Sensors, Actuators

Leonard (Len) W. Moore, P.E., founder and owner of Moore Industries-International Inc., an industrial and automation control company, passed at the age of 85. Courtesy: Moore Industries
Sensors, Actuators September 13, 2019

Leonard W. Moore, founder of Moore Industries-International passes away at 85

Leonard (Len) W. Moore, P.E., founder and owner of Moore Industries-International Inc., an industrial and automation control company, passed at the age of 85.

By Mark T. Hoske
The Emerson Minneapolis Interactive Plant Environment in Shakopee, Minn. provides a safe training environment using more than 400 automation devices and products and more than 500 input/output (I/O) points, along with Emerson’s DeltaV distributed control system and other enabling software. Courtesy: Emerson and Rick Peters, InsideOut Studios Inc.
Sensors, Actuators September 10, 2019

Continuing education advances process control, instrumentation productivity

Process control productivity requires education for optimal technology specification, integration and use. Industrial suppliers are among those doing the educating.

By Mark T. Hoske
Figure 1: Using this handheld loop valve tester, it takes an average of only five minutes for a technician to assess the performance of a proportional smart valve. Courtesy: Fluke Corp.
Sensors, Actuators September 2, 2019

Top 5 Control Engineering articles August 26 to September 1

Articles about smart control valves, orifice meters, managing automation projects, managing an engineer career, and preventing burner fuel delivery accidents were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 26 to September 1. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra
Figure 1: Using this handheld loop valve tester, it takes an average of only five minutes for a technician to assess the performance of a proportional smart valve. Courtesy: Fluke Corp.
Sensors, Actuators August 26, 2019

Top 5 Control Engineering articles August 19-25

Articles about smart control valves, orifice meters, managing automation projects, managing an engineer career, and preventing burner fuel delivery accidents were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 19-25. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra
A battery-free underwater “piezoelectric” sensor invented by MIT researchers transmits data by absorbing or reflecting sound waves back to a receiver, where a reflected wave decodes a 1 bit and an absorbed wave decodes a 0 bit — and simultaneously stores energy. Courtesy: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sensors, Actuators August 22, 2019

Battery-free sensor developed for underwater exploration

A submerged system developed by MIT researchers uses the vibration of piezoelectric materials to generate power and send and receive data.

By Rob Matheson
Pump selection for parallel pump control is critical in determining the desired total system output. Check pump curves to make sure that the number of pumps, flow, head, and multi set points are adequate for your system needs. Head pressure may not remain constant in some cases, as the flow is increased to multiple pumps. Courtesy: Crane Pumps & Systems.
Sensors, Actuators August 15, 2019

Use of variable frequency drives in injection molding saves money

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) improves process cooling optimization and pump efficiency.

By Timothy Albers and Dan Roberts
Figure 1: Industrial controllers such as this traditional PLC/PAC, are typically installed in control panels local to the equipment or processes they monitor and automate. Courtesy: Opto 22
Sensors, Actuators August 12, 2019

Top 5 Control Engineering articles August 5-11

Articles about controller options for industrial applications, machine safety, alarm management, robotic actuators, and industrial cybersecurity needs were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 5-11. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra
Sensors, Actuators August 5, 2019

Test smart process control valves in minutes

An automated loop calibration tool can screen valves and identify which ones require more testing and should be pulled.

By Jim Shields
Courtesy: Emerson North America
Sensors, Actuators August 2, 2019

For better burner management, focus on the flame

Five-step guidance for safer and more efficient combustion equipment performance.

By Jacob Swafford
The handheld technology allows farmers to identify plant diseases in the field. Courtesy: Zheng Li, NC State University
Sensors, Actuators July 31, 2019

Mobile process sensor technology developed to identify plant diseases

North Carolina State University researchers have developed a mobile process sensor that uses analytics to identify plant diseases in the field by sampling airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) plants release through their leaves with a mobile instrumentation device.

By Matt Shipman