Power-to-heat plant with heat storage.

Leonhard Kurx and EnergyWest have successfully commissioned their joint power-to-heat plant with integrated thermal storage at the Sulzbach-Rosenberg site (D). Now that all installation and commissioning work has been completed, the system is supplying industrial process heat based on renewable electricity, marking an important milestone on the path to decarbonizing energy-intensive production processes.

The plant combines a 3 MW electric heater with an ENERGYNEST ThermalBattery™ featuring a storage capacity of 12 MWhth. The system is directly integrated into the site’s existing thermal oil infrastructure and primarily uses electricity from the directly connected ground-mounted photovoltaic system to provide high-temperature process heat on demand.

Once operational, KURZ will generate more than 3 GWhth of clean heat annually, covering over 70 percent of the heat demand for a production line at the site. More than 40 percent of the heat demand will be met by stored heat. At the same time, natural gas consumption will be reduced by more than 3.5 GWh per year, resulting in annual CO₂ savings of over 700 metric tons.

With this project, KURZ is advancing its sustainability strategy and consistently pursuing the goal of climate-neutral production. The company already exclusively uses electricity from renewable energy sources at its German sites. The successful commissioning of the power-to-heat plant now marks another important step toward the decarbonization of industrial heat supply.

“Sustainability is deeply embedded in our corporate DNA and shapes every aspect of our business operations and innovation. With the successful commissioning of this plant, we are taking another important step on our path toward climate-neutral production. The project demonstrates how innovative energy solutions and industrial competitiveness can go hand in hand,” said Ralph Hopfensitz, Executive Senior Vice President of Global Technology at LEONHARD KURZ.

“With this successful commissioning, we are proving that the decarbonization of industrial process heat is no longer a concept for the future, but can be implemented economically today," said Alex Robertson, CEO of ENERGYNEST "Together with KURZ, we have implemented a solution that enables the flexible use of renewable electricity and replaces fossil fuels. This project demonstrates how the industrial energy transition can succeed in practice - with immediately measurable results in terms of emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and security of supply.”

The solution is one of the first industrial power-to-heat projects in Germany to combine high-temperature heat with integrated thermal energy storage. It demonstrates how companies can flexibly utilize renewable electricity, increase energy efficiency, and economically replace fossil-fuel-based process heat.

The project was funded by the Federal German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and serves as a model for scaling up electrified heat supply in industry. Its successful implementation underscores the potential of power-to-heat and heat storage as key building blocks of a climate-neutral industry.

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@LEONHARD_KURZ @KURZUSA @UnnGmbh @PresseBox #PAuto #Storage #Germany

Improving SSD QoS for Agentic AI.

Silicon Motion Technology Corp. has unveiled its new MonTitan™ SSD Reference Design Kit (RDK), featuring the company’s next-generation patented PerformaShape™ technology. Designed for Agentic AI infrastructure, the platform enables enterprise SSDs to serve as a persistent memory layer supporting KV cache offload and autonomous AI agents, while delivering predictable QoS, sustained performance, and optimized endurance for dynamic, always-on Agentic AI workloads.

Redefining enterprise storage requirements.
Unlike conventional AI applications, AI agents continuously reason, act, retain context, and interact with external tools, generating diverse data types and rapidly changing access patterns. As AI data centers support continuous, multi-step inference and increasingly large KV caches, enterprise SSDs must deliver high throughput, consistent latency, predictable QoS, and the endurance required for sustained, write-intensive operations.

Next-Generation architecture for predictable SSD QoS.
The next-generation PerformaShape™ technology introduces an enhanced hardware architecture designed to support Multi-Dimensional Shaping for more precise workload management. Combined with integrated performance monitoring and with NVMe TP4176 as API, it helps enterprise SSDs maintain predictable QoS under complex and rapidly changing workloads of multi-tenant and multi-agent use cases.

“AI agents require storage to evolve into a persistent memory layer that retains context and supports continuous autonomous operations,” said Jason Chien, Senior Director of Enterprise Product Marketing at Silicon Motion. “Featuring next-generation PerformaShape™ technology, our new MonTitan™ SSD RDK combines enhanced hardware and software to efficiently manage data flows across multiple agents, reduce resource contention, and accelerate time to market for Agentic AI storage solutions.”

PerformaShape™ has been designed into both Silicon Motion’s SM8366 PCIe 5.0 and SM8466 PCIe 6.0 enterprise SSD controllers. Built on these platforms, the MonTitan™ SSD RDK provides SSD manufacturers with a scalable foundation for developing storage solutions for AI servers and data centers, helping them shorten development cycles and accelerate time to market for Agentic AI applications.

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@silicon_motion #Manufacturing #PAuto

The future of automated storage.

A system that combines speed, safety, and scalability.

With e-commerce booming and customers expecting faster deliveries, Jungheinrich recognised that warehouses need a smarter, fully automated way to process goods while making the most of limited space. This insight led to the development of an innovative solution that redefines automated storage: the PowerCube, an automated compact container storage system.
“Our customers need a way to use limited space efficiently while meeting growing demands for faster order processing,” explains Carlos de Almeida.

Meet the PowerCube.

The PowerCube was designed with one clear goal—to improve efficiency. By maximising storage density and accelerating order processing, it helps warehouses handle more goods in less space and time.

At the heart of the system is Jungheinrich’s own Warehouse Control System (WCS), which controls automated shuttles via Ethernet communication to ensure they move quickly and safely within a high-density storage grid. These shuttles operate on the entire bottom level in two dimensions, leveraging the full vertical space above the system for maximum storage capacity.

Benefits:

• Unique use of space: Up to four times higher storage density compared to conventional shelving.
• High system height: Vertical storage up to 12 meters.
• Scalable design: Flexible throughput, container capacity, and shuttle count.
• Powerful performance: Each shuttle can carry two containers at once, up to 50 kg per container.
• Easy integration: Short assembly times and simple IT connections—no need for floor milling.

“We wanted a system that combines speed, safety, and scalability. PowerCube delivers all three,” says Carlos.

Turning to HMS Networks for Reliable Connectivity.
Keeping shuttles moving safely in two dimensions is no easy task—it demands reliable and deterministic wireless communication. Any delay or disruption stops a shuttle, blocks access to storage areas, and can halt the entire line, leading to costly delays. Cables were not an option because the shuttles need complete freedom to move across the bottom level without restrictions. Recognising the need for reliable connectivity, Jungheinrich turned to HMS Networks. As Carlos puts it, “we’re experts in logistics, not networking, so we contacted HMS for help.”

The following robust wireless setup recommended:

• Anybus Wireless Access Points installed throughout the installation for full signal coverage. Dual-band segmentation using 5 GHz for communication with tablets and maintenance devices, and 2.4 GHz for shuttle control and safety communication.
• Anybus Wireless Bridge II, with its integrated antenna and compact IP67 form factor, for a space-saving installation on each shuttle.
• Point-to-multipoint architecture allows shuttles to roam freely between APs with continuous Ethernet connectivity wherever they are in the system.
• IP67-rated hardware ensures durability in harsh environments, including cold storage where condensation is a risk.

“We really appreciated HMS’ support and guidance. The Bridges and Access Points are working well, but it wasn’t just about the products. Their Wireless & Infrastructure Implementation Assistance service made a big difference, helping us overcome the challenges of deploying wireless connectivity in a dense, metallic structure. Using their expertise and analysis tools, HMS designed the best layout for access points to ensure reliable performance in every installation. In some cases, we even asked HMS to join us at our customer’s warehouse to perform a site survey and validate signal coverage,” adds Carlos.

First field deployments. The PowerCube is now entering real-world applications, proving its efficiency and reliability in multiple installations. “It’s great to see PowerCube out in the field solving issues. Fastbolt, for example, wanted faster order processing and better space utilisation. And that’s exactly what the PowerCube is providing,” enthuses Carlos de Almeida.

With the PowerCube, Jungheinrich is setting a new benchmark for automated storage systems. And with HMS providing the wireless backbone that keeps shuttles moving, this partnership is paving the way for smarter, more efficient warehouses worldwide.

Jungheinrich has plans to scale the PowerCube to larger deployment systems with increasing storage surface and numbers of shuttles, a move that will require advanced wireless design and continuous network monitoring. At the same time, meeting cybersecurity requirements and complying with regulations such as RED, CRA, and NIS2, along with optimising safety architecture for the upcoming EU Machinery Regulations (2027), will be critical.

“We’re really pleased with the collaboration with HMS. It’s helped us achieve the required robust connectivity, and as we expand and meet cybersecurity and safety requirements, our partnership with HMS will become even more valuable. This is only the start!” concludes Carlos.

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@JungheinrichSA @hmsnetworks @HMSAnybus @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Connectivity

Optimising inventory management and operational efficiency.

Real-time inventory insights with integrated features to simplify use, free up data and reduce costs.

The Rosemount™ 2405 Monitoring Hub, a simple yet powerful device that delivers full inventory control and monitoring of multiple storage tanks, has been released by Emerson. The Rosemount 2405 is designed to simplify tank monitoring system architecture, enabling organisations to automate applications previously deemed too complex or costly. The insights provided by the hub help to optimise inventory management, leading to improved decision-making, increased operational efficiency and reduced costs.

“Reliable access to real-time operational data through intuitive, intelligent interfaces is now an expectation in the process industries,” said Mikael Inglund, director of product management with Emerson’s measurement business. “Easy-to-deploy automated tank monitoring, enabled by the Rosemount 2405, allows operators to quickly view, interpret and act upon critical information. This supports improved decision-making and leads to more efficient inventory management and reduced costs.”

Many organisations within the chemical, refining, oil and gas, metals and mining, and food and beverage industries still rely on manual inventory checks and lack the capability to implement an automated tank monitoring system. This can be compounded by the complexity and cost of integrating system components such as a display, a communication unit and a data concentrator. By integrating these three components into a single device, the Rosemount 2405 simplifies system architecture, making it easier and less costly to upgrade to an automated solution.

This simplified system architecture is supported by the ability to connect up to eight HART®-enabled level, pressure or temperature transmitters to the Rosemount 2405. The hub then collects, calculates, visualises and communicates the measurement data for centralised monitoring and inventory management. Digital HART multidrop connectivity allows multiple field instruments to connect to the Rosemount 2405 over a single twisted-pair cable. This significantly reduces wiring infrastructure complexity and costs by minimising the need for additional cables, junction boxes and input channels.

In alignment with Emerson’s Boundless AutomationSM vision for data mobility, the Rosemount 2405 offers seamless integration with the Rosemount TankMaster™ and TankMaster Mobile inventory management platforms, and reliable connectivity with third-party host systems. The hub provides flexible access to the inventory data, which can be viewed either locally in the field, or via a web browser. Digital HART connectivity enables real-time transmission of device diagnostics and status information alongside process variables, supporting proactive maintenance.

With an intuitive display and step-by-step guidance, the Rosemount 2405 makes it easier to configure the multiple connected measurement devices, while further minimising complexity by reducing the training required and the time involved in setting up a tank monitoring system. The user-friendly interface also simplifies troubleshooting when issues arise, enabling faster resolution and reduced downtime and costs.

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@EmersonExchange @Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @Rosemount_News @HHC_Lewis #PAuto

Flash storage.

High-speed performance, up to 128TB capacity, multi-form factor support, and compliance with OCP NVMe v2.0 for AI, analytics, and virtualised environments.

Innodisk has announced the launch of its latest PCIe Gen5 SSD series, designed to meet the OCP Data centre NVMe SSD spec v2.0 and the increasing demands of AI model training, big data analytics, and data-intensive environments.

The new series supports multiple form factors, including U.2, as well as EDSFF E1.S, E3.S, and the brand-new E3.L for data centre applications, catering to the diverse needs of enterprise and data centre environments. This marks a new chapter for Innodisk in further fulfilling enterprise demands.

The Innodisk PCIe Gen5 SSD, built with the latest PCIe Gen 5 x4 interface and NVMe 2.0 protocol, overcomes the speed and latency limitations of traditional storage interfaces. With up to 128TB of high-density NAND storage, it delivers speeds of up to 14GB/s (read) and 10GB/s (write), enabling lightning-fast data transfers for data-intensive applications.

Enterprise data centres managing large-scale storage deployments and multi-tiered environments often require out-of-band and batch management capabilities, which present growing challenges. Innodisk PCIe Gen5 SSD addresses these demands with NVMe-MI for streamlined SSD management and multi-namespace support, ensuring scalable and efficient storage operations.

To ensure high quality and alignment with market trends, the PCIe Gen5 SSD aims to enhance integration with industry-leading data centre standards, such as OCP Data centre NVMe SSD spec v2.0. Additionally, it is intended to be built for seamless integration with VMware, optimizing compatibility with virtualized environments and overall system performance.

Innodisk’s PCIe Gen5 SSD also features advanced security mechanisms, ensuring robust data protection and seamless integration. Secure Boot technology authenticates digital signatures during firmware updates, preventing unauthorized modifications and ensuring that only trusted firmware is executed.

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@Innodisk_Corp @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Memory

Memory & storage excellence recognised.

Taiwan Excellence Award for three major memory and storage solutions.

The 2025 Taiwan Excellence Award has ben achieved by Innodisk for three of its innovative products. The award recognizes the company's strengths in product innovation, R&D, and quality control.

The three award-winning products are the CXL Memory Module, DDR5 Air/Immersive Dual Cooling Memory, and E1.S 4TS2-P SSD. These products highlight Innodisk’s focus on providing stable and long-term solutions for the industrial market. They also show how the company designs its products to meet the needs of next-generation standards.

The CXL Memory Module delivers a single 64GB capacity and up to 32GB/s bandwidth. It is designed for flexible and cost-effective expansion in server systems. It enables "memory resource sharing" by using memory pooling technology. It also uses a PCIe interface to overcome the bandwidth limits of traditional memory channels.

The DDR5 Air/Immersive Dual Cooling Memory is designed to work in different cooling environments. It features a unique fin design that covers all heat-generating components with thermal materials. It supports both air and liquid cooling modes, which helps address the cooling challenges in modern AI servers. With a single memory capacity of 128GB and high-speed transmission of 5600 MT/s, it meets the high-efficiency computing needs of AI servers.

The other award-winning product, the E1.S 4TS2-P SSD, offers better performance, cooling, storage density, and maintenance convenience compared to traditional M.2 and U.2 SSDs. It is suited for edge server environments and includes wide-temperature technology that works between -40 and 85°C. It helps solve overheating problems in edge servers. It also contains hot-swappable functionality and multiple capacity options, making it a strong choice as a boot drive for data centers.

The enclosures of all three products are made of recyclable aluminium alloy, and all materials meet RoHS standards. This ensures the products align with environmental and safety requirements. Innodisk stays in step with global trends in product design, quality control, research and development, and manufacturing. It aims to bring fresh energy to the growth of industrial development.

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@Innodisk_Corp @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Memory

Advanced fixed thermal imaging.

Addresses the increasing risk of fires and explosions in battery storage facilities

The AMETEK Land LWIR-640 thermal image provides continuous, real-time monitoring of battery installations. By capturing detailed thermal images of battery modules and racks, the LWIR-640 identifies abnormal heat distributions, hot spots and temperature differentials indicative of potential issues.

Thermal runaway, a self-accelerating and uncontrollable rise in temperature that could lead to fires or explosions, is a potential threat in lithium-ion batteries. It can be triggered by overcharging, physical damage, overheating or short-circuiting but with early detection and intervention the risks are reduced.

James Cross, Head of Industry Management at AMETEK Land said: “With the growing prevalence and energy density of lithium-ion batteries, safety concerns are paramount. Our latest innovation, the LWIR-640 smart radiometric thermal imager offers an advanced solution for the early detection and prevention of thermal runaway in battery storage systems.”

The LWIR-640 thermal imager has been designed and developed by experts over 20 years, resulting in a highly accurate continuous monitoring solution for battery storage. Available in multiple models with a full temperature measurement range of -20 to 1000°C, the LWIR-640 provides versatile solutions that meet the diverse needs of battery storage facilities.

They have published an informative Application Note.

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@landinst @codacomms #PAuto #Battery #Safety

Partnership for industrial memory and storage.

Transcend and Impulse Embedded have announced their partnership for distribution of memory and storage components in the Industrial Sector.

The distribution partnership will see Impulse offering a full line of standard and proprietary internal SSDs (PCIe M.2/SATA III 2.5,” M.2, mSATA, and half-slim type), different generations of DRAM memory modules, SD/microSD cards, eMMc memory, and flash solutions.

Transcend products are widely used in various industries, from transportation and healthcare to 5G communication, AIoT and embedded applications. With the ever-increasing amount of data transfer within the industrial space, these products are a vital component to any embedded system.

When deploying computers in harsh environments, it is essential to choose components that match the hardened characteristics of the host system. Transcend product offerings not only share these characteristics, but offer additional features covering data security, resilience to shock, vibration and temperature extremes and protection from unscheduled power loss, ensuring reliability, stability, and longevity in the field.

“We are delighted to be working with a powerhouse in the industrial storage solutions and flash sector. Their name speaks for itself, and their excellent stock levels, support and internal capacity made the decision to collaborate an easy one. We look forward to building a long-lasting relationship with Transcend,” said Robert Plant, Impulse Embedded Sales Director 

Nicholas Small, Account Manager from Transcend added: “Transcend is excited to work with one of the UK's leading industrial PC and embedded solutions providers and we look forward to supporting them on some VERY exciting projects for many years to come!”

Transcend and Impulse have over 60 years of combined experience and knowledge in the industry, both of which are highly customer-orientated and respond quickly to the ever-changing marketplace and have a passion for delivering forward-looking solutions that can transform operational success for customers across an extensive range of industries and applications. 

@ImpulseEmbedded @Transcend_USA #PAuto 

Efficient and consistent inventory management.

Honeywell has announced that its cloud-based Honeywell Enraf® Inventory Calculation Module (HEICM) has been integrated into Royal Vopak’s MyService Terminal Management System (TMS). Developed in cooperation with Royal Vopak, MyService is used at Vopak terminals to facilitate the safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases.

HEICM was developed using agile software development principles. It accurately calculates inventories and product movement quantities for a massive range of liquid products stored at the sites. All the calculations provided meet major international, recognized standards and publications, including those of American Society for Testing and Materials, American Petroleum Institute and Gas Processors Association.

“Integrating Honeywell's measurement modules with our bespoke MyService software is creating a competitive advantage for Vopak's services,” said Leo Brand, CIO Royal Vopak. “Honeywell’s legal metrology expertise and long experience providing compliant, accurate liquid stock accounting made it an ideal strategic partner for our digital transformation program.”

HEICM will enable Royal Vopak terminals to perform consistent and efficient terminal inventory calculations and compliance-related verifications, contributing to operational excellence.

“We’re pleased our work with Royal Vopak on the HEICM development resulted in a comprehensive calculation engine tailored for the terminal market,” said Rudi van der Kraats, Director Strategic Terminal Accounts Honeywell Process Solutions. “Software-driven, intelligent technologies such as HEICM are part of our strategy to provide a full terminal automation solution.”

Honeywell plans to make HEICM available to other terminal operating companies around the world for similar TMS integrations, as well as a stand-alone/cloud version which can be used by independent surveyors.

@HWusers @honeywell #PAuto 

IoT device management.

Combining DFI’s RemoGuard with Innodisk’s iCAP and InnoAGE provides a dual remote management solution for IoT devices that is even better than the sum of its parts.

The exponential growth of IoT devices brings a new challenge: how to effectively manage and monitor large numbers of connected devices that may be hard to access in widely-scattered remote locations?

To answer this challenge, Innodisk, the industrial storage company, has combined its expertise with embedded technology specialists, DFI, to bring DFI’s RemoGuard remote management system to its customers. DFI joins Innodisk’s growing network of partners who incorporate Innodisk technology to provide a complete storage solution based around Innodisk’s IoT solutions.

Thanks to the integration of Innodisk’s iCAP and InnoAGE dual-band management technologies with DFI’s hardware design, RemoGuard can reduce maintenance staffing costs and response timesand prevent service downtime with features like real-time monitoringand one-button recovery. These advanced features add up to the world’s most comprehensive device management system.

“Created in collaboration with Innodisk, a leader in the industrial Solid-state drive (SSD) market, DFI has launched RemoGuard to provide not only high-performance embedded solutions but also an advanced remote management solution. This add-on service helps customers to get through this difficult period and lets us look into a prospective future of cooperation,” said Steven Tsai, President of DFI.

iCAP Innodisk’s cloud management platform, iCAP, provides easy access to monitor and control local and remote devices. This management product detects and collects data, sends reports and alerts operators if the device crashes or experiences other problems.

InnoAGE SSDs are increasingly dominant in responsive enterprise storage. Their unbeatable blend of speed, low power consumption, small size, and low maintenance lets us put SSDs almost anywhere. InnoAGE SSD is Innodisk’s out-of-band management-enabled flash storage solution, equipped with a Microsoft Azure Sphere. InnoAGE enables multifunctional management, smart data analysis and firmware updates, data security, and remote control through the cloud.

@Innodisk_Corp #PAuto #IoT #MEPax

Interfaces for industry modular storage systems.

The Commeo GmbH from Wallenhorst near Osnabrück  (D) has developed a modular energy storage system that allows applications, from mobile robots to the power supply for industrial plants and factories, to run securely and uninterrupted. The Commeo units can be used as an emergency power supply or as a mains buffer to provide compensating power when required.

In a joint project, Commeo and Harting have developed suitable interfaces for the new system by interconnecting the batteries in a particularly efficient way with downstream units. The solution consists of integrating modules from the Han-Modular® series and the Han® Docking Frame into one unit. The interface for supplying power and data can be quickly placed into the energy storage blocks, whilst the housing for the modules is recessed in the block interior with the mating side protruding centrally from the back of the block.

The Commeo system consists of energy storage blocks that have a side length of more than 20 cm, containing multiple layers of lithium-ion cells. The blocks are responsive via a bus system and are aggregated into industrial storage cabinets. Each block has its own battery management system (BMS). On the top floor of each storage cabinet is the Commeo control unit ccuHV. The two-metre high standard version of the cabinet offers space for 48 blocks. The local control unit communicates via CAN bus with each individual block and the downstream control components.

The layout of the storage block cabinets consisting of 1.5 kWh modules (in 48 V systems) permits the exact battery capacity to be reproduced or replaced as needed. The risk of overdimensioning or underdimensioning does not exist, as the efficiency of the system can be corrected afterwards. Here, the system can easily be scaled from a few KWh to more than 1 MWh. “We can add more cabinets and our battery blocks also fit in other industrial enclosures, for example, wall-mount cabinets that can be placed in small places”, said CEO Michael Schnakenberg.

Today, Commeo battery systems already safeguard the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) of industrial parks or protect electrically powered systems against damage caused by fluctuations in the mains. They provide compensating voltage for renewable power generation plants and act as a buffer to the mains: when voltage is too high, they charge current and have a load-relieving effect; when a voltage drop occurs, they can feed in their storage contents. As a result, they cushion peak loads. In other projects, the Commeo storage blocks back up the power supply of industrial robots or they are applied to district electricity projects.

Commeo targets its product portfolio primarily to the mechanical and plant engineering sectors. “Our goal is to set up batteries in a modular system that is tailor-made for very special needs. We would like to be the first system provider for high-performance storage solutions in the world of automation, process industry and manufacturing”, added Michael Schnakenberg. According to Schnakenberg, Harting was the favoured supplier as it was important to have a suitable interface for this project. “The recognition factor of Harting connectors in the industrial environment is a factor. Our customers know as soon as they see these interfaces that our batteries are compatible with their other facilities.”

Thanks to the cooperation with Commeo, the application range for Han® interfaces has widened in the markets of energy generation, storage and distribution. “Our pluggable connectors have performed well in the entire sector with efficient and robust solutions for the generation, storage and distribution of energy. This ranges from the wiring of wind farms through connectivity solutions for gas and storage power plants to the suitable interfaces for E-Mobility, everything coming from one source”, says Andras Meszaros, Industrial Segment Manager Energy at HartingElectric.

 @HARTING_Group #PAuto @ArmitageComm 

Advice on HCFC ban! #PAuto

From 1st January 2015 it will be illegal to use any recycled or reclaimed ozone-depleting hydrochloro-fluorocarbon (HCFC) R22 refrigerant gas to service cooling units.

R22 remains one of the most commonly used refrigerants in Britain used, in the past, to charge cooling units and chillers that provide electrical enclosure and process cooling. Rittal advise this legislation may dramatically affect users ability to service and maintain existing cooling products, which could result in costly downtime for important manufacturing processes.

Given that most systems leak to a certain degree, in practical terms this implies that any equipment that is of strategic importance to a business should not be using HCFCs by 2015. All current users of HCFC systems should develop a plan to manage operations without HCFCs. Doing nothing is not a sustainable option.

To avoid this damaging scenario, now is the time to check any cooling equipment and if they contain the soon-to-be banned R22 refrigerant, contact Rittal for advice on suitable replacement products. Rittal’s climate control range includes enclosure cooling units with outputs from 300 W to 4000 W and water chillers with capacities between 1 kW and 481 kW.

Bulk storage tank relief valve for propane tank applications!

Emerson Process Management has released the new Fisher Type 63EGLP Bulk Storage Tank Relief Valve, typically used on 100,000 litre (30,000 gallon) and larger propane tank applications. The Type 63EGLP offers multiple benefits over traditional multiport relief valves, including a 40% increase in relief capacity, a 20% weight reduction for easier installation, and reduced maintenance costs. The UL-certified relief valve is approved for bulk propane storage relief installations compliant with NFPA 58.

The Type 63EGLP achieves significantly greater relief capacity than a traditional multiport relief by incorporating a highly accurate pilot controlling valve. This pilot controlling valve has been used for decades in petrochemical and natural gas applications and has proven to be both accurate and highly reliable. The 40% capacity increase translates into significant savings for tanks of 300,000 litres (90,000 gallons) or larger, requiring only two Fisher Type 63EGLP's versus three traditional multiport relief valves. Installation is simplified due to a 20% reduction in weight and a reduction in overall size in comparison to multiport relief valves, along with an included lifting sling.

The Type 63EGLP’s unique dual-pilot design provides high accuracy relief and the ability to service one pilot while the other pilot controls the relief valve for uninterrupted relief protection, helping to minimise maintenance time and costs.

With an increased capacity, ease of installation, reduced maintenance costs, and a history of decades of accurate, dependable service in the petrochemical industry, the 63EGLP provides great value to the propane industry.

Onshore gas storage facilities contract

Yokogawa has been awarded a multi-million pound contract by SSE Hornsea Ltd for the upgrade of one of Britain's largest onshore underground gas storage facilities, located at Atwick, East Yorkshire.

Yokogawa United Kingdom will supply an integrated control and safety system, together with a metering solution. The order includes the supply and installation of Yokogawa’s flagship CENTUM® VP integrated production control system to control the gas compressors. Also included in the project is the ProSafe® RS integrated safety instrumented system, which will contribute to ensuring process safety at the facility.

The Atwick gas storage facility comprises nine man-made salt cavities that have been leached into a salt layer 1.8 kilometers underground, creating around 325 million cubic meters of gas storage space. Gas is imported to the site and injected into the cavities for storage. When needed, the gas is then withdrawn from the cavities, dried, and exported to the National Transmission System. According to the British Geological Survey: “When compared to above ground storage tank facilities, underground gas storage provides the significantly greater and cheaper storage volumes required and, when carefully constructed and monitored, added levels of safety.”

This contract is part of an SSE project to extend the life of the site and allow its use for both peak shaving and longer term storage by improving control, compression, and metering. It is the project’s aim to ensure the viability of the asset’s control systems and the commercial availability of the facility for the future by replacing the obsolete control systems with modern, maintainable, and supportable control and safety systems.

“This is a significant order win for Yokogawa,” says David Clough, Sales Director at Yokogawa United Kingdom. “It was the quality of our products and their technical superiority, together with the experience and dedication of our engineers that were recognized by the customer. We are committed to achieve the project’s aim, enhancement of the operational life, while maintaining safety.”

Herman van den Berg, President, Yokogawa Europe B.V: “In Europe and North America, gas is often stored in underground facilities, and many projects for the construction and upgrade of such facilities are in the planning stage, spurred by such developments as the surge in shale gas production. Yokogawa is targeting the natural gas industry, and we believe that this project will allow us to gain further expertise in gas storage control and safety applications that we intend to share with the entire Group.”

Thums up at Czech facility!

Smart Wireless enables instrumentation upgrade at underground storage facility in Czech Republic

Emerson’s Smart Wireless technology is helping RWE Gas Storage maximise the capacity of its Dolní Dunajovice underground gas storage facility in the Czech Republic. Installation of five Smart Wireless networks and more than 100 wireless measurement devices has increased visibility into the process, enabling the plant to improve control and run closer to its capacity. Automating data collection has also eliminated manual rounds at the plant, improving operator efficiency and safety.

Rosemount Guided Wave Radar level 

transmitter at RWE Gas Storage.

THUM™Wireless Adaptor fixed on

 right of transmitter

"We needed to upgrade our existing instrumentation and add additional measurements, but with just two short windows of opportunity each year and no available existing cabling infrastructure, it was impossible to complete the work within the scheduled two-week downtime," said Pavel Silinger, Energy Manager, RWE Gas Storage s.r.o. "Extending the downtime would cost RWE an estimated $250,000 (195,000 Euros) a day in lost income."

RWE needed a solution that did not require installation of new cabling and allowed a longer period for the upgrade to be completed. To meet this need, RWE selected Smart Wireless technology from Emerson. Based on IEC 62591 (WirelessHART®) communications, the technology is well-proven, reliable and both quick and easy to install and commission.

The wireless solution didn’t require RWE to install new cabling or new I/O cards in the control host. RWE simply added Smart Wireless Gateways to the existing Modbus network and all data from the new wireless transmitters was then available within the existing control system. This meant that the plant could continue to operate while new instruments were being installed, removing the need for the upgrade to be completed within the scheduled two-week downtime.

Five wireless networks span the entire 50,000-square-metre facility, supporting more than 100 new wireless transmitters. The instruments are predominantly Emerson’s Rosemount® wireless pressure and temperature transmitters, with a number of Rosemount Guided Wave Radar level transmitters and Fisher control valves also connected using Emerson’s THUM™ Adapters.

"Emerson’s wireless solution takes only a quarter of the time to install, and saves around 20% of the cost of a cabled installation," continued Silinger. "The availability of HART® data, including diagnostics from new and existing devices, was another significant reason for selecting Smart Wireless and is helping us to improve plant maintenance procedures."

In addition to the benefits of better process management, RWE is saving 10% per year on its total maintenance costs. Remote online access to diagnostic information enables operators to identify potential instrument problems earlier and correct them before poor measurements start to affect the process. Access to online data has also reduced the number of trips into the field, helping to improve the safety of equipment and workers.

Based on the successful implementation of wireless technology at the Dolní Dunajovice site, RWE plans to implement Emerson’s Smart Wireless at all of its underground storage facilities in the Czech Republic.

RWE Gas Storage, part of the RWE Group, is the biggest underground gas storage operator in the Czech Republic, operating six facilities with a total operating capacity of almost 3 billion cubic metres. Gas is stored in porous underground facilities during low-off take periods and supplied to users when demand peaks.

Global framework agreement for terminal automation systems

Bulk liquid terminal operator standardises on Emerson’s DeltaV™ digital automation system

Netherlands-based Vopak has awarded Emerson Process Management, a three-year Global Framework Agreement to become one of the providers of process automation systems and services for Vopak’s 80-plus storage and bulk liquid terminal facilities around the world.

Standardising on Emerson’s DeltaV™ digital automation system will help Vopak meet growing demand for reliable liquid oil, gas, and chemical storage and terminal services – demand driven by increasing global energy usage and geographic imbalances between production and consumption.

Terminal automation contributes greatly to operational success in safety, health and the environment, effectiveness and efficiency. The process control systems will help Vopak reduce project lead time, improve strategic planning and project execution, and operate terminals more efficiently.

Under the agreement, Emerson will design, configure, and implement digital automation systems for all new automation projects at Vopak terminals, as well as provide on-going support services for new and existing automation systems.

Vopak recognises standardisation, repeatability, and knowledge management as the key enablers for improving performance of terminal automation initiatives. Implementing Emerson’s DeltaV system and integrating it with additional terminal logistic and safety systems will help Vopak optimise operations, reduce field work and time-consuming paperwork, and improve terminal effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

Steve Sonnenberg, President of Emerson Process Management, added, "This Global Framework Agreement recognises the excellent relationship we have with Vopak and offers Emerson an exciting opportunity to provide Vopak terminals with automation technology for many years to come."

• Vopak is the world’s largest independent tank storage provider with 83 terminals in 31 countries. Emerson’s selection builds on a long-term relationship that also includes the implementation of its Syncade Logistics software at Vopak’s fuel distribution terminal at Amsterdam Westpoort in the Netherlands.

Terminal automation agreement

Yokogawa has signed a global frame agreement with Royal Vopak (Vopak) for terminal automation. Vopak is based in the Netherlands and is the world's largest independent tank storage service provider, specialising in the storage and handling of bulk liquid chemicals, gases and oil products. Yokogawa is pleased to become the first automation and safety system provider to sign such an agreement with them.

Back left: Marschal Weeland (Category Buyer), Vopak,
& Marcel Kelder (Global Account Manager), Yokogawa
Front: Niek Verbree (Corporate Director Operational 
Excellence) Vopak,Naoki Nakamura (Senior Manager), 
Yokogawa, & Jos Kea (Global Director Sourcing 
& Procurement) Vopak.

This contract is for the provision of integrated automation and safety solutions, to control pipelines, loading/unloading facilities, and other utilities located at tank terminals. Based on Yokogawa's CENTUM VP distributed control system (DCS) and ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system (SIS), these integrated solutions will enable safe and seamless communication between systems and integrated operator interfaces and alarms, which will lead to greater efficiency in project execution and allow a more unified project and maintenance approach.

Vopak selected Yokogawa as a global terminal automation partner because of the high reliability and global track record of its automation and safety solutions and its global maintenance and service network serving all major markets.

Vopak aims to optimise the safety, reliability and efficiency of its logistics and storage processes through the introduction of automation technology. Vopak applies a consistent blueprint that will guide the automation of processes at all of its storage terminals.

Yokogawa's CENTUM VP and ProSafe-RS systems will make it possible for Vopak to standardise the automation environment at its terminals, allowing the company to profit from economies of scale and shorter installation times. It is expected that a standardised approach to terminal automation projects will lead to further cost efficiency in projects and maintenance.

With the signing of this global terminal automation agreement, Yokogawa and Vopak will focus on realising continuous improvements. Both companies will benefit from standardisation of the control and safety systems for terminal automation through the reuse of knowhow, expertise, and solutions, leading to greater consistency in project execution and guaranteed cost efficiency.

Still using floppies...but?

You have a machine controller with a floppy drive? The machine still functions perfectly but you're not really happy with the floppy technology anymore? 

 

With the Compact Flash floppy drive (CFF 011), Sigmatek offers an alternative, operating system-independent device. This allows the PC to be easily updated with the latest data storage technology. With this unit, the data from up to 99 floppy diskettes can be stored on a single Compact Flash card. The data and programs from several machines can be saved and/or loaded with a Compact Flash card.

 

Physically, The Compact Flash floppy drive is not different from a conventional floppy drive. Plug and Play – the exchange is simple and without installation. The CFF 011 supports all current operating systems and can be connected to any IDE controller in a PC.

 

It was especially designed for industrial applications and is constructed accordingly robust. The CFF 011 can be mounted horizontally as well as vertically and fits into any standard 3.5" floppy slot.