Top 5 Control Engineering articles, November 11 to December 11: Tuning PID loops, improved beer through automation, smart devices, more

Articles about tuning PID loops, improved beer through automation, manually configuring smart devices, the 2015 System Integrators of the Year, and ladder logic were Control Engineering’s top 5 reader favorites from November 11 to December 11. You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra December 12, 2014

Control Engineering Top 5 most read articles online, for Nov. 11 to Dec. 11, covered tuning PID loops, improved beer through automation, manually configuring smart devices, the 2015 System Integrators of the Year, and ladder logic. Link to each article below.

1. Tuning PID loops for level control

One-in-four control loops are regulating level, but techniques for tuning PID controllers in these integrating processes are not widely understood. 

2. 6 reasons why automation improves beer making

Application Update: A beer equipment manufacturer uses off-the-shelf automation components to build affordable equipment and systems for craft brewers. 

3. Automating automation: Why do smart devices have to be configured manually?

While smart instrumentation and field devices have highly sophisticated capabilities, configuration is still a mostly manual process. Users want to know why they still have to perform this action (and many others) the hard way. 

4. 2015 System Integrators of the Year

Maverick, Polytron and Malisko Engineering help lead clients into the new world of automation. CFE Media’s judges have again chosen three companies to receive the 2015 System Integrator of the Year award in three categories: more than $17 million in annual revenue, $10 million to $17 million annual revenue, and up to $10 million annual revenue. 

5. Ladder Logic 101: Where do I start?

For those who are just getting into writing ladder logic and have maybe taken a few classes or seen some examples, it is quite simple to write your own template. 

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, November 11 to December 11, for articles published within the last two months.

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

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