Articles & News on Distributed Control System

Schneider Electric helps New Zealand water management company built IIoT control solution

  • July 11, 2017
  • Case Study

With Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture, WaterForce developed a cloud-based IIoT solution so farmers can monitor and control irrigation pumps and pivots from their computer, tablet or smartphone.

AutomationDirect introduces embedded video help for Do-More BRX PLC

  • July 6, 2017
  • News

Video help has been incorporated into the instruction set of Do-more! Designer. Over 50 instructional videos are currently available with new ones being added as they become available.

Apps Simplify Wireless Monitoring

  • July 3, 2017
  • Feature

By Brian Joe, Emerson Automation Solutions Until recently—when engineers wanted to monitor plant equipment such as steam traps, pumps or heat exchangers—they were often faced with difficult, complex and expensive projects. New apps and wireless instruments make equipment monitoring much less expensive than with traditional methods

ISA announces Fundamentals of Industrial Process Measurement & Control (FG05M) now available in modu

  • June 22, 2017
  • News

FG05M, an overview course that provides technicians, engineers and managers the basic understanding of industrial process measurement and control and a foundation for communicating with other control systems professionals, is now offered in a training format that delivers the same valuable information in small, computer-based chunks.

Modern Functions in HMIs

  • June 21, 2017
  • Feature

By Scott A. Kortier, Schneider Electric Software Automation applications are benefiting from HMIs that have moved well beyond panel device replacers and are now collecting, filtering and displaying data from multiple machines or processes.

CAN, Industrial Ethernet and CAN FD: A Comparison of Systems for Industrial Automation

  • June 14, 2017
  • Feature

By Kent Lennartsson, Research Manager, Kvaser AB The use of CAN began in the automotive industry and has since branched out into a multitude of sectors, including industrial automation. However, CAN in itself is not equipped to handle the control processes needed for this complex industry. Instead, a secondary, higher layer protocol was required to make adoption possible.

ABB to update control and automation equipment for Swedish iron mine

  • June 8, 2017
  • News

ABB’s delivery includes mechanical equipment for the hoist plants and shafts, electrical and control equipment, construction, electrical installation, installation supervision, site management as well as commissioning.

University of Wyoming completes Rate-Predictive Control (RPC) performance and stability analysis

  • June 5, 2017
  • News

The Rate-Predictive Control (RPC) algorithm earned a United States patent in 2016 and is an inherently adaptive (or “naturally self-tuning”) process control algorithm.

Wood Group announces acquisition of CEC Controls Company

  • June 1, 2017
  • News

This follows the acquisition of the Automated Technology Group (ATG), one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of control and power solutions for industrial automation, in September 2015.

ABB helps Italian water company improve maintenance efforts

  • May 26, 2017
  • Case Study

CBV expects to reduce plant operating costs by up to 30 percent and maintenance time by up to 40 percent when ABB Ability Electrical Distribution Control System is fully implemented at other locations.

The Rise of Cloud Computing in Industrial Process Automation

  • February 13, 2017
  • Feature

By Latha D.S. & K. Jayaprakash, Tata Consulting Engineers This article provides a brief cloud technology overview and discusses how cloud computing technology is transforming industrial automation for the future, enhancing plant productivity and cost optimization.

ABB partners with Statoil to provide safety and automation systems for Norwegian oil field

  • February 7, 2017
  • News

Engineers from ABB in Norway are performing front end engineering and design in close collaboration with Statoil. The FEED is scheduled to run until Q4 2017, when the final investment decision will take place.

APC earns patents for Rate-Predictive Control (RPC) and Model-less Multivariable Control (XMC)

  • February 7, 2017
  • News

RPC provides an alternative to industry standard “PID” control in many applications. XMC, the model-less multivariable control technology by APC Performance embeds RPC as its internal control method.

The Lion’s Share of IoT Communication: Making legacy systems IoT compatible

  • January 24, 2017
  • Feature

By Adrian Swindells, Director, Distec The rise of the internet of things (IoT) has driven a need for cross-compatible equipment. This article explores how businesses can keep the cost of IoT implementation to a minimum.

Empowering the Workforce to Control the Future of Automation

  • January 19, 2017
  • Feature

By Peter Martin, Schneider Electric Process Automation Connected products are expected to approach 30 billion by 2020, with utilities, telecommunications and manufacturing as the top three verticals using IoT. The revolution is that finally companies have the real opportunity to move from managing their business to actually controlling it.

Emerson to help EPH Lynemouth Power automate biomass-fueled power plant

  • January 18, 2017
  • News

When the conversion is complete in late 2017, the plant, near Newcastle in the United Kingdom, will be fueled by approximately 1.4 million tons of wood waste per year, supplying the national grid with up to 390 megawatts of low-carbon electricity.

Yokogawa to deliver control systems for Layyah Power and Desalinization Station in UAE

  • January 17, 2017
  • News

For this project, Yokogawa Middle East & Africa will deliver the CENTUM VP integrated production control system for the boiler, turbine governor, turbine protection system and the desalination plant at each of these units.

ISA announces Call for Abstracts for 2017 Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium

  • January 12, 2017
  • News

Abstracts should include a 250-word proposal outlining the topic to be presented. Prospective authors have the choice of presenting a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation, a paper presentation, or a poster session. Deadline for submission is 31 January 2017.

Bitflow shares 5 technology trends likely to affect machine vision in 2017

  • January 10, 2017
  • News

Each has the potential to significantly impact or even disrupt processes, and may poise the need for investment by manufacturers who face the risk of being late to adopt.

Inside Turck’s Industrial Control Edge Devices - Embedded PLC & ARGEE Logic Engines

  • January 9, 2017
  • Feature

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Keeping consistent with Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 concepts and architectures, Turck has embedded PLC control into their traditional products, thereby extending capabilities to be a control company.