-162°C) to enter a liquefied state. By converting natural gas methane into a compacted liquid state, it reduces the volume by roughly 600 times allowing larger amounts to be safely stored and transported to remote areas all over the world.
When you think of natural gas, you may envision something like your gas cooking range or the butane inside a lighter. Even with natural gas being a pivotal part of the U.S. energy sector, the consensus is that most Americans are not too sure what natural gas is or what it does. In this blog, we are going to break down this energy source and explain natural gas (NG), liquified natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids (NGLs). From its formation to its application, we’ve got you covered.
Cam and groove couplings, also known as camlock fittings, cam levers, and cam couplings are a type of hose connection. This type of hose connection is popular because it is easy to quickly connect without the use of tools.
Overfill prevention should be a top focus in liquid transfer applications. Obviously, the risks of an overfill vary considerably depending on the media, but any overfill costs money and effort to clean up, especially when nearby equipment is in danger of being damaged.
Loading arms improve safety and efficiency by allowing liquid cargo to be transferred into trucks, railcars, vessels, and barges using an articulated pipe system. Rigid pipe loading arms are generally constructed of several pipes - or legs - which are linked together with swivel joints and supported by a counterbalance. Loading arms can also be constructed of a combination of pipe and lengths of flexible hose to improve flexibility and range of motion. Dixon manufactures loading arms in 2”, 3”, and 4” sizes. Custom-engineered loading arms in other sizes and configurations are also available upon request.
So, what is an actuated valve? An actuator is a mechanism that controls the positioning of the valve mechanically versus manually. These actuators are critical for ensuring that process control is automated in a consistent manner.
Bridges are marvels of architectural engineering that stand peacefully among us. We don’t think of them much, even when we are passing over them. But when you take a moment to realize the problems these infrastructures solve, you begin to appreciate the importance and rich history behind them.