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On the site now: 22079 articles from 2442 suppliers!
...from 13 articles and news releases just added to the site:
EXCLUSIVE: Condition Based Maintenance in petrochemical plant
Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) is an important and integral function of petrochemical plant management and should be part of an all encompassing asset management function
Exclusive article from AV Technology
Acetylene blow-off valve is small and effective
This special device from Witt Gas has been developed to vent acetylene in combination with manifold pressure regulators as per DIN EN ISO 7291
Product/Service News from Witt Gasetechnik GmbH ( 9 May 2008)
Arco in Doncaster to improve Yorkshire health
Fortifying its position as the leading UK health and safety equipment and workwear supplier, Hull-based safety company Arco has opened its newest branch in Doncaster
Company news from Arco ( 9 May 2008)
Latest Special Report from Processingtalk:
A Fieldbus presentation and demo to UK contractors
Interest is growing from EPCs in learning more about fieldbus systems: Nick Denbow reports on a well attended Reading event organised by the Fieldbus Foundation in the UK for these contractors
New book with tips for AS-Interface installations
Pepperl+Fuchs, in conjunction with the AS-Interface Association and the AS-Interface Academy, have published a booklet to help users install and commission AS-Interface networks
Background article from Pepperl+Fuchs GB
Warehouse management to support 15% volume growth
Buksesnedkeren has selected the RedPrairie Warehouse Management System and Workforce Management solutions to achieve best-in-class levels of productivity at their Danish distribution centre
User application article from RedPrairie ( 9 May 2008)
All 13 technical articles, news releases, and user applications today...
From the Processingtalk Editorial Newsletter this week
Nick Denbow, Editor writes:
There has been an interesting press release covering various of the current development projects at Pepperl + Fuchs, some of which were demonstrated as part of a future technologies section on the Pepperl+Fuchs stand at INTERKAMA+ 2008 in Hanover (Link). One development is DART, which stands for Dynamic Arc Recognition and Termination, and describes a technology which P+F quote "will soon make the sophisticated and costly installation techniques presently needed for hazardous areas a matter of the past". DART detects the characteristic voltage change caused by the start of a spark, and quickly turns off the power to the circuit before the spark temperature rises sufficiently to cause ignition. In this way it is maybe best described as actively managed intrinsic safety, shutting the gate before the arc escapes. P+F quote that it will allow higher power field instruments - such as magnetic valve controls, magnetic flowmeters, scales, analysis and alarm devices, HMI terminals and even complete PCs - to be used inside the Ex-Zone without requiring increased safety measures.
Interestingly at the same time there has been a news release from MTL, announcing a new concept for hazardous area safety, called "Fast Switch". This is quoted as an IS protection technique that can allow higher powers than are usual in IS circuits, by monitoring the voltage build-up and fall as a spark is created, and quickly disconnecting the load, so preventing the spark from developing to a point at which it could cause an ignition. The "Fast Switch" protection circuitry is simple and effective: it conforms to the principles of intrinsic safety and has been proven using the standard spark test apparatus according to international standards. "Fast Switch" technology has been used in the PoEx Intrinsically Safe Ethernet range, which was the subject of a major product launch at Interkama by MTL. Their 9400 Series delivers intrinsically safe "Power over Ethernet" (PoEx), allowing live connection and disconnection of the end device in Zone 0 and Zone 1 hazardous areas (Link).
Both P+F and MTL quote that their developments have been patented: well it probably keeps the patent agents in employment, but you have to wonder about the true value of patents, if both systems manage to exist separately. They do sound quite similar to me, initially! While MTL have used the Fast Switch to offer intrinsically safe Ethernet wiring systems, these are now waiting for the sensor manufacturers to catch up and develop compatible Ethernet intrinsically safe sensors. P+F imply that DART will simplify the systems and reduce the costs of hazardous area installations: let's wait and see - but apparently this will not be before 2010.
Congratulations are also due to P+F for producing a new handbook of tips and tricks for when you are trying to install an AS-Interface based system, something that was one of the requests made by the audience at the Foundation fieldbus presentation to UK contractors. Profibus used the Interkama exhibition to announce the latest (end 2007) total of Profinet nodes (1.14M) and Profibus nodes (23M) installed in industry: interestingly they also report 41,000 ProfiSafe systems are now installed. More statistics from Yokogawa Marex: their 1,000th Exaquantum PIMS system will be supplied to a Euro200M chemical plant being constructed in Germany, for Quinn Chemicals.
The WATER-Talk section of the newsletter this week presents the latest of the press preview information relating to the IWEX Water Exhibition scheduled for later this month: the full set of stories can be found on the website (Link).
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