Gas detection product of the year fights climate change.

Vaisala’s MGP261 multigas instrument won the Gas Detection Product of the Year category at the Instrumentation Excellence Awards* in London. It measures methane, humidity, and carbon dioxide inside the biogas process pipeline without sampling, even in hazardous environments.

“This unique new technology represents a major breakthrough for the operators of biogas plants,” explains Vaisala’s Product Manager Antti Heikkilä. “Not only are they able to control biogas production more efficiently, and at a lower cost with this instrument, but they can also improve the quality of the biogas. By helping to improve efficiency and financial performance, this technology is also contributing to the fight against climate change. Anaerobic digestion turns waste into renewable energy and reduces dependency on fossil fuels, which is even more important in an energy crisis.” 

Vaisala’s Sales Manager Andrew Williams was also present at the award ceremony. “I am very proud and happy for the win, and want to give thanks to the team that made this possible: starting with our R&D scientists and engineers at Vaisala, but also our customers and partners who choose our technology to provide the measurements that they rely on to drive their businesses forward.” 

Strong stand in sustainable technology.
Vaisala has strong sustainability impact through its measurement solutions; helping to fight climate change in three ways. With Vaisala’s world-class environmental observations scientists can study climate change. By optimising processes with Vaisala’s accurate measurement instruments customers can minimise waste, increase energy efficiency, and improve renewable energy production – such as biogas with the award winning MGP261. Thirdly, precise weather observations conducted by Vaisala’s monitoring systems help societies prepare for and adapt to extreme weather.

*See also: Instrumentation excellence recognised. (28/10/2022)

@_Enviro_News @VaisalaGroup #PAuto #TandM #IEA22 #Britain

Additional security for data integration.

Softing enables secure communication between OPC UA components in OT and IT that are separated by firewalls or DMZs with the integration of OPC UA Reverse Connect into its dataFEED OPC Suite Extended V5.22,.

dataFEED OPC Suite Extended is an all-in-one solution for OPC communication and cloud connectivity, providing access to controllers and IoT devices of leading manufacturers. With the new OPC UA Reverse Connect functionality, the suite ensures secure communication between OPC UA components separated by firewalls or DMZs.

Secure connection.
OPC UA Reverse Connect avoids traditional client-server connections where the client establishes the connection to the server. Instead, the server actively connects to the client. This is important for networks where the server is in a protected environment, such as the production network of a factory. There is no need to open firewall ports from the IT network to the OT network. The risk of an attack on the production network is thus eliminated, as the firewall remains closed.

An all-in-one data integration solution.
The dataFEED OPC Suite enables access to the controllers of leading manufacturers such as Siemens SIMATIC S7, Rockwell ControlLogix, B&R, Mitsubishi as well as Modbus controllers (e.g., from Wago). It acts as a gateway between the two OPC standards so that existing OPC Classic components and applications can also be integrated into modern OPC UA solutions for Industry 4.0 applications. Production data is transferred to IoT Cloud or Big Data applications via the MQTT and REST protocols. The suite also supports the storage of production data in a file, in an SQL database, or in MongoDB and CouchDB. Thanks to the extensive data pre-processing functionality, data can be easily and flexibly customized.

@SoftingIA @mepaxIntPR #Communications #CyberSecurity

Acquisition strengthens thermal product and technology vision.

Watlow®, a designer and manufacturer of complete industrial thermal systems has just completed its acquisition of Eurotherm® from Schneider. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Eurotherm is a premier provider of temperature, power and process control, measurement and data management equipment, systems, software and services for global industrial markets. The company employs about 650 people worldwide, with headquarters in Worthing, (GB). and core manufacturing operations in Ledziny, Poland.

Rob Gilmore, Watlow’s CEO, said, “We are excited about Watlow and Eurotherm and all we will accomplish together. This acquisition aligns with our vision of providing innovative thermal products and technologies that help increase our customers’ competitive advantage. The combination of Watlow and Eurotherm products and technologies will create new global opportunities for our collective customers and allow us to focus our advanced thermal systems in important areas.”

Watlow will establish Eurotherm’s sites in Worthing and Dardilly (F) as Advanced Development Centers for its electronics and controls product offering and plans to invest in Eurotherm’s facility in Poland to become Watlow’s Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Europe. This additional capacity and capability also provide a path to growth in other parts of the world including the Americas and Asia.

@watlow @eurotherm @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Europe

"Talking the torque in test rigs?"

To analyse the long term performance and reliability of hard working valves and pumps, serial innovators Manchester-based Bifold Group (GB) has adopted digital torque transducers from Sensor Technology Ltd for two of its specialist test rigs.

An inter-generational commitment to advancing science and engineering has seen Bifold transform from a 19th century mining lamp maker into a leading manufacturer of instrument valves and accessories, piping valves and pumps for the oil, gas and wider industrial markets. It has particular expertise in subsea and wellhead control systems and has also developed market leading technology in areas such as solenoid valves with ultra-low power requirements.

Its corporate development is just as impressive as its technical advancements. Over the last 10-15 years it has consistently grown profits by 50% a year, and is on course to clear £33m this year. During this period it has moved into bespoke premises, created about 250 high value jobs, developed new products and technologies and entered high tech markets around the world. Today 95% of its output is exported.

By using the power of computer aided design many of Bifold’s products are built to custom designs, yet they are produced to very short lead times thanks to the efficiency of internet communications. To maintain this standard, sample products and components are comprehensively tested so that their reliability and capabilities are never in doubt. Bifold is as innovative in developing its test regimes as it is in advancing its product technologies and business systems. So when it wanted to assess the effects of wear on its long-life valves it set about designing a special test rig. 

Engineer Andrew Laverick recalls: “We wanted to measure the power required to operate the valve to see how it changed over time and with long term use. It was clear that the best way to do this was to measure the torque input over an extended period. We were open to any design concept for the test rig, but soon found ourselves gravitating towards a TorqSense solution because the Sensor Technology engineers were so helpful and really knowledgeable about test rigs.”

Sensor Technology’s Mark Ingham explains: “TorqSense has been used on many test rigs over the years and I was delighted to hear the Bifold engineers say how easy it is to use and how robust the software is.”

Laverick again: “As a test engineer you are almost resigned to long set up procedures and software that falls over at the drop of a hat. But Sensor Technology has designed these problems out of their TorqSense equipment, with the result that we were able to complete our long term test procedures with the minimum amount of fuss and heartache and well within the allotted time schedule.”

In fact Bifold has since bought a second TorqSense which is being fitted to a new test rig used to assess the performance of mission critical chemical injection pumps, as used at oil and gas wellheads and on process pipelines.

“This project is proceeding well,” says Laverick, “and is allowing us to further develop our abilities to quickly provide bespoke equipment for ultra demanding applications, safe in the knowledge that it will perform faultlessly over a long working life.”

@sensortech  #PAuto #Torque

Membership leveling up with DTM!

KSR KUEBLER is the newest member of the FDT Group™. The company is developing FDT-based Device Type Managers™ (DTMs™) for its level measurement transmitters for integration in FDT-enabled engineering workstation environments to meet customer application demands.

With over 60 years of industry experience, KSR KUEBLER’s is part of the WIKA Group headquartered in Zwingenberg (D). The company offers a worldwide network of production locations in Germany, China, India, France, GB, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa. Serving the oil & gas, power / nuclear, hygienic, pharmaceutic, and industrial machines, their level solutions offer the versatility and flexibility focused on reliable liquid measurements in tanks, storage, and process vessels, reactors, and boilers.

Customer requests for FDT DTM-based devices are common in the market. Today, millions of DTM-enabled devices are serviced by FDT-enabled engineering environments around the globe. The open architecture solution simplifies device integration, configuration and monitoring providing a unified environment for data access to all connected assets, supporting reliable operations and predictive maintenance strategies. The standard has evolved to support a platform agnostic service-oriented architecture using the FDT3 specification. The new IIoT architecture extends data access to IT/OT authenticated OPC UA, FDT, and mobile clients/device independent of the topology - protocols, networks, and device solutions simplifying asset management for the process, hybrid and discrete markets.

“A sensor is not just hardware anymore,” commented Thomas Gerling, ceo for KSR KUEBLER. “FDT Group paves the path to the IIoT future. We are thrilled to extend DTM support for our Magnetostrictive Level Transmitters that will provide near real-time level measurement used for high-accuracy continuous level detection of liquids. Requests for DTM support and certification from our customers was a driving factor in our decision to become an FDT member. We look forward to evolving our solution to meet the latest FDT3 standard to deliver mobility services with newer webUI-based DTMs.”

“Modernisation to maximize production uptime is critical to meeting industry demands,” Steve Biegacki, FDT managing director said. “FDT enables vendors with standardized software-based device DTM solutions that deliver predictive data intelligence to engineering workstations, IT/OT clients/mobile devices and other higher level applications providing operators with a comprehensive diagnostic view of the health of the device, network, and process. We are pleased to welcome KSR KUEBLER to the FDT family of leading manufacturers thriving in the market with FDT-enabled devices.”

@FDTGroup @KSR_KUEBLER @WIKANews #PAuto #Standard

RTD temperature transmitter redefined!

The newly developed iTEMP TMT31 temperature transmitter for analog 4-20mA signals from Endress+Hauser is characterized by its long-term stability, high accuracy, and ease of use, making it an important pillar for reliable temperature measurement.

Temperature transmitters are an important link between temperature sensors in the field and higher levels of automation and analysis in the process industries.

The iTEMP TMT31 improves upon its RTD transmitter predecessors with better connection technology, available in two optimized formats. The first incorporates push-in terminals, enabling tool-free, secure field wiring in a matter of seconds. It is also available in the classic screw terminal format, with an optimized design that makes wire terminations in the connection head easier. Corrosion-free contacts ensure maximum reliability of measured value transmission for both connection variants.

For fast commissioning, users have the option to receive the TMT31 transmitter conveniently pre-configured from the factory, or to apply custom parameterization on site with free configuration software, such as Endress+Hauser FieldCare or DeviceCare. These software packages run conveniently on a host of operating systems, both on laptops and tablets. The USB configuration kits required for this, such as TXU10 or Commubox FXA291, are also available from Endress+Hauser as accessories.

Robust ratings and high reliability.
The TMT31 is approved for safe operation in Zone 2 / Div. 2 hazardous areas (non-sparking) in accordance with ATEX and CSA C/US standards, along with Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors. Additionally, the sensor adjustment parameter in the head transmitter can be modified according to Callendar-Van Dusen equations (CvD) to match the connected RTD sensor characteristics, further refining the temperature measurement accuracy of the entire system.

 @Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @Endress_UK #PAuto

300,000 tons in carbon emissions to be saved.

ABB has published another of its ‘Energy Transition Equation’ reports that shows how industrial customers can reduce carbon emissions and manage the energy transition for a more sustainable future. Based on nine months of research and modelling, the report highlights how early adoption and integration of automation, digitalization, and electrification technologies to enable autonomous operations can deliver savings of over 300,000 tons of carbon emissions per annum for offshore sites (approximately 25 percent reduction). This is the equivalent of removing 150,000 combustion cars from the road and is the same volume of CO2 responsible for five million tons of glacier mass lost each year.[1]   “The world needs more energy,” said Brandon Spencer, President, ABB Energy Industries. “Even in the most advanced scenarios for renewables, we will still need to invest in oil and gas infrastructure to ensure availability and stability of supply to meet our energy needs. Now is the time to make that investment count, using the right technology to ensure energy production from hydrocarbons is the most sustainable it can be, as we continue to develop renewables.”   The report also demonstrates how companies can realize production efficiencies of up to $30 million in annual savings, while delivering net revenue increases of up to $120,000, thanks to autonomous operations.   A key part of this is redeploying companies’ offshore workforces, moving them from hazardous roles into new ones onshore. In doing so, employers can offer safer working environments, a better work-life balance and fill industry talents gaps by reskilling employees to support a data-led approach to oil and gas exploration and production.   In 2021, ABB reduced its own CO2 emissions by 39 percent as part of its Sustainability Strategy 2030 and expects to be fully carbon neutral by decade’s end. The strategy details how ABB will support its global customers in reducing their annual CO2 emissions by at least 100 megatons by 2030, the equivalent of removing 30 million combustion cars from the roads.   • The report’s economic modelling was undertaken by independent economist Steve Lucas of Developmental Economics,[2] in conjunction with ABB Energy Industries and supported with desktop research of academic and industry sources. ABB will publish reports focused on the power and chemicals markets in 2023. [1] Source: Global warming to date could ‘obliterate’ a third of glacier ice - Carbon BriefNature Climate Change, by the researchers B. Marzeion, G. Kaser and F. Maussion. [2] https://developmenteconomics.co.uk/contact-us/ @ABBgroupnews @abb_automation #Environment