Control System World

Case Study by Rotork: Era Polymers is a world-class manufacturer of polyurethane systems, producing a diverse range of cast elastomer prepolymers including spray polyurethane and polyureas, rigid and flexible foam systems, rubber binders and floor coatings.

The company wanted to automate the manually operated temperature control of water supplied to the condenser as part of the water/glycol separation process during the manufacture of polyurethane elastomer. The existing temperature variation of only 1-2ºC resulted in an unacceptable level of wasted product, so the success of the project relied on the achievement of exceptionally accurate temperature control, within +/-0.1ºC. The application also called for full automation, operating from a 4-20mA control signal.

Rotork Australia proposed an all-electric control package, consisting of a V-port ball valve operated by a CVA actuator and, following a product demonstration, this package was selected as the ‘stand-out’ best option. With the equipment now installed, the CVA has successfully and autonomously operated with the sophisticated site control system to maintain the water temperature within the required parameters, delivering a ten-fold improvement in performance. As a result, product waste during manufacture has been greatly reduced

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it will release an enhanced version of the ADMAG AXR two-wire magnetic flowmeter on August 17. This enhanced flowmeter has been certified for use in safety integrity level*1 2 (SIL2) applications, as stipulated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and it supports the latest HART 7*2 protocol.

The enhanced ADMAG AXR two-wire magnetic flowmeter exhibits a level of performance comparable to that of the ADMAG AXF four-wire magnetic flowmeter. With these two flowmeters, Yokogawa aims to take the top position in the global magnetic flowmeter market.

Further details can be checked at 'Yokogawa Releases Enhanced Version of ADMAG AXR Series Two-wire Magnetic Flowmeters'

Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, has extended its virtualization technology offerings. Initially focused on the Microsoft HyperV and VMware platforms within its software product lines, the new Invensys offering now includes thin client support and intelligent solutions for the company’s Foxboro® I/A Series® distributed control system. With a focus on lowering total cost of ownership and promoting overall project delivery excellence, the new offerings will help customers cut implementation costs; reduce risks; shorten project schedules; improve scheduling integrity; strengthen the ability to respond to project changes; and improve global collaboration.

“Unlike automation software alone, control and safety systems are more frequently delivered to manufacturing customers as turnkey solutions when the customer undertakes an installation or an upgrade. On average, those projects take six to 18 months to complete, depending on their size and complexity,” said Gary Freburger, president of the company’s systems business. “However, virtualizing many of our control solutions, including our Intelligent Marshalling and Intelligent Engineering workbench solutions, significantly reduces implementation costs, cuts project risks, improves scheduling and enhances change agility throughout the project lifecycle. It not only shortens the implementation process, it improves collaboration across the implementation team.”

"This represents an important step forward for Invensys and the industry,” said Barry Young, principal analyst, ARC Advisory Group. “Invensys’ new offering supports a three-point strategy that simplifies efforts and reduces risk when delivering major turnkey projects. This end-to-end concept stands to radically alter the way the industry works with major project customers because it provides greater change agility, more scheduling advantages and deeper collaboration across the implementation team when addressing change orders and meeting production deadlines.”

Invensys is now able to deliver a suite of hardware offerings that are “tuned” to maximize the advantages of virtualization technology. Along with Intelligent Marshalling and Intelligent Engineering services, the offerings include a new range of servers specifically selected and qualified as an optimized virtual machine-hosting appliance; a new range of solid-state operator client terminals; thin client management software; a USB modular alarm annunciator keyboard; virtual machine-hosting software; recommendations on cyber-security best practices; guest operating system licenses; and support for Invensys Operations Management’s control and safety offerings that can operate specifically within approved virtualized architectures. All of these are managed within standard product-lifecycle management policies.

'Invensys Extends Virtualization to the Control Layer'

Technip has been awarded a five-year inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) frame agreement contract by ConocoPhillips (U.K.) Limited for various assets in the Central, Southern North Sea and East Irish Sea.

The contract covers diver repair and maintenance solutions for the company’s existing U.K. subsea infrastructure.

Technip’s operating center in Aberdeen, Scotland, will execute the contract, which will run from 2012 until 2016, with two two-year options to extend it. Vessels from Technip’s fleet, including the Orelia, the Skandi Achiever and the Wellservicer, will be used for this project

Course teaches safe and effective way to install and troubleshoot arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) designed to detect electrical fire hazards.

ROSSLYN, Va., August 9, 2012—The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today announced it is collaborating with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in advancing safety, to offer a free online training course designed to educate electrical professionals on safe and effective ways to install and troubleshoot issues with arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). The course will be available through Knowledge Services, UL's training, advisory and software solutions business unit.

AFCIs are innovative circuit breakers designed to detect dangerous electrical conditions in the home that may lead to electrical fires. According to the U.S. Fire Association, there are an estimated 28,300 electrical residential building fires annually that lead to 360 deaths and $995 million in direct property loss.

The course will help electrical professionals complete trouble-free installation of AFCIs and other residential branch circuit components and provide expert advice on finding and fixing electrical system problems that may cause AFCIs to trip.

More information about the free training program and how to register to take it is available at 'NEMA Collaborates with UL to deliver Free Online Training Course for Fire Prevention Technology'.

SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract by the Central District Cooling Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Company, to provide district cooling facilities to the Jebel Omar Development in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

As part of the contract, estimated at $92 million, SNC-Lavalin will be responsible for the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of a district cooling plant, with an ultimate capacity of 55,000 Refrigeration Tonnes (RT), 1.5 km of dual underground chilled water distribution pipeline and 10 energy transfer stations with a total capacity of 36,000 RT.

“We are delighted with receiving this contract, particularly because it is the third district cooling plant contract awarded to us in Saudi Arabia since May 2010,” said Charles Chebl, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. “This contract reflects our strategy of bringing the full spectrum of our global expertise to the region, and attests to SNC-Lavalin’s world-class leadership in the district cooling sector.”

Engineering work on the project is underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2012. The first phase of the facility, a chilled water production plant with a capacity of 25,000 RT, is planned for December 2013.

Houston, Texas — August 8, 2012 — KBR (NYSE:KBR) and Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (NYSE: RDS.A) today announced the expansion of their hydroprocessing technology alliance. In addition to hydrocracking and hydrotreating, KBR will also market, sell and provide technology and design packages for Shell Global Solutions deep-flash, high-vacuum unit distillation and thermal conversion technologies worldwide.

Refinery operators want to improve their distillation performance to optimize their assets, minimize their expenditure and capital investment, and debottleneck their operations. Refiners can use deep cut vacuum distillation to maximize the recovery of distillate from residue. Also, with the falling demand for residue fuel oil, refiners can use thermal conversion technologies to convert the bottom barrel to higher value products.

“The expansion of the alliance underscores our success to date and allows us to deliver a much broader refinery scope of value-focused technology,” said John Derbyshire, President, KBR Technology. “The addition of these technologies enables us to better address refiners’ long-term needs for margin improvement, while continuing to meet environmental requirements.”

“Our early successes demonstrate that refiners value the synergies between KBR’s technology and engineering experience and Shell’s operating and catalyst experience,” said Süleyman Özmen, Vice President, Refining and Chemical Licensing, Shell Global Solutions International B.V. ”The expansion of our alliance illustrates our long-term commitment to providing high quality, innovative technology to the refining industry.”

Houston, Texas — August 6, 2012 — KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been awarded a FEED contract to perform work for the topsides and hull associated with a new-build, double-sided, single-bottom hull Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO will be located offshore Angola and FEED is scheduled to start immediately, with a duration of 12 months.

KBR’s scope covers the permanently moored FPSO using a spread mooring system. The vessel will be capable of storing a minimum of 1MM BBLS and housing 130 persons on board. The topsides will utilize a single train designed to process 80,000 barrels of oil per day and 90 million standard cubic feet per day at an export pressure of 3,500 psi. The water injection facilities will be designed to inject up to 130,000 barrels of water per day.

Services for the project will be based out of KBR’s offices in Houston, Gothenburg and Luanda. KBR’s Luanda office will play a major role in supplying local employee content for the project.