Control System World

Case Study by Yokogawa: Amidst growing concerns about the depletion of fossil fuels and the effects of climate changes caused by rising CO2 emissions and other factors, there is a growing push to generate power from wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable energy sources and thereby create a more sustainable society.

Japan Wind Development Co., Ltd. (JWD) is a specialist in wind power generation technology with vast knowledge and expertise in this field. JWD is building and providing all necessary support services for a nationwide wind power generation network.

Continue reading Case Study 'STARDOM and FA-M3 Ensure Smooth Supply of Power to Grid by Wind Farm'

Mitigate damage and protect control systems from attacks.

Following the latest report of vulnerabilities in a control platform, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently issued an alert recommending several strategies to mitigate damage and protect control systems from attacks. Phoenix Contact’s FL mGuard line of security appliances can help make these strategies a reality.

In December 2011, independent researcher Ruben Santamarta publicly released vulnerabilities he discovered within several Schneider Electric PLCs. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (US ICS-CERT) quickly issued an alert confirming the findings and providing mitigation strategies.

The agency recommended users to:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices. Control system devices should not face the Internet.

• Locate control system networks and devices behind firewalls, and isolate them from the business network (also known as a defense-in-depth solution).

• If remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The mGuard provides firewall protection to block both attacks and unwanted network traffic that can negatively impact sensitive control networks. Additionally, the mGuard’s advanced logging capabilities can alert the network manager if somebody has tried access to the network. These logs can be stored locally, or the mGuard can send them to a central location to make auditing and compliance reporting easier. If the application requires Internet access (such as for remote support or diagnostics), the mGuard can create a secure VPN tunnel for safe and secure communication.

ILWAUKEE, Jan. 23, 2012 — Two new Allen-Bradley power monitors from Rockwell Automation provide manufacturers with scalable, cost-effective insight into how, when and where energy is being used throughout the production process. The Allen-Bradley PowerMonitor W250 and 500 power meters offer users an opportunity to cost-effectively drive energy monitoring further into their production processes compared to previous monitoring technology.

“Many manufacturers are looking to gain deeper insight and data granularity of their industrial energy consumption,” explained Phillip Bush, power and energy management product manager, Rockwell Automation. “These two new power monitors allow our customers to drill down beneath facility or process-level monitoring to collect data from specific energy-intensive applications without significant cost and effort.”

The PowerMonitor W250 power meter offers a self-generating wireless communications platform, ideally suited for applications located in areas where hard-wired networking is cost prohibitive. The PowerMonitor 500 power meter features a large LCD display to view energy use information directly at the process being monitored without requiring any additional components.

More about these Power Monitors please click 'Rockwell Automation Power Monitors Help Control and Reduce Energy Consumption'

8314 Series Three-Way Direct Acting General Service Valves to Include Larger Orifice Sizes and the Electronically Enhanced Solenoid Valve Series Expands its Product Offering

FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY, January 19, 2012 -ASCO Numatics, the world's leading manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions, has expanded the 8314 Series three-way direct acting general service solenoid valves to include larger orifice sizes and the 8314 Series three-way direct acting electronically enhanced solenoid valve series expands its product offering.

8314 Series three-way direct acting general service expansion includes the addition of a 1/4 inch pipe size with 5/32, 7/32, and 9/32 orifice sizes, with pressure ratings ranging from 8 psi to 150 psi depending on the construction type.

For further details please click 'ASCO Expands Three-Way Direct Acting Offering'

(Black Box) In order to successfully use NEMA standard publications, it is important for the user to understand what NEMA standards are and what types of information they contain. This brief introduction is further explained in the NEMA publication, Standardization Policies and Procedures.

Determining if you’ve found the standard (or other technical document) you need

NEMA publishes five basic types of technical documents, each with slightly different audiences in mind:

• Specifiers

• Installers

• Contractors

• Inspectors

• MRO (Maintenance/Repair/Operations)

• Engineers and Designers

To completely read this guide by Black Box please click 'How to Read a NEMA Standard'

FOUNDATION fieldbus™ is an extremely stable, all digital, two-way communications technology for plant instrumentation and the best technology for utilizing advanced diagnostics. Because of all of its advantages, FOUNDATION fieldbus is gaining worldwide acceptance. In particular, many life sciences and chemical research customers have been seeking a thermal mass flow controller with FOUNDATION fieldbus communications. Brooks Instrument recently introduced the first thermal mass flow controller with FOUNDATION fieldbus technology to allow its customers to take advantage of the full power of this communications protocol.

To read completely this white paper by Brooks Instruments please click 'Advantages of FOUNDATION fieldbus in Thermal Mass Flow Applications'

The 9460-ET Series by MTL provides cost-effective Intrinsically Safe (IS) Ethernet equipment that can be installed and maintained easily in hazardous areas. The intrinsically safe hazardous area certification permits the components to be mounted in a Zone 1 hazardous area with connectivity into Zone 0 and the associated apparatus certification of the 9468-ET IS Ethernet isolator and 9491-PS IS power supply allow this equipment to be mounted in a Zone 2 hazardous area and connected to intrinsically safe equipment in a Zone 0 or 1 hazardous area.

In Process Automation it is also preferable to use a single cable to provide both power and communications to the end device. The 9460-ET Series can deliver Intrinsically Safe Power over Ethernet (PoEx™) with a single Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable, allowing live connection and disconnection of the end device in Zone 0 and 1 hazardous areas.

For further information please click 'Intrinsically Safe Ethernet'

WorleyParsons and its 50/50 joint venture partner PT Rekayasa Industri have been awarded a significant Improve contract by PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia. The contract is for the supply of overall program management, engineering and construction management services for Chevron’s oilfield assets spread through the middle of Sumatra. The contract will provide estimated revenue of USD180 million to the joint venture partners over its five-year term.

WorleyParsons’ Chief Executive Officer, John Grill said “This contract is a significant milestone for WorleyParsons, as it allows entry to the heavy oil production business in Indonesia’s largest oil field. This project will be a great opportunity for WorleyParsons and our partner PT Rekayasa Industri to combine both companies’ strengths to deliver a quality project to contribute to Indonesia’s domestic oil needs.” WorleyParsons’ Improve business stream is focused on delivering ongoing improvements to our customers’ sustaining and significant capital assets through long-term mutually beneficial relationships.