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Whilst every effort is made to ensure technical accuracy of the information supplied on iceweb.com.au, Keyfleet Pty Ltd and its employees accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by error or omission from the data supplied. Users should make and rely on their own independent inquiries. By accessing the site users accept this condition.
Posted by: Jim Russell, June 2008
Sponsor Abisham Software have provided The world's first FREE RFID e-learning course which is a no obligation , no strings attached, absolutely free RFID course, that can be downloaded to your own PC and you can view it without any restrictions at all! Plus it's a REAL e-learning course, NOT somebody's stale Power-Point presentation! It has plenty of flash based animations, graphics and text, with a self-assessment test. The visuals help you learn key concepts QUICKLY and EASILY.
ICEweb's Fire and Gas, Fire Detection and Gas Detection pages have been upgraded with new links also being added.
How to Manage Hazardous Areas effectively by using Gas Monitors - Electrical equipment installed in hazardous areas, necessarily has to conform to the area classification for that area. However, frequently, practical problems arise, where the specified equipment may not be easily available. For example, an area classified as Zone 1 under the IEC system, theoretically can accept only Zone 1 equipment. However sometimes, especially in case of specialized equipment, Zone 1 certified equipment of that type may not be available. In such cases what could be done? This paper presents the background of such situations, possible solutions and current international practices regarding this issue - Thanks to our valued sponsor Abhisam Software.
Calculate temperature and resistance tables for Minco's RTD Elements - From MINCO
Calculate temperature and millivolt tables for Thermocouples based on NIST Monograph 175 - From MINCO
How To Select And Use The Right Temperature Sensor - Ron Desmarais - This paper answers the question "How do I determine which sensor to use in my application?” After a brief review of how RTD’s and thermocouples are constructed and used to measure temperature, it discusses what differentiates these sensors from one another. It covers the topics of temperature range, tolerance, accuracy, interchangeability and relative strengths and weaknesses for each type. After reviewing these topics you will have a better understanding as to when each type of sensor should be used and why. From Pyromation, Inc.
Have a look at ICEweb's new Orifice Plate page which is full of great technical papers / articles on Orifice Plates, associated standards and associated equipment.
Fundamentals
Of Gas Measurement - D. A. Tefankjian - In any field of endeavour
for a person to completely understand the endeavour, he or she must have a
knowledge and an understanding of the fundamentals involved. People can do
well in the performance of their work without knowing the basic principles,
but to excel and progress knowledge of the fundamentals is necessary. This
is particularly true if one’s work is technical in nature - Includes –
Units of Measurement, Behaviour of the gas molecule, property of gases, the
gas laws along with the methods and means of measuring gas
A huge swag of new technical papers have been added to ICEwebs new Pressure Regulator page.
Fundamentals of Pneumatic Controllers -Doug Butler - Controllers in one form or another have been around the process industries for a number of years. In fact, they are such a familiar sight in most industrial operations that they frequently suffer from being taken for granted. Yet, the quality of performance provided by a control system is determined by the performance of the controller and the other elements in the loop. The controller, with its various adjustments, is the one element in the control loop that allows any measure of operating flexibility. For optimum performance, it is necessary to use the controller properly. This requires a thorough understanding of some fundamental relationships - From CEESI. For more Control Technical papers go to ICEweb's Control Systems page.
Determination of Specific Gravity of Gases: Fundamentals and Instruments - Faruk Civan - Specific gravity is one of the basic properties used for characterisation and measurement of gases. Instruments used for determining specific gravity are called gravitometers. There are also methods by which specific gravity can be determined indirectly. Accurate determination of specific gravity is essential for accurate measurement of gas flow rate - from CEESI
Commonsense Engineering Safety Tips When Commissioning Plant - IDC have compiled a list of tips on working safely when commissioning a plant or with machinery from an electrical, mechanical, instrumentation and IT point of view. See more tips like this on our Tools page.
ICEweb's Australian Standards for gas detection/ Ex Equipment page has been revised to detail the latest updated standards.
Posted by: Jim Russell, May2008
Control Engineering Virtual Library - This comprehensive resource from the University of Cambridge gives links to Control Groups Around the World, Professional Societies, Control Related Journals, Control Information and other Miscellaneous information.
Advanced Diploma in Industrial Automation - The aim of this 18 month e-learning programme from IDC is to provide you with core industrial automation skills.
Pressure Sensor Technologies - Peter Welander - Pressure transducers are everywhere, but do you know what’s inside? Choosing the right technology can be critical, especially in extreme applications - From Control Engineering
HIMA Australia have announced that they will be launching their new safety system "HIMax" in mid 2008 and a change in Management - HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH + Co KG are launching a safety system which will set new standards in performance, safety and availability within the process industry. In the development of flexible and intelligent safety platforms, HIMA’s special focus was on increasing the availability and profitability of process plants. Offering unique features, HIMax ideally satisfies the global process industry’s demand for increasing the profitability of safety-oriented applications.
The
May
edition of ICEnews has been issued, this
is a new web based format which hopefully you will all enjoy. As usual this
bumper issue has plenty of links to really useful information across a broad
range of Instrumentation and Control Engineering.
Posted by: Jim Russell, April 2008
Frictional Ignition of Powders - Geoff Lunn - This is a comprehensive review - Surveys of industrial incidents in powder and dust handling plant show that in a substantial percentage, friction and mechanical failure and flames and flaming material are known ignition sources.
A new section on Field Device Tool (FDT) Technology has been added to ICEweb's fieldbus page. FDT (Field Device Tool) technology standardises the communication interface between field devices and systems. The key feature is its independence from the communication protocol and the software environment of either the device or the host system. FDT allows any device to be accessed from any host through any protocol.
The following technical papers from our valued sponsor Emerson
Process Management - have been added to ICEweb's comprehensive
pH page.
- Theory
and Practice of pH Measurement- An excellent 43 page
handbook.
- Advances in pH Modeling and Control - Gregory K. McMillan (Emerson)
and Mark S. Sowell (Solutia Inc) - Many chemical and biological processes
have pH control loops. Good pH control can be important for product quality
as well as environmental compliance. The extraordinary rangeability and
sensitivity of pH as a concentration measurement poses exceptional
challenges in many aspects of pH design and implementation.
- Virtual Control of Real PH - Virtual Design reduces the hassles of PH
control.
- George Pence and Richard Baril - Improvements in sensor life and
range of applications can move liquid analysis from one of the most
“cursed” functions in the plant, to one that requires only modest
attention.
Users want Happy Union with Wireless, but Doubts Linger - Patrick Schweitzer - When it comes to wireless technology, the user community wants simplicity, robustness, education to understand this new world, and coexistence among all players to make this the wireless world of our dreams. Yet as wireless picks up momentum in the industrial marketplace, users are still confounded by the potentials and pitfalls a wireless world can bring -Thanks to ISA/InTech.
In 2008, Wireless a No-Brainer - David Savells and Brent McAdams - Advantages of wireless I/O go far beyond the cost of wiring: Economies of scale, fail safe, flexibility, reliability, diagnostics and low power consumption - Historically, regardless of the industry, hardwiring has been the only option available for users to connect remote instrumentation assets in the field.However, new technology enabling greater use of spread spectrum radios gives companies the ability to connect remote instrumentation in the field without the need for a costly, wired infrastructure - Thanks to ISA/InTech.
Strategic Implementation of Wireless Technologies - The evolution in wireless technologies has opened the door to a new class of plant automation architecture that offers adopters a significant strategic advantage. Driven by substantial and measurable cost savings in engineering, installation, and logistics, as well as dramatic improvements in the frequency and reliability of field data collection, automation experts and IT professionals are presented with an opportunity to deliver a major, positive impact to their respective company’s bottom line - from FreeWave.
Cables - Best practices for process instrumentation cabling - Connectivity glues the network together; Cabling, grounding, cable routing, and the mitigation of noise and interference - Saeed M. AL-Abeediah - The health and effectiveness of any plant’s Process Automation System (PAS) relies on many factors. Among these factors is the proper selection of PAS components, seamless integration, control schemes, control system installation, and last but not least, proper electrical installation and connectivity of field instrumentation devices. This last factor, which glues the entire PAS system together, involves cabling, grounding, cable routing, and mitigation of external influences such as noise and interference. Thanks to the ISA and InTech.
ICEweb has developed a new Uninterruptible Power System page.
Getting quality down PAT - Baha Korkmaz, Arnold Martin, and Cenk Undey - Companies that proactively approach the new technological trends and invest in automation have a better chance of success. Using the concepts behind process analytical technology (PAT) is one effective tool to achieve this success, especially when incorporating batch standards, such as ISA88. From the ISA and InTech.
Lather up with batch - Matthew Leys and Sean Cahill - Unilever knew the success of its personal care consumer goods brands rested on the quality performance of its health and beauty mixing plant and aerosols plant. Economic growth paired with sound environmental management were just part of the strategy. Yet a total process control system update would help guide them to down the road to success. Also included in this article is a second article - Return to flexible batch automation - The ISA88 standard is easy to comprehend, but gaining in-depth understanding is a long process that takes understanding process operation and software engineering. From the ISA and InTech.
Brewery Taps Higher Control - Small brewer’s system allows greater productivity, flexibility - John Mallett and Todd Stauffer - When Bell’s Brewery decided to upgrade the temperature control system on its 45 fermentation tanks in mid-2006, they were just planning on expanding their existing system of dedicated single-loop controllers for each of its tank control points. Instead, after taking a look at their options and what technology suited them best, Bell’s opted to take a quantum leap forward by implementing a state-of-the-art process automation system for temperature control of its tanks. From the ISA and InTech.
A Guide to Low Resistance Measurement - Note this is a large 3 MBits download. This handbook gives an overview of low resistance measurement techniques, explains common causes of errors and how to avoid them. We have also included useful tables of wire and cable characteristics, temperature coefficients and various formulas to ensure you make the best possible choice when selecting your measuring instrument and measurement technique - from Cropico.
ICEweb's Modbus page has been extensively upgraded with new links and excellent technical information.
Using MODBUS for Process Control and Automation - MODBUS is the most popular industrial protocol being used today, for good reasons. It is simple, inexpensive, universal and easy to use. Even though MODBUS has been around for nearly 30 years, almost all major industrial instrumentation and automation equipment vendors continue to support it in new products. This white paper discusses how MODBUS works and a few clever ways it can be used in new and legacy plants. From our sponsor Moore Industries-Pacific, Inc.
Installing Fieldbus in Real-Life Applications - Many automation engineers are coming face-to-face with real fieldbus applications for the first time. Fieldbus is a wonderful technology with many benefits, but fieldbus installation requires some additional considerations over and above normal 4-20mA projects. In this in-depth white paper, we discuss some of those issues, and show you how to deal with them. From our sponsor Moore Industries-Pacific, Inc.
Can't Happen at your Site?- Eric Byres - Unless you’ve been hiding out on a desert island for the past year, you can’t help but notice the serious impact hacking and viruses have had on corporate information technology (IT) systems. At least once a month, a new hacker exploits or Trojan e-mail threatens to do considerableharm to the workings of a business network. If hackers can do that much damage to a desktop PC, what about that programmable logic controller (PLC) or human-machine interface sitting on the plant floor? From Byres Security.
Topologies for Wireless Instrumentation - To set the stage for wireless instrumentation, do you know how to get the signal from instrument to control system? Here’s a nuts-and-bolts guide to orchestrate your options for permanently mounted instrumentation - from Control Engineering.
All in One Glass - Alternate approach to gage-glass maintenances leads to more accurate drum level measurements - Dale P. Evely - Southern Company, a producer of electricity, fiber optics, and wireless communications, developed an alternate approach to address gage glass maintenance issues as well as measurement uncertainties associated with water-column-type measurements - from ISA and InTech
PACs for Industrial Control, the Future of Control - With a number of vendors producing Programmable Automation Controllers that combine the functionality of a PC and reliability of a PLC, PACs today are increasingly being incorporated into control systems. This white paper explores the origins of the PAC, how PACs differ from PLCs and PCs, and the future direction of industrial control with PACs - From National Instruments.
***
ICEweb has another new page! This one covers DataLoggers, have a look as it has a "heap" of great papers covering the huge range of uses that this technology embraces. Thanks to our new sponsor HINCO.
Development and Analysis of a Novel Vertical Axis Wind Turbine - Paul Cooper and Oliver Kennedy - This paper describes the development of a novel vertical axis wind turbine used for teaching and research purposes. The device is designed to operate at low tip speed ratios and features blades that are symmetric about the mid-chord plane. The blades are actively pitched by means of a mechanical system so that the chord of each blade rotates by 180º for every revolution of the main rotor. One of the attractions of the device is that it is self-starting and produces relatively high torque. A multiple streamtube analysis of the device has been developed and numerical predictions for the performance of the device are presented. Commissioning and field tests of a prototype are described and some preliminary performance results are presented and discussed - From the University of Wollongong
Power plant sees green with new digital bus system - John Blaney, Jim Murray, and Gary Tingley - Chasing advantages in design and construction savings, the utility wanted to incorporate digital bus technology in as many areas as possible. Both Foundation fieldbus and PROFIBUS are used significantly throughout the balance of plant systems. Another reason behind the decision was simply the opportunity to try new technology on a new plant since the technology has been proven in many other industries, just not in the power industry - From the ISA and InTech. See this paper and more at ICEweb's Fieldbus page.
The following technical articles have been
added to ICEweb's reworked Test
and Calibration pages.
- Low
Pressure Calibrations - When
you're performing a low pressure calibration, there are some things you can do
to make the job easier and better (more accurate) .
- Temperature
Calibrations (Thermocouple Edition) -There
are a few "gotchas" in temperature calibration when we're talking
about T/Cs and RTDs. Each has its own problems, This article focuses on the calibration of T/C instrumentation.
- What is the difference between calibration and adjustment?- From the UK's National
Measurement Laboratory.
- Calibrating Non Destructive Testing Instruments
- NDT Resource Centre
- Automated calibration planning lowers costs
- Calibrating Fieldbus Transmitters.
- How often should calibrators be calibrated?
- How often should instruments be calibrated?
- Traceable and efficient calibrations in the process industry.
- The Safest Way to Calibrate - An introduction to
intrinsically safe calibrators
Posted by: Jim Russell, March 2008
More new pages! ICEweb has developed the
following pages thanks to our sponsor Prochem Pipeline Products;
- Heat
Tracing and Bundles - Heat Tracing, Bundles, Heated Hose, General
theory, Applications and more!
- Instrument
Valves, Accessories, Enclosures, Sunshades and Supports
- Pressure
Regulators - General Theory, Technical Papers, Maintenance, Applications
and more.
- Samplers
- On-Line Samplers Liquid Samplers, Gas Samplers, Solids Samplers,
Applications and more.
- Monoflanges,
Instrument Manifolds - Technical Data, Specifications, Application Data,
Installation, Operation, Maintenance and more.
Check out ICEweb's new Laser Instrumentation page, it covers General Theory, Laser Level, Laser Positioning, Laser Measuring, Laser Survey and more. Thanks to our sponsor Zedflo Australia.
How much does it cost you to change a light globe? - Do you want to dramatically reduce your lighting maintenance costs and reduce your risk hazards? Lighting maintenance is a necessity and often an expensive job in the industrial work place today. The costs involved are usually high due to the positioning of light fittings. This no longer needs to be the case. The installation of an In2 Light Hatch® will dramatically reduce the costs involved in changing light globes on industrial work sites. Thanks to our sponsor Zedflo Australia.
Chemical industry gets serious about security: Perfecting programs, educating users - Ellen Fussell Policastro - This excellent article describes how the industry is sharing its knowledge about security and helping manufacturers build their fortresses, to not only comply with new government regulations, but to enhance the overall security of control systems throughout the industry - ISA and InTech
Many new very useful links have been added to Our Ultrasonic Flow Metering page, thanks to our sponsor Zedflo Australia.
ICEweb's Control Systems Page has been extensively upgraded with new links on control systems, alarm management, process security and more!
Protecting Process Control Systems & Networks - Chris Taylor, Larry Falkenau and WBF org.
A huge swag of new technical papers have been added to ICEweb's Safety Instrumented Systems Page, thanks to our sponsor Hima Australia.
HIMA safety controllers monitor heating installation on the Queen Mary 2 - Two safety-related controllers, acting as a Boiler Management System, reliably provide operational safety to the application. - Looking for more on Burner Management Systems? ICEweb's comprehensive BMS page has it!
Lightning Protection for Wind Turbines - The Lightning Protection Project was conceived by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to improve the understanding of lightning caused damage to wind turbines and how to protect them. This project report is very comprehensive thanks to www.solacity.com .
A New Lightning Protection System for Wind Turbines Using Two Ring-Shaped Electrodes - Yasuda Yoh - This technical paper focuses on a method for protection of low-voltage and control circuits in a wind tower, detailing a new lightning protection system with two ring-shaped electrodes attached to the wind turbine.
Surge Protection for Fieldbus without Performance Limitations -
The Following Intrinsic
Safety Technical Manual is from Cooper Crouse-Hinds and covers;
- Determining Safe Energy Levels
- Intrinsically Safe Barriers - Grounded Zener Barrier - Isolation
Barriers- Remote I/O Products
- Selecting the Proper Product for Your Intrinsically Safe Application
- Installation, Maintenance & Troubleshooting of Intrinsically Safe
Circuits
Posted by: Jim Russell, February 2008
When did you last inspect your safety light curtains? - Companies using light curtains to safeguard machinery often do not appreciate the implications of the regulatory requirement for inspections. Thanks to Pilz. For more articles like this see ICEweb's Manufacturing and Automation Safety page.
How functional safety helps to save lives -In this article Ron Bell explains functional safety and looks ahead to the revision of the IEC 61508standard that is due for publication in 2010.This article by Jeanne Erdmann was first published in the January 2008 edition of the IEC's E-TECH. http://www.iec.ch
Overboard Dump Valves - Overboard dump valves are valves that are typically used to control the flow of seawater being dumped overboard on off-shore installations. Process conditions that would be innocuous on standard applications, become severe when applied to overboard dump valves. Often users fail to realise the criticality of the application which results valves being incorrectly specified, ultimately leading to vibration, erosion and failure. This technical article addresses this - From Weir Valves. More articles can be found on ICEweb's severe service page.
Top Tips for flowmeter selection- The huge array of flow technology options on offer can make selecting the correct flowmeter for an application a bewildering task. A broad range of factors can influence flowmeter selection, of which cost is just one. Dr Bryan Franklin, Flow Products Manager, ABB Limited recommends a list of top tips for selecting the best all round flow system for an application.
ICEweb's Australian Standards for Electrical Apparatus in Hazardous Areas- Explosive Gas Areas paper has been updated. Thanks to Inlec Engineering for the review!
Solenoid Valve Engineering Information- This excellent engineering information sheet details most of what you need to know in regards to selecting a solenoid valve. It details maximum/minimum pressures and temperatures, viscosity, response times, valve seat tightness and degrees of protection provided by electrical enclosures (IP code), thanks to our sponsor ASCO.
How to Install, Troubleshoot and Maintain Solenoid Valves- Good Installation and Maintenance Tips, thanks to our sponsor ASCO.
AS2380.9 has been superseded by Standards Australia on 31 December 2007 by AS/NZS 60079.15:2006 (Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres - Construction, test and marking of type of protection, ‘n’ electrical apparatus).
Standards Australia have updated the Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Areas Handbook HB2007 - The main objective of this updated handbook is to provide a basis for understanding the principles involved in the identification of a hazardous area, relevant statutory requirements and the selection and installation, maintenance, testing, overhaul and repair of appropriate electrical equipment. This handbook also provides a basic introduction to the relevant Australian, New Zealand, Joint (Australian/New Zealand) and International Standards dealing with hazardous areas.
Posted by: Jim Russell, January 2008
ESD Valve Fire Shelter - This is a neat idea, these cabinets will provide the valve actuators with a minimum of 30 minutes of protection against fire, so that the plant's emergency shut down systems and services can quickly isolate and minimise damage, to protect employees, assets and environment.
University chilled water plant plays it cool with ultrasonic flowmeters - An application article - From InTech and the ISA
Preventing Direct Lightening Strikes - Roy B. Carpenter, Jr - This paper looks at lightening strikes and how to prevent them - from lecglobal.com
Glossary of Process Control Terms - Looking for a Control Term? You are likely to find it here - John Gerry, P.E., ExperTune Inc.
ICEweb's Corrosion Page has been updated with new links.
A new section on Cascade Control has been
added to our Control
Systems Page and the following papers included.
- Cascade Control- Handle Processes that Challenge
Regular PID Control - Arthur Holland, Holland Technical Skills- A paper
which explains how Cascade Control can be used to cater for lags in Process
Control.
- Cascade Control - The Basics - from learn control.com
Calibrating and Testing Control Components on your Heat Process - What, When and How Should I Calibrate? - Arthur Holland, Holland Technical Skills - an excellent explanation on the basics of calibration.
Signals - A look at 4 - 20 Milliamp Signals - Arthur Holland, Holland Technical Skills - A good description of 4-20Ma technology, see more great instrumentation information on ICEweb's TECHweb page.
**Programmable safety begets new standard - Safety-integrity levels spelled out in European standards increasingly impact equipment designers in the U.S. - Dave Collins - Schneider Electric - Thanks to Machinedesign.com
Why WirelessHART™? - The Right Standard at the Right Time - This paper summarises key aspects of WirelessHART, including several of the design decisions that make it the right choice for wireless process automation.
The
following papers and presentations are from the IDC Technologies "Hazardous
Areas: Classifications and Equipment Conference 2007", these papers are
recommended reading.
Electrical
Equipment in Hazardous Areas - Field Inspections - Bill Rankin - This
paper focuses on the problems which are directly related to the inspection
process. It has been written from the perspective of the
Ex inspection team who usually have no control over the
design and installation process. It is acknowledged that the competency of the
design and installation personnel will affect the quality of the installation
that is to be inspected. The failure of Ex inspection campaigns can be
attributed to four main areas:
- Poor planning of the Ex inspection activities
- Lack of competence of the Ex inspectors
- Lack of clarity of the inspectors’ roles
- Lack of clarity of the inspection scope
Ex
Inspections—Potential Pitfalls - Alan Wallace- Inlec Engineering -
Many, if not most, Ex inspection campaigns are grossly inefficient, and
their
effectiveness is often questionable. This presentation discusses the four
main reasons why Ex inspection campaigns fail to meet the clients’
expectations. It also offers recommendations to improve the quality and
efficiency of Ex inspections.
The
Application of Intrinsic Safety to Fieldbus Systems - Chris Towle
Chairman: MTL Instruments Ltd - This excellent paper covers the technical
aspects of FISCO, FNICO, Exe and Exi combination, Maintenance and Inspection
along with Intrinsically Safe Ethernet.
Myths
and Actual Practice with Industrial Data Communications and Hazardous Areas
- Steve Mackay - IDC Technologies - This presentation covers Practical
examination of data communications systems in hazardous areas for Ethernet,
Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus or RS-485 along with Practical guidelines for
best practice in designing your next industrial data communications system
in a hazardous area.
The
Current State of the IEC Intrinsically Safe Standards - Chris Towle -
Chairman: MTL Instruments Ltd - A candid discussion on the IEC IS standards
which includes IEC Organisation, Intrinsic Safety Standards, An Analysis of
the Change from ‘nL’ to ‘ic’ and advice to the First-time Designer.
Changes
to Certification and its Impact on Manufacturers - Des McDonell CSE-Ex
Pty Ltd - This presentation covers product certification in Australia.
Trends in Process Temperature Measurement -An Evolving Technology Segment Changes Focus to Meet End-User Needs - Mike Cushing - This article also covers the basics about resistance thermometers, thermocouples and the use of temperature transmitters - from www.flowcontrolnetwork.com
Our Manufacturing
and Automation Safety page has been updated with heaps of new links thanks
to sponsor Pilz Australia
including the following:
- Mining
faces growing pressure to address plant hazards Part
One and Two - With a fatality rate double the national average and an injury
rate that is 50 per cent higher, mining is a dangerous industry. The causes of
this extraordinary injury rate are equally as remarkable: machinery and plant
accounted for 75 per cent and two in every three mining injuries were put down
to bad design, far more than the 50 per cent the manufacturing sector attributes
to design. Part 2 considers
what can be done to make mining plant safe and compliant.
- Not
all e-stops are equal before the law – how to be sure yours comply -
Because emergency stop devices or “e-stops” are everywhere, they tend to be
taken for granted but the law takes them very seriously as the last line of
defence in machine safety-Australian Standard 4024
describes an emergency stop as “a device which, regardless of the power
source, e.g. electrical pneumatic or hydraulic, requires deliberate action to
bring a machine to rest when danger is recognised”. Pilz
Safe Automation's Frank Schrever explains the basics of how the Plant
Regulations and the Australian Standard for safeguarding of machinery apply to
emergency stop devices.
- SafetyBUS p - This is the first open, safe bus system to
have been approved by BG to category 4 in accordance with EN 954-1, EN 60204, EN
62061 and by TÜV to AK 6 in accordance with DIN V 19 250, SIL 3 in accordance
with EN IEC 61508 and NFPA 79. This guarantees a wide application area for
safety applications, from which users in plant and machine engineering as well
as the automotive industry can benefit.
This concise Question and Answer Article covers Wireless Advantages, Pitfalls, Best Practices, Wireless Terms, Security, Future, Comparison with Hard Wired Systems, Frequency and Operating Range - from Geof Brazier and BSB Wireless.
Effluent Flow with Suspended Solids -Facing Rising Treatment Costs, Paper Mill Reconsiders Flowmeter Installation - This article added to our comprehensive Ultrasonic Flowmeter page describes some solutions to this issue - David W. Spitzer, P.E.- Thanks to flowcontrolnetwork,com
See
our books
page for Details of Industrial Flow Measurement, 3rd Edition - David
W. Spitzer - Designed to help practicing engineers avoid costs
associated with misapplication of flowmeters, this
Links
to the Following webinars and papers can be found on our Industrial
Ethernet page.
- Industrial Ethernet, an Introduction
- Industrial Ethernet, Ethernet Network Architecture
- Industrial Ethernet, Advanced Ethernet Architecture
- PROFINET - the all-encompassing Industrial Ethernet
- Industrial Ethernet Diagnostics - This webinar on Industrial
Ethernet Diagnostics describes how to troubleshoot and diagnose problems on
an Industrial Ethernet network. It highlights which tools from
the IT world are useful for Industrial Ethernet.
- Industrial Wireless Networking- In this Industrial Wireless Networking
webinar you'll learn all about the latest Wireless technologies in use for
Industrial Wireless applications including IEEE 802.11 (Wireless Ethernet) ,
Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies.
- MES and PROFINET - The PROFINET and MES Maintenance Operations guideline
of PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) defines an open integration
path between MES and PROFINET based automation systems.
- PROFINET in the Process Industries -
As a backbone network, PROFINET is ideally suited to the task of surfacing
process data stored in control systems and field devices. Media gaps that
hinder the flow of critical data between process equipment and enterprise
systems can be bridged with PROFINET proxies, creating an all-encompassing
network architecture that brings the now ubiquitous industrial Ethernet into
the process plant.
The technical paper PROFIsafe: Networked Safety for Process and Factory Automation -ARC presents some compelling benefits for using PROFIsafe and two success stories can be found on ICEweb's Manufacturing and Automation Safety Page .
Our PROFIBUS
page has been updated to include the following papers.
- Why
use a fieldbus?- This article details the advantages of using a fieldbus
system - also available as an MP3 file
- PROFIBUS PA vs. Foundation
Fieldbus - a cost comparison, also available as an MP3 file.
- A Guide to Troubleshooting PROFIBUS PA Networks -A
systematic approach makes network set-up and trouble-shooting easy - James
Powell
- The Value Proposition of PROFIBUS in the Hybrid
Industries -This ARC Advisory Group white paper shows the benefits of
PROFIBUS in the process industries. And almost all
process
industries have a discrete need as well, hence are hybrid.
- PROFINET: An All-Encompassing Industrial Ethernet
Solution - ARC presents an overview of PROFINET and some application
stories.
- Tool Calling Interface. Device tools perform user
functions such as parameterization and diagnostics directly from the
automation-system engineering tool. Device tools are based on a Tool
Calling Interface (TCI).
FOUNDATION Fieldbus Provides Automation Infrastructure for Operational Excellence - This ARC report highlights that End users are increasingly specifying automation products and services not based upon the level of technology they provide, but on the business value proposition. FOUNDATION Fieldbus technology should be looked at from the same point of view.
Posted by: Jim Russell, December 2007
Clamp on Ultrasonic Flowmeters - Your Questions Answered - Thanks to our Sponsor Zedflo Australia
Laser Level Measurement - The ultimate solution for industrial process challenges, laser exploits the unique properties of light to produce precise, reliable, fast measurements. High update rates provide accurate measurements even when objects move quickly or material levels change rapidly - from Optech and our sponsor Zedflo Australia.
Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers - Frequently Asked Questions - From ISOTECH
Temperature Calibration; Depths of Immersion - John P. Tavener -Of all the sources of errors and uncertainties in thermal calibration by far the largest source of error and least understood effect is that of immersion of unit under test, and the reference standard - From ISOTECH
What is the difference between calibration and adjustment? - From the UK's National Measurement Laboritory
The following links can be found on our
revamped HIPPS
page.
- High Integrity Protection Systems (HIPPS) – Making
SIL Calculations Effective - Jean-Pierre Signoret Thanks to
Touchoilandgas.com
- High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) -
Angela E. Summers -
- High
Integrity Protection Systems For New And Existing Vessels - Bryan A.
Zachary and Angela E. Summers - Thanks to SIS-TECH Solutions
- Flare Header Overpressure Protective HIPS System -
This application brief describes a typical High Integrity Protective Systems
(HIPS) to minimize overpressure events in reactors and distillation columns,
and thereby reduce the frequency of relieving to the flare. From Triconex.
- Preventing overpressure: A safety system success
story - using failsafe systems to prevent overpressure - David K. Thomas
-From the ISA
- High
Integrity Pressure Protection Systems [HIPPS] for the Overpressure
Protection Of Pipeline Risers - This document is to provide guidance for
Inspectors in respect of the provision of remotely located HIPPS, including
those located subsea, for the protection of pipelines, pipeline risers and
some associated topsides process pressure systems. From the HSE (UK)
Risk assessment still vital under new Victorian regulations - The new Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations are designed to simplify safety but, in the case of risk assessments, their release has caused real confusion. Thanks to our sponsor Pilz Australia
Changes to European categories of safety control will come to Australia in due course - The basis of AS 4024-1501 safety related parts of control systems defines categories of control system design which become more fault resistant as the risk increases. This is changing in Europe with the adoption of EN-ISO 13849-2006, which replaces the categories defined in EN 954-1 (which is AS 4024-1501) with Performance Levels and will be fully adopted in Europe by end of November 2009. Thanks to our sponsor Pilz Australia
Working in the Sun? The Cancer Council of NSW has released a guide for working safety in the sun - some great tips here that may even save your life.
Need for an industry standard for ESD valves from an engineering and safety point of view -Meghdut Manna - Tahakum East -Since the Piper Alpha disaster in the North Sea, design of ESD valves has been given top priority and remains to be of great concern for plant safety management.
ICEweb's Choke Valve page has been upgraded, however we are desperate for quality technical papers on this subject. Please send any to ICEweb.
Have a look at our updated
Gas Detection page, this now includes many additional links including;
- The Honeywell Analytics Gas Detector Newsletter -
This is packed full of features and articles on Gas Detection
- Honeywell Analytics Gas
Book - This handbook is intended to offer a
simple guide to anyone considering the use of
gas detection equipment. It provides an
explanation of both the principles involved and
the instrumentation needed for satisfactory
protection of personnel, plant and environment.
The aim has been to answer as many as possible
of the most commonly asked questions about
the selection and use of industrial gas
detection equipment. Thanks to our sponsor Honeywell
Analytics.
Smart technologies sustain plant reliability, help control costs - Todd Gordon - This article highlights the benefits of DVC technologies in a power plant - from Emerson Process Management.
Wireless: The Golden Age of Asset Management - Peter Zornio from Emerson Process Management discusses the advancement of standards based field wireless technology.
ICEweb's Pressure page has been updated and now includes links on Pressure Best Practices, Density Measurement , Interface Measurement ,Eliminating the Need for Methods of Additional Process Sealing , Transmitter Diagnostics Reduce Maintenance Costs, Specifying the Right Solution for Vacuum Applications along with a new section on pressure gauges.
The following links have been added to the
Flow page.
- Conditioning
Orifice Plate Technology; Taking the Standard to a New Level of Capability
- Installation
and Grounding of Magmeters in Typical and Electrolytic Process Applications
- Proper installation and grounding of magnetic flowmeters is important for
accurate, reliable measurement performance.
- Magnetic
Flowmeter Material Selection Guide -A general resource for the selection
of materials for the magnetic flowmeter.
- Permeation
of Teflon Flowtube Liners and Installation Techniques to Reduce the Rate of
Permeation - Ways to Reduce Permeation including Liner Quality, Liner
Thickness, and Temperature.
- Annubar® Flow Handbook - This excellent reference book provides
all of the information necessary to accurately measure fluid flow using the
Rosemount 485 Annubar primary element.
Boiler Drum Level Transmitter Calibration - Steam Drum Level is both a critical and difficult measurement to make. Control of the water level in the drum must be precise.
Level Measurement - Transmitters with Seals -Transmitters with remote seals allow the transmitter to be removed from direct contact with the process fluid.
Deploying Industrial Wireless Solutions - Wireless technology has not been widely adopted for in-plant applications. Concerns about reliability, security, and battery life of wireless devices have slowed adoption of wireless options even where traditional wired solutions were cost-prohibitive or operationally difficult. That's changing as improvements in wireless technology address these concerns.
Self-Organizing Networks: Wireless Topologies for In-Plant Applications -The topography of a wireless network is simply the way network components are arranged. It describes the physical layout of devices, routers, and gateways, as well as the data flow paths between them. Three of the most common wireless topologies for in-plant applications are star, mesh, and cluster-tree. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each, you can determine which topology is best for your specific application.
Corrosion and its Effects - This technical data sheet briefly discusses some of the reasons why corrosion occurs and the problems that can result.
Lightning and Static Effects on Industrial Electronics - This data sheet from Emerson Process Management examines the damage caused by transients from lightning and static and offers advice on minimising the harmful effects of these two phenomena.
EDDL allows interoperability for devices to constantly gather information - No matter what control system a plant is using, it is now easier for users to choose best-in-class instruments for their networks. The technology that allows this is Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL). From the ISA and InTech.
Converting Serial Networks to Ethernet Communications - New communications technologies have emerged that provide high-speed wireless Ethernet communications to field applications. From the ISA and InTech.
A technical information sheet Selection and Application of Positioners, Limit Switches, Solenoid Valves and Other Accessories has been added to ICEweb's Control Valve page which has been updated thanks to our sponsor Samson Controls. This page has a wealth of Control Valve information.
Vibration Energy Harvester-Powered Wireless Condition Monitoring - John Parker - Perpetuum Ltd - This interesting application note describes the steps necessary to design the power supply and energy storage circuit of a wireless condition monitoring sensor node.
Methods for Planning, Installation, Commissioning and Diagnosis of Fieldbus Installations - Andreas Hennecke, Sven Seintsch and Thomas Kasten - This paper describes working practice for all phases of the project: planning, commissioning, plant start-up, operation and online troubleshooting of fieldbus systems. Strategies are described that enable users to maximize the benefits of fieldbus technology. Thanks to Pepperl and Fuchs.
Posted by: Jim Russell, November 2007
Low
Smoke/Zero Halogen Cables information from wikipedia
The Following Fire Detection technical papers
are from Micropack Engineering
- Flare
Radiation
-Not So Friendly Fire-Ian Davidson
- Flame
Detector
Selection - Ian Davidson
- Triple
Channel
IR Flame Detection – Magic or
Myth?-Ian Davidson
- Detector
Selection Overview
The November edition of ICEnews has been issued. It is absolutely chock full of great links and free technical information. Thanks to Ian Verhappen for all his input.
Safety Selector Valve - Dual Pressure Relief Device Systems - Anderson Greenwood developed the patented, Safety Selector Valve in response to the growing demand for cost-effective, dual pressure relief valve and/or rupture disc installations in today’s process industries. The Safety Selector Valve is designed specifically to function as an effective ‘switchover’ device that permits routine or emergency servicing of redundant pressure relief devices with no process interruption, thus providing continuous system overpressure protection.
What is Signal Isolation? - In most processes there are pieces of electronic measurement and control equipment from many different manufacturers. The signals from these instruments are interconnected to each other and to sensors, transducers and output devices connected in the process loop. In any such measurement and control system there are several electrical interfacing problems that are likely to occur, all of which can be solved by incorporating the appropriate isolation between the signals. This excellent article from our sponsor Weidmuller addresses this.
Posted by: Jim Russell, October 2007
Posted by: Jim Russell, September 2007
Standards Australia have amended AS/NZS2430.3.3 - Examples of area classification - Flammable liquids - August 2007
The following technical papers can be found
on ICEweb's solenoid
page.
- Optimizing Power Management in Solenoid
Valves -By Stephen Glaudel -Vice
President, Engineering ASCO Valve,
Americas -This paper covers the basic
operation of solenoid valves, including useful techniques and technology for
optimizing performance, power consumption,
and cost of operation, in either AC or DC powered applications.
- Understanding Applications, Uses Key to Solenoid
Valve Selection, Plant Engineering - David Zolobinski, William Mudd and
Gregory Byrne - This paper covers common applications and issues associated
with solenoid valves. It also has a very useful
trouble shooting guide plus a section on new developments - Thanks to ASCO
and www.plantengineering.com
- Solenoid Pilot Valves for Valve Actuation
- Bill Reeson - This paper helps users select the correct pilot valve
construction for an application - Thanks to ASCO and valve magazine.
- Not Your Father's Valve - "The Old Iron
Workhorse Gets a Makeover" - Matt Migliore - This article highlights
how microprocessors are enabling the development of smaller and faster
solenoid valves.
Questions and Answers on Infrared Thermometers - A useful technical information sheet from our sponsor Zedflo Australia
HowStuffWorks Encyclopedia has informative entries on a wide variety of topics related to geography, history, science, humanities, technology and more, see this and many other useful tools on ICEweb's tools page.
Another addition to the tools page is WhereIs.com.au which can give you realtime maps and turn by turn directions to anywhere in Australia.
Justifying Fieldbus part 1and part 2 - John Rezabek discusses a variety of ways to justify FF projects.
Why use a fieldbus?- This article details the advantages of using a fieldbus system - from profibus.com
The
Beginner's Guide to Cellular Technology
- The use of cellular technology for industrial applications is on
the rise, but it can be difficult to differentiate between all of the
options, standards, and carriers. Before deciding on a cellular solution,
there are some basics that every system integrator needs to know. This
article covers;
- What 1G, 2G, and 3G really mean
- Understanding CDMA, GSM, GPRS, etc
- Important questions to ask
- How to apply this knowledge
Thanks to sponsor TYCO Flow Control Pacific
our Pressure
Relief Valve page has been updated with further technical papers
including:-
- Pressure
Relief "Grace Under Pressure" - Harry J Toups - This
presentation is an excellent overview of Pressure Relief terminology,
systems, design, code requirements, location of relief systems,
choosing relief types, backpressure, Pros and Cons of various types of
relief valves and rupture discs, relief event scenarios, sizing of reliefs,
typical calcs, chatter, worst case event scenario, Installation, Inspection
and Maintenance and typical errors.
- Frequently asked Pressure Relief Valve Questions
(from Farris) including :- Can pressure relief valves
be mounted horizontally? How much seat leakage can I
expect from a pressure relief valve? How often should
a pressure relief valve be serviced? What are the
benefits of soft seat valves versus metal seat designs? When
must I specify a lifting lever on a Pressure Relief Valve? When
must I specify the use of a Balanced Bellows pressure relief valve?When
should I specify a pilot operated relief valve?
- Pressure Relief Design - This resource from cheresources.com
has a real "vault" of excellent technical articles including, Relief
Valve Set Pressures and Relief Valves: "What Can Go Wrong"
scenarios
Sizing Control Valves- From cheresources.com - This article defines a more standard procedure for sizing a valve as well as helping to select the appropriate type.
Rupture Disks for Processing Engineers - Parts 1 to 6 - from cheresources.com
Posted by: Jim Russell, August 2007
SI System of Units - this superb link from the International Bureau of Weights and Measures covers just about everything one would wish to know about SI units, giving full text in English and French, a condensed version and a pocket guide. Look on ICEweb's tools page for more useful tools.
Using Simulation to Optimise Results of Automation Projects -Tom Fiske and MYNAH Technologies. This paper explores how the use of a simulation system for testing and training reduces time-to-market and increases business results of process automation projects. See more information on our new Dynamic Process Simulators and Training Systems page.
The August edition of ICEnews is now available - thanks to our editor Ian Verhappen for his valued input.
Posted by: Jim Russell, July 2007
Replacing Old Technology - Revitalising level measurement accuracy at Soviet-era plant.
Some Oil in Water Analyser Application Case Studies can be found on ICEweb's Oil in Water page.
Users fear wireless networks for control - Following is an item-by-item rebuttal of plant engineer’s vow: “Critical data will never transmit over a wireless link in my plant.” Fear and loathing on the technology trail - An excellent article From Dick Caro and the ISA/InTech.
Check out ICEweb's new Dynamic Process Simulators and Training Systems page.
The
Following articles from PSVplus have been added to ICEweb's comprehensive Pressure
Relief Valve page.
- Pressure Safety Valves - Four Design Steps - Proper
design of a Pressure Relieving devices is a complex and time consuming task
involving a significant number of Process considerations which are detailed
in this useful article.
- Pressure Safety
Valves - Calculation, Design and Specification.
Posted by: Jim Russell, June 2007
ICEweb's Ultrasonic Flow Metering page has been updated with new links - thanks to our sponsor Zedflo Australia
New Hazardous Areas technical papers have been posted on ICEweb's ExWeb.
RFID Case Study ebook -This excellent 61 page technical reference has details on 25 different RFID applications from around the world. The password to the document is "abhisam". Thanks to our sponsor Abhisam Software .
Technical Paper on How
to Achieve FDA Compliance on the Pedigree Requirement
New ICEweb sponsor and training group Abhisam Software have E-learning courses on the following subjects:
The Education page has been extensively reworked and details many extra useful education links from around the world._
Pressure Measurement Glossary -Find an explanation here for pressure measurement terms listed in alphabetical order- from SensorsOne
"Things to Do" Reminder List - use this as a simple reminder tool.
Technology associated with profiler level systems - from Sentech, you can find more information on this on ICEweb's Level Page.
The Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance (WINA) is a coalition of industrial end-user companies, technology suppliers, industry organizations, software developers, system integrators, and others interested in the advancement of wireless solutions for industry. They have a useful series of technical papers covering various Industry Applications.
The following papers are from MicroStrain
Power
Management for Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensors - The
objective of this work was to demonstrate smart wireless sensing nodes
capable of operation at extremely low power levels.
Frequency Agile Wireless Sensor Networks
- A wireless communications system capable of simultaneous,
high speed data communications from a variety of sensors.
Wireless
Strain Sensing Networks - A wireless communications system capable of
simultaneous, high speed data communications, particularly adapted for use
with conventional foil strain gauges.
Wireless
Strain Measurement Systems - Applications and Solutions - This article
summarizes the development of wireless micro-displacement & strain
sensing systems for medical, civil structural, automotive, and aerospace
structural health monitoring (SHM) applications.
The following technical articles are from the
excellent publication Flow Control
Network.
- Pressure
& Temperature Tap Placement -Deciding
Between Upstream and Downstream Location for a Flow Metering Application- From
David W Spitzer
- Flowmeter
Piping Requirements How Much Straight Run Is Enough?-
Greg Livelli- A very useful technical paper
detailing straight run requirements for various types of flowmeters.
- A
Primer on Primary Elements -Understanding a Key
Aspect of DP Flow Measurement - Jesse Yoder, Ph.D. A
general description of some flowmeter types
ICEweb has a new Valve Actuator Page...we are looking for further technical papers and articles for this area, please contact us if you have any.