Actuators: Intelligent control, quiet gear motor, fluid power scholarship

Power plants will operate more efficiently, pumps run more quietly, and education will be a little more affordable as a result of three actuation-related developments announced by CyboSoft, Crouzet, and Asco Numatics.

By Control Engineering Staff May 27, 2008

Power plants will operate more efficiently, pumps run more quietly, and education will be a little more affordable as a result of three actuation-related developments announced by

CyboSoft

,

Crouzet

, and

Asco Numatics

.
CyboSoft wins DOE grant for intelligent actuation control: vering maximum-energy-efficiency, near-zero-emissions, fuel-flexibility, and multi-products. The solution can help the U.S. strengthen its energy independence and security, and movement towards a cleaner environment.
According to CyboSoft CEO Dr. George Cheng, “CyboSoft is honored to receive this new grant from DOE and looks forward to working on this exciting project. Since all three key components sensor, actuator, and controller have to function properly in order for an automatic control system to work, the importance of improving the stability, robustness, and performance of the actuation system cannot be over-stated.”
To reach future energy objectives, visions to build ultra-clean and highly-efficient energy plants of the future must be realized, says Cybosoft. Control and optimization of coal-fired power plants are dependent on coordinated, and integrated sensing, control, and the actuation technologies and products used. Little work and analysis have been devoted to coordinated control and actuation of processes within a coal-fired power plant, Cybosoft says; studies show that as many as two-thirds of control loop oscillations are due to control valve problems; thus, effective and robust valve positioning control is highly desirable.
As new power plants achieve maximum energy efficiency, near-zero emissions, fuel-flexibility, and multi-product capabilities, advancement and improvements in sensor, control, and actuation are necessary, the company explains. Maintaining the tight tolerances the new energy plants must achieve will depend on robust actuation control, and better actuation will result in improvements in existing coal-fired power other process plants. Objective of the multiphase project is to research, design, develop, test, evaluate, benchmark, and bring to production an intelligent valve positioning control solution to provide robust, precise control for large-scale coal-fired power plants using CyboSoft’s Model-Free Adaptive control technology.
SBIR and STTR grants are designed to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through investment of federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy. In 2008, The DOE evaluated 1,494 Phase I SBIR and STTR grant applications. Among them, 284 applications were selected to receive SBIR awards; 37 were selected to receive STTR awards. CyboSoft is based in Rancho Cordova, CA.
Crouzet dc brush gear motor offers virtually noise-free operation :erage plants, among others.

Crouzet North America introduced the ultra-quiet Peristaltic Pump Gear Motor.

Built to withstand the highly cyclical requirements of peristaltic pumps, PPGM develops significant torque at a relatively low operating rate. Specific pump requirements are translated into torque, speed, and current to provide exact motor responses to provide the flow rate and pressure for a specific application. PPGM generates about one half the noise of comparative motor models. “…this gear motor offers an important benefit not previously available,” said Jim McNamara, application engineer. “Pump manufacturers seeking to meet customers’ needs for quiet pump operation now have an ideal solution.”
Available in 16 and 30 W models, PPGM features a gearbox torque of 0.5 Nm nominal and an operating voltage of 24 V. The 16-W version is available with an operating voltage of 12 V. A range of gear ratios from 12.80 to 104 can create output speeds from 46 to 455 rpms to meet many peristaltic pump requirements. Encoders are available on some versions from 1 to 48 pulses for accurate flow pump rate control; service life is rated at up to 2,000 hours. The gear motor mates with different types and sizes of peristaltic pumps via a number of face-plate configurations. Motor options include shaft diameter and shape, gear material, ratio/speed value, connections, mounting options centering pilot diameters, and number of encoder pulses.
Crouzet North America is based in Vista, CA.
Asco Numatics announces industrial automation engineering scholarships :

two $5,000 scholarships to U.S. engineering students who pursue careers in industrial automation-related disciplines

. The company will make $1,000 grants to the engineering departments of the colleges the winners attend.
“Fluid control and fluid power technology will play a vital role in helping companies meet the dynamic business conditions of tomorrow’s global markets,” said Bob Kemple, executive vice president, sales and marketing ASCO Numatics–Americas. “This work will require a new generation of engineering leaders with the skills and expertise to create advanced automation processes. We have implemented the scholarship program to recognize and assist students who show great potential and capability to solve tomorrow’s industrial processing challenges.”
The merit-based scholarships will be awarded on the candidate’s potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the engineering, instrumentation, systems, electrical, mechanical, and automation professions, particularly as they relate to the application of fluid control and fluid power technology. A panel from Asco Numatics and independent judges will select finalists. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate programs in an instrumentation, systems, electrical, mechanical, or automation discipline at an accredited U.S. educational institution for the 2008/2009 academic year. At the time of application, they must have completed at least their sophomore year in a bachelor’s degree program, have at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident.
Scholarship presentations will take place at

ISA Expo

in Houston on Oct. 14, 2008. The Asco Numatics awards will be part of the annual ISA Young Automation Professionals Festival (YAPFEST) hosted by ISA for automation professionals between the ages of 18 and 30. Asco Numatics is based in Florham Park, NJ.

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