Top 5 Control Engineering August 8-14: PID control, tablet-based augmented reality, high-performance HMIs, more

Articles about PID control and loop tuning fundamentals, tablet-based augmented reality, high-performance HMIs, selecting flowmeters for natural gas, and improving flowmeter calibration were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 8-14. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra August 15, 2016

The top 5 most read articles online, from Aug. 8-14 for Control Engineering, covered PID control and loop tuning fundamentals, tablet-based augmented reality, high-performance HMIs, selecting flowmeters for natural gas, and improving flowmeter calibration.

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. 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.

3. Developing high-performance HMIs: Enhancing interface effectiveness  

This two-part series examines the development of high-performance, human-machine interface (HMI) methodology. Part 2 focuses on accuracy versus context, accessibility, visual hierarchy, animation versus static indication, and 2-D versus 3-D screens.

4. Selecting flowmeters for natural gas

Different parts of the natural gas delivery chain require different instruments, such as differential pressure (DP), ultrasonic, and Coriolis flowmeters.

5. Improving flowmeter calibration

Instrumentation engineers should understand the common methods used in measuring viscosity and their effects on final flowmeter calibration data.

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, August 8-14, 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.