Control System World

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has received an order to supply turbine control systems for thermal power plant No. 4, the largest thermal power plant in Mongolia. This 2.1 billion yen project is being undertaken to improve the efficiency of this facility's operations.

Located in Mongolia's capital city, Ulaanbaatar, thermal power plant No. 4 has a total capacity of 703 MW and accounts for approximately 70% of the electricity output to the central energy system in Mongolia. The plant also supplies 1,373 Gcal/h (12,000 t/h) of hot water for the district heating system in Ulaanbaatar, meeting about 65% of the city's heating demand. Temperatures in this region fall as low as -40℃ in mid-winter, so this power plant is a crucial lifeline for the city's residents.

This project, which is financed by a Japanese ODA loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will improve the efficiency of power generation and stabilize the supply of electricity and hot water by this plant. For six of the plant's turbines, obsolete mechanical speed governors will be converted to electronic governors, and control systems and instrumentation will be replaced. In addition to supplying the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system for the control and monitoring of the turbine governors and auxiliary facilities such as the feed water pump control system, Yokogawa will provide field devices such as DPharp EJA series differential pressure/pressure transmitters, FLXA21/FLXA202 liquid analyzers, control valves, and safety valves. Yokogawa will also have full responsibility for the implementation of this renovation project, starting with the survey of existing facilities and proceeding through to the detailed design, delivery, and installation of instruments, related erection work, commissioning, and staff training. This work will proceed in stages, and the first of the renovated turbines is scheduled to be returned to service in June 2017.

Through orders that it received in 1997 and 2003, Yokogawa also provided control systems as part of a project to renovate the boilers and related instrumentation at this power plant. Consequently, all of these facilities are monitored and controlled by Yokogawa CENTUM® series integrated production control systems. As the result of these renovations, this power station was able to reduce its coal consumption by more than 20% over the 1997 to 2007 timeframe. Thanks to the trust that it has established with this plant customer over the past 20 years, Yokogawa was awarded the contract for this turbine control renovation project. A company subsidiary, Yokogawa Engineering Asia, will play a leading role in this undertaking.

Siemens is making it possible for utilities and power grid operators to gain deeper insights into their smart grid data. For this, Siemens has added a big data option to EnergyIP Analytics, an application that runs on Siemens' highly scalable EnergyIP smart grid application platform. The Analytics application now uses various big data options for the data-intensive processes used to administer smart meter gateways and meter data processing for external market participants on the German market. This includes the analysis of complex data patterns for the identification of energy theft, the identification of vulnerable or overloaded devices and plants in the distribution network, and the creation of load forecasts for different levels in the distribution grid based on finely granulated meter data.
EnergyIP Analytics thus provides a solid foundation for all analytical applications on Siemens' smart grid application platform with selected Business Intelligence (BI) reports and comprehensive programming interfaces (API). Information from different sources is prepared, combined, and presented for the analysis in BI reports. A BI report allows users to visualize and understand complex data or issues and to use that information to derive corresponding measures. In addition, EnergyIP Analytics enables the evaluation of supply quality at individual metering points with a focus on grid areas and devices with poor power quality indicators. The standard BI reports from EnergyIP Analytics support applications such as end customer consumption load analysis, grid load analysis, power failure analysis, grid incident analysis, the analysis of unassignable consumption (energy that cannot be assigned to any customer), as well as the analysis of distributed energy resources.

Development of EnergyIP Analytics incorporated the expertise of over 50 Siemens customers with a total of 28 million installed smart meters, the worldwide operation of 1.4 million Siprotec protection devices from Siemens and 1,400 installations of Spectrum Power, the network control system from Siemens, as well as evaluations of hundreds of studies about energy management in energy technology for insightful BI reports and Analytics applications. Siemens is continuing to develop the data analysis tool on an ongoing basis. Plans for future versions include new standard BI reports, the support of selected business intelligence tools, as well as export opportunities to third-party software vendors.

The Michelin Group has awarded a four-year contract to Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) that designates the industrial automation and information company as the preferred provider to all the Michelin Group’s factories worldwide.

The agreement extends to the Rockwell Automation industrial automation, power, control, industrial software and services offerings. The Michelin Group will use these solutions to gradually leverage performance of their industrial assets, and to design next-generation machines.

“Innovation in mobility is at the heart of growth and urban well-being, and Rockwell Automation’s winning technologies make this a reality for Michelin,” said the vice president of capex procurement for The Michelin Group. “We are pleased to designate Rockwell Automation as a preferred partner, resulting from our long, successful partnership. We look forward to Rockwell Automation providing us with the innovative products and high-value solutions that we’ve come to expect.”

“We’re honored to receive this preferred partner agreement,” said Thomas Donato, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Rockwell Automation. “It caps a 35-year relationship with Michelin marked by innovative collaboration. Thank you to Michelin for being a great customer and partner.”

The Rockwell Automation global resource network includes a global account team near Michelin headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France and offices near Michelin plants in Greenville, South Carolina, and Shanghai. They support day-to-day operations and service to Michelin’s manufacturing facilities.
- See more at: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196186&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2139642#sthash.AabM6XHp.dpuf

“The elimination of manual operations for the measurement of OEE parameters has resulted into significant cycle time reduction. Based on the results achieved with this solution, we are considering its extension to other countries outside Europe.”
Stuttgart and Munich, Germany— BSH Boschund Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, a joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH in Stuttgart and Siemens AG in Munich since 1967, is a global group with approximately 9 billion Euro turnover in 2010. With a worldwide network of agencies and customer service companies, BSH currently includes 70 companies in 46 countries, employing over 43,000 people. BSH is the biggest household appliance manufacturer in Germany and Europe, and one of the industry leaders worldwide. Besides the main brands Bosch and Siemens, the BSH portfolio encompasses large and small household appliances, floor cleaning equipment and water heaters. Business management and development are driven by a clear strategic focus on quality and innovation. BSH offers well crafted products and the added value they bring to customers in terms of performance, comfort and ease of use. With this approach, the company promotes long-term customer satisfaction and trust in BSH brands.

Download Full Story

Beijer Electronics has launched cost-effective iX TxF-2 series of HMIs, including 5, 7 and 10 inch operator interface panels designed for industrial environments.

A cost-effective yet advanced HMI:
The iX TxF-2 series offers three cost-effective industrial HMIs with high-resolution touch-screen and modern design. The UL-approved iX TxF-2 panels combine IP65 plastic housing with the full version of the iX HMI Software, making it a cost-effective yet full-featured HMI. All iX TxF-2 panels come standard with Ethernet, serial and USB ports.

Smart iX HMI Software:
The iX HMI Software features all basic HMI functions such as alarms, data logging, trends, security as well as more advanced functions. It combines best-in-class vector-based graphics and smart functions that allow for intuitive operation on the spot. iX HMI software guarantees almost limitless connectivity to PLCs and other equipment with an extensive list of more than 70 drivers.

Features:
- High resolution TFT-LCD touch-screen
- 10″, 800 × 480 pixel (16:9), 7″, 800 × 480 pixel (16:9), 5″, 800 × 480 pixel (16:9)
- Application storage 200 MB
- 1 × Ethernet, 4 × serial, 1 × USB as standard
- Operating temperature -10° to +50°C
- UL / cUL, CE, FCC and KCC certifications
- IP65 protected corrosion-resistant plastic housing
- iX HMI Software with universal connectivity

Product Webpage

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its subsidiary, Yokogawa (Thailand) Ltd., has received letters of intent for the purchase of control systems for 12 combined cycle cogeneration plants*1 that are to be built for small power producers (SPP)*2 in Thailand.

The 12 SPPs responsible for these projects are all special purpose companies that are jointly owned by Gulf Energy Development Company Limited and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The 12 power plants will all be natural gas fired combined cycle cogeneration facilities, and will be located in the Bangkok suburbs. Nine of these will have a 120 MW capacity, and the remaining three will have a 130 MW capacity, for a total generation capacity of 1,470 MW. The construction of these 12 plants is slated for completion between May 2017 and July 2019. The letters of intent received by Yokogawa (Thailand) Ltd. were submitted by Toyo Engineering Corporation, which will hold overall responsibility for the engineering, procurement of equipment and materials in Thailand, construction, and commissioning for the 12 projects.

For each of these projects, Yokogawa (Thailand) will deliver the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system for the monitoring and control of the gas turbines, heat recovery steam generators, and a steam turbine. Yokogawa will also handle engineering for its products and will provide support with the installation and commissioning of these products and the training of operators.

Yokogawa believes that it will win these orders due to its solid track record in Thailand with the delivery of control systems to SPPs, other types of power plant operators, and companies that have in-house power facilities. A contributing factor is the company's strong support organization in Thailand.

Many SPP projects are currently underway in Thailand thanks to government policies that encourage the generation of more electricity for a growing economy. In addition to the 12 letters of intent for these SPPs, Yokogawa has received letters of intent for the Bang Pa-in Phase 2, TJ Cogen, SK Cogen, TP Cogen, and KCE cogeneration plant projects. With the formal receipt of the orders for each of these projects, Yokogawa will have received a total of 29 control system orders from Thai SPPs.

Through such endeavors, Yokogawa is helping Thai companies achieve safe and stable plant operations. The company aims to keep growing its power-related control business in South and Southeast Asia, with the target of achieving US$100 million in annual sales throughout the region.

Yokogawa Meters & Instruments Corporation announces that it has developed the AQ6376 optical spectrum analyzer and will release it on February 16. The AQ6376 has a wide dynamic range and can perform precise, high resolution measurements of the optical spectrum of laser light in the 1.5–3.4 μm wavelength range. The AQ6376 is a bench-top analyzer that uses dispersive spectroscopy*1 and supports the 3-μm band, an industry first.

An optical spectrum analyzer is a measuring instrument that resolves the wavelength components of optical devices such as semiconductor lasers and fiber lasers in order to assess their properties. The AQ6376 will help to improve the efficiency of 3-μm optical devices and accelerate their adoption in fields such as environmental measurement and medicine, where they already are a topic of considerable interest.

Development Background:
In recent years, laser absorption spectroscopy*2 has entered wide use in the environmental measurement field for the detection of gases such as carbon oxides (COx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrocarbon gas (CxHy). Although 2-μm semiconductor lasers have mainly been used as the optical source in such applications, there is an increasing need for 3-μm lasers because these gases absorb more light at longer wavelengths. Optical lasers are also being gradually introduced in the medical field, where the need to analyze substances that contain water is driving demand for 3-μm fiber lasers. Accordingly, there is a growing need for a tool that can precisely measure optical spectra in the 3-μm band.

Following extensive testing, leading glass container manufacturers are specifying the Rotork CMA electric actuator for a critical valve control function in the glass making process. The valves are used to control the temperature and pressure in the furnaces by regulating the air and gas mixture with extreme precision. Maintaining a constant temperature and pressure is essential for energy efficient glass making. Traditionally, the industry uses various pneumatic and electric actuators for the modulating and isolating valves involved, but has recognised the need for a more reliable and energy efficient universal solution for this application.

Tests have demonstrated that the CMA out-performs existing equipment, providing improved precision, reliability and energy savings in a compact and easy to set product that is available in a range of sizes that suits all the various valve types encountered. In addition, the CMA’s versatile ability to interface with industry-standard 4-20mA or RIRO (Remote In Remote Out) control signals enables plants in different countries to standardise on the same product.

Furnace revamps, usually taking place after a period of ten years operation, provide the opportunity to introduce the upgrade, which typically involves up to forty valves on each furnace. Following the success of the tests, several hundred ATEX certified explosion proof CMQ250 and CMQ500 actuators have been installed during revamps around the world.