Energy Efficiency
Extend DCS Life with In-Place Replacement
Older digital systems, even though fully depreciated, drain the enterprise cash flow because of high operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Much of the true O&M cost is not reported because it involves removing spares from inventory that were valued at the purchase price, not at today's higher replacement cost.
On-screen Selection Tools Help Specify Products
Control-product selection software is assisting automation users and system integrators in specifying the best of a myriad possible solutions for applications. These tools—on 3.5-in. disks, CD-ROMs, or websites—permit vendors to help end-users, consulting engineers, and system integrators figure out what they need.
Power Modules and Devices Advance Motor Controls
The core function of power modules is to perform motor power switching and amplification in electric variable-speed and servo drives. Some power modules integrate capabilities and intelligence well beyond these basic functions. They simplify motor drive design via low parts count, compactness, and reliability.
Electric Motors/Controls
Fort Smith, Ark.— New products from Baldor include spindle drive motors, square flange pump motors, encoderless vector controls, hollow-shaft gear reducers, large 5800 frame motors, and a new line of advanced motion control products. In addition, the company recently introduced its new Standard-E motors that comply with the now-in-effect Energy Policy Act.
May We Have the Envelopes Please
"Control products just keep getting more advanced, yet simpler to use,"was the consensus among editors at Control Engineering when it was time for them to choose the best control products of 1997. For the 11th consecutive year, the editors chose the 50 best products based on three criteria: technological advancement, impact on the market, and service to the industry.
Hannover Fair ’98 Goes More Global Than Ever
Start the second 50 years! Hannover Industrial Fair begins its second half-century after a long, successful run that began under quite humble circumstances. This "world's largest industrial trade fair" arose from the post-World War II ravages of Germany.As Hannover Fair faces its second half century, more changes are certain due to economic and technology trends.
Intelligent Positioning Control
Lyman, S.C. —IPOS is an expansion card for the company's Movitrac 31C frequency inverter. The card gives the inverter the ability to control point-to-point motor positioning without use of a high-level controller, such as a PLC or motion controller. Using a built-in PLC-type logic, the Movitrac 31C offers capabilities such as timers, math functions, and timer and activation of outputs, a...
AC Microdrives Ply Parallel Paths
Despite the temptation, size alone is not the right descriptor for ac "microdrives"—those ultracompact variable-frequency drives (VFDs) that sprouted during the first-half of the 1990s. For quite a while, it seemed, each new model would be even more miniature than the one announced just a month or so earlier.
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.
ISA TECH/97 Highlights From Anaheim, Calif., Day Two
Boeing Explores Development of ‘Smart’ Transducer Bus Lee Eccles of Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. began his presentation in the ‘Use of Automation to Enhance Productivity in the Aerospace Industry’ by asking the question ‘why bother?’ In structural sensing and testing of airplane wings and fuselages at Boeing, a lot of effort goes into simply setting up the test. Structures for destructive testing of a wing or testing flight-control actuators require huge setup times.