Control System World

Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, announced that version 10 of its Triconex® Tricon® controller has been approved for use in safety-related nuclear power plant instrument and control applications by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) dated April 12, 2012, the NRC indicates that the latest version of the Tricon controller can now be used in safety-related (1E) applications, like reactor protection systems, in U.S. nuclear power plants and U.S. Department of Energy facilities that require licensing or oversight by the NRC. It is the first controller from a dedicated automation vendor to achieve such certification from the NRC and it remains the only triple-modular-redundant system to be qualified.

“The Triconex Tricon system is extremely important to us as we continue to migrate to digital technology, while providing safe, clean, reliable power to our customers in California,” said Scott Patterson, program manager for I&C obsolescence for Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in San Luis Obispo, Calif. “Partnering with Invensys, an automation vendor whose core competency is safety systems, gives us an additional layer of protection as we upgrade older safety-related equipment. NRC certification means we can move forward with modernizing and optimizing our plants to ensure their continuous safe operation. We are confident this technology will enhance future upgrades and new designs, as well as ease the licensing process.”

"In 2002, the NRC certified an earlier version of our Tricon controller, and since that time we have made a number enhancements,” said Clayton Scott, chief nuclear officer, Invensys Operations Management. “We sought this unprecedented second certification so that we can continue to deliver the industry’s most reliable safety controller, helping our customers produce the safest, most reliable energy possible. Enabled by our Triconex technology, our nuclear customers can now apply Tricon controllers in both their existing fleet and new builds. This certification will be of tremendous value to the fleet of U.S. nuclear plants that require modernization. It also sets a new standard for control and safety excellence for the global nuclear industry.”

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that the STARDOM FCN autonomous controller has been certified for use as a flow computer by Measurement Canada. This certification is based on the determination that the STARDOM FCN autonomous controller has the same accuracy as a conventional flow computer.

In recent years, attention has turned to natural gas because it is a clean and safe energy source. As ever more gas wells are brought on-line, the management of production volume becomes a challenge. While conventional flow computers meet all metering requirements, there is a trend now toward embedding this functionality in PLCs and RTUs, which are highly valued for their durable construction and versatile control capabilities.

In addition to conventional analog transmitter signals, which can be affected by noise and variations in the ambient temperature, the STARDOM FCN autonomous controller supports field digital communication protocols such as HART, Modbus, and FOUNDATION™ fieldbus fieldbus for use with a wide range of transmitters. Taking advantage of the benefits of digital communications, Yokogawa's PRM asset management system increases maintainability while reducing both engineering time and the cost of monitoring widely distributed facilities.

Company Website

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 24, 2012-- Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it was awarded an engineering alliance agreement for engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services by Yara Belgium SA for Yara's current and expanding global facilities located primarily in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Canada, Trinidad and Brazil. The undisclosed contract value for this new two-year agreement was booked in the second quarter.

"This new alliance agreement with Yara is an important milestone for Fluor's ongoing operations and maintenance work in Europe. Fluor's global footprint aligns well with Yara's geographic reach," said Garry Flowers, president of Fluor's Global Services Group. "With this new alliance, Yara can focus on delivering solutions for sustainable agriculture and the environment while we ensure their global facilities are operating at maximum capacity."

Fluor's operations center in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, is leading the alliance while working closely with Yara's Brussels, Belgium office.

SSE has extended the use of Emerson Process Management’s Smart Wireless technology at its Slough Heat and Power energy facility in the U.K. The new Rosemount Analytical wireless conductivity transmitters are being used to detect changes in boiler condensate conductivity which could be caused by cooling-water leaks in the turbine’s condenser. If left undetected the contaminated feedwater will cause hydrogen embrittlement of the furnace tubes that will result in tube failures.

The 80MW combined heat and power (CHP) plant had previously relied on manual sampling and laboratory analysis of turbine condensate. However, this method caused delays in detecting leaks and as a result the boilers had to be shut down while repairs were made.

Please click to read further 'Emerson’s Analytical Wireless Technology Helps Prevent Unplanned Shutdowns at Power Plant

Endress+Hauser has been providing high level calibration solutions to the process industries for many years. To strengthen this position, the Group has now acquired a minority share in Irish company CompuCal Calibration Solutions (CCS). The stake will ensure appropriate access to CCS' technology and the further development of the calibration management software package 'CompuCal'.

"'CompuCal' fits perfectly into our Plant Asset Management suite of integrated software tools," underlines Dr Raimund Sommer, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Process Solutions, the strategic dimension of the acquisition. "We have worked with CCS for the last decade and the company has proven to be a reliable and trusted partner. Endress+Hauser's stake cements our close relationship."

Automated and optimized workflows for calibration of field instruments have an important impact on yield and quality. This is not only critical for regulated industries. Demands on compliance according to industry standards often lead to additional workload in terms of calibration documentation management.

Technip was awarded a contract by Marathon Oil Norge AS for on-going expansion of the subsea drill centres at Kneler B and Volund located in the Alvheim area in the North Sea. The water depths in the area is around 120 meters, and the subsea work will be performed by use of remotely-operated vehicules as well as by divers. The contract includes engineering, fabrication, installation and diving tie-ins of pipeline spools(1), including protection covers and installation of a manifold(2).

Technip’s operating center in Stavanger, Norway will execute the contract. The offshore construction work will take place in 2012 and 2013. The Skandi Arctic, a diving support vessel from Technip’s fleet, will be used for the offshore campaigns.

What is the market for the tools engineers use to design and build virtually everything in the world? The worldwide market for Engineering Design Tools for Industry and Infrastructure is presently quite strong in almost all sectors, and will continue to exhibit good growth according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

Owner/operators of both industrial and infrastructure assets, many of which are nearing the end-of-life phase, are being pressured to “sweat the assets”. Owners are increasingly utilizing engineering design tools to prolong and extend the life and efficiency of assets in the Brownfield case. “Although engineering and design tools historically were previously designed more or less purely for design and engineering stakeholders such as AECs or EPCs, engineering design tool offerings have morphed into more robust collaborative agents that can be utilized by owners and agents for the entire lifecycle of the infrastructure or plant asset,“ according to Director of Consulting Russ Novak, the principal author of ARC’s “Engineering Design Tools for Industry and Infrastructure”.

For more details please click 'Engineering Design Tools for Industry and Infrastructure Driven by High Levels of Project Activity'

Valve gearboxes manufactured by Rotork Gears have been supplied for the operation of giant butterfly valves in a 17 billion Renminbi (RMB) project designed to increase, improve and secure the future supply of fresh water to the city of Shanghai.

The Qingcaosha raw water project will provide a daily supply of over seven million cubic metres (tonnes) of clean water through a network of huge pipelines, the main four with a diameter of 5.5 metres (DN5500). Rotork heavy duty model IW17 worm gearboxes have been ordered to operate butterfly valves manufactured by CVVT (China Valve Technology Ltd) on these pipelines.

Please click to read further 'Rotork’s big valve gearboxes assist the supply of fresh water to Shanghai'