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The standard reference for PID tuning seems to be the Ziegler-Nichols tuning rules developed in 1942 on a pneumatic controller.

A local area network (LAN) is a private network usually confined to one plant. Virtual LANs (VLANs) allow a single physical LAN to be partitioned into several smaller logical LANs. VLANs limit the broadcast domain, improve security and performance and are ideal for separating industrial automation systems from information technology systems.

The Ethernet-based IEC 61850 international standards for communication in power generation facilities and substations sets a high bar for Ethernet switch reliability. The goal of this standard is to integrate all of the protection, control, measurement, and monitoring functions within a substation.

A tuning method based on achieving smooth set point response is becoming more popular. The method guarantees stability, robustness and no overshoot. Shouldn't you be using it?

There are no industry-wide standards for PID controllers. However, robust and optimal control of process loops requires PID controllers to have certain abilities and features described here.

The more products your machine can produce and the fewer rejects that result, the greater the value of your machine. By value, we are not referring so much to the cost of your machine as to your competitive advantage. To satisfy these demands, it is essential to supply the machine function requirements, while at the same time, ensuring that the speed and quality aspects of production are optimized to the maximum extent possible.

This is written to describe the type of machinery that can be found in a typical fossil fuel (gas, oil or coal-fired) electric generating plant to better understand what type of instrumentation is being used for vibration monitoring.

Recent technological improvements have made machine vision accessible to small- and medium-size packagers so they can achieve improved results and even pursue brand risk avoidance to maintain consumer and retailer confidence.

As in many other sectors, the trend towards automation in the photovoltaic industry is inexorable. The only way for the industry to be successful along a wide front is by permanently lowering its production costs.

The following text showcases an application example in which a fully automated, high-precision quality control facility was implemented by means of three VC cameras.

The leaders of the semiconductor industry will continue to improve their technical superiority by advancing their internal, inside-the-tool processes. But, if they focus their attention on the throughput, reliability, and cost improvements that can be achieved outside the tool, they can reach surprising levels of profitability as well.

The product will be available initially as an add-on product, allowing for maximum up-grade flexibility.

Many of today’s control systems use the same PC hardware, operating system and communications as corporate office and administrative networks. So automation systems security is an urgent issue, perhaps even a critical one.

OOP has enabled rapid growth in control system software implementation and deployment.

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The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) will both be discussed in this article.

Honeywell Process Solutions is pursuing relationships with independent system integrators (SI) for the “Honeywell Experion Implementers” program.