July 2, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Early agricultural reports suggest that this should be a big summer for corn and soybeans. Acreage planted is at very high levels. Weather is expected (hoped) to cooperate in the Midwest, and the result should be very large harvests. This is good news if you work in an industry that uses these products as a feedstock such as ethanol, or if you have simply grown accustomed to eating.

Ultimately, this may forestall the same kinds of massive fluctuations in commodity prices from last summer that sent food and fuel into uncharted territory all over the world. Our sluggish economy is also a positive contributo...Read More

June 29, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

If you've been paying any attention at all, you'll know that the first climate bill to limit carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. has passed in the House of Representatives and will move on to the Senate. It is a hugely complex bill, and given the sheer enormity of its scope and the way legislation is done in here, it is a mess. The Economist gives a good summary of the convoluted nature of the situation. See Ask Control Engineering for a discussion of how a cap-and-trade scheme works.

This legislation is built on several pillars, some of which are considered by many to be matters of faith:

1. That global warming exists--...Read More
Industries: Sustainable Engineering, Sustainable Engineering

June 22, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Some day the great state of Illinois may have two functioning senators again, as has not been the case effectively for at least three years. But, for the meantime, having a former part-time senator in the White House can bring some clout to the state. One example is the fact that the FutureGen project in Mattoon seems to be back on the front burner. This blog has discussed that project before when it was first awarded and again when it seemed that it would be put on the shelf and forgotten. It's interesting now to look back over ...Read More
Industries: Sustainable Engineering, Sustainable Engineering

June 18, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

While one of the major themes at Honeywell’s User Group has been “One Honeywell,” a subtext has been interoperability. One element of this has been the PKS Advantage program. This isn’t exactly new, but it fell into some disrepair over the last few years. Honeywell is breathing new life into the effort, even to the extent of having some folks in attendance that would normally be considered competitors. I believe I even saw someone wearing a Yokogawa shirt at the event on Tuesday.

...Read More

Industries: Process Control

June 16, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

One of the interesting aspects of Honeywell Process Solutions User Group is that they generally incorporate some, shall we say, theatrical elements into the proceedings at the opening plenary sessions. I was warned going into this year's meeting that there would be a pop-culture reference. To spice up Jason Urso's discussion of the larger new technology road map, HUG's planners introduced him as Dr. One, following the theme of One Honeywell and the larger focus of Return On Imagination for the whole meeting.

Jason appeared to flashing lights and puffs of stage smoke in a full-sized Mark II TARDIS, apparently out of nowhere. He emerged dres...Read More
Industries: Programmable Logic Controllers