Siemens A&D Releases Version 2.0 of Safety Monitor
Version
2.0 of the safety monitor from Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D)
includes several new functions. The Asimon configuration and diagnostic
software for this system has also been upgraded. The safety monitor
is a key component in the overall Safety at Work concept for AS-interface
safety and standard technology.
One
of the new functions of the safety monitor is a six-fold set of And,
Or, and Flip-Flop operations that makes it simple to implement complex
applications. In addition, the main memory has been expanded from 32
to 48 monitoring modules. The activation and deactivation functions
of the monitoring and dummy modules now make it possible to virtually
configure safety components so the configuration requires little if
any revision when it is actually integrated into the system.
The
new safety monitor version is rounded out by the integration of safe
timing functions: the user can choose among applications such as ON
delay, OFF delay, or pulse function. All functions are designed to comply
with EN954-1, Category 4. The safety monitor, monitoring unit, and analyzer
as well as slaves have been certified by TÜV according to IEC61508 and
NRTL.
Swagelok
Company Acquires Kenmac Limited
Swagelok
Company has completed the acquisition of Kenmac Limited, a privately
held manufacturer of high-quality instrumentation valves and manifolds,
pressure regulators, process interface valves and piping products. Kenmac
is located on the Isle of Man in the British Isles and employs about
130 skilled associates. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The
acquisition broadens Swagelok’s portfolio of high-quality products for
the oil and gas, chemical, and other process industries and leverages
the company’s unique global distributor network.
We
are excited about this acquisition, says Arthur F. Anton, Swagelok’s
President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), because Kenmac’s products
are such an excellent fit with Swagelok’s existing product offering.
Every bit as important is the similarity in the values and culture of
the two organisations. Combining our resources and capabilities will
ensure more complete solutions for fluid system customers around the
world.
Robert
A. Hastings, who will retain his position as Managing Director of Kenmac,
notes, This acquisition opens up Swagelok’s world class industrial
distribution network to our products so we can continue growing employment
and our manufacturing base on the Isle of Man.
Kenmac
products such as regulators, high-pressure needle valves, distribution
manifolds, root valves, block & bleed valves, and mono flanges will
complement Swagelok’s offering and will be available through Swagelok’s
network of independent sales and service centers worldwide.
MECO
Instruments Makes a Mark in the South American Markets
After
receiving resounding success in the countries like Germany, England,
Singapore, Italy, and parts of Asia, Middle East, Far East, Africa,
MECO products have made an inroad into the South American markets.
MECO
has supplied its first consignment of instruments to companies based
there. MECO the largest exporter in the field of Electrical and Electronics,
Test and Measuring Instruments and has already supplied over 2,50,000
such instruments globally.
Supply
to the South American markets adds another first to MECO’s list of illustrious
achievement in global business. The other products that are being exported
include Analog and Digital Panel Meters, Power Line Transducers, Digital
Multimeters, Digital Clamp Meters, Insulation Testers & Power Line
Supervisor/ Multi Function Power Meter etc.
Caterpillar
and Eaton Joint Venture to Provide Electric Power Distribution Systems
Caterpillar
and Eaton announced a joint venture to provide a total systems approach
to integrated, electric power solutions. The joint venture combines
the global resources and expertise of Caterpillar, the Caterpillar dealer
network, and Eaton’s Cutler-Hammer Group. Eaton will own 51% of the
joint venture, with Caterpillar owning the remaining 49%.
The
joint venture will operate under the name Intelligent Switchgear Organization
LLC and will be based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The joint venture will
capitalize on the strong reputation Caterpillar has developed as a leading
provider of advanced generator set control switchgear utilizing PowerLynx(R)
technology and on Eaton’s focus on the electrical distribution switching
market.
Invensys
Releases ArchestrA Device Communications
Invensys
released a new communi-cations product called the ArchestrA DAS Toolkit.
This was developed so Wonderware, other Invensys business units, and
third parties can build Data Access Servers (DAS or DAServers), which
are plant communications interfaces built on ArchestrA technology through
the use of Invensys’ ArchestrA software architecture. Wonderware DAServers
are designed to provide simultaneous connectivity between plant-floor
devices and DDE, Wonderware SuiteLink, and OPC protocol-based client
applications running under Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP operating systems.
The
ArchestrA DAServer Toolkit will support other protocols as technology
evolves and becomes available. It is designed with a modular architecture
that allows for the addition of new plug-ins with recompilation. The
graphical user interface also is detached from the main protocol engine,
enabling more detailed diagnostics, multiple protocol capability, remote
hot configuration, and both enhanced configuration files and diagnostic
mapping capabilities.
Emerson
Releases New DeltaV PredictPro Model
Emerson
Process Management has added new capabilities to its PlantWeb digital
plant architecture with the release of enhanced model predictive control
(MPC) software. The introduction of DeltaV PredictPro increases the
controller size and functionality beyond that of its DeltaV Predict
predecessor, empowering control engineers to improve performance of
large, interactive applications.
Included
in Emerson’s new PredictPro MPC software is a new embedded economic
optimizer and enhanced data status handling. This capability allows
users to drive the process toward economically optimum solutions based
on energy and feed costs as well as product values, while simultaneously
respecting multiple constraints. Testing and development of the process
model is fully automated, reducing much of the modeling effort needed
to implement traditional model predictive control applications.
UOP
and AspenTech Partner to Market Refinery-Wide Simulation Product
AspenTech
and UOP partner to market Aspen RefSYS, a jointly developed software
product for refinery-wide simulation and optimization. The product
is based on a combination of AspenTech’s refining industry process simulation
flowsheet technologies and refinery reactor models developed by UOP
and AspenTech.
Aspen
RefSYS enables companies to simulate refinery-wide performance using
an integrated global model of their facilities as opposed to the traditional
modeling solution that only simulates individual process units. The
combination of flowsheet simulation with accurate kinetic reactor models
enables refiners to make improved economic decisions throughout the
refinery, from crude feed to final product blending.
ABB
On-site Magnetic Flowmeter Calibration Verification
Without
removing installed meters, users of ABB MagMaster magnetic flowmeters
can employ an on-site electronic system to obtain routine data of each
meter’s performance and verify that the original calibration data is
still valid-thereby satisfying today’s ever more stringent auditing
and local and federal regulatory requirements.
The
CalMaster system, developed for its MagMaster line of magnetic flowmeters,
is a portable, compact package that a technician can easily take to
a metering site. Upon completion of pre-programmed verification procedure,
a technician can review results that the system evaluates and, if they
meet set standards, print out a certificate of validation.
CalMaster
can also be a diagnostic and condition-monitoring tool. Through the
storage of all previous validations, a long-term trend of meter performance
can be obtained. For example, the user can note the gradual deterioration
of a meter to predict maintenance requirements and schedule service
at a convenient time.
OMG
Approves Real-time Data Distribution Standard
Real-Time
Innovations announced that the Data Distribution Service for Real-Time
Systems (DDS) specification is now an adopted OMG (Object Management
Group) specification. The OMG architecture board voted to adopt DDS
at the Paris Technical Meeting held in July 2003. The DDS specification
provides a publish-subscribe communications model critical to many real-time
systems. Applications like communication, command and control systems,
distributed simulators, distributed control systems, medical equipment,
avionics, and industrial automation need to distribute data in real-time.
This standard will directly benefit these distributed real-time applications.
The
publish-subscribe communications model is already popular for data distribution
in real-time applications. There are some commercial and many in-house
implementations in use today. However, to-date, there have been no
general-purpose data-distribution standards. The OMG developed the
CORBA standard years ago. It has become widely used in distributed
systems. However, CORBA’s client-server communications model is not
well suited for real-time applications that need to distribute data.
Applications like shipboard control systems, telemetry and command systems,
optical switch control plane communications, and innumerable others
need real-time data distribution. DDS fills this prevalent need and
completes the real-time networking standards picture.
