Wednesday 31 March 2021

Ultra-compact flowmeter.

The AF-E 400 ultra-compact electromagnetic flowmeter for utilities and industrial automation applications has been introduced by Krohne. It is specially designed to fit in applications with little installation space available, e.g. in cooling lines of welding equipment, bending machines and robots, or on chemical dosing skids. AF-E 400 matches the requirements of application areas in heating and cooling/temperature control, machine building of washing or dosing equipment, HVAC, and utilities and industrial automation applications in all process industries.

The company examined issues with products in this segment and developed the cost-effective ultra-compact flowmeter to be best in its class in terms of temperature range, accuracy, pressure drop and flow range: AF-E 400 features a stainless steel housing and is suitable for continuous use at +90°C/ +194°F liquid temperature, allowing for operation in very demanding cooling and hot water applications. The round bore reduction of the sensor makes the flowmeter more resilient in terms of increased pressure, ensuring high accuracy over a wide pressure and temperature range, and a high turndown ratio without risk of cavitation. The integrated temperature measurement eliminates the need for an additional sensor, minimising the intrusion points in the pipe and providing more data from the process.

AF-E 400 also features extensive self-diagnostics: the meter continuously monitors several critical aspects including low supply voltage, incorrect parametrisation, flow range exceedance, or short circuit on any of its outputs. Warning messages according to NAMUR NE107 alert the user via the rotatable full colour display or the communication outputs.

Due to the special design of its magnetic circuit, field strength and electronics, AF-E 400 is immune to crosstalk caused by magnetic field overlap of adjacent devices, and can be installed in series or in parallel up to a distance of 2 mm/ 0.08" from device to device without interference.

Nominal sensor sizes reach from DN6...25/ ¼...1¨ for flow rates up to 150 l/min/ 40 US gpm as standard, up to 500 l/min/ 132 US gpm on request. Output options include 4...20 mA, pulse, frequency, switch, IO–link or Modbus to provide operators with multiple sensor and application data for smarter factory automation. AF-E 400 is sold from stock and shipped within 48 hours.

 @krohnegroup #PAuto

In the clouds!

Emerson Exchange, the Emerson User Group on-line conference continued for a second day and we managed to attend one or two of the presentations!
Peter Zornio addresses the EMREX EMEA'21 from deep within the Emerson Control Centre somewhere deep in the heart of in Texas! 

Perhaps a disadvantage in these on-line conferences is distractions. It is so easy in these days of working from home to walk away or miss a talk because of something else happening that "must" be seen to. Physical presence at these conferences perhaps ensures a more concentrated application to the business in hand. The other thing missing is of course the professional relationships continued, fostered and established at such gatherings facilitating the exchanging of experiences and ideas. This COVID-19 has a lot to answer for!

Bader Al-Attar, Deputy CEO Planning Finance at Kuwait Oil Company discussed “The need for improved digitization in the Oil Gas Business.” Major oil & gas entities are impacted severely not only by pandemic and currency crises but also now by the effect of sustainability policies and need to reduce carbon emissions. Digitisation is an important, indeed essential, help in confronting these challenges.

What should go and what should stay!
Peter Zornio, Chief Technology Officer at Emerson talked about “Cloud, cloud, cloud – but for Plant Operations?” and focussed on the developments in usage of the Cloud which sometimes appears, particularly in the IT world as the answer to a maiden's prayer. It does have many benefits of course like universal access, little or no capital investment etc.

But we should be careful. While these maybe useful in the IT world it is not as completely useful in the OT world. Certainly there are useful aspects of cloud technology like analysis and historian. It is important however to maintain "hands on" on the core control of a process and be careful in deciding what should stay and what should go into the cloud! NAMUR recognises that most customers want (need) base operations to function without the cloud.

These and other of the sessions are available on the website for delegates to see at a later date on the site - it's free!

• Here are our impressions from Day 1: From defence to reimagining the new era! (29/3/2021)

• Impressions from Emerson User Group Conferences through the years.

@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @KocOfficial @HHC_Lewis #EMrex #Pauto #EMEA 

Agreement on cybersecurity standards in energy.

The ISA99 standards committee and the NATO Energy Security Center for Excellence have signed a letter of intent for cooperation in the exchange of information and collaboration pertaining to the application of cybersecurity standards and guidelines in the energy sector.

The NATO Energy Security Center for Excellence (NATO ENSEC COE) became interested in applying the ISA/IEC 62443 standards during the course of a 2018-2019 cyber risk study of the industrial control systems used in the NATO Central Europe pipeline system, according to Vytautas Butrimas, who spearheaded the agreement and now represents NATO ENSEC COE on ISA99. “With this agreement,” Butrimas stated, “we look forward to exploring new ways of collaboration with ISA to improve the safety, reliability, and performance of the backbone technologies that support economic activity, national security, and well-being of our societies.”

The ISA/IEC 62443 standards are developed primarily by the ISA99 committee with simultaneous review and adoption by the Geneva-based International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ISA99 draws on the input of cybersecurity experts across the globe in developing consensus standards that are applicable to all industry sectors and critical infrastructure, providing a flexible and comprehensive framework to address and mitigate current and future security vulnerabilities in industrial automation and control systems.

The agreement with NATO ENSEC COE is the latest in a string of notable milestones in the ongoing development and growing global application of the ISA/IEC 62443 series. It follows a previous decision by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to integrate the standards into its Common Regulatory Framework on Cybersecurity, which serves as an official UN policy position statement for Europe.

•The ISA/IEC 62443 standards are available here. In addition, ISA offers extensive training resources on cybersecurity as well as safety, fundamentals, and other topics in industrial automation and control systems.

@ISA_Interchange @ENSECCOE #NATO #Cybersecurity #Energy

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Remote telemetry units for improved operational efficiency.

Matthew Hawkridge, chief technology officer at Ovarro, looks at the benefits of working with a Remote Telemetry Unit partner with an eye on the future.

Running a successful business in the 21st century means integrating technology within all aspects of operations. One of the most valuable benefits is that data can be analysed and interpreted to improve operational efficiency — and the most effective was of accessing this resource is with a Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU).

Choosing the right RTU partner can deliver continuous improvements — yet businesses commonly ask, how should RTUs be implemented? 80 per cent of success in these projects is down to execution, including investments in technology, and your telemetry partner’s knowledge and experience provides the greatest part of the solution. Their insights and understanding can help you achieve your business goals. Here are five ways in which the right technology partner can help:

1. Monitor processes better
Historically, data from machines was measured manually — a time-consuming process — or not at all. That meant management teams had little visibility of how processes were performing, or how to make improvements. However, thanks to advances in RTU technology these processes can now be automated so at-a-glance data provides valuable insights. The right technology partner will also help teach your employees how to understand and interpret this data, increasing the skillset within your business and creating a highly effective workforce.

Employees can feel empowered in being able to operate and understand new technology platforms, improving the culture of the whole business. Ultimately, the outcome of these technology platforms is greater efficiency, which feeds through to more profitability and enhanced shareholder value.

2. Better visibility of asset health
A specialist technology partner with access to the appropriate RTU platforms can provide live insights into the health of assets, regardless of location. Your partner should also help you specify a device that operates most-effectively within the most demanding site conditions.

For example, an RTU with multiple, independent communications links, redundant power supplies and redundant process controllers provides another buffer to site conditions and future technological developments. Because they are resilient with layers of redundancy, RTUs are a reliable part of an effective and ongoing management information system.

Ovarro TBox RTU.

The RTU monitors day-to-day critical asset information such as fuel and coolant levels, hours of run-time, oil temperature, faults, load levels and more. It monitors the external environment too, for example the local temperature. This is useful in harsh environments: engineers can take pre-emptive actions to prevent LNG assets overheating or freezing, without the need for routine inspections that can be hazardous and time-consuming.

3. Rapid response to changing events
Businesses operate at a fast pace in quickly-changing environments, and those that are most reactive will increase their market share. Communication is vital for this. The internet, laptops and smart devices have facilitated radical improvements in communication and so, too, has the cloud.

The RTU, and a partner like Ovarro that understands these opportunities, can bring all these together. Businesses can implement an integrated approach to communication, even if they are in geographically dispersed locations.

As processing speeds continue to improve, more automation will be introduced into industrial processes. Having this built into your RTU platform will allow you to keep up with developing technology. That’s why it’s always worth checking that your technology partner can provide these kinds of insights and understanding. These improvements are already facilitating the development of blockchain technology, which is redefining the concept of digital twins. Our customers are beginning to utilise blockchain technology to create a digital store of physical objects, and the RTU is the essential link between these two.

4. Add value to the customer proposition
Evolving RTU technologies within the industrial space can shape how your customers interact with your products and brands. The most successful companies fully-use the data available to understand their customers’ behaviour, and significantly increase their bottom lines.

5. Future-proof your business
RTUs have been used for decades for digitising industrial processes as the data acquisition portion of a SCADA system. While this has improved visualizations for operators, many integration partners have kept their customers up-to-date with latest advances in analytics and in decision-support solutions that apply, for example, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Through transformative operational improvements and dynamic adaptability, AI can outperform conventional decision-support technologies. Your RTU partner should work with you to develop cost-effective solutions that are more adaptive to constantly changing conditions. The real benefit of AI is automating complex tasks, and providing consistent and precise optimum set points as part of an automated process.

The answer?
Industrial manufacturers that are unable to capture, interpret and act upon asset-generated data will soon lose out to competitors. Advances in RTUs, and the value of choosing the right systems integrator, means that industrial processes are already routinely capturing and storing vast amounts of data.

Businesses can turn this data into a competitive advantage. Manufacturers’ business models are changing as they shift to production of higher-value products or look to provide more services. RTU specialists are critical to this movement, helping deliver more efficient processes and responding quickly to changing conditions.

@ovarro_ltd @StoneJunctionPR #PAuto #RTU

Monday 29 March 2021

From defence to reimagining the new era!

We have managed to attend each Emerson User Group meeting in Europe since the first one in Duesseldorf in 2012. They were held every two years since then in various European citys and managed to overcome problems some not so difficult and one major threat at the Brussels which went ahead some weeks after the terrible bombings in that city in Spring 2016. We were therefore looking forward to the 2020 event in the great city of Milan in March. And then came COVID-19 and many thought it would perhaps be brought forward to a later date and then it was decided to hold it in 2021. But the pandemic works to its own timetable!

Thus it was decided to hold this years event on-line. We've counted around 500 different presentations, demonstrations, and applications over the three days of this event. 

Of course Emerson User Group meetings were started prior to 2012 in the Americas and those of us on this side of the Atlantic attended in ever improving internet access or through following activity on twitter using the hash tag #EMREX like here from the 2009 EMRex (Held in Houston TX USA). Of course internet access and the transmission and organising of events on-line have improved in the meantime and of course with the events of the past 15 months the general use of applications facilitating inter communicating over the internet has blossemed not only in the industrial sphere but also in domestic intercommunication. This was highlighted in the remarks of Jos Berkin of Nouryon, at the opening of the conference when he observed that the adoption of phone for general uses took over 20 years but that the impact of the world pandemic forced swift adaptation of digital technology. "The technology was already there but general adoption was hastened by events."

"We are entering into a new era!" this was the challenge described by Roel van Doren (right), a Veteran of these conferences as European President of Emerson for the past eight years. He is now Group President Global Sales with Emerson, for the company. When the Pandemic made its unwelcome presence felt Emerson like all industry adopted a defensive mode. The conditions were unprecedented and required great concentration on the pert of all operatives. He felt that this had been largely successful and they were now "reimagining the new era - "the Next Normal!"

Many of the issues in this particular conference would address this new normal. It included a new invigorated emphasis on energy and sustainability. In a move that underlines their commitment to sustainability, Mike Train, who has served as company president since 2018 and a member of Emerson’s Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) since 2016, is to step down as president to take on this new and important role for Emerson - Chief Sustainability Officer. During the next period we are going to witness a change from hydrocarbon to the new energy. "Hydrogen is the rockstar of the new energy world!" he declared*.

Richard Mortimer VP Engineering for BP's Global Project Organisation spoke on how this large corporation is addressing global warming through technology and examining how to reduce substantially the effect of the petroleum industry on the environment both in production and usage.

"How to shoot yourself in the foot!"
Safety Layers
Thomas Wegner
, (Industrial Control System Cyber-Security Lead, Yara) delivered a presentation with this provocative title. Cybersecurity around Industrial Control Systems must be approached in a practical and pragmatic way. His entertaining and well delivered talk shared real-life tips that either can easily be turned into quick-wins or that will enable avoidance of common pitfalls, including the currently rampant ransomware threats causing you extensive production outages or even HESQ incidents. IoT although an invaluable tool can also a great danger to a processing facility. The talk was billed accurately as follows, "The Food for thought at a low buzzword-density, no fancy IT geek speak, but real-life experience sharing. Not academic thoughts or death-by-PowerPoint, but tips with value to your daily operation. Caution: May contain traces of expressive language." One of the comments he made struck this correspondant. Doctors when visiting patieant always was their hands before moving on to the next patient. Sales and maintenance personnel could learn from this. "Wash you laptop before you visit the next client!"

The event continues until Wednesday.


@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @yara @Nouryon @bp_plc @HHC_Lewis #EMrex #Pauto #EMEA



Friday 26 March 2021

Diamonds keep their shine!

LDetek, has developed a complete turnkey solution for producing synthetic diamonds. Using the combination of gas chromatograph with integrated stream selection and gas dilution, operators can speed up the process of growing high-quality cultured diamonds using chemical vapor deposition.

Large scale synthetic diamond production uses the high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) process as this is the most economical method to produce large quantities of synthetic diamonds. However, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method produces the best grade of synthetic diamond possible in a relatively short time.

CVD creates a carbon plasma over a substrate onto which the carbon atoms deposit to form diamond. It allows for better control of characteristics and properties of the diamonds but requires good control of impurities in the hydrocarbon gases used, and this is where LDetek’s trace impurities system plays a vital role.

Levels of N2 must be carefully controlled, along with trace O2 and H2O to confirm the purity of the hydrogen, methane and other additive gases.

Trace N2 from sub ppb to few hundred ppm is measured with the LDetek PlasmaDetek2 detector mounted in the MultiDetek2 gas chromatograph. Optional H2O-NH2 and O2 analysis can be added in the same instrument when required by the process. LDetek’s LDGSS stream selector system ensures the automatic switching sequence for analysis between H2/CH2 and the different additive gases, while the LDGDSA automatic dilution system can be added to accurately calibrate for gases in parts per billion.

Synthetic diamonds – also referred to as cultivated diamonds – are created all over the world and used in the same way as naturally occurring diamonds. This includes jewelry, electronics, machine and cutting tools, thermal conductors and optical materials. For industry, synthetic diamonds are less costly but valued as a highly ethical product since there is little humanitarian or environmental impact involved in their production. For jewelry, other advantages include the ability to produce shapes not possible in nature and better control over the quality of the stones.

• The complete, detailed application note includes information on lower detection limits and chromatograms of the measurements.

@ProcessSensing #PAuto 

In-Vehicle IoT Gateway.

Impulse Embedded a leading provider of Industrial computing systems and solutions announces the availability of the UST210-83K-FL, a new compact DIN-rail fanless in-vehicle Box-PC powered by the Intel® Atom® x5-E3940 processor (codename: Apollo Lake-I). The UST210-83K-FL has been specifically designed for in-vehicle applications such as vehicle controls, fleet monitoring, management systems and in-vehicle edge computing and is compatible with Windows®10 and Linux Ubuntu 18.04.

Key specifications:
The cost-effective UST210-83K-FL has one DDR3L-1866 SO-DIMM slot with a maximum of 8GB of system memory. Combining flexible configuration and easy expansion design, the fanless embedded system supports an array of functional I/O ports, including two COM ports or one COM port and one CANBus 2.0 A/B port supporting SocketCAN, one HDMI port, four RJ-45 Gigabit PoE ports or four RJ-45 Gigabit LAN ports (with Intel® Ethernet Controller I211-AT), two USB 3.0 ports, one DB9 8-bit programmable DIO port and four antenna openings. It also has one full-size PCI Express Mini Card slot (USB interface with SIM socket) and one half-size PCI Express Mini Card slot (mSATA/USB interface) for a wide selection of modules. A half-size mSATA occupied with its PCI Express Mini Card slot and an internal 2.5” SATA drive are available for additional storage. This flexible IoT gateway is compatible with Windows®10. It supports Axiomtek’s exclusive AXView software to fulfil the requirement of remote monitoring and features Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0) to ensure critical information security.
Robert Plant, Sales Director at Impulse Embedded, comments, “An embedded IoT system now plays a critical role in vehicles of all types, providing communications, connectivity and edge processing power. Axiomtek’s UST210-83K-FL offers not only rich I/O but also Smart Ignition power control to fulfil a variety of in-vehicle compute requirements.”

The flexible in-vehicle IoT gateway provides secure bi-directional communications and is aimed at many vehicle-based applications including public transport and shuttle buses, police cars, ambulances, commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. The UST210-83K-FL is very cost-effective and its fanless design removes acoustic noise while increasing reliability.

The DIN-Rail or wall mountable ruggedised in-vehicle embedded system features front-accessible I/O ports for easy access and maintenance and a Smart Ignition function for power on/off scheduling to protect vehicle battery. The in-vehicle Box-PC complies with ISO 7637-2 and can endure vibration of up to 3 Grms, ensuring stable and reliable operation under challenging environmental conditions.

The UST210-83K-FL can operate over a wide temperature range from -40 to +70°C and it passes MIL-STD-810G shock and vibration resistance certifications to ensure reliable operation when traveling on poor road conditions. It has a wide input voltage range from 9V to 36V DC to accommodate most vehicle types and is CE and FCC certified. It supports COM, CAN, USB, PoE and SocketCAN as well as 8-bit programmable DIO and AMS.AXView intelligent remote monitoring.


@ImpulseEmbedded @proactivefleet  #IoT #Automotive

Power grid and smart meters communication.

Schaffner has announced the introduction of the world’s first Active Line Impedance Stabilizer (ALIS).  The ALIS is designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for power line communication between the public power grid and smart meters. It introduces an impedance “barrier” between the smart meter and the household without affecting the smart meter’s communication.
There is a world-wide trend for city-developers to transform their infrastructure into smart grids. In smart cities power distribution will be more flexible. Traditionally energy distribution was linear; with large power stations producing energy transferred over a power grid to consumers. With the introduction of solar power and other renewable sources a consumer can become a producer and sell electricity back to energy companies. To keep up with such new developments, smart energy grids can help to organise this new model for distribution of electrical energy.
 
The new Schaffner ALIS brings benefits to every part of smart meter roll out. Key features for systems developers include no losses at main frequency, no reactive power losses, no galvanic connection in power line, no contact reliability risk which assures safe use and fail proof operation protecting the system, and very low extra energy costs providing cost saving compared to passive solutions. ALIS is small and lightweight compared to passive solutions, may be DIN-Rail mounted and is safe for service engineers to work on.
 
Programme managers and buyers will appreciate the reductions in meter reading costs, increased KPI with 24hr availability, and increased meter availability with15-minute snapshots of consumption transmitted once per 24 hours to network planners providing information of how the network is performing. Extensive support from Schaffner, the market leader in EMC solutions, flexible supply with audits and product tracing are available.
 
Holger Urban, Head of Product Management at Schaffner, comments, “The new Schaffner ALIS is set to become electricity companies first choice to clean the G3-PLC networks after smart meter roll-out and is ideal for troubleshooting in PLC networks. In the event of communication being influenced by load side machines with low impedances for example solar inverters or lifts, the Schaffner Line Impedance Stabilizer can help to re-establish communication. The ALIS can optionally also help in noisy situations, caused by defective or not EMC compliant products connected on the load side”
 
ALIS are typically used by grid operators to improve PLC after a smart meter roll-out. If the smart meter cannot be reached and the reason is low impedance problem on the customer side, the ALIS is the device of choice. The ALIS will introduce up to several tens of Ohm of impedance in the frequency range enhancing the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNRE) for more reliable power line communication. It supports G3, as well as other CENELEC A band standards.

@proactivefleet #Shaffner #Power #PAuto #Communications

Thursday 25 March 2021

Efficient data management can save time and money during design.

New digital services are now available to simplify the data management of Harting products and solutions.


Behind every electrical engineering project are many individual components and a wide range of data: 2D/3D CAD data, data sheets, type sheets and certificates are all part of the documentation trail. 

"Comparatively more time is spent on article research and the collection, conversion and storage of related documents than on the design itself," says Andreas Wedel, Director of Digital Transformation at the Harting Technology Group. That is why he and his team are working on new functions that will improve the data management for their products and solutions.

"Many of our customers still use the old HARTING catalogues, not so much out of nostalgia, but because they are full of notes and bookmarks," explains Wedel. “We wanted to make this practical way of working also possible in our online catalogue.”  The option to add items to wish lists has been available in the Harting eShop for a long time. Thanks to a new update, it is now possible to add text notes to individual articles. These notes can be managed and filtered via the myHARTING customer portal.

Saving time with data packets
Additional functions are aimed at the rapid provision of product data and documents that are necessary for electrical design. The design data, data sheets and type sheets for all individual components often add up to hundreds of documents. Previously, these had to be downloaded from the provider (including Harting) in individual steps. Using the new data manager, product data for up to 50 Harting articles can now be obtained in a single step from their website as a collected data packet.

50 different 2D/3D data formats for direct download
Up until now, HARTING has provided design data for its products in STEP and JT formats. In practice, however, significantly more formats are used. Therefore, many Harting customers still had to convert the data into their desired format. With the new MultiCAD download function, native 2D/3D CAD data is now available for download in over 50 different formats. This means that articles can be processed immediately in the desired data format for design purposes. This MultiCAD function is currently available for over 13,000 items in their online catalogue.

Customer portal offers many options
This new functionality can be found in the myHARTING customer portal, which already provides many e-commerce services. "Anyone who is professionally involved with our products and solutions can easily register and use all the services at myHARTING free of charge," explains Andreas Wedel.

@hartinguk @HARTING #PAuto #Design

Temperature sensors for data loggers.

ELPRO relies on Sensirion's ISO 17025:2017 accredited temperature sensors for its LIBERO Cx multi-use data loggers with Bluetooth® and LIBERO Gx real-time data loggers. ELPRO’s reliable and smart data loggers offer reliable monitoring of sensitive goods and simplify complicated, time-consuming processes in cold chain logistics.

“ELPRO’s data logger solutions are a perfect application for our new certified STS32 temperature sensors and are at the forefront of the industry. The successful partnership between Sensirion and ELPRO is fueled by the mutual ambition to offer innovative high-quality products and brave new solutions,” says Matthias Scharfe, Product Manager Humidity and Temperature Sensors at Sensirion.

Pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, are highly regulated and typically require special handling along their distribution chain. Manufacturers are obligated to cover distribution in their overall quality system and must continuously adapt to adhere to current Good Distribution Practices for the pharmaceutical or perishable goods supply chain (also see PDA Technical Report #52). The most regulated parameter for drugs and perishable goods is temperature, which determines not only the lifetime, but also the usability of a product. This often requires a product lifetime temperature profile within a narrow band. 

Reliable temperature monitoring in the complexity of a modern logistics network therefore requires trustworthy data loggers, which are increasingly (pushed by regulations such as EN 12830) accepted only with certification from accredited laboratories (ISO 17025). ELPRO offers a wide range of data logger solutions for every customer need. The LIBERO Cx multi-use series with Bluetooth® provides the foundation for next-generation independent monitoring solutions for products with known stability data.

Going a step further, the LIBERO Gx series enables real-time data logging, providing 24/7 access to shipment, location and condition data, including temperature, humidity, light, tilt and shock. The 1-year battery life protects shipments further and longer around the globe. The LIBERO Gx family has the widest available measurement range for real-time condition monitoring of  200°C to +400°C. 

“At ELPRO, we live and breathe quality and compliance – they are the foundation of our customer relationship and the trust in our products and services. For this purpose, we have to ensure that the chips for our temperature data loggers correspond exactly to the specifications that were defined during development. The nature and scope of routine checks and controls is heavily dependent on Sensirion, who has been the perfect partner in the development of these chips and has incorporated the needs of ELPRO and our customers into production,” says Björn Niggemann, Chief Quality Officer at ELPRO. 

ELPRO’s data logging solutions rely on Sensirion’s STS32 sensor, a digital, I2C-based temperature sensor that features GDP (Good Distribution Practices)-adapted accuracy specification and includes a three-point calibration certificate provided by Sensirion’s new ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited calibration laboratory. Calibration certificates and data for each STS32 can be downloaded from a server address given in the shipment documents. In turn, STS32 users not only embed sensor hardware into their product, but can also merge the provided calibration data from the sensor with the calibration information needed for their loggers. 

@sensirion @PDA_Europe #PAuto #Pharma

Vacuum Transducer for OEMs.

Device Packages a MEMS Pirani Sensor and Microcontroller-Based Measuring Electronics in a Compact PCB Assembly

Their new PVC4000 series MEMS Pirani vacuum transducer has been announced by Posifa Technologies. Designed for cost-effective OEM integration, the device consists of a surface-mount MEMS Pirani sensor and microcontroller-based measuring electronics — all packaged in an ultra-compact PCB assembly featuring a connector-terminated wire harness.

The PVC4000's sensor element is based on Posifa's second-generation MEMS thermal conduction chip, which operates under the principle that the thermal conductivity of gas is proportional to its vacuum pressure. The transducer's microcontroller-based measuring electronics amplify and digitize the senor's signal, providing output via an I²C interface. The interface also allows users to store calibration data in the microcontroller, which is utilized by a built-in piecewise linearization algorithm to provide calibrated output.

To compensate for variations in thermal conductivity due to changes in ambient temperature, the PVC4000 features a temperature compensation algorithm, which takes its input from a built-in temperature sensor. In addition, a pulsed excitation scheme, in which the sensor chip is heated for about 100 ms and then turned off for one second, prevents signal drift due to self-heating, and also reduces the power consumption of the transducer.

The transducer released today is ideal for digital vacuum gauges. For these applications, the device combines low power consumption with extremely fast response times of >1.2 s and a wide effective range from 1 millitorr (0.13 Pa) to 1 atm (760 torr, or 101 kPa). Readers may contact Posifa to discuss options for customizing the transducer's specifications.


#Posifa #PAuto #OEM 

Control of innovative, electric rope balancer!

ZASCHE handling turned to Delta Industrial Automation to draw upon their expertise in motor control solutions.

Handling systems are an essential tool across a range of industries, from manufacturing and metalworking to automotive and railway. Personnel must frequently lift and maneuver heavy or awkward loads, then place them with utmost accuracy and care. ZASCHE handling has been focused on this challenge since the 1990s, helping its customers fulfill ergonomic requirements for their staff, such as the EU’s Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC . For many years, the industry has relied upon pneumatic rope balancers to handle and position loads with precision. However, the compressed air required is not always available and, in some cases, is even prohibited.

To meet this market need, ZASCHE handling developed a fully electric rope balancer. With customer expectations aligned to the performance of pneumatic solutions, this electric implementation had high expectations to fulfill. Not only should its performance be comparable with existing products, it would need to be quieter, consume less energy, and have an even simpler maintenance regime.

Such devices can lift loads of up to 100 kg and offer a stroke of 2000 mm. Additionally, single-hand control is expected for fatigue-free operation, while motion must be both smooth and responsive. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of such equipment is limiting motion as the device moves from heavily loaded to unloaded. With many facilities integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, easy integration with CANopen networks was an additional requirement. Features such as Safe Torque Off (STO) and no-drop when the brake was released were further critical aspects of the design for ensuring operator safety.

ZASCHE handling turned to Delta Industrial Automation to draw upon their expertise in motor control solutions. A three-phase induction motor requiring field-oriented control (FOC) had been selected to power the rope balancer that would be powered from a single-phase, 230 V supply. An encoder integrated into the gearbox, providing 1024 pulses per revolution (ppr), formed an essential element of the balancer’s precise control implementation. The need for vibration-less motion from the motor drive proved challenging at the highest and lowest speeds due to operators expecting the same responsiveness at high loads as they do at low loads.

After careful review of the requirements, Delta proposed the MH300 Series of high-performance, heavy-duty micro drives. The vector control implementation matched the selected motor optimally. Furthermore, thanks to its 40% size reduction over previous generations of the drive, it was an excellent fit for the rope balancer and contributed to its low overall weight. The integrated PLC provided the flexibility required to optimize the motor control precisely to the needs of the application. The USB port built into the drive ensured the customized firmware of the PLC could be updated with ease, enabling rapid iteration and testing of software improvements to the design’s closed-loop controller. This 230 V, single-phase micro drive also delivered the requested built-in support for CANopen and a Class A (C2) EMC filter.

Rope balancers are subject to wildly changing loads, so drive solutions must be heavy-duty. The MH300 Series provides a 150% overload capability over 60 seconds and 200% over 3 seconds. To support the compact design requirements, the integrated STO, compliant with EN 61508 SIL2, replaced the multiple contactors typically needed for emergency stop implementations. Coupled with a Safety Relay, the safe release of the rope balancer’s brake could be guaranteed. Safe hold in the event of power loss was also implemented.

Precise control is at the core of such applications, requiring the micro drive to accurately monitor the motor’s rotor position. Thanks to the modular approach used, the MH300 Series could be interfaced with the selected encoder using one of the available PG Cards that are easily inserted in the available Options Slot. Combined with the ability to program upper and lower control limits into the MH300, this also helped reduce overall design complexity.

Innovative products, such as the Z-BE electric rope balancer from ZASCHE handling, are challenging to develop, especially when expectations are already set so high by existing solutions. However, thanks to the close cooperation with Delta Industrial Automation, operators and facilities managers now have access to an intuitive-to-use, safe, accurate, low-maintenance, and, above all, electrically efficient alternative to pneumatic rope lifters. “The selection of the MH300, with its simple configuration, integrated CANopen, and modular approach, has enabled us to deliver our product with the safe control and precision our customers expect,” said Günther Rieck, Electrical Engineer at Zasche. 

Dr. Jörg Eidam, CTO at Zasche added, “We also value the technical insights and support provided by Delta at every stage of development.” 

Holger Friedrich, Sales Manager at Delta also highlighted that: “The compact and rugged MH300 Series was designed with exactly such applications in mind. It has been a pleasure to support ZASCHE handling in bringing their application successfully to market.”

@DeltaEMEA @EU_Growth #Automotive #Transport #PAuto

Validating product interoperability.

HMS Networks launches new PTC Marketplace solution which enables users to bridge machine data to PTC’s ThingWorx® Platform using Ewon® Flexy and the Talk2M® cloud.

HMS Networks has announced the availability of a new extension which integrates the Ewon Flexy edge gateways, and associated Ewon Talk2M cloud, with PTC’s ThingWorx® Industrial IoT (IIoT) Solutions Platform. The Ewon extension for ThingWorx has been validated by PTC and has achieved ThingWorx Ready™ status.

The PTC ThingWorx Ready program enables technology companies to validate their products’ interoperability with the ThingWorx platform. Following a product’s ThingWorx Ready designation, that product becomes available on the PTC Marketplace, a digital space where PTC’s partners and customers can access and promote IIoT tools, market-ready solutions, and innovative technologies designed to aid solution deployments.

The Ewon Flexy extension for ThingWorx allows machine OEMs and systems integrators easy and secure data integration from PLCs from all major PLC vendors over the internet to the ThingWorx platform. With this integration, PTC partners and customers can implement state of the art remote machine service solutions customized to their specific markets.

“Remote machine connectivity is a core market for HMS Networks” says Kevin Knake, Vice President and Americas GM at HMS. “We are excited to be able to offer secure, out-of-the-box machine connectivity to ThingWorx via our proven Ewon Flexy and Talk2M solution. With this, we open a clear path for customers to offer market leading service solutions. ThingWorx services, including Asset Advisor, can be a great value for our machine OEM customer base.”

“We’re pleased HMS Networks is part of the ThingWorx Ready program. HMS’ new Ewon Flexy extension for ThingWorx opens up new possibilities for ThingWorx users to integrate machine data” says Jonathan Kateman, senior vice president, Strategic Alliances at PTC. “Our network of technology partners allows us to offer our customers and partners innovative resources that can add value to their IIoT solutions and help accelerate time to business value.”

@hmsnetworks @ThingWorx @PTC @mepaxIntPR #Pauto #IoT #TandM

Wednesday 24 March 2021

Award for white light source and IR emitter in one.

LaserLight SMD W-IR, the world's first white light chip with a switching function, received the Prism Award 2021 from SPIE. On command, the light source transforms into an IR emitter with 905 nm or 850 nm. Both light sources are housed on the same 7 × 7 mm chip. SMDs are optionally available with a starboard to facilitate mounting on the circuit board. 

This chip is distributed in Europe and the USA by Laser Components.

With a luminous flux of 450 lumens and a luminance of 1000 Mcd / m², the KYOCERA SLD Laser product offers all the advantages of LaserLight white light technology, such as a long range and narrow beam angle, even in this dual function. The IR wavelengths are emitted with an output power of 250 mW.

The IR wavelengths of the SMD W-IR are mainly used in motion sensors, night vision cameras, and other professional security systems. This new development opens up numerous application possibilities. Instead of placing motion sensors and lighting in two different components, one element can perform both functions. For example, a surveillance camera automatically illuminates the corresponding area as soon as it detects something suspicious.

@LCGermany @PresseBox #PAuto #Security

End-to-end modular IT infrastructure.

Rittal and Stulz, leading specialist for data centre cooling systems, have entered into a global partnership, with immediate effect. 

Prof. Friedhelm Loh and Jürgen Stulz 
“Rittal and Stulz are both family-run companies, with a commitment to innovation and customer centricity,”
states Prof. Friedhelm Loh, owner and CEO of Friedhelm Loh Group. “Together, we can offer our customers an even larger portfolio of flexible, end-to-end data centre solutions.”

“In cooperation with Rittal, we will ensure rapid, reliable IT system implementation backed by an agile, global service organisation with a presence in more than 120 countries,” emphasizes Jürgen Stulz, Managing Director Stulz GmbH.

The two acknowledged pioneers will be better equipped to offer customers end-to-end, tailored solutions to their needs. Rittal’s broad IT infrastructure portfolio will now be combined with powerful liquid-based closed-circuit chillers, free-cooling products, side chillers and indoor chillers from Stulz. Rittal’s contribution includes IT enclosures, IT cooling units, and IT power-supply solutions, as well as software for data centre management and IT system monitoring.

The joint offering also extends to global support and other services for the entire IT infrastructure lifecycle. The result is data centre solutions that are future-proof and investment-protected. Moreover, customers can be sure of transparent TCO analysis, high availability and security, backed by robust monitoring.

Demand for one-stop data centre solutions is growing. The IT industry is evolving fast, with new technologies and applications such as 5G, machine learning and digital twins, in conjunction with the burgeoning use of videoconferencing and e-commerce. Consequently, companies must upgrade and expand their IT infrastructure at an ever-increasing pace. They need solutions that can be implemented quickly, that comply with high international standards of quality and security, and that can be tailored to their specific requirements. This is exactly what Rittal and Stulz are able to deliver, as innovators and global players with long and successful track records. 

The partnership brings together a broad choice of cooling options with the ability to quickly and flexibly install and extend complex IT assets. The precision cooling solutions, including free cooling and adiabatic technology from Stulz, blend perfectly with the modular structure of the new Rittal RiMatrix Next Generation (NG) platform. IT decision-makers pick and mix racks, cooling units, power-supply systems, and IT monitoring and security elements to create a made-to-measure solution. RiMatrix NG’s open architecture, in conjunction with the shared consulting, support and service offering, ensure answers are available to all possible IT scenarios, now and in the future. This extends from individual racks or container solutions, to central data centres and distributed edge data centres, to highly scalable co-location, cloud and hyperscale data centres.

@Rittal_Ltd @STULZ_USA @PresseBox #PAuto


Tuesday 23 March 2021

LED Component and Indicator Guide.

Foremost Electronics are major distributor for MARL International in Britain.

Alan Vincent, Sales Director of Foremost, comments, “MARL are a market leading supplier of LEDs, light-guides and custom display products. Their Standard LED indicator range is second to none and ideal for incorporating into new designs as well us updating and improving legacy products.”

Marl LED components are designed to enhance the quality, performance and reliability of host equipment, optimising the man machine interface and user experience. They are ideal for industrial and professional applications, including defence, aerospace, rail and specialised markets, such as process control and automation, fire, security and mobile equipment. Custom designs are also available on request.

This range includes PCB mounting diffused LEDs with diameters of 3mm or 5mm in 90º single moulded housings with a UL94 V-0 flammability rating. A wide range of colours with bi-colour options, and a number of voltage and low current options are available.

A range of LED bulb replacements are available to provide higher intensity and reliability than filament bulbs. A wide range of standard bulb fittings are catered for with single and multiple LEDs offering narrow and wide visibility angles and a wide range of colours. Durable to shock and vibration the bulb replacement range features bi-polar and AC/DC terminations. Applications include control panels, switch illuminating and automotive.

Completing the product offering are sealed led panel indicators available in a wide range of mounting bezels, including countersunk, to facilitate and enhance control and indicator panel designs. High intensity LED colours feature coloured diffused lens or a smoked lens offering a good on/off ratio and feature bi-polar AC/DC voltage options. Models are available for rugged applications and are durable to shock and vibration with IP67 and IP68-10psi weatherproof options. The possibly unique MARL 671 SERIES features a 3-phase input voltage of up to 440 Vac/DC.

@4MostElectronic @marlleds @proactivefleet #PAuto #Electronics

 



5G video quality.


A new solution for evaluating video quality of 5G devices has been announced by Anritsu Corporation.  This lab-based solution was developed in partnership with Spirent Communications and leverages the strengths of Anritsu’s SmartStudio NR Network Simulator and Spirent’s Umetrix Video software, providing the world’s first integrated 5G video quality system.

Development Background
The accelerating shift from 4G to 5G mobile communications as well as increasing adoption of teleworking are driving increased viewing of streamed video content as well as growing use of online meeting tools. As a result, the video-quality experience is a key factor influencing user’s’ choice of 5G mobile operator and smartphone brand. Consequently, mobile operators, 5G device vendors, and content providers urgently need a solution for evaluating the video quality of 5G devices.

Integrated Solution
This solution integrates Anritsu’s Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A and SmartStudio NR (SSNR) control software with Spirent’s Umetrix Video system for evaluating video quality.

The MT8000A operates as a 5G Call Box by simulating a 5G base station and core network using a state-machine-based GUI.  Users can simulate a full range of 5G network conditions including both Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) topologies at FR1 or FR2 frequencies, all without creating protocol scripts.  Testing of throughput, mobility, VoNR, EPS-Fallback, SMS, CMAS, CDRX, and other functions can be easily performed using SSNR’s GUI.

SSNR’s flexible network settings as well as its simple reproduction of a live 5G network environment facilitate easy and effective analysis of video quality. Moreover, support for many APIs accelerates configuration of customer’s automation environments.

Spirent’s Umetrix Video evaluation system measures the receive-side quality of streamed video contents by scoring QoE (Quality of Experience) using Video Mean Opinion Scoring (V-MOS) from only receive-side. It supports video-streaming services and video-content analysis by scoring the original video without prior display, facilitating faster and lower-cost repeatable design tests, regression tests, and competitor benchmarking.

@AnritsuEMEA @Spirent #TeleComms #TandM #5G #Video

AI Edge Computing.

BOXER-8521AI is now available in Bressner Technology's product portfolio. The BOXER-8521AI combines the flexibility of PoE-PD deployment, with the Google® Edge ™ TPU in a resilient, fanless system that brings AI edge computing to the appropriate deployment site.

Recently awarded the 2021 Taiwan Excellence Award, the BOXER-8521AI focuses on deployment and connectivity. The BOXER-8521AI features a PoE-PD port, allowing the system to be deployed further away from its power source, as well as enable internet connection and remote monitoring of the system over the same single cable, reducing the complexity of installation. By using both the PoE-PD port and the DC input, the hardware can continue to operate even if one of the two power supplies is cut off.

The BOXER-8521AI brings computing power for artificial intelligence to the network edge. The integrated Google Edge TPU system-on-module (SoM) is housed in a shock- and vibration-resistant enclosure. The Google Edge TPU combines the NXP i.MX 8M SoC (Quad Cortex-A53, Cortex-M4F) with the Google Edge TPU coprocessor to deliver speeds of up to 4 TOPS at an energy-efficient 2 TOPS per watt.

Thanks to the Google Edge TPU, developers and users have access to Google's training software suite, AutoML Vision Edge. This software helps developers design and train AI models using Google's cloud services. The model is then exported to the BOXER-8521AI and the Google Edge TPU. The system supports the TensorFlow Lite framework, improving AI model efficiency, system performance, and processing speeds.

The BOXER-8521AI's fanless design keeps out dust and contaminants, and can also operate at temperatures from -5 ° C to 50 ° C without performance loss. The BOXER-8521AI is equipped with one RS-232/485, one HDMI 2.0a, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 and two USB 2.0 interfaces. It also has a 40-pin multi-I / O port for connecting additional sensors and controllers, such as cameras, temperature sensors and more. 

 @BRESSNER_Tech @PresseBox @AAEON #PAuto #AI

Scanning steel band in tyres.

Riftek* is continuing to develop bespoke measurement solutions for high-throughput manufacturing processes centred around its well proven range of 2D laser triangulation sensors. 

The latest custom-engineered project is a fully automated Industrial Ethernet based system that measures internal geometric parameters of the cylindrical steel bands that form an integral part of automotive tyres. The production conveyor-mounted machine combines a two-axis motion system that positions and rotates a specially adapted Riftek RF627 series 2D laser triangulation sensor to create a radial 3D scanning sequence inside the steel belt. With an inner-diameter range between 110 to 410 mm and axial height of 70 to 305 mm, the RF627 in combination with the probe software measures diameter, roundness, chamber width and angle to an average accuracy of +/- 50 microns with the values returned to a PLC via an integrated PROFINET interface.
The mechanical hardware, including the mounting frame and main housing with interfacing connectors for 24V DC power and fieldbus, forms part of the Riftek supplied system. As well as the probe software, an RS422-to-PROFINET IO module interfaces the 2D laser sensor to the PLC. For this set-up, the customer preferred to use a Siemens S7-1200 PLC although other manufacturer’s PLCs of choice could be used. GSD files and a comprehensive installation manual are also part of the supply. The probe software and the IO module combine to provide a data packet allowing the graphical display of the component being measured and a file output for use in further analysis software. The system supplied is fully adaptable for vertical or horizontal orientation to suit the customer’s project demands.

The final system is part of Riftek’s RF096 series custom build range that also includes other versions of the RF627 and other laser sensors that are specifically adapted as sub-systems for multiple measurement of customer’s component parts, typically as part of high-throughput manufacturing processes. Other examples of the RF096 sensor measurement series include fully machine integrated systems for welding lines and automated assembly measuring length, diameter, proximity etc., as well as component profile and thickness measurement, debris monitoring and more. Other systems can include manual operation with footswitches, hand controls or keypad/mouse activation to provide measured results recorded and displayed on a GUI as actual dimensions or as pre-set go or no-go values.

*Ixthus Instrumentation Ltd provides a comprehensive sales and technical support service in Britain across Riftek’s comprehensive range of optoelectronic 2D and 3D laser measurement devices and systems from single components to complete systems such as the RF609 series.

@mepaxIntPR @IxthusInst #Riftek #Robotics #Pauto #Automotive 

Energy harvesting to benefit from membership.

The topic of sustainability is a high priority within the ZF Group. To support ZF’s energy harvesting product portfolio further, investment has been made to join the EnOcean Alliance. This is a strategic milestone in order to offer battery-free and wireless radio technology with the EnOcean3.0 radio standard in the near future.

The EnOcean Alliance was founded in 2008 and, as a non-profit company, plays a leading role in the development of maintenance-free and compatible wireless solutions for Smart Home and Smart Buildings. The products are based on the EnOcean RF standard (ISO / IEC 14543-3-10 / 11), which is designed specifically for energy harvesting solutions. With over 400 renowned members, wireless sensors with low energy consumption and energy harvesting solutions are developed and marketed. The advantages are obvious: Simple installation without laying cables, energy and CO2 savings, no maintenance and low system costs.

As a member of the EnOcean Alliance, ZF plans to expand its energy harvesting product portfolio with wireless solutions that are compatible with the EnOcean3.0 wireless standard.

@zfswitch_sensor @EnOceanAlliance #Wireless #BAC #Standards

Monday 22 March 2021

Space saving narrow connectors.

Cliff Electronics SLIMS FeedThrough Connector series have been expanded with the introduction of the new DualSLIMS range which allows customers to choose between mounting the connector adapters from the front of the panel which permits simple and fast changing of connectors in the field, or the rear which brings a lower profile flush appearance to the connectors when rack mounted or side by side

“The narrow form factor is widely used by audio, broadcast and communications manufacturers in the USA and becoming more popular in Britain and rest of Europe for maximising panel density and for products being exported to North America.” Comments John Hall, Managing Director of Cliff Electronics. “Our new DualSLIMS FeedThrough connectors will not only grow our component sales in the USA but will also be welcomed by other system builders selling their products to that market.”

The new DualSLIM connectors now offer panel builders and system integrators the ability to mount up to 20 connectors in a 1U, 19” rack panel. At just 19mm wide the SLIMS range offers a more compact alternative to Cliff’s very popular 26mm wide XLR form factor FeedThrough product range. Just 16 of the existing XLR design, can be mounted in a 19” rack panel.

The new DualSLIM FeedThrough connector range is available in a plastic frame with a plain or countersunk Ø2.5mm or Ø3.2mm fixing hole. A metal frame version is also available finished in nickel or black with Ø3.2mm plain or countersunk fixing holes or M3, #440 thread. Panel cut out dimensions are 17.15mm (0.675in) x 22.86mm (0.9in) with mounting hole centres of 29mm.

The DualSLIM connector range has been launched with 14 different versions: HDMI, USB3 A-A, USB3 B-A, USB2 B-A, USB2 A-A, USB2 A-B, USB-C F-M, Cat5e, Cat5e Shielded, Cat6, Cat6 Shielded, Cat3, Cat6A Shielded and blank plate. With a total number of 11 variants of each type, the total number of possible variants is 252.

With its high panel density and low profile if rear mounted the Cliff Electronics DualSLIM may be used in audio, broadcast, AV and communications installations, medical, education and research, industrial control and space. DualSLIM can also be designed in alongside 1U rack mounted NUC computers and mini-PCs, such as Raspberry Pi, for projects of every scale; from custom-tuned gaming machines to industrial applications and are ideal for space constrained embedded or IoT systems, digital signage, media production and video conferencing applications.

All of Cliff’s FeedThrough connectors allow standard, off the shelf, connecting cables to be used for internal connectivity, simplifying and speeding up system assembly and facilitating easy repurposing of equipment.

@proactivefleet #Cliff_Electronics  #Panels #PAuto  

Towards 0% carbon emissions in Europe.

Emerson is demonstrating the strength of its commitment to environmental sustainability by becoming a member of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance (ECHA).

Hydrogen’s share of the energy mix in Europe is currently less than 2%, but has the potential to rise to 10-23% by 2050, according the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. In joining the ECHA, Emerson will be at the forefront of hydrogen developments in Europe, thereby actively supporting the goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as outlined in the EU’s European Green Deal.

Roel van Doren
“Emerson’s advanced automation technologies are backed by global support from industry experts who understand the specific expectations of the hydrogen sector relating to safety, reliability and cost,” said Roel van Doren, group president global sales at Emerson. “This industry-leading combination of innovative technologies and expertise will enable Emerson to contribute to the valuable work of the ECHA by helping organisations optimise the performance of their hydrogen projects, thereby supporting the push to achieve carbon neutrality.” 

Hydrogen is a key enabler to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal and Europe’s clean energy transition. It has several energy and non-energy uses, from storing renewable energy to fuelling heavy transport, and as energy and feedstock in energy-intensive industry, such as in the steel or chemical sectors. Crucially, hydrogen is climate friendly as it does not emit any carbon dioxide when used. It therefore offers a solution to decarbonise energy-intensive industrial processes and economic sectors where reducing carbon emissions is both urgent and difficult to achieve.

The ECHA was established by the European Commission in March 2020 as part of its new industrial strategy for Europe. Its aim is to bring together manufacturers, automation technology suppliers, public authorities and other stakeholders with a view to tackling climate change and benefiting the environment by accelerating the decarbonisation of industry and the transition to hydrogen-based energy.

Emerson is a global technology and software company with an extensive portfolio of measurement, control and electrical equipment for hazardous areas, and deep experience in setting industry standards. This makes it the perfect partner to support companies in the fast-growing hydrogen market by providing solutions to meet their most demanding applications. As a member of the ECHA, Emerson is committed to providing solutions to the challenges faced throughout the entire hydrogen fuel supply chain, including the need for expanded production, safe and lower-cost distribution, and reliable fuel cell operation. Emerson’s experience with key industry enablers such as electrolyser original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will help to drive down costs and improve the scalability of hydrogen production, distribution and utilisation.

@EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @ECH2A @HHC_Lewis #PAuto #Environment #Europe

Interchangeable sensing probes.

The Sigma 05 acts as a sensor hub for E+E Elektronik’s intelligent Modbus probes. It makes it easy to set up a modular sensor platform with up to three probes and five measurands. The Sigma 05 supports E+E sensing probes for CO2, humidity, temperature, ambient pressure and air velocity, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

The Sigma 05 can centrally manage up to three sensing probes with an RS485 interface and the Modbus RTU protocol. Compatible E+E sensing probes are automatically identified by the sensor hub and are immediately ready for use. Of the total of five supported physical quantities, three can be assigned to the graphic display and two to the freely configurable analogue outputs.

The sensing probes can be connected to the Sigma 05 either directly or via an M12 cable. Connecting and replacing the intelligent probes is quick and easy thanks to the plug-and-play functionality.

The new PCS10 configuration software gives the user full access to the sensor platform. This allows for convenient PC-based assignment of physical quantities, scaling of analogue outputs, adaptation of the display layout, setting of threshold values and adjustment of the connected sensing probes. The software is available free of charge on the E+E Elektronik website.

A special reference probe is available for a functional and accuracy check of the Sigma 05 or the entire measurement chain. The probe supplies fixed values for various physical quantities, is configurable using the PCS10 software and is automatically detected by the sensor hub.

The Sigma 05 supports easy, FDA-compliant loop calibration in the field. The cables facilitate on-site calibration of the connected probes in a portable calibrator.

The Sigma 05 features a rugged IP65/NEMA 4 enclosure and is available with or without a display. With the various, high-quality E+E sensing probes, it can be used in HVAC, clean room or agricultural applications, for example. Thanks to its modular plug-and-play design, the sensor platform offers a high degree of flexibility. 

E+E Electronik products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.

#PAuto #ePulse #InstrumentTechnology