Control System World

After the successful launch of the new Engineering Services division we have now added a new section where we demonstrate how the Amplicon engineering team design and build innovative solutions to meet the challenging requirements of our customers.

The Engineering Workshop is dedicated to some of the recent exciting projects we have successfully completed. You can view the specifications, and applications plus detailed stage by stage pictures of the engineering team as they progress through the build process of each project.

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When deciding whether to use plasma or liquid crystal diode (LCD) displays for your applications, you need to consider many factors. Both provide brilliant color, sharp text contrast, and crystal-clear images. But the way in which plasma and LCD screens process and display incoming video/computer signals is markedly different.

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Advantech has launched two new TPC Automation Control Panels that offer greater expansion capabilities, expanded DI/DO support and extended fieldbus control support. Each of the new 15” and 6” models uses the fanless low power consuming Intel® AtomTM 1.8GHz processor making them ideal for a range of machine automation and factory automation applications.

The TPC-71H Series feature a PCI-e expansion slot which supports four control protocols (Profibus, PROFINET, EtherCAT and Powerlink). With this feature, users can connect with PLCs such as Advantech’s APAX for further control and monitoring easily. This also supports the needs for the future of the IoT. In addition, TPC-71H Series (except for 6”) are integrated with eight isolated DI/DO ports which helps to connect with sensor devices for alarm function at industrial environments.

Furthermore, to ensure that the TPC can operate properly without data loss, TPC-71H Series provide RTC battery backup for real time data management in case of accidental power failure. By combining an external antenna and communication modules, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, TPC-71 Series has an excellent wireless performance.

Proper signal transmission is often an immense project, particularly in process plants: Several thousands of field signals need to be wired to the DCS (Distribution Control System). In doing so, the clear and simple connection of the wires, their shielding, the protection against lightning and surges, as well as the conversion of the signals must be implemented in a precise and efficient way.

In response to these requirements, Weidmüller has designed a variety of precisely tailored solutions for connecting signals in process control systems.

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Situated by the New Meuse River in Rotterdam, EuroLoop will be the world's largest research and test site for the calibration, verification and type testing of industrial flow meters in the oil and gas industries and for the performance of industrial experiments involving process technologies and flow.

The plant comprises two separate, industrial scale closed-loop test circuits - one for liquid meters and one for gas meters - on a brand new, self-contained 200 x 100 metre site that also houses the control room, meeting rooms and an educational centre.

Being entirely self-contained, EuroLoop will operate independently of external factors, maximising the availability of the calibration facilities. EuroLoop is owned by NMi, a world leading independent specialist for testing, certification, calibration and training in the field of metrology.

Please click Case Study by Rotork to read more.

FDT-21 ultrasonic flowmeter is designed to measure the fluid velocity of liquid in a full/closed pipe. It is a handheld measurement system which is both easy to install and use. The FDT-21 operates according to the difference in the transit time of flight measured, and determines the flow velocity by measuring the travel time of a pulse from one transducer to the next.

Flow in the same direction takes less time to travel to the second transducer than does flow in the opposite direction. Electroacoustic transducers receive and emit brief ultrasonic pulses through the liquid of the pipe. Transducers are vertically placed at both sides of the measured pipe. Sensors are placed on the pipe and fastened by means of a clamp. The display will quickly show the flow velocity. The FDT-21 can be used for metallic, plastic and rubber tubes.

The past two years have been a real wakeup call for the industrial automation industry. For the first time ever it has been the target of sophisticated cyber attacks like Stuxnet, Night Dragon and Duqu.

In addition, an unprecedented number of security vulnerabilities have been exposed in industrial control products and regulatory agencies are demanding compliance to complex and confusing regulations. Cyber security has quickly become a serious issue for professionals in the process and critical infrastructure industries.

If you are a process control engineer, an IT professional in a company with an automation division, or a business manager responsible for safety or security, you may be wondering how your organization can get moving on more robust cyber security practices.

In order to provide you with guidance in this area, we have condensed material from numerous industry standards and best practice documents. We also combined our experience in assessing the security of dozens of industrial control systems.

The result is an easy-to-follow 7-step process.

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Lantech IES-2224-2P Industrial power utility SNMP switch is a high-density Ethernet Hardened Switch for power utility, renewable power, and substation application, offering 100V-240V VAC/VDC redundant power input to increase the reliability of network.

Lantech IES-2224-2P features high reliability and robustness compliant with IEC-61850-3 & IEEE 1613 withstanding extensive EMI/RFI phenomenon, lighting surge, inductive load switching, high ESD, high fault current environment usually find in Power substation. Widely operational temperature capacity (-40°C~85°C) ensures IES-2224-2P runtime during the harsh environment. It also supports 6000VDC ESD and 3000VDC EFT protection.

Lantech IES-2224-2P builds in all the important software features required in large network like DHCP Option 82 (Relay agent), 256 Policy ACL for security, IGMP Query / Snooping and RSTP. The highly integrated Fast Ethernet switch is designed to be interconnecting with Gigabit backbone in core network.