Articles and News

Automation.com, April 2012 By Sasan Montaseri, ITTIA What are the important characteristics for selecting an embedded database for an industrial automation system? What can a database offer beyond recovery from power failure, preventing data loss, or reducing flash media wear? What are the hidden costs when selecting an embedded database?

P&IDs should generally follow ISA symbols for the basic instruments. If you follow that symbology, most anyone can read and understand the P&IDs quickly.

Finding the interface between two liquids in a tank is critical for some processes. Modern level instrumentation can solve many level interface problems.

Automation.com, April 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor The fundamental principal of root cause analysis is to use symptoms as clues to find the real source of a problem. This method requires analysis and/or testing to determine if something is a symptom or problem, but it can ultimately decrease the time to resolution.

Choosing an integrator for an industrial automation project is like choosing an architect for the house of your dreams – you can get almost any architect to build a dwelling structure, but the house o

Scholarships for Process Measurement & Control Students

Automation.com, April 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Sandvik Coromant, DMG / Mori Seiki USA, and Siemens PLC collaborated to replace multiple machines and cutting tools with intelligent design of a new method to accomplish gear hobbing using one machine and one cutting tool.

2012 AIChE Spring Meeting & 8th Global Congress on Process Safety

Look for an industrial systems integrator that can add value…not one that just does what you tell them. A good integrator will ask lots of questions so they fully understand your process.

Automation Federation Honored for Workforce Development and STEM Advancements

Automation.com, March 2012 By Mark Howard, Zettlex Resolvers are good. Encoders are good. But which is the best? This article examines the strengths and weaknesses of each and offers some alternatives.

The permanent pressure loss is less for an annubar than an orifice flowmeter.

Automation.com, March 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor The goal of FOUNDATION for Remote Operations Management (ROM) is linking people that understand the processes and equipment in a secure fashion around the world to achieve faster start-up time and reduced operating costs.

Automation.com, March 2012 By Staffan Dahlström, HMS Industrial Networks Despite a turbulent market, we saw a growing interest in industrial communication solutions in 2011. Trends include the growth of networks (70 at last count), the need to save energy, integrated safety networks and remote access.

Automation.com, March 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Tom Koulopoulos discusses innovation, big data, connections and collaboration at the recent PROFINET Executive Forum. If we open our minds and use data, connections and collaboration, we create a recipe for intelligence (success).

To minimize interaction between a back pressure loop and a flow loop in series, the pressure drop should be much greater across the flow control valve.

Automation.com, March 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor An energy savings study at Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz plants based on the use of PROFIenergy of PROFINET showed potential savings per work cell of 5,700 euro and 33.250 kg of CO2 emissions per year.

Robust PID Controller Design for Non-Minimum Phase Time Delay Systems

Celebrating Pi Day

Fossil Fuel Committee Publishes Functional Requirements