Top 5 Control Engineering articles September 12-18: PID control, ladder logic, system integration and packaging, more

Articles about PID control and loop tuning fundamentals, ladder logic, system integration improves packaging operation, tablet-based augmented reality, and improving plant and energy efficiency were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 12-18. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra September 19, 2016

The top 5 most read articles online, from Sept. 12-18 for Control Engineering, covered PID control and loop tuning fundamentals, ladder logic, system integration improves packaging operation, tablet-based augmented reality, and improving plant and energy efficiency. 

1. Understanding PID control and loop tuning fundamentals

PID loop tuning may not be a hard science, but it’s not magic either. Here are some tuning tips that work.

2. Ladder logic 106: One shots

Different programmable logic controller (PLC) manufacturers use one shots to develop a scan that is exactly one scan in duration and can be generated from the rising or falling edge of the signal.

3. Packaging operation increases by half with planning, wireless, mobility

Cover Story: System integrator upgrades a cherry packaging operation at Prima Frutta, for a 50% production increase, using Ethernet, wireless, and mobility technologies, along with extensive planning and simulation. 

4. Tablet-based augmented reality helps predictive maintenance for pumps

Video: sensors on critical pumps can feed a system to help technicians or operators identify when failures are pending and improve energy efficiency. A major U.S. refinery will host a pilot pump diagnostic project, similar to an NIWeek 2016 stage demonstration held on Aug. 2.

5. How Anchor Glass improved plant and energy efficiencies with a modern DCS

System integrator Stone Technologies addresses data management and energy savings, higher quality, and easier changeovers with a modern distributed control system (DCS) for a glass bottle manufacturer that monitors more than 1,000 data tags and 2,600 detailed and manageable alarms. 

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, September 12-18, for articles published within the last two months.  

Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is web content manager for CFE Media and Technology.