Standards in Automation recognised!

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has announced the recipients of its annual Standards & Practices (S&P) Department awards.

ISA’s S&P Department publishes 15 to 20 new or revised standards and technical reports annually that improve the safety, cybersecurity and efficiency of industrial processes.

Each year the department’s governing body, the ISA S&P Board, selects and presents department-level awards in recognition of outstanding efforts that have resulted in ISA standards or technical reports, or significant outcomes for an ISA standards committee.

This year, five individuals were presented with awards at the recent ISA Leaders Meeting by Nicholas P. Sands of DuPont, the 2015-16 Vice President of ISA’s S&P Department. The 2016 winners are:

• Darwin E. Logerot, ProSys, Inc., and David Strobhar, Beville Engineering, for their leadership and technical contributions as co-working group chairs in the development of ISA-TR18.2.2-2016, Alarm Identification and Rationalization.

• Johan B. Nye, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, and Kevin P. Staggs, Honeywell Connected Systems Technology Center, for their leadership, technical contributions and efforts to promote the advancement and adoption of the ISA/IEC 62443 security standards.

• Michael Medoff, exida, for his leadership and technical expertise as Chairman of ISA99 Working Group 4, Task Group 6 in the development of ISA-62443-4-1, Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems - Secure Product Development Lifecycle Requirements.

#PAuto #ISAuto

Strengthening cybersecurity.

Bedrock Automation has extended cyber security to serial communications with a new SIOS.5 Serial I/O module for its BedrockTM Open Secure Automation (OSA™) control system. The SIOS.5 has five channels, each supported by an independent cyber secure 32-bit ARM processor.

Each channel is software-defined for RS-232, RS-485 or RS-422 communications, extending the range of industrial edge devices that can be secured by users of the Bedrock OSA. Combined with other software-defined I/O modules, Bedrock OSA is the only system that delivers analog, discrete, digital, pulse, Ethernet and Serial data as intrinsically secure I/O.

"We connect every signal type to the Bedrock controller as software-defined I/O,with intrinsic cyber security. The SIOS.5I/O module provides users tight and effortless serial data integration. Extending Bedrock intrinsic cyber to serial communications delivers authentication of the firmware and drivers. The SIOS.5 will be valuable for users and necessary for building a secure IIoT,”" says Bedrock CTO and Engineering VP, Albert Rooyakkers.

Extending cyber security to serial communications results in improved reliability on a wide range of applications:

• RS-232 support enables secure communication with modems, gateways, printers, barcode readers, programmable devices and PC peripherals.
• RS-422 support with a single bus master for process automation (chemicals, brewing, paper mills), factory automation (autos, metal fabrication), HVAC, security, motor control, and motion control.
• RS-485 support for multi master bus/drivers.
• Mainstream protocols such as Modbus and ProfiBusDP.

Each of the SIOS.5 channels is independently configurable to support independent concurrent drivers. Five independent 32 bit ARM™ processors enable real-time performance of communications and control.

“"Edge devices that can be leveraged maliciously are coming into focus as a point of cyber vulnerability. By offering a secure serial module, however, Bedrock Automation has anticipated, and potentially closed, this additional point of entry into the industrial network,”" said ARC Research Group analyst Mark Sen Gupta.

 @BedrockAuto #PAuto 

50% alternative power saves $$$s for automation & control manufacturer!

IDEC, manufacturer of industrial automation and control products, the has a corporate mandate to reduce carbon footprint and increase the use of renewable energy sources at its facilities world-wide. In order to meet this mandate, cut costs and improve the environment, the U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley uses a combination of roof-mounted solar panels and wind turbines to provide about 50% of its power.

Due to these and other energy saving measures, such as converting from metal halide to LED lamps in the warehouse and changing to LED external lighting, IDEC is saving more than $100,000/year on its electric bill, with more savings to come.

Before the solar system was installed in 2008, IDEC was using about 1.1 million kWh/year. With solar panels, LED lights and other energy-saving measures, annual power usage is down to about 600,000 kWh/year. The wind turbines coupled with a future battery system to store solar and wind power are expected to provide another 100,000 kWh/year in power savings and demand reductions, cutting energy use from 1.1 million kWh/year in 2007 to a projected usage of about 500,000 kWh/year in 2017, which equates to an annual savings of approximately $150,000.

The wind turbines are a new addition as they were recently installed in September 2016. IDEC was the first company in the Sunnyvale, CA area to install wind turbines at its facility, and other companies in the area are following suit.

There are six Windspire Series IV 2000 model turbines total, with a combined maximum power output of 8.4 kW. The wind turbines augment the existing solar panels by providing additional power, particularly on cloudy days. In addition, unlike solar panels that depend upon the sun, the wind turbines can operate up to 24 hours a day.

The peak power of the solar system depends upon the month of the year, with September and October being the best months for solar since it is quite sunny but cooler than the summer months, and the panels are more efficient when cool. The solar panels produce dc power which is converted to ac power by inverters with a maximum output of 284.6 kW.

In the next six months, IDEC will install a large storage battery system to capture wind and solar energy and release it into the grid during peak power times. This will help reduce the peak demand charges assessed by PG&E, the local electric utility. It will also benefit the utility and its customers by reducing total peak system demand.

These green power installations not only save money for IDEC, but also reduce the company’s carbon footprint. “We are committed to green energy, with the ultimate goal of getting completely off the grid. We’re considering additional solar arrays for our parking lot to further increase our solar power generating capacity,” says Lanny Schuberg, the Engineering and Compliance manager at IDEC.

IDEC’s efforts put the company at the forefront of the green energy movement in Silicon Valley. Their collaboration with the City of Sunnyvale will not only reduce their carbon footprint, but is also helping to spur other companies in the area to follow along, ultimately benefiting the entire Sunnyvale community and the Silicon Valley area.

@IDECUSA #PAuto #Environment 

World's longest lasting 9V battery!

Battery specialist re-energises commercial market!

Ultralife Corporation, has built on the success of its original 9V battery by offering the next generation of the world’s longest lasting lithium 9V battery (pdf), the U9VL-J-P. With key improvements to its energy density and cell technology, the battery is designed for applications including smoke detectors, security sensors and medical telemetry as well as test and instrumentation.

Launched in 1991, the original battery has sold over 100m units worldwide. The next generation battery builds on this success, using a lithium-manganese dioxide chemistry, which delivers a stable discharge and high energy density.

The U9VL-J-P weighs just 37g and conforms to the dimensions of ANSI 1604 – the same size as a standard 9V battery. Thanks to the use of Ultralife ThinCell™ technology, where three individual thin foil cased cells are combined to create a 9V battery, it achieves a capacity of 1200mAh. That is 50 per cent more energy than the 800mAh capacity boasted by the leading brand-named lithium competitors and five times the energy of leading alkaline 9V batteries.

"As we've seen from recent reports in the media, high energy lithium batteries can pose a risk of fire when things go wrong," explained Bernd Rosati, European Sales Manager at Ultralife Corporation. "To make it the safest battery possible, the U9VL-J-P is constructed with a shutdown separator and a temperature and current (PTC) safety device.

"We've also reduced the battery's internal impedance by enhancing its design. This means that it can supply a higher power output with a stable voltage. This is great for demanding applications such as security systems, telemetry products, smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, test and instrumentation and medical devices where a high-pulse current improves operation."

The Ultralife lithium 9V battery offers a shelf life of up to ten years, even in tough environments. The battery has an operational discharge temperature between -40 and +60 degrees Celsius, making it the perfect long-life battery for indoor and outdoor use – perhaps the last 9V you will ever need.

The U9VL-J-P complies with Underwriters Laboratories' UL1642, UL2054 and UL217 specifications, features a non-magnetic structure and qualifies for several exceptions under Class 9 shipping regulations. The battery is also available in various packaging including a blister pack, a bulk pack and a foil pouch as well as a version for contractors.

 @UltralifeCorp #PAuto

Polymer metering pump.

FLEXFLO® A-100N Polymer Pump handles high viscosity polymers used in water and wastewater treatment. These peristaltic metering pumps are equipped with Blue-White’s exclusive, built-in Tube Failure Detection system (TFD).

If TFD senses tube failure, the pump will automatically shut off and energize a relay or switch, permitting communication with external equipment, such as a back-up pump or alarm. This eliminates costly polymer spills and clean up. No false triggering is caused by condensation and wash down procedures.

Additional FLEXFLO features: Self-Priming; Tube assemblies are stamped with clearly visible part numbers for simple reorder; Precise chemical feed to 124 GPH / 8.45 LPH;
Max working pressure 100 PSI / 6.9 bar;

Two Polymer Pump models are offered:
A-100NFP with variable speed motor, dial knob control, and ON/OFF switch.
A-100NVP equipped with variable speed motor, digital control with remote and local control.

@BlueWhiteInd #PAuto #Water #WasteWater

Compact chilled mirror hygrometer.

A ‘workhorse’ in many calibration laboratories and industrial settings.

The S8000 RS Precision Chilled Mirror Hygrometer from Michell Instruments, measures dew points down to -90°C (0.1ppm_V) with an accuracy of ±0.1°C. However, unlike many other chilled mirror hygrometers in this class, no additional external cooling equipment is needed to accurately reach these dry dew points. Designed to fit into a standard 19” rack, the S8000 is the most compact, convenient and – because it doesn’t need extra equipment to work – the most cost effective hygrometer in its class.

This compact design was possible because of a sophisticated new optical system that detects very small changes in moisture condensed on the mirror surface. This guarantees high sensitivity and fast response when measuring low dew points.

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Although referred to as ‘dew-point temperature’, chilled mirror hygrometers most often measure the frost point because the temperatures are below freezing. However, in some conditions, liquid water can exist as ‘super-cooled water’ in temperatures as low as -40°C. Because the difference in condensing temperature between water and ice can be as much as 10% of the reading, it’s essential to know which phase you are measuring. The S8000RS uses Frost Assurance Technology (FAsT) to ensure that ice, not liquid water, is present on the mirror surface at low temperatures to ensure that your measurements are always a known quantity.

• Michell Instruments products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

 @Michell_Inst #PAuto #Laboratory 

Analyser is all-in-one USB3.1 receiver test solution!

Anritsu's MP1800A Signal Quality Analyzer now supports the newest USB3.1 Gen2 receiver test standards. The USB3.1 Receiver Test Solution uses the G0373A Adapter and MX183000A High-Speed Serial Data Test Software to support both USB3.1 Gen1 (5 Gbit/s) and Gen2 (10 Gbit/s) receiver Jitter Tolerance tests.

With digital equipment interfaces speeding up and switching to serial technology to handle the high-speed transmission of large data traffic, the performance of the USB interface is coming under increased pressure. Fixed transmission path loss, jitter, equipment compatibility and signal integrity assurance are just some of the requirements that are driving the need for testers with high-quality reference test signals, as well as the ability to communicate with multiple interfaces.

The Signal Quality Analyzer MP1800A is a plug-in modular Bit Error Rate Tester (BERT) supporting measurement of multi-channel wideband interfaces up to 32 Gbit/s. Additionally, high-reproducibility USB3.1 Gen2 receiver tests are implemented using optimized high-quality output waveforms to measure high-speed interfaces.

Combining the G0373A and MP1800A supports generation of signals required by USB3.1 receiver tests as well as BER measurements. The MX183000A software controls the combined MP1800A and G0373A measurement system to set and control the receiver test signals and display the BER measurement results. The combination of the MP1800A, G0373A, and MX183000A offers an all-in-one USB3.1 receiver test solution for assured high-reproducibility. And automated measurement using the Granite River Labs automation software helps lighten test workloads.

@Anritsu #TandM @AnritsuEMEA