Top Control Engineering articles, June 2012

The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during June 2012 included articles on HMI and PLC integration, video game influences on HMI design, motor-driven systems efficiency update, wireless instrumentation video, and tutorials on thermowells and boiler drum level controls, among others.

By Mark T. Hoske July 10, 2012

Most-read Control Engineering online articles for June 2012 at www.controleng.com included articles on human machine interface (HMI) and PLC integration, video game influences on HMI design, motor-driven systems efficiency update,  wireless instrumentation video, and tutorials on thermowells and boiler drum level controls, among others. More about each article and links follow.

Integrated HMI/PLC packages offer convenience, but only in the right applications

Choices of controllers that include an integrated HMI in one package are growing. These promise greater simplicity if the combination of elements works in your situation.

Video game or HMI?

Industrial HMI developers consider how video game technology can change the way operators work with control systems. Video: ABB demonstrates some interesting possibilities.

Motor-Driven Systems Efficiency Update

Electric motors have received predominant attention from energy-efficiency standards and regulations due their vast industrial usage and well-documented design, performance, and test specifications.

Wireless Instrumentation: Do We Need To Be Concerned About The Protocol?

It’s difficult to say what convergence of competing protocols will mean for wireless instrumentation users. See video.

Back to Basics: Thermowell protection

Thermowells, while protecting temperature sensors from a process fluid, can undergo tremendous stresses. A new standard is designed to lower risk of failures.

Optimizing Strategy for Boiler Drum Level Control

Avoid Trips And Maximize Steam Output By Reviewing Your Control Equipment, Strategy, And Tuning.

Low energy Bluetooth wireless protocol

Bluetooth Low Energy technology is a whole new technology that can benefit industrial communications.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Managing the risk of arc flash

Understanding the data and the standards for a deadly plant danger.

Think Again: Control Engineering Secrets

If there were a state of Control Engineering, everything in that state would be top secret. Here’s why.

Making good motor decisions

Correct motor sizing is critical for maximum efficiency, as is making the right rewind-versus-replace determination.

Additional most-read online articles include:

– Moving up from hardwired relay logic

  

– Top Control Engineering articles, May 2012

 Safety control systems: Essential considerations, costs

 – Challenges of Motor Selection and Sizing

  

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– Compiled by Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com.


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.