Control System World

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced the addition of two new models to its U8480 Series USB thermocouple power sensors. The U8480 Series now comes with improved specifications, including an expanded frequency range to 67 GHz and a measurement speed of 900 readings/second, maintaining the U8480 Series' status as the world's fastest USB thermocouple power sensors.

The U8480 Series' real-time measurement uncertainty feature, the one of the first of its kind in the industry, significantly reduces overall test time by removing the need for time-consuming manual measurement uncertainty (MU) calculations. Users can now compute MU in real time and at any given point. The feature also allows them to display power measurements and their MU simultaneously, simplifying test measurement and increasing test accuracy.

The U8480 Series provides best accuracy and repeatability with thermocouple sensing technology and a power linearity of less than 0.8 percent. The new S-parameter and gamma correction functions further improve measurement accuracy by correcting the mismatch errors caused by inserted components between the device-under-test and the power sensor, making the U8480 Series suitable for applications such as test system or instrument calibration.

Like all Agilent USB power sensors, the U8480 Series can be used as an accessory for other Agilent instruments, allowing these instruments to perform specific power measurement applications without needing to connect to a PC or laptop. The U8480 Series is compatible with Agilent FieldFox RF analyzers and MXG signal generators, giving them power meter functionalities. The power sensors also perform source power calibration with Agilent PNA, PNA-L and PNA-X network analyzers. And with USB functionality and the bundled N1918A Power Panel software, measuring high-frequency power measurements in applications ranging from high-volume manufacturing to calibration and field remote monitoring has never been more convenient.

"We designed the U8480 Series to address the test challenges that our customers face today," said Ee Huei Sin, vice president, Agilent's General-Purpose Electronic Measurement Division. "With the significant improvement in measurement speed and the unique real-time measurement uncertainty feature, these sensors allow users to accelerate their overall design cycle without compromising performance or accuracy."

Rockwell Automation has won a $15 million engineering, procurement, construction and management contract from Vadxx Energy LLC for its first commercial-scale, plastic waste-to-synthetic crude energy facility in Akron, Ohio.

The new plant will transform end-of-life plastics into higher value energy products, recycling nearly 60 tons of waste daily, diverting it from landfill disposal. The solution includes the PlantPAx Process Automation System suite, utilizing Rockwell Automation’s multi-discipline control platform to deliver an integrated smart plant for Vadxx.

Liberation Capital, a global private equity firm, signed an agreement with Vadxx to fund the first unit and additional commercial units.

"Vadxx is focused on successfully establishing our first commercial unit as the important first step toward global expansion,” said Jim Garrett, Vadxx Energy CEO. “Liberation Capital, Rockwell Automation, feedstock suppliers, and other partners will play key roles in our growth and success.”

"Our technology represents a unique and profitable way to decrease the amount of end-of-life plastics that are disposed in landfills and convert them to synthetic oil and gas," said Jeremy DeBenedictis, vice president operations, Vadxx Energy. "Rockwell Automation strengthens our technology by providing complete design, build and commissioning of our new plant. We'll have a process technology solution that will enable us to rapidly deploy our technology globally."

“This win is significant for us because it demonstrates our sustained effort to become an industry leader in alternative energy solutions, helping to preserve the world's natural resources and promoting a cleaner environment," said Terry Gebert, vice president and general manager, Rockwell Automation Global Solutions. “Our team is helping Vadxx reduce risk, shorten its time to market, and expand to other global regions.”

When users need the features of a 12 bits multifunction card i.e. analog trigger, and a waveform generator, the new PCIE-1810 with 16 channels, 12 bits and a 500KS/s sample rate is the best choice.

The PCIE-1810’s 500KS/s sample rate enables users to acquire more data in a waveform so that users can plot the measured waveform completely.    Through the use of the analog trigger mode for analog input users can set trigger levels so that when the event is triggered it will start acquiring data and filter unnecessary signal when the data needs to be analyzed.

If customers don’t have the extrabudget required by a dedicated waveform generator, the PCIE-1810 will do the same job. By being able to generate a wide range of continuous waveforms and display them on the PC’s monitor users can simulate and output waveforms for a range of features such as sound or vibration.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its ProSafe®-RS safety instrumented system has obtained the ISASecure®* Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) certification.

Cyber crime and cyber warfare are on the rise worldwide, and are growing ever more sophisticated. Recent prominent cases of industrial sabotage and espionage have escalated these concerns. Companies in the oil, petrochemical, power, and other industries are increasingly vigilant about such intrusions, and are being careful to check a product's cyber security features before purchasing it. Yokogawa has obtained the ISASecure EDSA certification for the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system to assure customers of its high reliability.

Nobuaki Konishi, vice president of the Systems Business Division in Yokogawa's Industrial Automation Platform Business Headquarters, had the following to say about this development: "Yokogawa is continually striving to provide its customers optimum security solutions for their control systems by such means as developing highly secure systems and instruments and providing operational support services." He went on to say, "Yokogawa aims to strengthen its relationships with customers by demonstrating the reliability of its security solutions."

Siemens and Open Joint Stock Company Fortum have signed a long-term service contract for the Nyaganskaya GRES combined cycle power plant in Nyagan, Russia. Nyaganskaya GRES is the world's largest thermal power plant operating above the latitude of 62 degrees North and is the largest thermal power plant greenfield construction project in Northern Russia. The power station consists of three combined cycle power units totaling 1,254 megawatts (MW). The first unit, with a capacity of 420.9 MW, began commercial operation in April 2013. The commercial operation of the second unit began at the end of 2013, and the third unit is currently under construction.

Under terms of the long-term agreement, Siemens will provide service and maintenance for the gas turbines, steam turbines and generators of all three combined cycle plants for a period of six years.

"As one of Russia's largest combined cycle power plants, Fortum's Nyaganskaya power plant plays an important role in contributing to the region's energy supply," said Alain de Cat, Head of Siemens Energy Service Fossil, Region Europe and Africa. "With our new regional hub in St. Petersburg, Siemens will have the resources and technical abilities available nearby to help ensure the plant operates with high availability, reliability and economic efficiency.

Siemens supplied its SCC5-4000F power train solution consisting of an SGT5-4000F gas turbine, SST5-3000 steam turbine, SGen5-2000H generator and SPPA-T3000 automation system for each of the three units of Nyaganskaya GRES. Earlier this year after the successful Kirishi repowering project, Siemens also signed a long-term service agreement for the Kirishskaya GRES power plant in the Leningrad region. Together, these steps are positioned to support the continuous improvement of the overall efficiency and reliability of the Russian power supply.

OMEGA’s PCL819 combines a high performance handheld pressure calibrator with an integral electric pressure pump in a small, lightweight, handheld unit. Before this innovation, users had to manually generate pressure using cumbersome manual pumps or large, heavy boxes with limited portability and battery life. The PCL819 is only slightly larger than the PCL340 series and weighs in at a mere 1.2 kg (2.5 lb). The housing is easily contoured to fit a technicians hand with good balance top to bottom. The internal pump can generate vacuum or pressure from -12 to 300 psig. The PCL819 has an internal isolated pressure sensor with 0.025% of full scale accuracy and comes in three gauge and two absolute pressure ranges.

It is also compatible with the PCL-PM series external pressure modules which come in ranges from 5 to 5000 psig and also differential, absolute and compound ranges. A PCL-PMA module adaptor is required to use external modules. In addition to pressure the unit also has an input for Pt100 RTD sensors for temperature and can measure and simulate 4 to 20 mA current loops. The large LCD graphic display can be configured to display up to 3 variables at the same time by the user. It provides a number of convenience features such as switch testing, percent error, and a damping function. Up to 5 frequently used configuration can be stored and retrieved with one button recall.

• Internal Electric Pressure Pump Generates Pressure from -0.8 to 20 bar (-12 to 300 psi)

• Accuracy to 0.025% FS

• Source and Measure 4 to 20 mA

• 24 Vdc Loop Power Supply to Power Device Under Test

• Rugged, Compact Design, Just 1.2 kg (2.5 lb)

• Operates on 8 Standard “AA” Alkaline Batteries

• Pt100 RTD Input for Temperature Measurement

• Accepts All PCL-PM Series External Pressure Modules (PCL-PMA Module Adaptor Required)

• Large Graphic Style LCD with Backlight Can be Configured to Display Up to 3 Inputs Simultaneously

• 15 User Selectable Pressure Units

The state-owned oil company of Suriname, Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V., will use Honeywell’s manufacturing execution system (MES) as part of a major expansion and efficiency project it is planning at the Tout Lui Faut crude oil refinery complex. The project will more than double the refinery’s capacity of high-quality diesel, gasoline and fuel oil, greatly reducing the country’s dependence on imported fuel products.

Honeywell’s MES will help the refinery better manage its production, operations and process visualization using multiple Honeywell-developed applications for data collection, operations planning, execution and monitoring, real-time asset management, electronic maintenance and reliability systems, and production balance.

“With the Honeywell MES solution, our refinery expects to achieve significantly improved operational readiness,” said Rudolf Elias, project director and acting director for Refining and Marketing at Staatsolie. “Honeywell’s manufacturing and business applications provide the tools we need, allowing us to optimize workflows, capture knowledge, minimize risks, improve safety, and enhance the performance and agility of our entire operation.”

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KBR, a global engineering, construction and services company, has announced it has been awarded a five-year Master Services Agreement (MSA) with DuPont Engineering (DuPont) to provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for most DuPont facilities in the USA and Mexico.

Expected revenue from the first year of the undisclosed contract value will be included in the Hydrocarbons segment’s backlog of unfilled orders in the fourth quarter of 2013. The balance of the contract value will be added to backlog during the life of the agreement.

This contract extends the long-standing EPCM services support of DuPont facilities in the U.S. Northeast region to now include the entire U.S. region and Mexico. In combination with the recently awarded industrial services contract, KBR will now provide comprehensive engineering, procurement, construction management, and continuous construction and maintenance services for most DuPont manufacturing sites in the USA. As part of this expanded relationship, KBR will open a new office in Charleston, W.Va.

“We have a long and proud history of top quartile project execution with DuPont, and this agreement is an outstanding milestone in further strengthening KBR’s 20-plus year partnership with an industry leader in the safe and efficient development and execution of capital projects,” said Roy Oelking, Group President, Hydrocarbons. “We are fully committed to continuing this partnership with DuPont in new locations in support of ongoing excellence in safe and profitable project delivery for years to come.”