Optimising steam generation & condensate recovery processes for maximum profit.

Steam production can represent 10-60% of a plant’s total energy consumption depending on the industry. As a result, the steam generation cycle and supporting processes represent critical areas of opportunity for cost and performance benefits. Magnetrol International has developed the Steam Generation Cycle and Condensate Recovery Process Optimization Kit to help commercial and heavy industries identify the hidden costs that result from instrumentation poorly suited to their application in these processes. The Optimization Kit includes a white paper, video and applications guide to provide a comprehensive analysis of how a level and flow instrument’s fundamental technology, when properly matched to its application, can: Reduce fuel & energy consumption,  Improve steam quality,  Recover valuable energy & resources,  Ensure product quality,  Lower maintenance costs,  and Prevent production downtime. “Although plausible, it is rare to identify a single source of inefficiency related to poor level controls that impacts a company’s bottom line in the double digit percentile. More so than not, it is small incremental opportunities for improvement across various aspects of the steam generation cycle, condensate recovery and waste heat recovery processes that ultimately equate to substantial savings,” said Donald Hite, business development manager for Magnetrol. “Addressing these issues is analogous to stopping the seemingly innocuous, slow drip in a water faucet that over time consumes vast resources.” The Optimization Kit offers insight into the significance of maintaining proper level control and protective measures to realize potential savings in steam generation, waste heat and condensate recovery, and water treatment systems common in process industries such as power generation, pulp and paper, chemical, petroleum refining, primary metals and food processing. • Magnetrol products marketed in Ireland through Ntron @MagnetrolGlobal #PAuto

Next-generation magnetostrictive level transmitter.

The Jupiter® Model JM4 magnetostrictive level transmitter has bee launched by Magnetrol® International. The JM4 is available as a direct insertion option, as well as an external mount on any MAGNETROL magnetic level indicator (MLI) or modular instrumentation bridle. With an improved design, unparalleled performance, and a collection of new and innovative features, the JM4 provides safer, simpler, and smarter measurement in total and interface level applications.

Leading Edge Hardware and Software
The JM4 is engineered to be the smartest, most innovative magnetostrictive transmitter available. To this end, numerous enhancements have been introduced, including greater signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a full graphic local user interface, HART 7.0 (Foundation fieldbus available), local waveform capture, and a more intuitive device type manager (DTM) allowing for remote configuration, trending, and diagnostics

Field Rotatable and Removable Transmitter Head
The JM4 is the first magnetostrictive transmitter in the industry to offer a field-removable and rotatable head. The removable head allows for simpler transmitter maintenance and troubleshooting without disrupting the process. 310° of head rotation provides users with greater accessibility to operate the JM4’s on-board graphical interface.

Smart Probe
To further enhance the removable head, the JUPITER Model JM4 also features Smart Probe technology. When any JM4 transmitter head is attached to a probe, a single push of a button imports factory configuration settings into the head, and in seconds, the transmitter is ready for operation.

Remote Mount Option
JUPITER now offers a remote mount option. Available in 3 and 12 ft lengths, the transmitter head is attached to the probe via a flexible cable to allow for easier viewing under various spatial constraints.

• Magnetrol products are marketed in Ireland by Ntron.

@Magnetrol_Level #PAuto 

Heat rate reduction kit!

Magnetrol International, has introduced the Heat Rate Reduction Kit, aimed at helping power companies manage controllable losses through effective, accurate feedwater heater level control. The Heat Rate Reduction Kit is available for download and addresses the mission-critical need to increase the efficiency of power plants in today’s challenging economic and regulatory environment. The Heat Rate Reduction Kit, an industry first, provides solutions that will help reduce fuel expenditures, which can account for 70% to 80% of production costs, by minimising heat rate. According to Magnetrol, the potential savings represent an estimated €500,000 annually for a 500 megawatt power plant.*

Included in the Magnetrol Heat Rate Reduction Kit are several useful guides to reducing heat rate, why it is important and how the process will help reduce costs:
• Heat Rate and Feedwater Heater Level Control white paper
• Managing Heat Rate and Controllable Losses video
• Next-Generation Level Instrumentation for Heat Rate Awareness and Control special applications bulletin
• Reduce Your Heat Rate and Drive Down Fuel Costs brochure

“We created the Heat Rate Reduction Kit because we recognize the challenges power companies face today in an increasingly competitive environment and with the advent of climate change protocols and the Clean Air Act,” said Magnetrol's Product Manager Jim Homoly. “The kit explains how minimizing heat rate can help plants use energy more efficiently and save significant fuel expenditures.”

The causes of heat rate inefficiency can be due to aging level instrumentation or instrument-induced errors, which negatively impact heat rate and fuel costs, according to Homoly.

“Effectively controlling feedwater heater levels drives overall plant performance and fuel cost savings,” said Homoly.

* A 1% improvement in heat rate is worth €500,000 in annual fuel cost savings based on: Fuel cost of €1.25/million kJ, capacity factor of 85% and boiler efficiency of 88%.

• Magnetrol products are marketed in Ireland by Ntron Ltd of Navan

Managed gigabit Ethernet switch

Red Lion Controls has announced the modular N-Tron NT24k managed Gigabit Ethernet industrial switch series. With up to 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a flexible modular format for different configuration options, the NT24k switches are designed to handle the most challenging industrial environments with high reliability and wire-speed performance.

Available in rackmount and DIN rail models, the NT24k switches provide versatility to customers through Gigabit and 100Base connectivity options in both copper and fiber. With all Gigabit capability and a versatile array of connectivity options, the NT24k switches deliver configuration flexibility that meets industrial networking requirements across industries such as factory automation, utilities, video surveillance, security, transportation and alternative energy.

“The NT24k is built with maximum flexibility in mind, giving customers many choices for media type, form factor and module combinations,” said Diane Davis, director of Ethernet networking at Red Lion Controls. “This versatility means that customers in several different industries can customize a solution to fit their particular environment, while taking advantage of Gigabit speeds, high port densities and a full range of management features that bring network-based communications to some of the most rugged scenarios imaginable.”
The NT24k includes expanded shock and vibration tolerances and an extreme operating temperature range. It also offers redundant power input options, configuration backup and an onboard temperature sensor to ensure maximum reliability. Its full set of management features include Web browser management, SNMP, Jumbo Frame support, port trunking, port mirroring, DHCP client, 802.1Q VLAN, 802.1p QoS and other features. In addition, N-Ring advanced ring technology restores network communication within ~30ms of fault detection. Robust remote monitoring capabilities make management easy.

Ethernet switching!

Red Lion Controls has announced that the company has expanded its portfolio of industrial Ethernet switching solutions with the new N-Tron 716M12 and Sixnet SLX-5EG, SLX-3EG and SLX-3ES switches and media converters.Available now, these Ethernet switches and converters provide high performance in a rugged package to meet networking requirements for industrial applications such as transportation and video surveillance.

The Red Lion N-Tron 716M12 managed switches deliver 16 Ethernet ports with M12 connectors in a rugged IP67 enclosure, which is ideal for wash down, temporary water immersion, offshore, dust proof, military, power substation, transportation and other outdoor applications that experience exposure to liquids and excessive dirt and dust. The 716M12 has UL approval for use in Class 1, Div. 2 hazardous locations and the EN50155 certification for railway applications.

The Red Lion Sixnet SLX-5EG switches provide 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports for real-time operation and high performance in industrial networking environments. With rugged packaging that offers superior reliability in extreme environments, these easy-to-use switches require no user setup and work right out of the box. Available in two models, the SLX-5E-1 offers 5 Gigabit copper ports with 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) available on 4 ports while the SLX-5E-2SFP delivers 3 Gigabit 10/100/1000 PoE and 2 Gigabit SFP ports.

The Red Lion Sixnet SLX-3EG is a rugged 3 port Gigabit industrial Ethernet media converter that provides flexibility and fast performance in industrial settings. For additional connectivity options, Red Lion also offers SLX-3ES Ethernet copper-to-fiber media converters.

“Many transportation, video surveillance and security applications run outdoors in harsh conditions around the clock so they require reliable Ethernet connections,” said Diane Davis, director of product management, Ethernet networking at Red Lion Controls. “Our new switches provide flexible connectivity options that deliver the reliability and performance expected of industrial Ethernet to support bandwidth-intensive applications such as video traffic.”

The 716M12 and all SLX switches and media converters are available now through authorized Red Lion N-Tron and Sixnet resellers and distributors.