Valve Selection

Industrial Valve Selection

Valve selection for your fluid handling system depends on several application factors.  First, you need to specify how you need to control the system.  You must determine whether  you need an on/off, modulating, pressure relief/regulator, or backflow prevention valve.  You may also choose to manually operate the valve or leave the control to automation.  Electric and pneumatic actuation may be required for remote operation.

The chemical resistance of thermoplastic valves should be carefully selected for the best performance in your particular application.  For example: 98% sulfuric acid would not be recommended for use in a PVC valve.  The better option would be PVDF in this high concentration.  Lower concentrations of sulfuric acid would be suitable for PVC. 

There are a variety of elastomers to choose from with varying  chemical resistance and temperature ratings.  PTFE, EPDM, FKM, TFE, Viton, and nitrile are a few of the choices that are offered.  For example: a sodium hydroxide application would require EPDM elastomer, whereas Viton would not be compatible.

With the vast selection of thermoplastics available, finding the one that matches your chemical resistance and temperature range needs is very important.  PVC is normally used in temperature ranges up to 140 degrees F.  Polypropylene and PVDF can be used with temperatures ranging from 195 to 250 degrees F.  Each manufacturer has information specific to their products’ compatibility for your specific application.  Please feel free to contact one of our W. P. Law Inc. Industrial representatives with your valve selection questions.

– Karen Smith
  W.P. Law Inc.

Grill Selection – Sizing

Grill Selection
Making the Right Choice

Grill Sizing

 In the process of researching for a new gas grill, one of the most commonly asked question is, “What size gas grill do I need?”
Presented are some deciding factors involved in answering that question.
Budget:
One of the most important is that of budget. Prices for gas grills cover a wide range.  When it comes time to consider buying a gas grill, remember that this could be a heavily used appliance and it is a good idea to invest in the highest quality product while staying within your budget.
Materials:
A durable grill will have a grill head of 304 stainless and heavy cast aluminum, with the burners and fasteners made of 304 stainless steel as well.  Choices for the grate materials can vary from heavy chrome steel, 304 stainless steel, or cast iron.
Options:
A rotisserie unit is necessary for outdoor grilling for items like whole roasts, chicken, turkey and ribs.
Sear units built into the grill are useful for sealing in juices for meats before the actual grilling takes place.
A side gas unit allows for stove- top cooking while the main grill is used.
What size grill do I need?
For a family of 4-6 people a 30-inch grill would be adequate.  A grill this size can easily accommodate 10 half pound burgers, 8-10 pounds of large cut meats and with a rotisserie, two whole chickens of 3 to 4 pounds can be cooked at one time!
If you entertain on a regular basis, a 36-inch grill would be quite adequate.  If cooking is your passion then go for it with a 40, 42 or 55-inch unit!  If you go this route, an outdoor kitchen featuring the larger grill is more advantageous than a 36-inch stand alone because you won’t have to scurry back and forth between the house kitchen and the grill, plus guest love to socialize where food is cooking.

-Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.

Water Filtration: What it Means to Your Irrigation System

Water quality is one of the most important factors when considering an irrigation system.  Poor water quality can be attributed to several factors.  Among them are organic and inorganic solids.  These solids may be suspended or dissolved or a combination of both.  The primary problem caused by these contaminates is plugging or clogging of orifices, particularly in drip or micro irrigation systems.  The solution to this problem is the installation of a water filtration system.

There are several options to choose from when considering a water filtration system for use with an irrigation system.  The type of water filtration system you chose is dependant on your water source and initial water quality.  The three filtration methods commonly used with irrigation systems are screen filters, disc filters and sand media filters.  Screen filters, as their name implies, use a screen to collect contaminates.  The screens are usually made of a stainless steel mesh, but are also available in plastic as well. Disc filter use a series of discs with grooves that are stacked and compressed on a spine, with the grooves on each disc running opposite the adjacent disc.  As the water moves through the disc system, contaminates are trapped and removed.  Sand media filters use a bed of sand to collect contaminants.  Sand media filters are cleaned by backwashing.  Backwashing forces clean water back through the media bed thereby dislodging the contaminants and piping them to waste.

To function properly, all filtration systems need to be cleaned frequently.
  The poorer the water quality the more often the filter element will need to be cleaned.  Automating the cleaning process is the best way to ensure that it is done when needed.  Most automated filter cleaning processes use differential pressure to determine when the filter is dirty and requires cleaning.

Each water filtration method has its pros and cons and the best system for any specific situation depends on a variety of factors, including the initial water quality and the use of the water after filtration.  Keep in mind that filtration is a critical component of any drip or micro irrigation system and is not the place to skimp on costs.  Using a poorly designed or undersized filtration system can render you irrigation system useless if it allows plugging or clogging of emitters.


W. P. Law, Inc. is one of the Southeast’s leading suppliers of fluid handling equipment for farmers, contractors and industries. Founded in 1970 in Lexington, South Carolina, the company has six locations throughout the state. W. P. Law, Inc.’s reputation is built upon the experience and expertise to find economical solutions to customer’s needs. The company is currently providing a free residential irrigation design redeemable at any W. P. Law, Inc. branch. For more information, visit https://wplawinc.com or call toll-free 877-835-0893

 

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Do It Yourself Water Control Systems Can Save Water & Money

Water control systems are a great way to save water and money.  There are many do-it-yourself water control systems available that include innovative new technology for even greater control and automation of your watering needs.

Saving money for your home or business is one benefit of using a water control system, but the water savings is also great for the environmentally conscious. With new developments in the technology of water controls equipment, saving water and money is easier than ever before, and in many instances, it’s possible to find do-it-yourself water control systems that work for you.

New Technology for Water Controls

New technology allows the irrigation controller to determine when and how much water to apply on a given day.  Using data obtained from on-site weather stations to calculate evapotranspiration (ET) or collecting data from soil moisture sensors, water system controllers can now all but eliminate watering unnecessarily.

Finding the Right Water Control Systems for You

When looking at the best water control systems for your business:

•   Look at your budget to find a system within your price-range.
•   Decide if you want to do-it-yourself or hire a professional for installation.
•   Be sure you know the industry standards to use (discussed in the next section) especially if you’re doing it yourself.
•   Choose a company that has a good reputation and offers good customer support.
•   Ask the experts when you need to.

Do-It-Yourself Water Control System Tips

To ensure you’re maximizing on cost savings and water conservation, your water control system should be designed and installed to meet certain industry standards. Use the following tips to make sure you are using and installing a sound water control system.

•   Follow the manufactures specifications and instructions.
•   Be sure to irrigate turf separately from shrubs.
•   Match the precipitation rate between heads.
•   Mixing rotary heads with spray sprinklers or misting type heads should be avoided.
•   Don’t waste water by throwing it over sidewalks and driveways. This can waste hundreds of gallons of water per cycle.
•   Irrigate different zones, like sunny zones vs. hillsides, separately.

Water control systems are great for the budget and environment, especially with new technology and do-it-yourself systems available, so find the right one that works for you.

W. P. Law, Inc. is one of the Southeast’s leading suppliers of fluid handling equipment for farmers, contractors, and industries.
Founded in 1970 in Lexington, South Carolina, the company has six locations throughout the state. W. P. Law, Inc.’s reputation is built upon the experience and expertise to find economical solutions to customer’s needs. The company is currently providing a free residential irrigation design redeemable at any W.P. Law, Inc. branch. For more information, visit https://wplawinc.com or call toll-free 877-835-0893.

 

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Designing Irrigation Systems…Planning Ahead

Designing Irrigation Systems…Planning Ahead

When the decision is made to add an irrigation system to your landscape
or farm, there is no doubt that it pays to have an irrigation design
done.  Having a complete irrigation design will maximize the
effectiveness of the irrigation system, providing cost savings over the
“buy-it-and-try-it” method, which usually leads to malfunctions and
re-workings. While most would-be irrigation system owners would admit
the need for an irrigation design, it is surprising how few take the
time to plan-ahead.  When the design process is delayed until the last
minute, the procrastination could lead to inflated costs when compared
to the same irrigation system planned in advance.

By planning ahead, you are able to take advantage of several money
saving opportunities.  We can make sure that all necessary parts for the
irrigation system are in stock for the complete job, often eliminating
freight charges that show up when trying to obtain parts at the
last-minute.  Additionally, we can pair jobs together, allowing us to
obtain better pricing for you on the larger quantities.  You can see
additional cost-savings if an estimate is obtained ahead of time, as we
can avoid some price increases by having a prior quote honored.  

In addition to the cost-savings, we will all obtain a greater peace of
mind by having more time to work out the details of a particular job. 
Just like fingerprints, no two systems are identical.  As more
information is taken into consideration, we can fine-tune and
personalize any given irrigation design to meet your specific needs.

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