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Data transmission chip for decoding demonstrates strong energy efficiency
The chip developed by MIT researchers, which can decipher any encoded signal, could enable lower-cost devices that perform better while requiring less hardware.
Researchers improve solar cell efficiency, stability
Purdue University researchers have created multifunctional ligands that improve the charge transfer, power conversion capability and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells.
Partnership for science, engineering research announced
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy are continuing their partnership for collaboration on scientific and engineering research to bolster national energy policy.
Wood-derived super materials benefits for an eco-circular economy
Sulfate esterified cellulose nanofiber can be a biodegradable replacement for many materials, but its full potential is yet to be realized.
Biomass process developed for renewable butyric acid
Scientists have developed an energy-efficient and cost-effective process to produce butyric acid from biomass.
Delivering cost savings for wastewater treatment
Aeration technology choices define performance, energy efficiency and reliability.
Digitally control and improve fluctuating energy processes
how the application of digital capabilities can push the energy and resource transition.
Going green with obsolete equipment for manufacturers
Each manufactured product has some impact on the environment and produces carbon emissions. Manufacturers are using obsolete equipment can reduce that impact.
Nanotech OLED could cut power consumption
An electrode that could free up 20% more light from organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) could help extend the battery life of smartphones and laptops and other devices, making them more energy efficient.
Turning toxic sewage sludge into renewable energy
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) received a nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create renewable fuel from sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment that creates greenhouse gases and water pollution when dumped into landfills.
Funding announced for advanced manufacturing projects
The Department of Energy is providing funding for $123.6 million in funding for 46 projects in 23 states.
Lithium batteries developed to survive extreme cold temperatures
Tadiran has developed bobbin-type lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) batteries that have been specially modified for use in the cold chain, which is required for transporting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ethanol-based hand sanitizer developed to prevent COVID-19
An ethanol-based hand sanitizer for use during the COVID-19 pandemic has been developed by University of Missouri researchers.
Computational model developed to build better capacitors
North Carolina State University researchers have developed a computational model that shows how changes in the nanostructure of materials affect their conductivity, which could help improve energy storage devices for many electronic devices.
Nanomaterial process may aid energy, information technology development
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers used a nanomaterial process to develop Janus structures, which may be useful in developing energy and information technologies.
Electron energy distribution measured for improved storage, conversion
Researchers at the University of Michigan, Purdue University, and the University of Liverpool in the UK have figured out a way to measure how many hot charge carrier are present in a metal nanostructure for improved energy storage and conversion.
Uninterruptible power supplies reduce machine downtime
While UPS technologies are no longer optional in critical machine designs, engineers should still have options to select the best device for brownfield or greenfield applications.
Energy department smart manufacturing institute announces new project calls
The U. S. Department of Energy is providing up to $7 million in funding to improve energy-intensive manufacturing processes and strengthen America's manufacturing sector.
Ethylene catalyst for manufacturing, shale gas developed
North Carolina State University researchers engineered a catalyst that can more efficiently convert ethane into ethylene, which is used in a variety of manufacturing processes including plastics and shale gas.
EMpro by Phoenix Contact
Phoenix Contact’s EMpro is designed to give plant operators and facility managers now have real-time, remote access to their machines’ energy consumption data.
Detours can improve batteries for electronics, solar energy storage
Scientists at Rice University’s Brown School of Engineering have discovered that placing specific defects could improve how lithium ions travel in batteries.
Extending wind turbine reliability
Wind turbines are making a major impact on the power generation market, but they need constant maintenance in order to remain reliable and continue delivering clean energy, even after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.
Improve PCBA manufacturing with a software-based approach
Printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturing is an exacting process that can take months to complete. The manufacturing cycle can be shortened.
Researchers working to improve battery density, safety
Penn State University researchers have developed a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) designed to increase energy density, performance, and safety for lithium batteries.
Integrating renewable natural gas
Renewable natural gas (RNG) can be used in any existing infrastructure or process that currently uses conventional natural gas.
Companies striving for energy efficiency with different methods
A report from IHS Markit indicates that the goal of reducing energy use and costs remains the same regardless of industry though the methods do differ.
Regenerative solutions
Make the right choice to drive electrical efficiency.
Researchers develop device to provide cooling in harsh locations
MIT researchers have devised a way of providing cooling on a hot sunny day, using inexpensive materials and requiring no fossil fuel-generated power by allowing heat emission at a mid-infrared range of light.
Battery developed to capture carbon dioxide from power plants
Researchers at MIT could be made partly from carbon dioxide captured from power plant by continuously converting carbon dioxide into a solid mineral carbonate as it discharges.
Choosing between DIN and Deutsch connectors
DIN connectors are easier to assemble than Deutsch connectors, but Deutsch connectors have more customizable parts for specialized applications.
Flow batteries designed to offer cost-effective storage for renewable power
Researchers at Stanford have developed a rechargeable battery designed to store large amounts of renewable power created through wind or solar sources.
Smarter energy monitoring with predictive maintenance, IoT solutions
Advanced power measurement is in widespread use in controls engineering to save energy and classify machine behaviors by using predictive maintenance and Internet of Things (IoT) tools to reduce costs and boost operating efficiency of equipment.
Cooling high-power VFD cabinets in harsh environments
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) have many benefits and it’s critical to explore strategies to achieve maximum efficiency.
Case study: IIoT effectiveness on the plant floor
Create and collect machine and sensor data to augment overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and determine machine efficiency.
Secure circuit protection
Power reliability: Push-in fuse terminal blocks provide short-circuit protection; seven design considerations can help your next implementation.
Power systems engineers help facility managers
Power systems engineers (PSEs) can identify faults and optimize electrical systems in facilities.
Integrating optical components into existing chip designs
Researchers at MIT, the University of California at Berkeley, and Boston University have developed a technique that would allow an addition of optical communication components to existing chips with little design modification.
Improving gas turbine reliability
501F gas turbines are employed around the world to provide power and they require regular maintenance to provide continued reliability and performance and this needs to be both managed and delivered efficiently.
Safer nuclear fusion used for energy generation
Nuclear fusion for the controlled and regular generation of electric power by converting hydrogen into helium and reproducing on a small scale what actually happens in our sun is one of the top technological promises for the future and researchers are looking to produce net energy through a tokamak.
The value of power systems engineers to facility managers
Power systems engineers (PSEs) offer valuable insights by identifying faults and optimizing electrical systems in facilities.
Department of Energy announces funding for advanced manufacturing projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $35 million for 24 projects to support early-stage, innovative technologies and solutions in advanced manufacturing.
Four trends in VFD management
Variable frequency drive (VFD) advances enable users to do more with less.
Device makes power conversion more efficient
Researchers at MIT, IQE, Columbia University, IBM, and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have created a device that enables gallium nitride power devices to handle voltages of 1,200 volts, which is double their current ability, to help cut energy waste in electric vehicles, data centers, and the power grid.
Department of Energy announces funding for solar energy projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $12 million in funding for eight projects to advance predictive modeling capabilities for solar generation to improve forecasts for solar generation and better manage solar power overall.
Using wind turbines to maximize productivity, reduce costs
Wind turbines can achieve an online availability of about 98%, giving operators approximately one week in the year when planned maintenance can be completed. It is essential to use this time efficiently, concentrating on the most important issues, which can be identified using preventive maintenance techniques.
Replacing analog meters in the nuclear industry
Cybersecurity concerns about analog meters are influencing nuclear industry automation and are forcing an industry resistant to change to do so.
Design motors to achieve energy efficiency requirements
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users should build motors in compliance with current electric motor energy-efficiency requirements to provide customers with immediate energy-saving benefits as well as avoid future product redesigns.
Powering gas distribution SCADA with the sun
A multi-phase project led to a customized, cost-effective, reliable solar-powered automated gas distribution regulator monitoring system from Huffman Engineering, which improved the safety of Nebraska’s Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) gas system.
Using energy management software to lower costs
Energy management software is designed to measure costs and deliver quantifiable results for companies, from 5% to 25% annual energy cost savings. It can also be integrated with the cloud to lower energy costs and provide more immediate, hands-on data for users.
Department of Energy posts notice of petition and request for electric and small electric motors
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) previously issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice announcing receipt of petitions to determine the energy efficiency of certain electric motors and small electric motors.
Renewable energy opportunities
Biofuels, hydrogen and fuel cells, solar, wave energy, wind, advanced vehicles and others offer opportunities for applications of automation, controls, and instrumentation.
Study designed to control and enhance the adhesion of freezing droplets
An MIT study has found a new way to enhance or reduce the adhesion of freezing droplets, which could have a major impact on coatings used for machine parts and for applications such as 3-D printers.
IIoT optimizes evaporative cooling
Sensor network and calculation model confirm savings.
Power quality made simpler
Understanding power quality (PQ) is a challenge for many companies, but using a management process can help users realize where “dirty” power is coming from and help mitigate the effects for a more energy-efficient company.
Researchers working to develop a more energy-efficient battery
Researchers at MIT have completed a series of tests on lithium iodide (Lil) batteries that may overcome some of the drawbacks for future researchers looking to create more energy-efficient products.
Emission regulations hindering generator set sales
Emission regulations in the United States and Europe, along with volatile oil prices, is expected to make revenues for generator sets decline by 3.6% in 2017 according to IHS Markit, but future projections look positive.
LED light designed for industrial enclosures
Rittal Corporation's LED System Light is an UL-approved lighting system designed for industrial enclosures.
Core configurations for accelerated test systems
National Instruments' (NI) ATE Core Configurations are designed to deliver core mechanical, power, and safety infrastructure to help users accelerate the design and build of automated test systems.
Ruggedized dc/dc converter for harsh environments
Traco Power's THN 15WIR family of ruggedized dc/dc converters are designed for harsh environments such as railway and transportation systems.
Scientists develop method to control water movement
MIT engineers have developed a method to control the way water moves over a surface using only light, which could enhance technologies such as microfluidic diagnostic devices or field systems that could separate water from oil at a drilling rig.
Graphene used to create cheaper semiconductor wafers
MIT engineers have developed a technique to reduce the overall cost of wafer technology by using graphene as a copy machine to transfer intricate crystalline patterns from an underlying semiconductor wafer to a top layer of identical material.
Researchers are ironing out graphene’s wrinkles
Engineers have developed a method to make graphene, touted as a potential successor to silicon, with fewer wrinkles and the ability to iron any that do appear.
Ventilator kits for electrical enclosure applications
Allied Moulded has expanded its line of premium enclosure accessories with NEMA 4X ventilator kits for electrical enclosure applications and are suitable for outdoor applications.
Pre-assembled stack lights for machine applications
AutomationDirect's Patlite stack lights are designed for use in applications such as machine tools, packaging machines, conveyor systems, loading docks, and other related applications.
Efficient power converter for the IoT developed
Researchers from MIT's Microsystems Technologies Laboratories (MTL) presented a power converter that reduces its resting power consumption by 50%.
Three-phase energy loggers for monitoring energy waste sources
The Fluke 1732 and 1734 three-phase energy loggers are designed to identify sources of electrical energy waste and capture key measurements such as voltage, current, power, power factor, and temperature to enable managers to understand their energy usage and correlate it to their activities.
Industrial generator market projected to rebound
IHS Markit expects generator suppliers expect to recoup margins from 2018-2020 as average selling prices maintain steady growth throughout the time period after the industry contracted in 2016.
Connector series, hood components for larger diameter cables
Harting's Han 3A size connectors now can be assembled with cable diameters as large as M25, which allows the connectors to be configured with any contact insert in the series, including those with higher rated current and bigger cross sections.
External power supplies for medical, industrial applications
The TDK-Lambda medical and ITE certified DTM300-D external power supplies are designed for medical, industrial, and test and measurement applications.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles December 26 to January 1: Ensure proper installation, 2016 SI Giants, pneumatic energy storage, more
Articles about ensuring proper installation, the 2016 System Integrator Giants, storing pneumatic energy, Rockwell's acquisition of Maverick, and VFD benefits for plants were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 26 to January 1. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Storing pneumatic energy for emergency situations
Pneumatics are versatile and relatively inexpensive compared to electromechanical solutions and we are often called in to troubleshoot applications that are constrained by cost, time, or complexity.
Chemical engineering organization to lead manufacturing institute
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICE) will lead the tenth Manufacturing USA Institute.
Power supply modules for medical applications
Traco Power's TMF series of ac/dc power supply modules are designed to comply with the requirements for quality, reliability and safety of medical equipment and can be used for transporting sensitive equipment.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles November 21-27: Engineers’ Choice finalists, maximize heat and power, IoT control system optimization, more
Articles about the Engineers' Choice finalists, maximizing heat and power, IoT control system optimization, energy consumption in the U.S., and sensor-to-cloud interoperability were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 21-27. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Power supplies for industrial, automation applications
CUI Inc's PBO series of ultra‑compact ac-dc power supplies are designed for industrial systems, automation equipment, security, telecommunications, and smart home device applications.
Portable control system for load banks
Asco Power Technologies' Sigma LT is a portable control system designed for load banks and operators can monitor and control all networked load banks or a single unit in the network, up to 800-ft away.
Flyback transformer for demanding automotive and industrial applications
TT Electronics' HA00-10043ALFTR flyback is ideal for use in harsh automotive and industrial environments, such as near a vehicle’s powertrain transformer.
Power supply for education, industrial test instrument applications
Global Specialties' 1410 90 W dc power supply is designed for use in education and industrial test instrument applications.
Converters for medical device applications
XP Power's IML02 and ISM02 miniature 2W rated dc-dc converters are designed for use in medical device applications that require safety isolation between the input and output.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles October 24-30: Engineers’ Choice, wireless remote monitoring, Big Data analysis, more
Articles about the 2017 Engineers' Choice finalists, wireless remote monitoring advances, Big Data analysis, PLC object-oriented programming, and cost-effective VFDs were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 24-30. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Surge protective devices for commercial, light industrial applications
Eaton's SPC Series of surge protective devices are designed for commercial and light industrial applications and enable facility-wide protection to improve business continuity.
Three-phase transformers for indoor and outdoor use
AutomationDirect’s Acme Electric’s dry-type encapsulated 3-phase transformers and are useful for dust or lint-laden atmospheres and are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Electric converter for harsh conditons
Traco Power's TEL 8WI series of isolated dc/dc converters are designed for harsh conditions in applications such as instrumentation, information technology (IT) and industrial electronics.
Drive solutions for reducing energy costs, increase uptime
Product Exclusive: The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755T drives from Rockwell Automation are designed to provide harmonic mitigation, regeneration and common-bus system configurations, are compliant to the IEEE 519 specification, and help users reduce energy costs and increase machine uptime.
Converters for surface mount applications
XP Power's surface mount (SMD) dc-dc converters, the ISB, ISC, and ISW series, are rated at 1, 3 and 6 W of output power, respectively, with single and dual outputs.
Supercapacitor cells for automotive, industrial applications
Eaton's TV supercapacitors with 3-volt (V) cells are designed to help increase stored energy capacity and power and are designed for utility meter, automotive system, data center flash servers, and industrial automation applications.
Converter series for process control, measurement applications
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda 15W CCG15S series of dc-dc converters are designed for telecommunications, process control, broadcast, and test and measurement equipment applications.
Power supplies for configuration and diagnostic applications
Phoenix Contact's Quint Power power supplies are designed to give control engineers improved configuration and diagnostics to ensure reliable power to the control system.
Converter series for harsh and extreme conditions
CUI's PDQ10‑D, PDQ15‑D, and PDQ30‑D dc-dc converters are suitable for convection-cooled equipment and harsh environments for applications such as include telecom, industrial, remote sensor systems, and portable electronics.
Converter series for rugged applications
Power Sources Unlimited's TEQ 300WIR series of 300 W ruggedized DC-DC converters is designed to be shock- and vibration-resistant and is available in single output voltages of 12, 24, 28, and 48 Vdc.
External power supplies for test and measurement integration
SL Power Electronics' TE240 series of external power supplies are designed for integration with test and measurement equipment and industrial applications that require enhanced levels of performance at higher power levels.
Thermal energy harvesting for wireless products
Perpetua thermoelectric Power Pucks adopted by Emerson are designed to reduce operating and maintenance costs and further simplify wireless technology adoption.
Polycarbonate enclosure series for marine, wastewater applications
AutomationDirect's Integra polycarbonate enclosures are lightweight and feature high impact resistance of up to 900 in-lb, UV light resistance, and an operating temperature range from -40 to 265 F. All Integra polycarbonate enclosures are NEMA 4X-rated; many models are watertight and saltwater resistant and can be used for marine applications.
Pulse generator series with modulators
Saelig's TGP3100 series of pulse generators are true pulse generators that use all-digital techniques, but can also act as high performance noise generators and as function/arbitrary generators.
Power feed modules with integrated functionality
Weidmuller's UR20-PF-O safe power-feed modules feature integrated functionality to safely switch off power to all modules that are within a safety segment, eliminating the need for a safety controller.
LED solar simulator for photovoltaic testing
Innovations in Optics' LumiSun-50 multi-wavelength LED solar simulator is designed for terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) testing and research.
Power company opens North America office
Traco Power has opened an office in Silicon Valley to provide increase service to its North American customer base.
Output filter series for ac motor protection
Schaffner EMC's FN5060HV is designed to protect ac motors up to 690/600 Vac from destructive effects of peak voltages and inrush amps and are designed for applications such as chemical food and pharmaceutical processing, cement, metalworking, oil and gas, and mining.
UPS series for high-performance systems
Falcon Electric's SC uninterruptible power supply (UPS) family is designed to provide backup power protection for high-performance systems including information technology (IT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) equipment, telecommunications, servers and, industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Signal conditioner series with input-loop-power isolators
Phoenix Contact's MACX Analog family has added two-way, input-loop-powered isolators that have up to SIL 3 functional safety data. and allow operation on active sensor technology with a supply voltage of 6 V to 30 V dc.
Power supply series designed for hazardous locations
AutomationDirect’s Rhino PSB48-480S single-phase input, 48Vdc output power supply of DIN-rail power supplies is approved for Class 1, Division 2 hazardous locations.
Linear power amplifiers for point-to-point radios
Richardson RFPD's MAAP-011161 and MAAP-011193 4 W linear power amplifiers are designed for use in 7 GHz or 8 GHz point-to-point radios for cellular backhaul applications.
Waveform generators for automated test and remote applications
Spectrum Instrumentation's line of arbitrary waveform generators (AWG's) is based on the LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation standard and is designed to generate electronic signals in automated test and remote applications.
Apps for Engineers: Mobile apps for motors and drives applications
Motors and drives mobile applications have potential to help engineers do their jobs better. CFE Media's Apps for Engineers is an interactive directory of engineering-related applications for Apple iOS and Android operating systems from various companies. Apps are organized by category, company, and type. These are listed in the app as of July 2016.
Signal conditioner series for compact, non-hazardous areas
Pepperl+Fuchs' SC series of signal conditioners are designed for compact non-hazardous areas such as cabinets or in narrow spaces between cable ducts.
Researchers developing microlasers for security, medical applications
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories have developed a way to build terahertz lasers that could reduce their power consumption and size while also enabling them to emit tighter beams for security and medical applications.
Seven tips when integrating facility control systems
It can be useful to integrate building control systems. Advice follows to help with that.
Portable explosion-proof spider box
Larson Electronics' EPL-SBO-120-10XLV explosion-proof portable power distribution system is a spider box designed to provide operators with multiple outlets in areas where receptacles are limited.
Power supplies with integrated USB connector
CUI's 10 W SMI10‑USB, SWI10‑N‑USB, and SWI10‑E‑USB are wall plug-in ac/dc power supplies featuring an integrated USB connector and are designed to meet U.S. and international energy standards.
Funding provided to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing
The Energy Department is requesting proposals for improving technologies and processes to achieve cost parity of recycled and waste materials while improving material efficiency in manufacturing processes.
Isolated dc/dc converters for harsh industrial equipment applications
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda HQA120 isolated dc/dc converter is designed for use in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and harsh environment industrial equipment and in extreme temperatures.
Circuit breakers with a trip-free design
Phoenix Contact's UL 489 Listed circuit breakers has a trip-free design that increases safety against closing during an overcurrent event, while the snap-action mechanism eliminates contact welding and reduces contact wear.
Harmonics and utility costs
Understand harmonic effects to avoid utility violations and equipment damage.
Energy saving control projects
Energy usage is a major factor associated with manufacturing facilities. Tracking energy usage at the plant, production line, and equipment level can help monitor and reduce energy usage, saving valuable resources.
Strain gage module for test, measurement and control industry
Dataforth's MAQ20-BRDG1 strain gage module offers four input channels and can interface to full, half, and quarter bridge sensors using 4- or 6-wire connections.
Power supply for medical, ITE applications
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda CUS200M series of medically and ITE certified power supplies feature efficiency levels of up to 94% and is designed for hospital, dental, broadcast, test and measurement equipment applications.
Power modules for outdoor and liquid cooled power systems
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda PFE1000FA series of AC-DC power modules enable designers to utilize a single device containing power factor correction, regulation, and input-output isolation.
Motor with hybrid technology for energy savings
Baldor Electric's RPM XE utilizes a hybrid motor design that combines the starting attributes of an induction cage with permanent magnets and is designed to provide substantial energy savings and performance for most centrifugal load applications.
Synchronous dc/dc controller for industrial applications
Linear Technology's LTC3895, a high voltage non-isolated synchronous step-down switching regulator dc/dc controller is designed for transportation, industrial control, robotic and datacom applications.
Force sensors with a memory module
HBM's line of force sensors is available with a memory module designed to store sensor properties, greatly simplifying the process of configuring a force measurement system.
Power quality and motor analyzer for system performance detection
Fluke's 438-II Power Quality and Motor Analyzer is designed to simplify the process of motor performance diagnosis by providing analysis data for both the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the motor while it is in operation.
Control and integration companies: 7 ways to qualify for the research and development tax credit
Companies with a cross-disciplined approach to design and production in controls and automation can qualify for the R&D tax credit, which brings in an estimated $10 billion annually for U.S. businesses, provided that the companies can take advantage of the break. See project examples that qualify and seven ways to fit the R&D tax credit.
Light grids for manual, material handling applications
Pilz's PSENoptII is a type 3 light grid designed for manual workplaces and its infeed/discharge of material is useful for material handling in robot applications and the light grids work with continuous single beams that eliminate dead zones.
Non-isolated converter series for industrial, testing applications
The TDK-Lambda i6A series of non-isolated dc-dc converters are designed for use as drop-in replacements for expensive isolated 1/6th converters in medical, communications, industrial, and test and measurement equipment.
Researchers develop cheaper nanoscrolls with graphene alternative
Researchers at MIT and Harvard have created perfect nanoscrolls from graphene’s imperfect form, graphene oxide, which is much cheaper, to develop water filter sensors that can also be used for chemical sensors and hydrogen storage platforms.
Converter for harsh and extreme environments
Weidmuller's connectPower Pro dc/dc Converter is designed for the process, transportation and machinery industries and is ideal for use in earth-free power systems, such as battery backup systems in hazardous location applications.
Hannover Fair: LED lighting enclosures
Rittal's LED lighting is designed to replace fluorescent lighting and features motion sensing capabilities and a swivel option to change the direction of the light depending on lighting needs.
Hannover Fair: Enclosure air conditioner with hybrid system
Rittal's Blue e+ series of enclosure air conditioners for the U.S. market feature a hybrid system that uses active and passive cooling technologies. The active cooling system operates using a traditional compressor-based unit.
Uninterruptible power supply for hazardous locations
Phoenix Contact's Quint UPS-IQ 500 VA AC uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an industrial control cabinet that has received UL 1778 Recognition and is certified for Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations.
Cabinet coolers for processing, pharmaceutical applications
Exair's Small 316 Stainless Steel Cabinet Cooler Systems are designed to keep electrical enclosures cool and is designed for applications such as cooling control panels used in food processing, pharmaceutical, foundries, chemical processing and other corrosive locations.
Wide range dc-dc converters provide negative outputs
TDK Corporation's 75W rated TDK-Lambda i6AN series of negative output non-isolated dc-dc converters are designed to be used in applications such as medical, communications, industrial and test and measurement equipment.
Companies to create smart microgrid using Internet of Energy platform
DNV GL, Group Nire and Geli (Growing Energy Labs, Inc.), will produce and operate an Internet of Energy (IoEn) platform designed to integrate and manage up to 100 distributed energy resources (DER) in an effort to help improve the U.S. electrical grid's efficiency and reliability.
U.S. motor-driven system energy savings
Efficiency of motor-driven systems: Motor-driven system regulations are changing in the U.S. to improve efficiencies beyond individual motors. Considering the motion control system can deliver more than six times the power savings compared to motor efficiencies alone, according to NEMA committee members. Power electronics are helping.
Uninterruptible power supply for low- to mid-power applications
GE Critical Power's TLE Series CE uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are designed for low- to mid-power applications where critical power is needed.
Hand-held remote controller for networked load banks
Asco Power Technology's Sigma LT networks up to 25 load banks using industry-standard CAN bus communications protocol and can monitor all networked loan banks from up to 800 ft away.
Analog signal conversion transducers for industrial applications
Phoenix Contact's set-point relay and analog-to-frequency transducer measure are designed for industrial applications and have an operating temperature range of -40 to 70 C and a voltage range of 9.3 to 30 V dc.
Power converter for railway, transportation applications
Power Sources Unlimited's TEN, TEP, and TEQ range of 8 to 200 W dc-dc converters are designed for the railway/transportation industry and are designed to operate in harsh environments.
Converters for space critical power distribution applications
MicroPower Direct's ML300ERW series is a family of 3W dc/dc converters in a miniature SMT case designed for a wide variety of space critical, board level power distribution applications.
Output power package for mission critical applications
Schaefer's Redundant and Dual-Redundant Rack Systems are designed for mission critical applications and can be custom-designed for substation emergency lighting applications.
Front-end ac/dc power supply for power systems
CUI's PFR-2100 series offer a hot-swap blind-docking capability implemented through the use of a single connector for use in data center high voltage dc bus power systems, broadcast amplifiers, and other applications.
Projects for improving manufacturing challenges receive funding
The Energy Department announced $3 million for ten new projects for the High-Performance Computing for Manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) Program, which is designed to enable private-sector companies to use high-performance computing resources at the department's national laboratories to tackle major manufacturing challenges.
Integrated scrubber package for reducing lead times
Bionomic Industries' Series 7000/8000 of integrated scrubber packages come in a fully integrated pre-engineered package designed for applications such as power boilers, hazardous waste incinerators, process vessels, and material handling operations.
Desktop supply series with interchangeable cord for worldwide use
Protek Power's PUP25 series feature up to 25 W of desktop ITE power that meets Level VI efficiency and an inlet for mating with any interchangeable cord for worldwide use.
PLCs can improve wind turbine performance
Inside Machines: Installing non-OEM programmable logic controllers (PLCs) on wind turbines improves performance and reduces maintenance costs with better sensor measurements and more logical decisions.
Secondary current transformer with split-core design
NK Technologies' CT-MS is a 5A secondary current transformer with a split-core design and is designed for installation over large wires or bus bars.
Uninterruptible power supply designed for controllers, HMIs
Phoenix Contact's UNO-UPS is a compact 24 Vdc uninterruptible power supply (UPS) designed to provide standby power for compact controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and other low-power devices.
Adapter power supplies for measurement, industrial applications
The TDK-Lambda DT100D and DT150D adapter power supplies from TDK Corporation are designed for a variety of test and measurement, communications and industrial applications.
Analog signal conditioner for current and voltage signal conversion
Weidmuller's ACT20P-PRO DCDC II is a user configurable analog signal conditioner designed to offer secure isolation and precise conversion of current and voltage signals for applications ranging from machine panel control to process automation.
Cable entry plates with panel feed-through solution
Phoenix Contact's CES Multigates are metal-reinforced cable entry plates designed to handle up to 37 cables and feature double-membrane sealing for IP66/67 protection.
In-line heater for fluid heating applications
Watlow's Fluent is an in-line heater ideal designed for use in fluid heating applications and can replace an immersion-type heater or a heater wrapped around a tube as part of a thermal system.
Fiber-optic cables for mechanical, industrial environments
Metz Connect's OpDAT pre-configured installation cables (PCIC) includes prepackaged fiber-optic installation cables, universal cables, and mini-breakout cables that are equipped at one or both ends with connectors with defined lengths of cable, connector combination and the number of fibers.
Grid modernization funding initiative announced
The Energy Department's Grid Modernization Initiative includes an award of up to $220 million over three years to support critical research and development.
Electronic enclosures for power supplies, factory applications
Bud Industries' EXN enclosure series enclosure are designed for use as instrument cases and for housing electronic power supplies, remote controls, factory floor and outdoor applications.
SCADA market expanding as global energy requirements increase
A report by Frost & Sullivan indicates that greenfield and brownfield expansions as well as smart grid growth and a favorable investment climate are helping boost the SCADA market, but changing technology trends may limit its overall growth.
Analog input solid state proportional controllers
Carlo Gavazzi's Single Phase RGx1P Proportional Output Controllers are designed to control resistive heating elements and speed of ac motors in HVAC applications as well as short wave infrared heaters in semiconductor equipment.
Power supply series for medical applications
The PMP92 Series of ac/dc desktop medical power supplies by Protek Power are designed to provide 90 W of continuous output power and features over voltage/short circuit/overpower protection and no minimum load requirement.
Atomic force microscopes being developed to scan chemical processes
Engineers at MIT have designed an atomic force microscope that are designed to scan chemical processes taking place at the nanoscale at a rate that is close to real-time video.
In-line signal conditioner for hazardous, space-limited applications
Omega's IN-UVI in-line signal conditioner is housed in a rugged stainless steel enclosure and is designed to provide transducer field calibrations for applications where space is limited or in a hostile environment or some distance away from the display.
Modular fuseblocks and power distribution blocks
AutomationDirect's Edison modular knifeblade fuse blocks for Class J and Class R fuses are designed to simplify design and enhance safety and have a built-in lockout/tagout feature that prevents unauthorized fuse insertion or removal.
Electronic circuit breakers for control systems
Wago's additions to its 787-16XX line of electronic circuit breakers (ECBs) are designed to provide accurate readings and feature fast-tripping characteristics.
Eliminate RF leakage currents from drives
High radio frequency (RF) leakage currents in drive-powered systems can be eliminated by using special filters.
Apps for Engineers: Motors and drives
CFE Media's Apps for Engineers is an interactive directory of engineering-related applications for Apple iOS and Android operating systems from various companies. Apps are organized by category, company, and type. These motors and drives applications are listed in the app as of November 2015.
DC/DC converter for railway, industrial applications
Power Sources Unlimited's ECBL40W-110 Series 40 W dc-dc converters are designed for railway, power architectures, and industrial applications and are efficient up to 91%.
Coaxial adapter for wireless communication applications
Krytar’s Model 4030 adapter provides low VSWR from dc to 67 GHz frequency range and are designed for use in wireless communication applications, test equipment, and antenna devices for military and aerospace applications.
Flowmeters reduce energy costs and increase productivity
Sierra Instruments InnovaMass iSeries flow meters are designed for precise flow energy management in steam, compressed air, natural gas, and water applications.
DC power supply with three isolated outputs
B&K Precision's 9129B triple output dc power supply features three isolated outputs that can be adjusted independently or combined in series or parallel to output higher voltage or current and has overvoltage and overtemperature protection.
High-current terminals for limited space applications
Phoenix Contact's Power Turn high-current terminals with maximum wire sizes from 10 AWG to 250 MCM, make it easy and secure to connect the conductors, using a standard screwdriver and single-level movement.
Adapter power supplies for communication and industrial applications
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda DT62D and DT80D adapter power supplies are compliant with level VI efficiency standards and are designed for a variety of test and measurement, communications and industrial applications.
UPS and back-up batteries for hazardous locations
Phoenix Contact’s CID2 UPS and back-up battery packs is designed for hazardous locations is available in four sizes and up to five battery packs can be connected to the UPS.
EC: Low Profile Compact Circuit Protector
Power - Energy, power protection: Eaton's Bussmann series Low Profile Compact Circuit Protector (CCPLP) is the industry's most compact UL 98 fused disconnect switch with features designed to help customers achieve critical reliability and support advanced power distribution architecture. This is a Control Engineering 2016 Engineers’ Choice Honorable Mention.
VFDs reduce costs through process optimization
Cover story: Variable frequency drives (VFDs), modern motor controllers, that communicate readily with process automation controllers can achieve much higher efficiency and process improvements by providing power consumption details. See VFD sizes, benefits, how to match a VFD to a process, and four questions to ask when specifying a drive.
Power analyzer with four selectable channels
Zes Zimmer's LMG640 Precision Power Analyzer with DualPath allows up to four selectable power channels and it can simultaneously measure wideband unfiltered RMS power to 10 MHz while filtering the input signals according to user requirements for measuring at key frequencies.
Converter and battery charger series for extreme conditions
Schaefer's C3700 Series is a converter and battery charger for extreme conditions and delivers up to 1250 W of power and offers nine standard dc input voltage ranges from 18 V dc up to 640 V dc.
Power supplies for low audible noise applications
TDK Corporation's TDK-Lambda CU350M medical and ITE certified 350 W power supplies are designed for test and measurement and other applications requiring low audible noise.
VFD application in wastewater treatment aeration control
In a typical wastewater treatment plant, aeration blowers are the largest single consumer of energy. One of the major energy efficiency improvement areas appears in changing the way by which air flow into aeration basins is controlled, from flow control valves (FCV) to blowers speed control by a variable frequency drive (VFD). Results show up to 50% energy savings.
Programmable dc electronic load models
B&K Precision's four programmable dc electronic load models with operating voltages ranges up to 500 V and provide adjustable current slew rate as well as a built-in battery and LED test mode functions.
Modular frequency inverters for machine, industrial environments
Lenze's scalable i500 frequency inverters are designed to be tailored to virtually any machine application and industrial environment and are compliant with efficiency class IE2 and its power section is separate from the control unit.
Storing solar energy as hydrogen: Photovoltaic systems for plants
In Germany, an innovative storage power plant stores the energy produced by photovoltaic systems as hydrogen for seasonal storage, in addition to batteries for daily storage. By employing the PLC-based system, smaller companies can reduce their carbon footprint to zero.
Flexible battery market set to grow as wearable technology develops
A report by IDTechEx indicates that the flexible battery market will grow dramatically as more electronic companies develop wearable technology, which needs a flexible power source to operate.
Funding awarded to energy efficiency initiatives for electric machines
The Energy Department is awarding $22 million in funding for five projects aimed at merging wide-bandgap (WBG) technology with advancements for large-scale motors to increase energy efficiency in high-energy consuming industries, products, and processes.
DC/DC converter modules
Minimax Power's MAEU02-HI Series, 2 Watt dc/dc converter modules that feature ultra-high isolation of 5,200 V dc.
Multi-functional illumination switching element
EAO Corporation's Series 84 Halo Compact is a multi-functional illumination switching element designed to provide common status indication features in one solution for applications such as machinery control panels, medical equipment, and instruments for audio and video technology.
UPS series for data center protection
Mitsubishi Electric's Aegis series of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) is a three-phase, on-line double-conversion system and features insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and has an efficiency of over 95%.
Generator paralleling system for mission-critical applications
Emerson Network Power's Asco Series 300 Generator Paralleling System is a transfer switch-based, multi-feature packaged power system with load management and combines a transfer mechanism with load distribution and control technology.
Controller for building automation planning, installation
Wago's 750-829 BACnet controller is designed to act as a control gateway and uses twisted-pair lines to control complex building automation tasks and simplify I/O integration.
DC-DC converter for industrial, medical applications
The TDK-Lambda PXC-M series of dc-dc converters from TDK Corp. are designed for many medical applications as well as battery powered industrial equipment.
Generator paralleling switchgear
Emerson Network Power's Asco 4000 Series Generator Paralleling Switchgear features monitoring and control independent of the operator touch screen and a generator control that is independent from the master controller.
Uninterruptible power system for data centers, industrial applications
Eaton's Power Xpert 9395 uninterruptible power system (UPS) is designed to provide efficiency and scalable battery runtimes for data centers, light industrial applications, and multi-tenant data centers (MTDCs).
Enclosure heaters for explosive, hazardous conditions
AutomationDirect's Stego enclosure heaters are touch-safe, positive temperature coefficient (PTC) convection and fan heaters are designed for areas with an explosion hazard to maintain minimum operating temperatures.
Miniature circuit breaker for warm-environment applications
ABB's SU 200 M miniature circuit breaker (MCB) from ABB offers an extended ac and dc rating of 40 amps at 277Y/480 volts ac designed to protect larger loads and is UL- and CSA-approved for warm-environment applications.
Declining oil and gas prices to impact world generators market
According to IHS, declining generator sales into the oil and gas industry in 2015 will place a significant burden on suppliers that will then look to other industries for growth.
Solar-powered sensors designed to improve energy efficiency for Internet of Things
MIT researchers have developed an ultralow-power circuit that improves efficiency of energy harvesting to more than 80% and can be used to power the Internet of Things (IoT) for extended periods of time.
Optical measurement sensors for testing structures, light-weight materials
HBM Inc.'s FiberSensing optical measurement technology are designed for testing structures and light-weight materials and are also designed for tests characterized by strong electromagnetic interference effects.
DC motors for hydraulic, energy efficiency applications
Minnesota Electric Technology (MET) offers high current brush dc motors in a 3.6-in. frame size. These high current dc motors are available in 12 V dc and 24 V dc models that use brush materials for operation at higher current levels.
Linear triple output power supply series
B&K Precision's 9130B Series is a linear triple output power supply line that offers three isolated outputs that can be adjusted independently or combined and are designed for production testing, automated test, and circuit design applications.
Unlocking nanofibers’ potential for energy applications
Researchers at MIT have developed a prototype that boosts production of versatile fibers exponentially while cutting energy consumption by more than 90%.
Drive manufacturing competitiveness with energy awareness
Regardless of the industry, most operations teams have one thing in common: They’re being asked to cut expenses from already trimmed operating budgets. With the easier-to-cut line items long gone, teams need to start exploring new improvement opportunities, such as energy management.
Backup power manager for supply rails
Linear Technology Corp.'s LTC4040 is a lithium battery backup power management system for 3.5 V to 5 V supply rails in applications such as fleet and asset tracking, automotive GPS data loggers, industrial backup, and USB-powered devices.
Light detection, thermal-management systems, imaging devices could improve with MIT light control research
Researchers at MIT have found a way to couple the properties of different two-dimensional materials to provide an exceptional degree of control over light waves using a layer of one-atom-thick graphene deposited on top of a similar 2-D layer of a material called hexagonal boron nitride (hBN).
Industrial matrix drive with reduced harmonics, power regeneration
Yaskawa's U1000 Industrial Matrix Drive has 9 bi-directional switches that are arranged in a matrix to convert a three-phase AC input voltage directly into a three-phase ac output voltage.
Antennas use phase-changing material to alter shapes, frequencies
Two antenna prototypes have been developed by researchers at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology using a special class of thin film material which allows them to alter their shape using temperature and radiate at varying frequencies within the GHz range.
Safety light curtains and access control barriers
AutomationDirect’s Contrinex YCA 50-series safety light curtains include access control barriers and accessories for body protection and are designed for protection and safety when open access might be required during operations for machine design and process.
Power converter series for networking, data centers
Murata's D1U86P series of ultra-high density power converters feature ac-input and dc-input models and are designed for networking applications, storage, high performance computing, and data centers.
HVAC matrix drive provides low harmonic distortion
Yaskawa's Z1000U HVAC Matrix Drive is designed to provide low harmonic distortion without the need for countermeasures like passive filters or multi-pulse arrangements.
Vortex flowmeter for advanced energy measurement
Krohne's Optiswirl 4200 vortex flowmeter is designed for advanced energy management systems and is used to measure both conducting and non-conducting liquids, gases and steam as well as internal monitoring of energy flows for saturated and superheated steam.
Connector series for medical and testing applications
Harting's Han HMC series are rectangular connectors designed to deliver consistent performance through 10,000 mating cycles or more for medical sector, laboratories, and modular machine construction and automatic tooling systems.
Tuning a combustion control system: Advanced and unconventional methods
Finishing up our series on combustion control systems, this blog post offers advanced and unconventional methods for tuning a combustion control systems.
Low-voltage motors expected to grow presence in high-efficiency motor market
IHS predicts that the market for IE4 low-voltage motors is expected to more than double in value by 2018 thanks to an increased focus in industrial segments on achieving the highest possible efficiencies and more suppliers investing in the market.
High voltage and current digital panel meter
Precision Digital's PD6400 High Voltage and Current Meter is designed to provide reliable measurement of high voltage, current, and apparent power and it features field-selectable current and voltage inputs accept up to 300 V and 5 amp, ac or dc.
PLC with integrated IO terminals
Product Exclusive: The EZWire1616 PLC by Triangle Research International is a PLC with integrated, field wiring ready I/O terminals designed to save system integrators and original equipment manufacturers time by providing every digital analog I/O point with its own power.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles, January 12-18: PID loop tuning advice, control engineers and management, PLC and DCS programming, more
Articles about PID loop tuning advice from an expert; 7 things control engineers should know about management; PLC and DCS programming; how burner combustion control systems work; and the top Control Engineering articles for 2014 were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from last week, January 12-18.
Cube-shaped sunshade for process instrumentation
The CubeShade by Intertec is a process instrumentation sunshade designed to shield equipment from solar radiation as well as corrosion from salt and common petrochemicals.
Industrial computer chassis platform for rugged conditions
VadaTech's VT950 is 6-slot MicroTCA chassis in a 1U height that uses a thick aluminum construction, a reinforced cover, and several other ruggedization techniques. It includes a real-time clock and holds up to six advanced mezzanine cards.
Heating control systems for industrial applications
The Siplus HCS4200 and HCS4300 by Siemens are heating control systems designed to cut a plant's energy consumption by facilitating energy-efficient heating element actuation and avoiding current spikes in the network in industrial applications.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles, November 24-30: Regulations for pumps and fans, vision system boosting productivity, Ethernet protocol in China, more
Articles about new DOE rules for pumps, fans, and compressors; a vision system that boosts productivity; China approving an Ethernet protocol; tuning PID loops for level control; and reasons why automation improves beer making were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from last week, November 24-30. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Monitoring power and energy to control service costs
Technology Update: Increased operational efficiency and lower energy costs can result from gateways that provide data acquisition and protocol translation capabilities that enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to select the level of functionality required to reduce equipment support costs. Smart meters, relays, and other monitoring devices on power distribution and manufacturing equipment can show real-time power quality and energy use.
Junction box with stainless steel ports
Turck's passive junction boxes with stainless steel ports are available in 4-, 6- or 8-port configurations and have one to two discrete signals per port capability to help plants integrate multiple devices into one unit.
Inductive charger added to wireless bore gauge
Ametek Solartron Metrology has added an inductive charging option for its WiGauge wireless bore gauges, which charges the device whenever it is placed into the charger cradle, allowing the tool to be used continually with little or no downtime.
How to control two process variables with one output
How can a system control multiple process variables with only one output? A system can limit both values simultaneously. The operator enters setpoints for both and both act as limits.
EC: Power Xpert Insight monitoring software
Power — Energy, Power Protection: Power Xpert Insight is a power and energy monitoring software that can help industrial facilities proactively reduce energy consumption, control costs, and improve reliability by providing a comprehensive, real-time view into power and energy information. This is a Control Engineering 2015 Engineers’ Choice honorable mention.
EC: Panduit Industrial Network UPS
Power — Energy, Power Protection: The Panduit UPS is an innovative backup power solution for industrial managed Ethernet switches that eliminates downtime during lengthy restart cycles caused by short power interruptions. This is a Control Engineering 2015 Engineers’ Choice award winner.
EC: Energy Portal Module with E-Allocation software
Power — Energy, Power Protection: Eaton's Energy Portal Module allows users to benchmark the effectiveness of energy reduction efforts and identify loads within a facility that consume the most energy, while the E-Allocation software enables accurate billing. This is a Control Engineering 2015 Engineers’ Choice finalist.
How to make a perfect solar absorber
New system aims to harness the full spectrum of available solar radiation to move solar energy closer to perfection, according to MIT researchers.
Electrical power source and calibration tool in 3 phases
Fluke's 6003A three-phase electrical power source provides three independent phases of precise voltage and current and is designed to be accurate enough for calibration laboratories.
DC/DC digital controller for densely populated power system infrastructures
Intersil's ZL8801 dual-phase, dc/dc digital PWM controller uses a dual phase solution for higher current applications and can current share across multiple devices, which can extend its range for densely populated infrastructure power systems.
Signal conditioners for confined spaces
Phoenix Contact's MINI Pro signal conditioners are 6.2 mm wide and have multiple configuration options, including a DIP switch, PC programmability, or an Android app.
Researchers duplicate octopuses and squids camouflage tricks
Researchers at MIT have created materials that reproduce cephalopods’ ability to quickly change colors and textures with potential applications that include flexible display screens and anti-fouling coatings for ships.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles, September 15-21: Salt used as renewable energy, The first PLC, future of the PLC, more
Articles about salt being used as an energy resource, the competition for the first PLC, the PLC’s future, cascade control fundamentals, and writing a process operation document were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from last week, September 15-21. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Density compensation for steam drum levels
This week's blog is all about accurately measuring and reporting level in steam drum.
The power of salt for renewable energy
MIT study investigates power generation from the meeting of river water and seawater.
Tower lights for operator guidance, equipment status
Banner Engineering's TL50 compact tower lights are ideal for space-restricted applications requiring visible operator guidance or equipment status indication and come preassembled and preconfigured.
DC power supplies have solar array simulation function
B&K Precision's PVS series of 5100 W dc power supplies offer 1000 V and 600 V models with built-in solar array simulator function.
High-efficiency steam production from the sun
New spongelike structure converts solar energy into steam, according to MIT researchers. The new material can convert 85% of incoming solar energy into steam, a significant improvement over recent approaches to solar-powered steam generation.
Getting a charge out of water droplets
Water condensing and jumping from a superhydrophobic surface can be harnessed to produce electricity.
Ruggedized distribution boxes designed to reduce machine downtime
Belden's Actuator Sensor Box-Ruggedized (ASB-R) distribution boxes permit reliable connections in demanding environments and have an IP67 protection rating as well as the option of four or eight vibration-proof M12 ports and metal screw threads.
Offshore wind facility construction loan for 130 Massachusetts turbines
The Department of Energy has moved towards issuing a $150 million loan for an offshore wind project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts that would provide a majority of the electricity needed for the surrounding area.
Isolated DC-DC converter is self protected from over current, over voltage
GE Critical Power's (NYSE: GE) SHHN000A3CL isolated DC-DC converters are a bipolar dual-output module is self-protected with output over-current and over-voltage and can be used as a DC/DC module.
Waveform generator series for high signal fidelity
B&K Precision's 4060 Series line of dual channel function/arbitrary waveform generators are designed for use in applications requiring high signal fidelity with extensive modulation and arbitrary waveform capabilities.
Energy storage systems for extreme environments
The SCS family of air or liquid cooled energy storage solutions by Schaefer are designed for mission critical or remote location requirements and are able to measure cell, modules, system voltages and temperatures in real-time.
Remotely programmable power supply series
The TDK-Lambda Z+ series of 200 W and 400 W programmable dc power series is available in output voltages of up to 160, 320, or 650 V dc and can be programmed remotely using USB, RS232/485 or analog control interfaces.
Insulated gate bipolar transistor for harsh conditions
STMicroelectronics' H series 1200V insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are designed to boost energy efficiency and ruggedness in applications and have an integrated anti-parallel diode as well as electromagnetic interference.
Clean room cables for semiconductor industry applications
Cicoil's Flexx-Sil rubber jacketed clean room cables are designed for semiconductor industry applications and have a computer-controlled extrusion process that lets the cables be placed in a flat parallel profile.
A new way to make sheets of graphene
Technique from MIT might enable advances in display screens, solar cells, or other devices.
UPS for large data center applications
Mitsubishi Electric's one megawatt (1.05 MVA) 9900C UPS is an on-line double conversion UPS that is scalable up to eight units for N+1 redundancy or N capacity and incorporates Digital Signal Processor and Direct Digital Control (DDC).
A new way to harness waste heat
Electrochemical approach has potential to efficiently turn low-grade heat to electricity, according to MIT and Stanford University researchers.
Improved supercapacitors for super batteries, electric vehicles
Researchers develop novel supercapacitor architecture that provides two times more energy and power compared to supercapacitors commercially available today.
Using algae as biofuel
How one company's technology is harnessing algae’s energy potential by reducing the cost of producing algae fuel
Industrial UPS with amplitude detection for accurate sensing
The Cyberex PowerBuilt industrial uninterruptible power supply (UPS) from ABB features a proprietary amplitude detection control design as well as a full-color touchscreen graphical user interface (GUI).
Power distribution units with fast turnaround
The ePDU is Eaton's third-generation platform of power distrbution units (PDU)and have a fast turnaround of outlet and cord plug configurations to give data centers and colocation facilities flexibility with their distribution needs.
Silly Putty material inspires better batteries
Engineers use silicon dioxide to make lithium-ion batteries that last three times longer between charges compared to current standard.
Static transfer switches are designed for critical infrastructure applications
GE's Critical Power's Zenith STS-3 Series three-phase static transfer switches and Zenith STS-1 Series single-phase static transfer switches are designed for critical infrastructure applications.
Compact AC/DC power supplies for industrial and instrumentation applications
The MPU-400CS series from MicroPower Direct is designed for industrial and instrumentation power applications that require high power density and has a wide operating temperature range.
Fan suppliers: Offer complete solutions or stand-alone products?
A recent IHS research study sheds light on the global fan and blower market, where suppliers are aiming to become a complete solution provider. As this trend's impact on consumers is emerging, problems and questions arise.
Power line carriers designed to resist RF intereference
Ametek's TC-10B/TCF-10B and Universal Power Line Carrier (UPLC) products are designed to be immune to malfunctions like hardware damage or corrupted memory due to RF interference.
New financing method could secure the solar industry’s future
Bundling solar assets into marketable securities promises to lower project financing costs, leading to cheaper power and faster industry growth. See related links.
How electrodes charge and discharge: new findings from MIT
Analysis probes reactions in porous battery electrodes for the first time.
Flexible-boot cable assemblies help with cable routing
Molex's FlexiBend MPO/MTP flexible-boot cable assemblies are designed to optimize cable routing and feature flexible bend limiting boots that allow cable exits in varying positions from straight to a 90-degree angle.
Optimized cable assemblies are available in 2 or 4 fiber count
Molex's Expanded-Beam Ruggedized Optical Cable Assemblies are designed for harsh environments and are available in 2- and 4-fiber counts for a multi-channel optical interface.
New ideas for quality management: Part 3
Improve quality management by recognizing the system operators. Providing them with the proper training and more responsibility over the testing process can be a win-win situation.
Panelboard for lighting and load management
Eaton's Pow-R-Command intelligent panelboard is designed to reduce heating, ventilation and air conditioning load requirements and lighting energy usage with a range of control and daylight harvesting capabilities.
Nanotechnology may be key to solar energy and energy storage
A study from the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI suggests nanotechnology will bring significant benefits to the energy sector thanks to improved materials efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs.
High-temperature UPS series
The SSG Series Industrial UPS and SSG-RP Series High Temperature UPS series by Falcon Electric are designed to bring power protection to rugged, harsh environmental locations and temperatures.
Ground testers for quick electrical equipment verification
Fluke's 1623-2 and 1625-2 Earth Ground Testers come are designed to speed verification of a reliable connection to earth for grounded electrical systems while lowering the risk of shock to users.
DC power supply line
Rhino PSB series DIN rail mount single-phase and three-phase input power supplies by AutomationDirect with IP20-rated terminals and features rugged plastic or aluminum housings and output status LED indicators.
Power connectors for small, high-density locations and many industries
Molex's Mega-Fit power connector delivers 23.0A in a 5.70mm pitch and feature six staggered contact points that move independently on a separate flexible beam.
Receptacle extension provides connectivity solution for hazardous locations
Turck's HL (Hazardous Location) receptacle extension provides users with a connectivity solution for Class I Division 1 (CI D1) locations and provides encapsulated housings joined by a welded aluminum armored cable in lengths up to 20 meters.
For better energy management, tap into your data historian
Users of energy management applications are learning that the data these applications collect can help improve the performance of production equipment and processes.
Tips for controlling energy costs on industrial refrigeration systems
An integrated approach to optimizing the mechanical system—along with an automation strategy—is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy costs.
GaN LED revenue zooms in 2013 but likely peaking
Global revenue for gallium nitride light-emitting diodes (GaN LED) rose more than 10% in 2013, but revenue growth is expected to stall in the next few years.
Producing energy savings on demand
Mission Produce, global leader in the avocado industry, harvests great returns on investment in demand control technology.
Making the case for energy management technology
Don’t let misperceptions get in the way of substantial payoffs. Get over the three primary barriers to full-scale use of energy management technologies.
Solar-power device would use heat to enhance efficiency
New approach developed at MIT could generate power from sunlight efficiently and on demand.
Power measurement products monitor loads, detect pump failures
Wago unveils new power measurement modules. The new line features components made for industrial and building applications.
Product updates: Motors, energy analytics
Upgrades: The Siemens Simotics FD motor series and Energy Analytics services aim to expand areas where Siemens motors can be used and savings for energy use in industrial applications.
Building a better, more efficient plant
Inside Machines: Variable frequency drives (VFDs), which can significantly impact energy efficiency goals by optimizing performance and reducing energy consumption by up to 50%, are among options in the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plants Program.
Electric contactor series
The GH15 electric contactor series by AutomationDirect have models available up to 315 Amps and feature self-lifting pressure plate terminals and actuator coils that accommodate most applications.
DC/DC power module and converter
GE Critical Power's JRCK017A0S32R0 isolated dc/dc power module is 95 percent efficient and is DOSA compliant.
Variable frequency drive configuration, high-efficiency operation, and permanent magnet motors
VFD configuration for permanent magnet alternating current (PMAC) motors and other considerations can lead to optimal system performance, providing the desired energy savings in motor applications.
Compact UPS with integrated battery
The Step UPS from Phoenix Contact is designed for compact control cabinet with lower current demands.
Buffer module uninterrupted power supply
The FEAS SSE2410 buffer module by Automated Control provides uninterrupted power for systems in areas that have limited access or in applications with a high maintenance cost.
EC: Energy AnalytiX
Software - Applications: Energy AnalytiX is an off-the-shelf energy management system (EMS) that focuses on analysis of cost, consumption and carbon emissions energy data to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice honorable mention.
Industrial energy management is becoming a mature discipline
Energy efficiency and energy management has evolved to the point where manufacturers can make some major strides in their business initiatives.
Creative financing for energy management projects
Leasing can be much easier, and more cost effective, than traditional methods of acquiring energy efficient equipment such as variable speed drives.
UPS designed to provide power during long outages
The Perpetual Uninterruptible Power Supply (P-UPS) by Controllis combines a dc generators with a dc-ac inverter to provide continuous power during outages.
Control technology provided to power plant
Exelon selected Emerson's Ovation technology to upgrade the turbine and balance-of-plant controls at their Baltimore power plant.
Power measurement market forecast to exceed $4 billion in revenue within 5 years
Submeters accounted for 65% of global metering revenues in 2012 and are forecast to grow faster than meters with power quality.
Desktop power supplies have no limited load
The PEAD70SLF series of ac/dc desktop power supplies do not require a minimum load for operation and are designed for ITE applications.
Industrial energy management is not a one-size-fits-all proposition
Energy management technology vendors are building solutions that can be customized to fit almost any manufacturing setting. Link to three Industrial Energy Management articles.
Take charge of your energy bills
Demand-control technology supports multiple approaches for taming energy costs without sacrificing production efficiency.
Real-time monitoring is critical for sustaining solar PV energy output
SCADA technology monitors, controls, and delivers system performance data down to the string level.
Driving a new generation of power plants
Variable frequency drive (VFD) technology supports versatile, reliable, low-cost power inverters for industry-leading supplier of fuel cell plants.
Reducing peak demand as electrical consumption patterns change
Proliferation of electric vehicles and other rechargeable devices can create new peak demand patterns. Planning and renewable sources can mitigate the effects.
Solar power plant drives environmentally friendly business success
Supervisory control system provides real-time monitoring of massive solar network, cutting energy costs—and reducing emissions—at intermodal transit facility in Bologna, Italy.
Why manufacturing companies are not profiting from energy efficiency
Reliance on the wrong metrics to assess value dooms many energy projects to premature death.
The real job of an industrial energy management system
An energy management system should gather information on any form of energy consumption and consider all factors that impact machine operating efficiency.
Attacking energy costs
Automated control solutions offer the best approach for sustained savings from energy-management programs.
Success in energy management starts with setting goals
Setting goals is easy; reaching them often proves much more difficult.
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority reaches for sustainability goals
Invensys solutions upgrades help PREPA improve power delivery while integrating new generation sources.
Shining a light on solar power for business use
Solar system at Moxa’s sales and marketing headquarters cuts energy bills, provides platform to showcase new products. Jan. 10 online update: ROI information added. See "feedback," at bottom.
Seeing the future of energy management
The end of the year typically is a time when people review the past with an eye toward how they can improve the future.
The quest to standardize energy management processes
Newly formed industry group aims to boost U.S. manufacturing’s global competitiveness through energy efficiency.
EC: Power Xpert Reporting v3.0
Software - Diagnostics: Power Xpert Reporting aggregates vast amounts of critical power data into easy-to-understand reports, so that facility managers and maintenance personnel can better monitor their systems to reduce energy costs and improve reliability. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
EC: SSGB-1S40-5U 40AH Battery Bank
Power - Energy, power protection, UPS: Falcon's 40 Ah battery bank is a ruggedized wide temperature (-30 C to 63 C) extended runtime battery bank that provides long back-up runtimes for protecting equipment operating in harsh environments. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention.
EC: Power Xpert 200E Gateway
Network Integration - Network hardware: Power Xpert 200E gateway collects energy usage data from meters, enabling users to benchmark energy usage, set energy management goals, determine the effectiveness of energy management initiatives and reduce energy costs. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention.
EC: Thin Cell iMOD Ultracapacitor Modules
Power - Energy, power protection: Ioxus' thin cell iMOD ultracapacitor modules consist of ultra-high power, pouch cell ultracapacitors, instead of cylindrical cells, for power conditioning and automated guided vehicle applications. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
EC: NI Single-Board RIO General Purpose Inverter Controller
Power - Energy, power protection: The NI Single-Board RIO General Purpose Inverter Controller is a cost-effective, deployment-ready embedded system with a specific set of analog and digital I/O for FPGA-based power electronics control and monitoring. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
Thermal energy storage snapshot
Experts consider thermal energy storage as the game changer for the future of solar energy electricity generation. Heat exchange between steam produced in a concentrating solar power plant and a heat storage fluid (typically molten salt) is the first step in the process. Direct solar heating of the storage medium is an alternative. Heat energy is stored in tanks and returned to the steam turbine system to generate electricity later or after sundown. Molten salt is the most promising thermal energy storage medium at present. R&D on more advanced, less costly storage systems is ongoing.
Distribution automation a top priority for smart grid utilities
ARC Advisory Group's study shows utilities are putting a higher emphasis on adding intelligence and control capabilities to distribution infrastructure to meet growing demand and save energy overall.
Getting to the Core of Energy Management
Demand-side solutions make it easyfor users to quantify—and curtail—energy use
Creative Thinking Abounds about Industrial Energy Management
Automation suppliers demonstrate ingenious methods for managing energy use.
Making the Most of Hybrid Power
New crane combines hybrid engine with automation technology to lower emissions, reduce fuel use while making workers more productive.
Displaying the Benefits of Green Technology
Robust monitoring/control system tracks the performance of energy-saving features in green home built by college students
A Sure Way to Drive Energy Savings
Variable frequency drives offer simple method of boosting energy efficiency of heavy equipment
Power metering solution has high-speed, high-accuracy
The Multilin EPM 9900 by GE is designed for monitoring critical power applications for utilities, industrial users, and local electric companies by providing a total picture of energy usage and power quality. It enables users to monitor, mitigate, and troubleshoot potential power quality anomalies.
U.S. Industrial Energy Efficiency Coalition
IEEC leveraging industrial controls and automation expertise of major automation companies and NEMA.
Balancing steam supply with demand saves energy
APC platform helps Brazil’s Cenibra pulp mill reduce vented steam by 90%. Fuel costs are down and the carbon footprint of the power boilers has been slashed.
Reuse of lithium-ion battery packs to be tested
ABB, 4R Energy, Nissan North America and Sumitomo Corporation of American are testing and evaluating the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that are used for the Nissan LEAF, which is currently the only all-electric car used for the mass market.
Energy management system provided for cruise line
ABB has received a contract to provide energy management systems for the new Viking Line cruise ferries being built in Turku, Finland.
Electric car plant going nowhere
Perils of governments, national and local, picking technology winners stands out in bankruptcy
Solutions provided, motivation required
Industrial Energy Management: Schneider Electric wagers that discrete and process manufacturers are serious about energy management, introduces StruxureWare.
Energy management: The start of something big
According to the National Resources Defense Council, process industry energy costs have risen from below 7% of total cost in the 1950s-90s, to between 15% and 20% today.
Eight steps to better refrigeration energy management
Energy management starts with leadership, clear goals, accountability, and measurable results.
Ethanol industry in for changes
Changes in tariffs and subsidies will bring greater availability of Ethanol fuel.
Energy management: Brave new world
U.S. companies are launching energy management initiatives regardless of regulatory climate, based on efficiency and sustainability goals, according to providers of energy management technologies.
Airborne pollutants formed in industrial processes
While some processes simply liberate natural elements and compounds, others create new toxic substances.
Saving money, resources by emphasizing packaging efficiency
Sometimes the sustainability aspects of automation products and processes can be improved with some very simple changes that are executed well.
EC: Energy AnalytiX energy management system
Software – Applications: Energy AnalytiX from Iconics is an energy monitoring, energy analysis, and energy management system (EMS) that delivers rich platform and browser-independent real-time visualization. This is a Control Engineering 2012 Engineers’ Choice finalist.
AC drives expand diagnostics, voltage range, DC bus option to save energy
Rockwell Automation extends power range of its Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC Drives. New high-power drives provide users with expanded application flexibility, additional voltages and common DC bus option for energy savings.
Smart energy initiative to help customers optimize fuel use, reduce emissions
New Industrial Energy Group within Emerson Process Management deploys True BTU technology to help customers reduce energy costs
Monitoring induction motors for energy savings
Your motors can help you find substantial energy savings, if you can hear what they’re trying to tell you. The right monitoring equipment will help you get the message.
Mechanical relay modules switch to higher loads for energy management
Opto 22's Snap-OMR6-A and Snap-OMR6-C mechanical relay modules fill a need for engineers, plant managers, technicians, and others seeking a way to switch higher voltages and currents without the need for breakout boards, header cables, or other interposing hardware.
Energy management project in Indonesia
PT. Krakatau Daya Listrik (KDL), an energy supplier for the government-controlled PTKS group in Indonesia, chose Honeywell Process Solutions to implement energy management and monitoring solutions to help with the company's long-term savings.
Photovoltaic solar inverters produced in expanded manufacturing plant
Siemens has started production on solar inverters at its expanded manufacturing plant in West Chicago, Ill., which was recently updated. The inverters are slated for commissioning at a major project in October 2011.
Frequency inverters receive output frequency upgrades
Yaskawa upgraded the V1000 and A1000 frequency inverters up to 1000 Hz to allow them to work with high-speed applications.
AC inverter products listed on UK’s Energy Technology List
Three of Yaskawa Europe's AC Inverter products were named to the UK's ETL, which gives them official recognition as green products.
Winds power load balancing: Ultracapacitors help
Winds of change are blowing for clean technology energy storage methods to help balance renewable energy sources coming online. Ultracapacitors can help balance the grid as more wind power comes online.
Business growth cited as most critical challenge in 2011
Companies should focus on quality to ensure profitable growth, global executives report in a study from The Conference Board.
Events recorders for power, automation systems
CyTime 32-input event recorder has new features allowing it to serve as a stand-alone forensics tool for critical-power systems.
First solar power mini-inverter
CyboEnergy released what it calls the first mini-inverter for solar power.
2-Channel portable oscilloscopes
Fluke ScopeMeter 190 Series II 2-channel handheld portable oscilloscopes: New meters extend the Fluke line of portable scopes, providing 4- and 2-channel, 200 MHz, 100 MHz and 60 MHz bandwidth with CAT III 1000 V/ CAT IV 600 V safety rating for the most demanding applications and environments.
Highline inverter drive: motion controller
Lenze Americas 8400 HighLine Inverter Drives are designed to act as a motion controller and a frequency inverter. It has integrated point-to-point positioning for up to 15 position destinations, and stores the corresponding travel profiles in the inverter.
Inverter topologies with power modules add efficiency
Get higher power module efficiency using neutral point clamped topologies for inverter applications in the solar market, for uninterruptible power supplies, and motor drives.
New communication module supports green automation initiative
HMS Industrial Networks releases embedded Anybus-CompactCom PROFIenergy communication module.
Company extends products for energy management in production
Siemens has announced new software for Simatic controllers to improve energy management
Energy monitoring appliance provides data for consumption analysis
OptoEMU from Opto 22 helps track energy use, provides data as companies create plans to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Analog integrated circuit design educator gets 2011 IEEE Donald O. Pederson Award
Willy Sansen is an engineering educator known for research, education and industry contributions related to analog integrated circuit design. IEEE honored Sansen with the 2011 Donald O. Pederson Award in Solid-State Circuits.
Understanding variable frequency drives
VFD use is increasing because users say VFDs improve manufacturing processes and reduce cost. Understanding how they do their job can help as you consider deployments.
Transient recorder system combines high channel density and high-precision measurements
Recorder from Elsys Instruments offers 64 channels with flexible configuration for a variety of industrial applications.
Drive solution designer harnesses energy, cost savings
Lenze’s drive solution designer has optimized sustainability for material handling industry.
Communication module with integrated PROFIenergy profile server
Embedded Anybus-CompactCom PROFIenergy communication module from HMS Industrial Networks supports the green automation initiative of the automobile manufacturers.
EXCLUSIVE: Plantville game to showcase products, solutions for industry and infrastructure
Siemens online game simulates a plant manager’s experience – challenging players to increase productivity, sustainability, overall health of an industrial plant.
Green automation: Manufacturer of high-voltage cables cuts 50% in cooling process
Lamifil sees significant energy savings using drives to control cooling pumps in production of aluminum and copper alloys in wire and cable production, for more sustainable manufacturing. See application photo gallery with eight more images.
EEMODS motor and drive conference set to make U.S. debut
The Energy Efficiency in Motor Drive Systems Conference, scheduled for Sept. 12-14, 2011, near Washington, DC, will present the latest developments on the impact of electrical motor systems on energy-efficiency and the environment.
Motor Summit 2010: Comparative standards, regulations
The third edition of Motor Summit drew experts from research, government, and the private sector to focus on the latest technological innovations, current state of market penetration, and strategies needed to spur widespread use of efficient motor systems. See motor efficiency deadlines from Europe, China, and USA, with a comparative table of more than a dozen nations.
Electric motor efficiency needs to extend to the system: Motor Summit 2010
Energy-efficiency conference presentations went well beyond electric motor topics to the system level. A meaningful approach to motor system efficiency must extend to associated equipment, such as pumps, fans, and drives.
Opto 22, Pulse Energy partner to provide visibility, data for energy savings
Opto 22 and Pulse Energy have combined expertise to provide web-based energy monitoring and management with minimal configuration and no programming.
Think Again: Improving networking and energy use
Energy measuring, monitoring, and optimization are hot, and industrial network organizations want to help control energy information. See diagram.
10 tips for deploying EtherNet/IP, the ODVA Ethernet protocol
Industrial applications using plantwide EtherNet/IP should follow these 10 industrial network design recommendations from Cisco and Rockwell Automation.
ODVA collaborates to manage industrial energy data
ODVA members, including Cisco Systems, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric, collaborate to optimize energy usage for the industrial consumer, the network organization said Feb. 7. See diagram.
Online software helps manufacturers reduce energy use
Rockwell Automation Energy Evaluator tool allows manufacturers to identify and compare current energy management behavior, and identify opportunities for improvements, the company said. It's free with registration.
Drives and inverters for a new bottling plant
Distributed capability, high positioning accuracy, low energy consumption of the Nord Drivesystems help the Hacklberger Beverages and Logistics Center produce up to 36,000 bottles per hour.
Washdown motors, stainless motors
Baldor Electric Company’s range of washdown and paint free motors and controls, all stainless motors and speed reducers, linear motors and controls, and servo motors and controls designed for energy efficiency.
DuPont earns sustainability award for plastic recycling program in Brazil
Agrochemical multilayer bottle recycling process solves problems related to mixed material reclamation.
Product Exclusive: Yaskawa A1000 next generation variable speed drives
Yaskawa A1000 is a full featured drive, providing outstanding quality, performance, flexibility, and environmental friendliness, company says. Yaskawa doubles VSD design life through 1000 hp, with application presets. For ease of setup, the A1000 supports DriveWizard software and a portable USB copy unit. This is a Control Engineering December 2010 edition Product Exclusive
Cover story: Integrating Disparate Control Systems
Advancements in open systems and network technologies are showing vendors and manufacturers alike that ‘playing nice on the same wire’ can build bridges among once-isolated islands of automation and reap benefits for everyone.
Sustainable Engineering: Energy master plan reduces costs
Need higher efficiency? Drop the piecemeal approach to managing energy and sustainability initiatives. An integrated energy master plan, including discrete, batch, and processing lines, helps industrial and manufacturing companies realize cost, efficiency, and operational benefits.
Product Exclusive: Baldor drives withstand dirty duty
Baldor Dirty Duty NEMA 4X VS1 SP and VS1 GV ac drives are designed to perform in the most challenging of applications.
Severe duty motors deliver operational performance, lower GHG emissions
GE’s X$D Ultra 841 IEC extra severe duty motors reportedly deliver operational performance and lower GHG emissions
Brian Van Batavia, among Control Engineering Leaders Under 40 for 2010
Want to meet the next generation of manufacturing automation and controls leaders? In November 2010, Control Engineering highlights 19 young professionals from around the globe who are making their marks in everything from system design to academia. These leaders aim to inspire others to get involved in engineering and resolve local and global challenges through smarter applications of automation and control technologies. Meet Brian Van Batavia ...
U.S. company obtains EN 16001 Energy Certification
Comau Inc. has become the first U.S. company to obtain the EN 16001 Energy Certification as a part of global eCOMAU initiative. Aim is to help customers enhance automated manufacturing processes while significantly reducing energy consumption.
EC: WM30 Smart Power Quality and Utility Analyzer
Power - monitoring, protection – Carlo Gavazzi Inc. - WM30 Smart Power Quality and Utility Analyzer is an innovative, three-phase power analyzer offering an upgraded LCD display, capable of showing four electrical variables, an energy counter and a power demand indicator at the same time. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) nominee.
EC: OptoEMU Sensor
Network Integration - data acquisition, integration - Opto 22 -OptoEMU Sensor. Opto 22's Opto Sensor is an energy monitoring and data acquisition appliance that lets commercial and industrial customers control energy costs by capturing power consumption data (in real time and with minimal configuration) and then presenting this data over standard networks with various energy-monitoring software programs and cloud services. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Award winner.
EC: DR Motor
Motion Control - motors: SEW-Eurodrive Inc., DR Motor. SEW-Eurodrive's new modular DR motor system offers more efficiency, performance and pricing options for gearmotors or stand-alone models. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Award winner.
EC: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC drive
Motion Control - drives: Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC drive. The expanded line of Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC drives provides users with expanded application flexibility, advanced diagnostics and excellent control system integration. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Award winner.
EC: Baldor Dirty Duty NEMA 4X Drives
Motion Control - drives: Baldor Electric Company, Baldor Dirty Duty NEMA 4X Drives. Baldor Dirty Duty Drives are robust and operate in dirty, damp, wet environments. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Honorable Mention.
Preassembled UPS simplifies installation, addresses growing data center needs
The Eaton BladeUPS Preassembled System is designed to meet growing data center needs and offers energy-efficient, modular design of the uninterruptible power system.
Photoelectric sensor for conveying, flow, jamming detection in food, beverage
Schneider Electric releases new photoelectric sensor for the detection of transparent materials. The sensor is adaptable for bottling applications and enables manufacturers to detect transparent materials such as PET bottles, translucent wrapping film and colored glass.
Transmitter sends power, data for energy harvesting and wireless power systems
Transmitter and receiver combo wirelessly charge and operate micro-power devices. Powercast’s RF energy-harvesting wireless power solution, the TX91501 broadcasts power and data over 40 feet to its companion Powerharvester receivers.
Ohio manufacturer, part of the solar supply chain, goes solar itself
Watteredge Inc. is generating electricity from its photovoltaic rooftop installation. The newly installed solar system is expected to provide its host company with more than 110,000 kilowatthours of clean electricity each year. NexGen Energy will own and operate the solar array and sell the electricity it produces to Watteredge.
Siemens joins Algae(at)Work Alliance Network
Siemens Industry, Inc. has joined A2BE Carbon Capture LLC’s “Algae(at)Work Alliance Network,” which develops and delivers turnkey algae production systems.
Offshore wind farms – renewable power
Ensuring reliable transmission of renewable power from key North Sea wind projects
Think Again: Engineering greater onshore efficiencies
Consider all costs when considering offshoring. Automation and other advanced technologies make a local smartforce more profitable.
Smart manufacturing technologies, administration, public and private partnership work to revitalize U.S. manufacturing
Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition provides a specific, targeted, actionable roadmap for smart manufacturing that will keep American industry globally competitive. Smart Manufacturing targets driving higher U.S. exports, lowering time-to-market, leveraging dynamic demand driven economics, driving zero incidents and emissions performance, taking advantage of integrated energy management and the smart grid, empowering consumer demand for sustainability, and cutting escalating government regulatory costs by automating the various agency reporting processes.
3 ways to improve energy efficiency in industrial applications
Schneider Electric offers three general ways to help industrial customers manage energy more efficiently and specific technologies and systems to help them do so.
IntelaTrac mobile workforce solution Wonderware
IntelaTrac mobile workforce management system from Invensys Operations Management drives consistent execution of best practices for leading industrial companies worldwide, the company says. The newest version, Intela-Trac 4.0, provides powerful new tools that extend and integrate IntelaTrac to important plant systems of record, including Invensys Operations Management’s Wonderware System Platform.
Smart grid can help encourage smarter policies, suggests Cisneros at Siemens event
U.S. energy use needs to be driven by "bottom-up innovation," rather than command and control systems says Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and chairman of CityView, at the Siemens Smart Grid Tour.
Machine Control
Courses in this module address topics such as: motors, variable frequency drives, discrete sensors, mechatronics, and more.... Sponsored by: High, premium efficiency SEW Eurodrive motors SEW Eurodrive high-efficiency DRE motors now are available from 1 hp to 300 hp, and Premium Efficiency / IE3 (NEMA Premium) DRP motors range 1 hp to 50 hp, to meet international energy efficiency standards. The compact 4-pole ac motors, with copper or aluminum die-cast rotor cage, can be integrated into SEW gearmotors or used as stand-alone motors or in decentralized control architectures. The 60 Hz motors integrate an encoder into the fan (rather than at the end of the motor) to help achieve a compact footprint, reduce cost and complexity, and make retrofits easier.
JMP Engineering acquires Soft Design Automation, expands service capabilities
Automation system integrator JMP Engineering expands service capabilities in Toronto with the acquisition of Soft Design Automation engineering firm of Brampton.
Sustainable production help: Rockwell Automation, Aberdeen offer assessment
Industrial organizations can get complimentary access to personalized recommendations for improving sustainability performance.
Cemex USA and Ford receive EPA Energy Star recognition
Cemex USA, an Energy Star partner since 2004, is receiving the Energy Star Partner of the Year award for strategic energy management and a commitment to save energy across its entire operation that has resulted in significant energy and financial savings. This is the second year that Cemex USA has been named Partner of the Year.
NEC Electronics America inducted into EPA’s WasteWise Hall of Fame
As first semiconductor company to be inducted, NEC is recognized for commitment to reducing waste at its manufacturing facility.
Ethisphere Institute recognizes Rockwell Automation as one of the world’s most ethical companies
Rockwell Automation receives third consecutive recognition for a "sound ethical environment" within its industry; company also releases 2009 corporate social responsibility report.
Viridity Software releases EnergyCenter for data center energy monitoring, measurement
Software designed for improved power availability management, reduced risk of power outages, and revealing hidden power, cooling, and space capacity.
Fruit of the Loom commits to waste-to-product program
Leftover production fabric recycling program will re-fiberize waste fabric for use in other products.
Digital Lumens offers new LED approach to energy efficiency
Company's Intelligent Lighting System integrates LEDs, networking, and software to reduce energy use up to 90%.
Corporate energy management potential remains largely untapped
Study finds that, despite large potential for savings, only a small percentage of the market is taking advantage energy management systems' automation and controls.
System basis chips provide energy efficiency and safety for in-vehicle networks
Freescale's latest generation of automotive certified CAN/LIN devices meet electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
Resurgence for SR Motors, Drives?
Advances in controls and simulation software help switched reluctance (SR) motors-one of the oldest electric motor types-remain competitive. SR systems deliver efficient performance in a simple, rugged package without permanent magnets.
Smart grid technology helps manage real-time energy use
Agentis Energy's Acuity product tracks kilowatt-hours of usage in real time, calculates electricity costs, reports on demand, and identifies opportunities for savings.
Caterpillar announces plans to meet EPA Tier 4 requirements
New standards to be met via integration of next-generation emission reduction technologies developed through direct work with Caterpillar's oil and gas customers.
Leviton reduces energy use at Texas facility
Annual savings of $137,000 and a three-month ROI are projected for initiative that encompasses the plant's lighting system, roof, and compressed air systems.
ABB powers China’s first offshore wind farms
168 turbines at two offshore wind power sites will be equipped with ABB's SafeRing/SafePlus gas-insulated RMU and switchgear technology.
cpmPlus Energy Manager
ABB The cpmPlus Energy Manager from ABB helps monitor and manage energy use to reduce overall energy costs, and improve efficiency. The software addresses the business side of energy management by producing accurate energy demand plans and taking advantage of them in energy supply planning and optimization.
President Obama awards $2.3 billion for new clean-tech manufacturing
President Obama has announced the award of $2.3 billion in Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States. The 183 projects in 43 states that were awarded the funds are expected to create more than 17,000 clean energy jobs through the domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies including solar, wind, and e...
Energy Consumption Management
Engineers need to look at energy consumption management as a direct means to improve profitability and productivity, not simply as a cost cutting measure. The first step involves seeing energy in 3D.
Manufacturing energy management best practice identified
Aberdeen Group report highlights EPS Corp.'s data driven approach to energy management as an emerging best practice for the industrial manufacturing sector.
Industrial I/O devices help 2010 Winter Olympics, Paralympic Games
Industrial-grade I/O devices from Wago are helping out at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.
Venture capital fund launched to spur energy and environmental technology development
Alstom and Schneider Electric form Aster Capital with 70 million Euros in funding for innovative technology start-ups in Europe, North America, and Canada.
Telematics as an automotive emissions reduction solution
Frost & Sullivan report claims that the "green telematics" market is expected to increase 36% per year as companies and end users seek to reduce older vehicle emissions.
Paladin SmartGrid for master control of microgrids
Software platform for electrical power systems focuses on on-premise and distributed energy sources.
Smart grid meter data management
Ecologic Analytics system delivers IEC 61968-compliant interfaces that also meet NIST and DOE requirements.
EPA cites Ford as automaker with most fuel economy improvement
Ford's combined car and truck fuel economy has improved nearly 20% since 2004.
Honeywell receives Department of Energy smart grid grant
Honeywell has been awarded an $11.4-million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history. One of only four non-utility companies to receive funding, Honeywell will use the grant to support a critical peak pricing response program designed to help commercial and industrial facilities in the Southern California Ediso...
CertainTeed and Warden Electric develop holistic sustainability effort
Conversion of power plant to biomass enables the two companies to work together on a three-pronged sustainability project involving green fuel production and materials recycling.
Sherwin-Williams sets greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals
Reduction of 4% by 2012 is part of the company's commitment to EPA's Climate Leaders program.
New book addresses sustainable engineering
Co-authored by ASU's Brad Allenby and Yale's Tom Graedel, this work covers economic, technological, and industrial systems and their interaction with environmental and social systems.
32 industrial companies pledge 25% energy reduction
In conjunction with the Department of Energy's launch of its Save Energy Now Leader program, 32 companies announce voluntary reduction of energy use over the next decade.
Oracle and Omron deliver environmental sustainability solution
Based upon the combination of Omron’s sensors and Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center, the jointly developed application is said to be able to merge real-time energy consumption data collected by Omron sensors and other energy meters along with production data collected from shop floor control systems and equipment.
GE Fanuc and EnteGreat collaborate on industrial energy management product
SmartStart for Manufacturing Energy Management software and services designed to deliver results in less than 30 days.
New EPA regulations: Honeywell targets applications, services to help
Honeywell offers greenhouse gas emissions dashboard, environmental information system, and consulting support offered to help industrial customers meet Jan. 1, 2010, EPA requirements.
Owens Corning drives recycling throughout its supply chain
The company increases use of recycled content in fiberglass insulation and masonry products and simplifies asphalt shingle recycling for end-to-end materials reduction process.
Autodesk develops comprehensive emissions reductions software
C-FACT methodology addresses direct emissions as well as indirect emissions such as business travel, leased facilities, employee commuting, major conferences, and data center vendors.
Mars Chocolate unveils solar garden
Mars' renovated headquarters site features 18-acre solar garden, which provides 20% of plant's peak energy consumption.
Honeywell targets applications and services at new EPA regulations
Greenhouse gas emissions dashboard, environmental information system, and consulting support offered to help industrial customers meet January 1, 2010 EPA requirements.
Catalyst particle size linked to increased energy production
Researchers at the University of Utah connect size of catalyst particles, their electronic properties, and chemical reaction speed.
Manage energy across an enterprise, alarm inefficiencies with new Invensys software
Invensys Operations Managements new Corporate Energy Management (CEM) application is said to enables manufacturing and industrial automation customers to implement an energy management program that will help achieve sustainability goals.
Accelerometer input module for aerospace R&D, automotive applications
Proprietary circuit techniques enhance this version of the SCM5B48 isolated and field-configurable accelerometer input signal conditioning module from Dataforth. The result is a highly accurate, low noise solution for aircraft and aerospace R&D, automotive noise reduction, and environmental/strength of materials applications.
Invensys releases industrial utilities monitoring solution
Invensys Operations Management ROMeo 5.2 application release enables both demand- and supply-side energy management.
Emerson acquires IT solutions provider Avocent
Emerson's Network Power will deliver Avocent infrastructure management solutions to its data center customers.
Bill Polk: Automation and Control Vendors Help Save the Planet
While the firms you hear about in the press are certainly providing solutions that help the global CO2 problem, the unheralded champions of sustainability are the control and automation vendors.
Czech & Slovak Republic manufacturing growing to reclaim industry position
Once among the world's industrial powerhouses, the Czech and Slovak Republics are working to regain their former lofty status among the world's producers with help from foreign investment and a relatively recent focus on energy efficiency.
SME and Purdue University collaborate to offer Green Manufacturing Specialist Certificate
To correct the perception that green jobs will only be found related to renewable energy—think solar panel installer or the wind turbine technician—the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Purdue University note that there are also numerous green manufacturing jobs that are ideal for manufacturing workers with the proper skills.
Optimizing Energy and Operations for Cement Production
Lehigh Cement Company's modernization of its Union Bridge, MD, plant has integrated process control and energy management to improve process efficiencies across the facility.
Dirty little secret: Automation and control vendors leading fight against carbon emissions
"Green IT," "energy-efficient data centers" or any other term you want to give the effort to reduce the carbon footprint of technology centers is a waste of time and money. OK, I don't mean exactly a waste of time and money but it's not where smart companies focus their limited resources.
Siemens and Viridity Energy form alliance aimed at smart grid implementations
Siemens Energy and Viridity Energy have entered into a strategic relationship to provide virtual power plant functionality on campus environments and to other large users of electricity. Viridity will couple Siemens' DEMS (decentralized energy management system) with its VPower system for forecasting and optimization to deliver solutions and services for the management and bidding of controllab...
Low-energy process technology for industrial wastewater recycling
Linde releases small footprint Axenis solution for onsite wastewater treatment, reduced energy use.
Embedded: Flyback dc/dc controller operates at 150°C
Linear Technology offers a current mode flyback dc/dc controller in a tiny 6-pin ThinSOT package.
Product Safety Commission petitioned for more sensible testing practices
Current testing practices cost manufacturers millions of dollars to comply. New testing recommendations are said to significantly reduce costs and maintain test reliability.
Energy management draft ISO standard open for comment
A project committee established by the International Organization for Standardization has issued a new draft standard (ISO 50001) on energy management systems for review and comment.
Sony uses renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions worldwide
Through initiatives such as the Green Power Certification System and the introduction of solar power generation systems, Sony claims it has reduced its global CO2 emissions by approximately 100,000 tons in 2008
Cascade Engineering, NextLife form alliance to provide sustainable products
Companies to jointly develop and distribute new line of industrial products made from recycled materials.
Asia goes green
The developing economies of Asia have been recognized for their manufacturing prowess. They have not, however, been known for adoption of sustainable, efficient practices. Recent actions indicate that this stance is changing.
Social experiment update
Last February I announced in this column the launch of Control Engineering’s first social media foray—the “Automation & Control” group on Facebook (http://budurl.com/2nfe). As we began this experiment, there were already several other such automation-related groups on Facebook hosting anywhere from several dozen to a few hundred members.
Efficiency and output of thin-film thermoelectric power generators doubles
Powering remote sensors is largest market application for this developing micro power technology.
IBM forms alliance with metering and automation partners
Green Sigma Coalition focuses on solutions for energy, water, waste, and greenhouse gas management.
Sustainable manufacturing and visualization themes predominate RSTechED
Improving production efficiencies based on multiple factors, including fluctuating materials and energy costs, and delivering business data to plant floor operators figure heavily in direction of Rockwell Software products.
Thresher Industries claims fully recycled manufacturing process
Thresher Industries Inc., a manufacturer of recycled aluminum and advanced metal matrix composite parts, claims that it has successfully closed the loop in creating a fully recycled manufacturing process.
Honeywell releases comprehensive energy management platform
Honeywell Energy Management Solutions Portfolio integrates many existing and new control software tools to track and evaluate energy consumption in process industry plants. Honeywell hardware, software, and services will help improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in industrial plant and facilities.
Flexible materials manufacturer joins Solar Electric Power Association
Alternative energy investment is leading more manufacturers to adapt their processes to produce products for these growing energy industries.
Research shows sustainability a “must have” for long-term business viability
Aberdeen Group research shows that top performers are improving customer retention while driving down sustainability-related costs.
GE to manufacture Energy Star water heaters in U.S.
Highly energy efficient hybrid electric water heaters will be manufactured at the GE facility in Louisville, KY, creating about 400 jobs.
Technology update: Alternative power sources for instrumentation
Energy scavenging or harvesting methods are becoming more mainstream for low-power instrumentation. Can you use them? At Sensors Expo 2009, energy harvesting took the limelight, using vibration, light, heat, or even radio frequency. Batteries and power management remain important.
Mead Johnson using green technology to power facility
Mead Johnson & Company using landfill gas to meet a significant portion of its energy needs at its facility in Evansville, IN.
Schneider Electric EcoStruXure energy management platform
Energy management platform from Schneider Electric EcoStruXure declares war on electrical system waste.
Filter robot designed for emissions determination
F-A747 filter robot from Mettler Toledo automatically measures particulate matter from automotive engines.
Aircraft manufacturer seeks to take lead among its peers for sustainability
Hawker Beechcraft takes steps to set industry standard by forming coalition to implement recycling program and experimenting with sustainable fuels.
Coal group releases report on clean coal technology investment and results
The report from Energy Ventures Analysis details how nearly $100 billion in investments since 1990 have significantly reduced coal industry emissions.
MES use helps achieve sustainability goals, Rockwell Automation says
Rockwell Automation releases white papers that explains how MES, SCADA, and other tools help achieve quantitative sustainability.
Energy management central to leading manufacturers
Aberdeen Group study, "Energy Management: Driving Value in Industrial Environments," says leading manufacturers are more than three times as likely as laggards to invest in an energy management solution to gain real-time visibility into energy data.
Toyota receives Energy Star Award for sustained energy management
Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing of North America has been recognized with the Energy Star Award for sustained excellence in energy management. Energy Star is a federally sponsored program designed to promote energy efficiency in buildings and products. It is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.
Sustainable Engineering: Efficient Use of Materials
In this industrial sustainability Webcast, three materials-related processes are investigated that can make your operations more sustainable and save a lot of money. Reduce scrap and improve accuracy and tracking. Here's how.
ZBB Energy plans advanced energy storage manufacturing facility
Battery manufacturer seeks federal funds to aid in development of new manufacturing facility dedicated to zinc bromide advanced flow battery energy storage.
Schneider Electric and Krohne present combined pipeline management solution
Combined product and services are said to improve pipeline performance and safety through energy management, integral security, advanced process automation, and a pipeline instrumentation package.
Solar technology development gains increased interest, financing
Global manufacturer of solar microinverter systems garners new venture capital financing; Siemens kicks off Solar Exchange 2009 event.
ZigBee smart grid capabilities drive investment in wireless technologies
Emphasis on smart metering initiatives boosts potential for technology to play a pivotal role in impacting energy management and efficiency for decades.
Green energy: Wind power rooftop unit generates electricity in moderate wind
Green Energy Technologies' WindCube, the first rooftop commercial-scale urban wind power system, can generate short payback with moderate wind. See photo gallery.
Semiconductor manufacturer reduces carbon footprint, energy use
Jazz Semiconductor commits to further energy and water use reduction and joins Cool Planet Project. Learn more about Climate Registry projects.
Association of Energy Engineers unveils industry market trends
Survey results indicate high levels of interest in a national energy policy and exploration of energy efficiency by top management.
Groundbreaking energy efficiency project underway at Empire State Building
Famous office building undergoes $500 million+ upgrade program to incorporate comprehensive project with goal to reduce energy use by nearly 40%.
New Belgium Brewery practices sustainable engineering
Recognized as much for its sustainability efforts as its world-class lagers and ales, New Belgium Brewery is viewed by many as a benchmark example of how being sustainable and profitable are not mutually exclusive. In fact, New Belgium (which started in founder Jeff Lebesch's basement in 1991) has experienced double digit growth each year over the last several, and is now the third largest craf...
Sustainability evident in product innovation
Innovation is often more about developing a new use for an existing technology than it is about creating a new technology or product from scratch. Recently, I've come across two new innovations—both of which grew out of initiatives to help companies save energy and money—that really grabbed my interest.
Data Acquisition and Digitizers Advance Medical Imaging
Reducing patient stress during testing while improving the medical instrumentation used to detect cancer during checkups is truly a win-win for all involved. Such was the task facing researchers at Tokyo's Kitasato University's Center for Fundamental Sciences. The key focus of their research was to improve on traditional methods of cancer detection that do not provide sufficient resolution or r...
Energy management-focused engineer wins international award
Mark Lenssen, a Puget Sound Energy engineer who helps commercial and industrial facilities become more environmentally sustainable through energy efficiency, receives Engineers Week award.
Sustainability push leads to tangible product innovations
New optical readers convert analog gauges and transducers to wireless, while advanced sensor technologies expand manufacturing energy, environment, and safety capabilities.
Energy cost reduction through load balancing and shedding
Overcoming power factor degradations, higher energy costs and greater carbon dioxide emissions when controllers fire in phase angle.
Software maximizes energy efficiency
cpmPlus Energy Manager software is said to help customers monitor and manage energy use to reduce overall energy costs and improve efficiency, says ABB. See image.
ASU professor named chair of IEEE sustainability initiative
Arizona State University engineering professor Brad Allenby has been named chair of the newly founded Presidential Sustainability Initiative of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The initiative committee is being established with 10 members chosen from around the world for their expertise.
Diageo installs energy efficient lighting at bottling facility
Process involves conversion of plant lighting to more energy efficient fixtures and the installation of timed lighting control panels throughout the plant.
P&E Automation awarded multiple federal energy efficiency projects
Projects include the Marine Corp base in South Carolina, and air force bases in North Dakota and Oklahoma.
Schneider Electric unveils approach to sustainable manufacturing
Initiative builds on technologies and capabilities acquired via acquisition over the past five years.
Tools, application notes support motor control applications
Microchip Technology offers tools for dsPIC Digital Signal Controller (DSC).
Honeywell receives Department of Energy contract to reduce energy consumption
This contract builds on Honeywell's experience providing strategic, effective energy solutions for the federal government, the largest energy user in the United States.
Energy-efficient application advice
While best practice energy efficiency tips are always helpful in identifying steps to energy management improvements, it can often be more helpful to look at specific processes within a plant to identify the low-hanging, energy savings fruit.
Cross-study comparison of Automation in Packaging study
Packaging equipment manufacturers are a relatively small group doing highly specialized work. Almost every product has different requirements for packaging, and the equipment used to manufacture, fill, seal, convey and pack it. Many packaging projects are totally customized, and processes are becoming increasingly automated.
Engineers Weigh In On Sustainability
Through discussion with technology providers, analysts, and various industry cognoscenti over the past few years, it has become very apparent that the issue of sustainability is not a passing fad—for manufacturing or any other business. But especially for manufacturing and process plants. Here’s why: Though “green” issues have a lot of positives—from good public re...
Engineered for sustainability
The topic of sustainability is quickly becoming a reality for manufacturers of all types. A majority of you are implementing sustainability initiatives for reasons related to your own operations as well as because of partner and customer requests and requirements, according to a Control Engineering subscriber study conducted this summer.
Enterprise Electricity: Get actionable green house gas information, power monitoring data fast
Armed with facts, CO2 emissions are no longer just an inevitable consequence of energy use, but a manageable variable in company operations. Schneider Electric is helping companies monitor how they purchase and use electricity, and track green house gas emissions. Its Critical Power Competency Center also provides free....
RFID, automation: One company’s trash is another’s competitive advantage
Garbage is never too far from Tony Romano’s thoughts. At 18, he was hauling huge containers of it to landfills around Philadelphia. Today, he's automating processes to deter employee theft and deliver preventive maintenance and cost savings. More photos and information about controllers, radio frequency identification (RFID), control software, and application advantages follow.
Piccolo 32-bit microcontrollers bring real-time control for greater energy efficiency
Texas Instruments (TI) launched the 32-bit series of TI Piccolo TMS320F2802x/F2803x microcontrollers (MCU) starting at less than $2 in volume. With architectural advancements and enhanced peripherals in package sizes starting at 38-pins, they bring 32-bit real-time control to applications typically unable to justify the cost.
Temperature, relative humidity sensors pair with wireless network
Banner Engineering temperature and humidity sensor can be used with wireless network. See application photo.
Offshore all manufacturing?
Sounds ridiculous, right? And it is. But a few readers thought my July column (“Rise of the Rest”) called for exactly that. Obviously, as editorial director for a magazine focused on the manufacturing industries, I am nothing if not an outright proponent of manufacturing in the United States.
SAP and partners unveils energy management solution to reduce power consumption
A new solution developed out of SAP's Value Network for chemicals enables companies to better measure and consume energy by combining the SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (MII) application with the PI solution from OSIsoft and the Environmental Compliance application developed for SAP by TechniData.
SCADA system resistance temperature detector
Semaphore has introduced a resistance temperature detector (RTD) interface for its T-Box line of SCADA system products. The MS-6RTD interface module is compatible with a T-Box MS modular system and accommodates a range of two-wire and three-wire RTD temperature sensors. Direct connection of RTDs to T-Box MS simplifies installation and is cost-effective for processes using multiple temperature m...
3U, 16-slot: GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announces programmable signal conditioning
Said to be powerful, modular, and network-centric, the DSC-2300 programmable signal conditioning system is housed in a compact 3U, 16-slot rack-mountable chassis.
NEMA publishes code for electrical metering; ZigBee for wireless smart metering
NEMA’s latest electricity metering code establishes acceptable performance criteria for meters and devices for revenue metering. Daintree licenses Certicom security technology for a sensor network analyzer for testing, analysis, and commissioning of IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee wireless systems.
VFDs Speed Up Wastewater Processing
The operators of the Bellingham, WA, wastewater treatment plant are constantly seeking new ways to improve production to serve a growing population base, without dramatically increasing operating costs. In late 2006, they undertook an upgrade that helped them make a major advance. Constructed in 1974 with a secondary plant upgrade in 1992, Bellingham’s current wastewater treatment plant ...
IT for green manufacturing is changing the cost-prohibitive mind-set
For Harry Brix, director of procurement at Syosset, N.Y.-based Paradigm Group, a supplier of janitorial and sanitary products, green manufacturing is “very chic.” Brix says green strategies emerged in the 1970s, but interest waned, only to surface again in the '90s, and wane again. Many believe this time it's here to stay—namely Nabil Nasr, Ph.
Control your energy destiny
Demand for electric power is growing around the planet. Emerging markets like China and India are going to dramatically influence global demand. Here in the U.S., rates are up. Power grids are becoming strained. Manufacturing processes and new electronic devices require more power. But companies can do a lot to control their energy destiny by understanding how important energy is in the overall...
Green manufacturing: Production can be environmentally friendly and cost-effective
Many manufacturers have hesitated to adopt green initiatives out of fear that it would raise production costs. Nabil Nasr, director of the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology, is among the experts who say that fear can be alleviated by injecting the right technology into the manufacturing process.
Digital Power Capital acquires power systems software vendor
Developer of power analytics solutions for complex electrical power systems under new management.
NY solar energy projects: OptoGreen Grant
A New York school of science and engineering gets Opto 22 grant for farm solar energy projects.
Energy Saving: Industrial Automation in China is engaged
Heavy snow– the worst in 50 years – continually hit southern, central and eastern areas of China in January 2008. More than 77 millions people are affected in 14 provinces, where 24 people died and direct economic loss hit 15 billion Chinese yuan. In recent decades, other forms of extreme atmospheric conditions such as sandstorms, rainstorms, high temperature and drought have all occurred across China. Global warming caused by over-consumption of carbon-based energy is regarded as an important reason.
ABB and MIT go green to inspire
The The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and ABB recently announced the formation of an energy research partnership aimed at helping to meet the world’s need for clean electricity and energy efficiency. Through this partnership, ABB officially joins MIT’s Energy Initiative (MITEI) and will support research in a several key areas including: nanofluids, power electronics, i...
Schneider Electric reaps huge savings by monitoring energy use
Looking for a fast and easy way of dropping $580,000 in annual operating costs? Take a look at the lighting in all of your facilities. Schneider Electric, the well-known supplier of electrical distribution and automation and control solutions, replaced roughly 7,000 lighting fixtures in 21 U.S.-based facilities and instantly found itself spending $580,000 less a year on electricity bills.
Opto 22 awards first “OptoGreen” grant
Makila Hydro LLC is the first recipient of an OptoGreen grant, an Opto 22 award of complementary automation hardware and software to businesses, research organizations, and other enterprises engaged in researching, designing, developing, or producing any product or service that promotes alternative or renewable energy or sustainability.
Green grant given: Automation award to help the environment
Temecula, CA - Makila Hydro LLC is the first recipient of an OptoGreen grant, an Opto 22 award of complimentary automation hardware and software to businesses, research organizations, and other enterprises engaged in researching, designing, developing, or producing any product or service that promotes alternative or renewable energy or sustainability. Opto 22 made the announcement Jan. 10. In April 2007, Control Engineering talked to Opto 22 engineers in the article: Green Manufacturing Comes of Age.
Power meter: Web-enabled Ethernet connectivity
Palatine, IL — Schneider Electric offers a Web-enabled Ethernet communications card option for its compact Square D PowerLogic PM800 series power meters, which the company says are designed to optimize the monitoring of electrical installations in industrial, commercial or critical power environments.
Portable hot stamp wire marker
Energy Management Corp. has released the Hz2.1 Portable Hot Stamp Wire Marker as a solution for permanently marking wires in large, pre-planned batches. Hz2.1 uses heat with imprint foil to emboss thousands of possible alpha and numeric combinations onto wires, making a professional looking, permanent imprint similar to those of expensive automated machines.
Compact SCADA system
Semaphore has introduced T-BOX Lite compact remote monitoring and control system for SCADA applications. The advanced telemetry system is said to extend the T-BOX product family to small, decentralized applications where its push and Web technologies enable high performance and economical implementation and operation.
Packaging-related blog and wireless
Efficiency and lower costs are common to two recent separate standards-related developments, one in information integration and the other in recent wireless efforts. Each promises to make manufacturing easier for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), end users, and system integrators. New blog augments manufacturing efficiency A new Internet Weblog (blog) seeks to help manufacturing be more ...
Motors: AC motor/controller combo drives loads directly
The DynaMotor from DynaMotors Inc. is an ac motor and variable-speed controller integrated into one package that, the company says, delivers ultra high torque at low speeds.
‘OptoGreen’ technologies, policies deliver energy savings
Opto 22, a developer and manufacturer of hardware and software for industrial automation, remote monitoring, data acquisition, and machine-to-machine applications, implemented a full-scale company-wide energy conservation and reduction plan called, “OptoGreen,” cutting power consumption by 29% in 12 months.
Integration: ASBPE award for Control Engineering power monitoring article
Control Engineering won a Midwest-South regional award in the 29th Annual Awards competition of the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for an article written by Mark T. Hoske in October 2006.
Security: Protect CAD files with controlled self-destruction
Pinion Software addresses the issues associated with sharing computer-aided design (CAD) and other high-value files and documents with a suite of tools that extend users’ control over sensitive documents throughout their life cycle
ASBPE award for Control Engineering power monitoring article
Chicago, IL—Control Engineering won a Midwest-South regional award in the 29th Annual Awards competition of the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for an article written by Mark T. Hoske in October 2006. The cover story case history, "Power Monitoring Optimizes Energy Use," is based on extensive interviews with the control systems engineer and others at Merck & Co. Inc.
Environment: Technologies, policies deliver energy savings
Temecula, CA—Opto 22, a developer and manufacturer of hardware and software for industrial automation, remote monitoring, data acquisition, and machine-to-machine applications, implemented a full-scale company-wide energy conservation and reduction plan called, “OptoGreen,” cutting power consumption by 29% in 12 month
Embedded: Technology enables the future, Freescale says
Energy conservation, aging population, and constant connectivity are three major trends that will guide electronics designers over the next several decades, explained Michel Mayer, Freescale Semiconductor chairman and CEO, in opening keynote remarks last week at the third annual Freescale Technology Forum (FTF) Americas.
Russian Paper Mill Modernizes Networks
The right software in the right context can help manufacturers in process industries increase output, improve quality, and increase plant profitability. The Kotlas pulp and paper plant in Karelia, Russia, has found these possible through the use of IAS (industrial application server) and FactorySuite from Wonderware.
Control Engineering’s Jeanine Katzel retires, accepts consulting editor role
After more than 32 years in industry, including 25 years with Plant Engineering and 6 years with Control Engineering magazines, Jeanine Katzel, Control Engineering senior editor retired May 11 from Reed Business Information.
Benefits suggested with convergence of IT, controls
With greater convergence of engineering and information technologies, companies report higher efficiency, better business continuity, shorter project timelines, enhanced reliability and improved disaster recovery, according to a Rockwell Automation white paper.
Enterprise: OSIsoft Facility Monitor achieves SAP certification
OSIsoft announced that its Facility Monitor 1.0 packaged composite application has achieved “SAP xApps Certified – Powered by SAP NetWeaver” status.
ZigBee sees strong growth for energy management solutions
The ZigBee Alliance, a global organization of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy, residential, commercial and industrial applications, has increased membership and expanded its ability to deliver solutions that are helping consumers, businesses and utilities improve efficiency, reduce the need for new power plants and save money.
Hannover Fair 2007: Focus on energy efficiency
As a theme of pivotal importance throughout industry, energy efficiency drew a lot of discussion and figured prominently in a great many exhibits and special displays at Hannover Fair 2007.
Digital boards provide isolated inputs
Latest series of PC/104 isolated digital I/O boards from Acces I/O Products Inc., the 104-IDI-48 Series are 48-channel PC/104 utility boards with 48 individually optically isolated digital inputs.
Wireless: Why now for sensors, field instrumentation?
Orlando, FL —Some industrial network advocates contend now's the time to consider or reconsider using wireless for sensors and field instrumentation. Technologies have advanced to make wireless more reliable, less power hungry, and easier to install, according to several speakers at the ABB Automation World 2007 Users' Conference and Exhibition in March. Here's how and why. A convergence of wireless standards efforts, efficiency demands, and technology advances now available for instrumentation and sensing applications, says Joy Weiss, CEO Dust Networks , a strong proponent for wireless sensor networks (WSNs).
Tech Tips January 2007
January 30, 2007 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Learn from Jack Spratt. The first stanza of a traditional English folk poem goes: Jack Sprat could eat no fatHis wife could eat no leanAnd so betwixt the two of themThey licked the platter clean Today, we know that Mrs. Spratt's arteries must have resembled the sewer pipe at my house when the tree root got into it last fall.
Enterprise systems: Fault-tolerant upgrade for real-time historian
Access and visibility into mission critical data are essential for many initiatives, including regulatory compliance, energy management, and performance improvement. Such enterprise-wide data connectivity gets a boost with the release of a High Availability (HA) version of OSIsoft 's PI System. This update increases data protection by providing fault tolerant software that delivers interface failover, buffering, PI Server replication, and SDK services. Thousands of installations worldwide already use the OSIsoft PI System to manage assets, mitigate risks, and identify new market opportunities.
Energy management software gives unit cost
Vykon Energy Suite AX from Tridium Inc. is the latest offering in the company’s NiagaraAX-based energy management system.
Baldor Electric’s Method to Reduce Energy Costs
Executive Summary – Baldor Electric Company has been able to save about $1 millionannually in energy costs corporate-wide for each of the last three years with sound motormanagement practices utilizing premium effi ciency motors, adjustable speed drives, highefficiency lighting systems and peak shaving generators.
Small form factor dc/ac inverters
S and SE Series inverters feature small form factors and come in open frame and vacuum encapsulated versions. S Series dc/ac inverter can power up to 2 cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), measures 0.62-in. wide x 2.87-in. long x 0.38-in. high, and weighs 12 grams.
Convert Power with Digital Signal Controllers
A full digital power conversion system includes digital power control and digital power management. In digital control, feedback or feedforward loops that regulate power-system output are directly controlled by a digital signal controller (DSC), which drives a power switch duty cycle using pulse-width modulation technique.
Flat-panel product manufacturers sign distribution agreement
Digital View, a supplier of connectivity solutions for the flat-panel display market has signed a global distribution agreement with Digi-Key Corp.
Steam system manufacturer opens training center
Spirax Sarco Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its fifth U.S. steam technology training center in March. Located at the company's Midwest regional facility in Lisle, IL, the center hosted an open house for customers, distributors, and other dignitaries March 27-29, 2006.
Exclusive: Accelerometer is field-configurable
SCM5B48 isolated accelerometer input module from Dataforth Corp. provides excitation to piezoelectric sensors with built-in microelectronic amplifiers known as ICP or IEPE sensors.
Pushbutton switch products grow quickly in Asia-Pacific Region
Market for pushbutton switch products within the Asia-Pacific region is projected to reach $592.1 million in 2005 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 3.0% between 2005 and 2008, according to the Venture Development Corporation (VDC) report, " 2005 Electromechanical Switches: Global Market Demand Analysis ." "The Asia-Pacific pushbutton switch market is in need of firms that have the ability to customize pushbutton switch products within this cost-competitive marketplace, " says the senior analyst of VDC's electronics components & advanced materials practice, Lance Sobelman. "This void presents a tremendous opportunity for current players or new market entrants to differentiate themselves from the competition and grow in areas where manufacturers are having difficulties keeping their profit margins from decreasing." Total 2005 Asia-Pacific switch market is $1.5 billion, VDC says. In 2005, pushbuttons were $98.2 million for illuminated, $252.0 million for tactile, and $241.9 million for “other.” Total 2008 Asia-Pacific switch market is expected to be $1.7 billion.
Real-time plant-floor data client
RemoteLog RTU and datalogger has a variety of applications, including unattended site monitoring, energy management, and inventory management.
Honeywell acquires Tridium
Minneapolis, MN — Honeywell has finalized its purchase of Tridium Inc ., a privately held software development firm. The Richmond, VA-based company, which has subsidiaries in London and Singapore, will continue to operate as a separate business entity within Honeywell’s Environmental and Combustion Controls (ECC) business. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Tridium is the developer of Niagara Framework, which integrates diverse systems and devices—regardless of manufacturer, communication standard, or software—into a unified platform that is managed and controlled in real time over the Internet or intranet using a standard Web browser.
Sensor selection 101: Optimal temperature sensor selection: first step to accurate measurement
Thermcouples. Achieving accurate temperature measurement is not simple. It requires knowing the inherent accuracy of particular sensor types, environmental factors that can create measurement uncertainty, and sensor calibration techniques available to reduce that uncertainty. Thermocouples Thermocouples are the smallest, fastest, most durable temperature measurement solution.
Ethernet gateway for affordable power management
Schneider Electric says that its PowerLogic-EGX100 Ethernet gateway is an affordable, power monitoring-and-control unit. Whether extending Ethernet access within a single facility or throughout a multi-site enterprise, PowerLogic EGX100 is said to provide reliable Ethernet-to-serial line-connectivity between intelligent meters, sensors and other remote instruments. Ideal for energy management, power distribution, or factory automation, the gateway uses the Modbus TCP/IP protocol, for fast, reliable communications in even the most demanding applications.
Echelon launches Pyxos, a self-organizing network
Echelon Corp. (www.echelon.com), originator of LonWorks (www.lonmark.org), called its new self-organizing Pyxos network-platform the first control network that can be "economically embedded inside: office equipment, building automation devices, vending machines, small appliances, and industrial machines.
System Error Budgets, Accuracy, Resolution
Any system design requires development and analysis of system error budgets. System engineers must determine the necessary levels of accuracy for system elements, including field sensors, actuators, signal conditioning modules (SCMs), and controlling units (PCs and PLCs). In addition, error budget considerations need to include software algorithm integrity and operating system compatibility, or...
Johnson Controls, NovaTech alliance expands reach
Johnson Controls Inc. and NovaTech LLC announced a joint marketing and sales alliance to leverage the strengths of both companies and offer industrial and manufacturing companies a more complete range of products and services. NovaTech provides “excellence in process automation, including the integration of‘best-in-class’ hardware and the ability to collect, manipulate, and display data from virtually anywhere in the process,” said Dave Love, director of the industrial market for Johnson Controls. “These offerings complement our energy management and environmental solutions.” The alliance will allow NovaTech to offer customers “utility, environmental, and energy solutions that can be integrated with our process automation systems,” said Volker Oakey, chairman of NovaTech.
DC-AC inverters for backlit LCDs
Family of dc-ac inverters for powering cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)-backlit LCDs features vacuum-encapsulated design that ensures reliable CCF lamp ignition even in harsh environments.
Control Engineering Online Update for August 12, 2005
August 12, 2005 Highlights Sponsored by Contec Microelectronics Cascades Inc. centralizes information at its various mills to share information throughout the company for improved energy management and plant operations optimization. Company-wide Data Visibility Improves Decision-making Cascades Inc. is a 40-year-old North American company that specializes in the production, conversion, and marketing of packaging products, fine papers, and tissue paper.
Analog Devices’ new chip process benefits high-voltage amplifiers
Using a manufacturing process that Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) calls the “most significant re-engineering of 36-V bipolar technology in nearly 20 years,” ADI has recently introduced a suite of amplifiers designed to meet demanding signal conditioning requirements of high-voltage industrial/instrumentation equipment.
DPAC Technologies merging with QuaTech
Garden Grove, CA; Husdon, OH—DPAC Technologies Corp. and QuaTech Inc. report that they’ve agreed to merge on a stock-for-stock basis. QuaTech will become a wholly owned subsidiary of DPAC.
IPG Photonics’ fiber laser achieves 2 kW output
A new fiber laser can attain 2 kW of single mode output power, IPG Photonics Corp.
Digi launches wireless, remote device networking with GSM Edge gateway
Minnetonka, MN—Digi International reports that it has launched its Connect WAN GSM, which provides Ethernet-to-wireless IP connectivity to remote sites and devices via the cellular GSM network.
Schneider Electric acquiring Power Measurement
Rueil-Malmaison, France—Schneider Electric has agreed to acquire Canada-based Power Measurement Inc. (PMI) from a consortium led by GFI Energy Ventures LLC. PMI provides enterprise energy management systems for energy suppliers, service providers, and large energy consumers.
Enterprise energy management software
ION Enterprise v5.5. Web-enabled software provides an all-in-one package for energy system monitoring, and analysis and control to help large, energy-intensive businesses reduce energy costs and maximize uptime.
Wireless mesh networking replaces RS-485 cabling
Burlington, MA—Millennial Net Inc. has released its Mesh485, which it reports is the first complete wireless sensor networking system developed specifically to replace RS-485 network cabling.
Analog Devices’ new fab process delivers 30-V analog HVICs, high performance
Integrated circuit technology is rediscovering industrial markets.
A/D data converters set speed, accuracy marks
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) reports that its AD7641 18-bit PulSAR ADC is one of its two analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that deliver industry-best speeds, high accuracy at high-bit resolutions, and reduce costs by simplifying circuit design and eliminating the need for complex, front-end signal conditioning.
Recent ac drive introductions: Mitsubishi, TB Wood’s
Variable-frequency drives (VFDs) regularly enter the marketplace. October 2004 introductions include F700 Series drives in the 1-800 hp (0.75-600 kW) range from Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. and two S-Series micro ac drives from TB Wood’s expanded E-trAC product line. These VFDs are further described below and Web links to the manufacturers provided.
Codelco picks Foxboro’s SCADA system for copper mine in Chile
Foxboro, MA—Division Norte of Corporacion del Cobre de Chile (CODELCO), Chile’s national copper mining company, recently awarded a $2-million contract to Invensys Systems Chile SA to install Foxboro’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for electric distribution at Codelco’s Chuquicamata mining complex.
In, out, and about HMI: Piezo inverter, rack-mounted console, flat-panel monitor introduced
A variety of products, each with features designed to improve the human-machine interface display, made their way to market this month.
ADI’s new A/D data converters set speed, accuracy marks
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) just announced two new data converters that reportedly deliver industry-best speeds and high accuracy at high-bit resolutions.
Rockwell, Kraft partner on sustained energy reduction
Milwaukee, WI—Rockwell Automation reports that Kraft Foods has picked Rockwell's Power & Energy Management Solutions (PEMS) team to develop and execute a sustained energy reduction initiative at Kraft's North American manufacturing facilities.
Carrier to acquire Automated Logic
Farmington, CT—Carrier Corp. recently agreed to acquire Automated Logic Corp. to broaden its commercial controls offerings.
Manage power, don’t overload, boost battery life, get grounded
Read more about power management, current overloading and short-circuit conditions, ways to boost battery life, and power and grounding through the global resources of Control Engineering.
Exider displays aim to excite visitors about automation potential
Control Engineering toured the interactive Exider exhibit just prior to the official North American opening at National Manufacturing Week, Feb. 23.
Rio Grande Electric monitors power via satellite
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative Inc. (RGEC) recently implemented satellite communications to monitor energy conditions across its 20-county, rural energy distribution network. The Texas-based electric utility identified satellite as the most cost-effective way to communicate with intelligent energy meters being installed at its remote substations.
Control components: Solar power, digital op-amps, bipolar high-voltage supply, beamsplitter, shielded power chip inductor
New offerings in the control components field include solar power, digital op-amps, bipolar high-voltage supply, beamsplitter, and shielded power chip.
Too Hot to Handle
Measuring temperatures accurately in manufacturing operations has become increasingly important in recent years. Excessive temperature changes can indicate process problems (and probably defective products) or some kind of existing or imminent equipment failure. At the same time, using thermocouples and other contact measurement techniques is often impractical.
GE says former Panametrics owners’ lawsuit is “without merit”
General Electric Corp. (GE, Fairfield, CT) denied any wrongdoing April 18 in connection with a $25-million federal lawsuit filed against it April 1 by the former owners of Panametrics Inc. (Waltham, MA), which GE bought last summer for $220 million plus assumed liabilities. David Chleck and Dr.
Invensys to divest Baan, most Energy Management units
To focus more closely on automation and controls and pay off existing debt, Invensys plc announced April 15 plans to divest Baan and most of its Energy Management division units, which represent about $4.58 billion in annual sales. The businesses slated for sale during the next 18-24 months include Baan, product-based Appliance Controls, Climate Controls, Metering Systems, ...
Invensys commits to industrial businesses; plans to divest the rest
London—Invensys has committed to its businesses most closely related to automation and controls by announcing plans to divest much of the rest, largely Baan and most Energy Management Division units, representing $4.58 billion in sales (£2.9 billion) for the year to March 2002.
Former Panametrics owners sue GE after acquisition; GE denies wrongdoing
New York, NY—A federal lawsuit filed April 1 by the two former owners of Panametrics Inc. (Waltham, MA) is charging General Electric Corp. (GE, Fairfield, CT) with fraud, breach of contract, and deceptive practices in its acquisition of Panametrics last year. GE responded April 18 that the lawsuit is without merit.
Siemens launches NEMA-compliant, energy-saving motors
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. introduced Jan. 13 a complete line of industrial motors that comply with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association's (NEMA, Rosslyn, VA) Premium program for energy efficiency. Designated as part of its Medallion brand name, Siemens' NEMA Premium motors also use a "RGZEESD" identifier for its totally enclosed, fan-cooled motor l...
Wireless connectivity with external assets
Opto 22 (Temecula, CA) recently teamed with Nokia (Irving, TX) to create, promote, and market a solution providing wireless connectivity to external physical business assets. Opto 22's Snap-M2M connects to, remotely monitors, and captures operational data from new or legacy line-of-business systems, devices, and equipment.
ei3 selected for energy monitoring services by Hilton
Montvale, NJ - ei3 Corp. signed an agreement December 17 to deliver real-time energy monitoring services to selected hotels owned/or managed by Hilton Hotels Corp.
M2M wireless solution simplifies integration
What if software giant Microsoft; America Online, said to be the nation's leading Internet service provider; and Dell, a premiere provider of IT hardware, joined forces and announced that they were about to revolutionize the world of PCs? Just imagine. Three companies, each a recognized leader in its respective business, combining to create a new offering that simplifies, improves, and lowers t...
4th-generation drives more for less cost
Alpharetta, GA —Brand new MicroMaster 4 inverters share common configuration and operating features, said to simplify installation and start-up, across four performance classes of this "universal" drive series designed to control 1/6-300 hp ac motors. MicroMaster (MM) 4 has four models: Micro inverter MM410 up to 1 hp (1-phase 120/220 V), a "contactor"-like drive for simple V/Hz speed co...
TI launches low-power, zero-drift amplifiers for precision signal conditioning
Tucson, AZ— Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) recently announced that its Burr-Brown product line now includes what it reports are the industry's lowest-power, zero-drift operational amplifiers. TI states these amplifiers are ideal for precision, power-sensitive applications, such as handheld test equipment, medical instrumentation, temperature measurement, transducer signal amplification, electronic scales, automotive systems and battery-powered instruments. 'OPA334 and OPA335 provide customers with the ultimate cost-effective solution for precision signal conditioning and reinforce TI's leadership position in the low-power, low-voltage market,' says Tadija Janjic, strategic marketing engineer of TI's high-performance amplifier products.
ABB launches its first annual `sustainability’ report
Jörgen Centerman, president and ceo of ABB. London - Jörgen Centerman, president and ceo of ABB , gave for the first time a "sustainability report" on his company's activities in 2001. The report measures economic, environmental, and social achievements and is intended to be a broader index of corporate performance than the usual year end financial reports, he explained. The "triple bottom line" reporting framework has been encouraged by the Global Reporting Initiative, an organisation funded by the U.N. and the U.S.
SatCon ships next-generation power conversion system
Cambridge, Mass. - SatCon Technology Corp ., announced June 5, 2002, that it has shipped a next-generation StarSine 250-kW power conversion system (PCS) to Siemens Westinghouse for use with Siemens' Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) development. A previous unit was shipped last fall and another PCS is due for delivery during the next quarter.
Control Engineering’s Process Control Newsletter for September 2000
In this issue: Let it out: Quality and service experiences Poliferation of Webcast Interesting fact about last month's quiz World standards week - October 16 Safety system help is available Feedback from Software Toolbox September in Control Engineering Dave's public service announcement Let it out: Quality and service experiences I have been following two stories related to quality and customer service. One is the Ford/Firestone tire quality fiasco ; the other is our local telephone company Ameritech (serving 2.3 million customers). Both companies have been through mergers, acquisitions, breakups, downsizing, and for Ameritech deregulation.
Invensys reorganizes production division into three units
Following a self-appraisal and reorganization in February 2002 into two divisions, production and energy management, Invensys plc (London, U.K.) announced May 8 that its Production Management Division (PMD) is being organized into three vertical business units. The first unit is Products and process management solutions for food, beverage, and personal healthcare industri...
Invensys division explains its strategy
Foxboro, Mass. - In February 2002, Invensys' chief executive, Rick Haythornthwaite explained, in great detail, how Invensys had recently completed a very through self-appraisal and was ready to move forward with a strategy designed to become a world-class provider of products and solutions.
NMW 2002: MTS unveils trio of sensors
Chicago, Ill. - MTS Sensors exhibited a trio of new sensor products at National Manufacturing Week.
Invensys retools two divisions; plans to sell other businesses
Invensys plc announced Feb. 19 that it will try to speed up its recovery by reorganizing two core divisions, maintaining its development division, and by selling many of its other businesses.The two core divisions will be Production Management and Energy Management, with combined sales of £4 billion.
Invensys reorganizes into three divisions; plans to sell other businesses
London, U.K. - Invensys plc announced Feb. 19 that it will try to speed up it recovery by reorganizing into two core divisions, maintaining its development division, and by selling many of its other businesses.
Electromagnetic flowmeter delivers performance and economy
Endress+Hauser recently introduced the Promag 23 two-wire electromagnetic flowmeter.
Electromagnetic flowmeter
Greenwood, Ind.— Endress+Hauser introduced Promag 23 two-wire electromagnetic flowmeter. Promag 23's performance is said to be nearly equal to similar four-wire electromagnetic flowmeters, but the two-wire design simplifies installation, especially in hazardous locations. Using microprocessor-controlled energy management technology permits continuous measurement independent of flow...
Invensys Software Systems names division Chief Executive
Herndon, Va. - Invensys plc, the global automation and controls group, announced October 22 that Leo Quinn has been appointed division chief executive of the Software Systems division, effective immediately.
Measure with Magtrol’s new LE210 Load Pin
Buffalo, N.Y. - Magtrol Inc.'s new LE210 Load Measuring Pin with an integrated electronic conditioning unit can be mounted into machines in place of normal shafts and fitted with strain gauges allowing them to produce a signal proportional to the measured load. Made in Switzerland, Magtrol's LE210 is made of high-resistance stainless steel.
E-manufacturing: A Catchy Name for What You Should be Doing Anyway
If you're confused about what e-manufacturing is and how to do it, stay tuned—there's some explaining needed. It seems most software vendors offer e-manufacturing, and many describe capabilities about the same way. Software and hardware that fall into this class have begun to live up to abilities promised several years ago: interconnectibility, interoperability, scalability, to make...
‘Power management’ chip sets improve motor drive design
El Segundo, Calif.—New Accelerator architecture is said to enhance and simplify motor control circuits, whether microprocessor-based or DSP-based, by "partioning the inverter function as an intelligent power management peripheral to the motion system controller." Chip sets consist of mixed signal 0.
Schneider buys Quantronix; joint ventures with Toshiba
Schneider Electric announced June 29 the acquisition of Quantronix Inc. (Salt Lake City, Ut., www.cubiscan.com), a 12-year-old cubing and weighing system designer and manufacturer. Terms were not disclosed. Quantronix's static or automated products use non-contact ultrasound, laser, and infrared sensing technologies.
Many Benefits, No Magic Bus, in Networking Trenches
Is industrial Ethernet going to eat everyone's lunch? Maybe tomorrow, but not today. Though some initial Ethernet applications and solutions are underway, most users and manufacturers still seem like they're too busy enjoying the savings and efficiencies gained from adopting more established networking protocols.
Users Need to Learn More about Power Management
A recent survey of Control Engineering readers about power management indicates most respondents underestimate the extent and cost of poor quality power in their plants. Of the survey respondents, 67% place the source of problems on their utility, although industry experts say two-thirds of all power problems actually originate from within a plant.
HP Vantera Helps Companies with Deregulation
As electric utilities become deregulated or privatized, they will have a much greater need for fast and efficient access to information about their operations and how customers use their services.At the same time, deregulation will increase user awareness of the need to review and understand consumption histories, usage characteristics, and the ability to manage load curves.
Energy Management Trim Technology
Avon, Mass.—Custom engineered for severe service application, V-LOG trim provides staged pressure reductions through a series of discrete flow channels combining 90° turns with intermediate expansions and contractions within the flow passage. Energy levels are efficiently managed and dissipated during the pressure reduction process, eliminating valve problems.
