Automation & Control
Letters – Combustion control
It is good to see your magazine publishing articles highlighting the tangible benefits that process control is capable of bringing to the chemical process industries [Advanced Control Methods for Combustion, Chem. Eng. September, 2014, pp. 34–39]. While the authors seem…
An inexpensive, sensitive device for detecting explosives
A microfluidic, paper-based analytical device (µPAD) — in conjunction with confirmation by a “lab-on-a-chip” analysis — was developed for detection of three explosives (trinitro aromatics) by a team from the University of Technology Sydney (Sydney, Australia; www.uts.edu.au), the University of…
This portable device measures Hg+2 in water samples
An ultra-sensitive, low-cost and portable system for detecting mercury in water has been developed by University of Adelaide (Australia; www.adelaide.edu.au) researchers, in collaboration with the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; www.urv.cat). Project leader Abel Santos, of the Adelaide’s…
Level detectors approved for SIL2 and SIL3 applications
The radiometric gauge SENSseries LB 480 has been awarded SIL2/SIL3 certification, making this company the first supplier providing SIL-certified radiometric systems for both level (point level or continuous level) and density measurements. The high level of availability and operational safety…
Intelligent and robust fuel flowmeters and readout units
Fuel-View is a compact, lightweight and cost-effective solution for measuring the fuel consumption and operating time of vehicles, tractors, river vessels or any mobile or fixed installations with diesel engines. The device can be used for protecting and preventing theft…
Software for the Human Element
New software tools address common issues, such as disorganized data and a streamlined workforce, through the use of simplified methods of presenting information, alerts and suggested actions. These tools are designed to increase human reliability and make chemical processing facilities…
Distillation Column Thermal Optimization: Employing Simulation Software
Several market conditions, including availability of light crude oilds in the U.S., low natural-gas prices and improving macroeconomics, are driving debottlenecking projects related to columns in both petroleum refining and chemical settings. Fortunately, the process-simulation tools that can be used…
Focus on Analyzers
Electro-Chemical Devices An all-in-one sulfide analyzer helps control odor The new SMS-22 Sulfide Ion Measurement System (photo) can be quickly installed with no special tools, features user-selectable automated sequential sampling of sulfide ions in water and lowers plant technician and…
A new spin on flow metering
The new FLOWave flowmeter uses a new technology based on surface acoustic waves (SAW). One of the outstanding features of SAW for inline flow measurement of liquids is that it operates without any components or constrictions inside the measuring tube.…
Introducing a new family of signal conditioners
The SC-System (photo) is a new family of signal conditioners, which was launched at the Hannover Trade Fair (April 7–11; Hannover, Germany). The SC-System uses high-quality three-way isolation between input, output and supply that withstands a working voltage of up…