Presented here is a description of the Open Process Automation Standard and a progress report on its implementation by industry Open Process Automation (OPA) is an end-user company-driven industry movement to transform the industrial control-system market from one that supplies…
Emerging automation-system architectures will provide the foundation required for optimized operations across the enterprise For decades, when a person mentioned process control, most engineers’ minds went to proportional integral derivative (PID) loop control, interlocks, safety and advanced process control. Perhaps…
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M; Spain; www.uc3m.es) has patented a new system for capturing hyperspectral images — those capable of collecting information across a broad frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum (near-infrared, mid-infrared and terahertz). The system can…
Today’s process sensors provide a real-time data foundation for asset management and process optimization across the enterprise For many decades, industrial process sensors have been used across the chemical process industries (CPI) to measure common process variables, such as pressure,…
Advanced analytics applications are a key component to create actionable insights using statistical analysis techniques In chemical manufacturing, deviation monitoring and detection play a key role in safeguarding production, reliability, and product quality. However, different processes often require different tools…
From headsets to gloves to fabric sensors, technologies that can be worn on the body are providing many new benefits for plant workers Apace with innovations in all “smart” technologies, wearable devices for industrial personnel are rapidly evolving to incorporate…
Safety is often underestimated when planning, operating and maintaining process-measuring equipment. Sensors with SIL certification, alone, do not make the process safe. It is important to avoid systematic errors during planning, installation and operation The correct installation of a temperature…
A routes-by-exception reliability strategy helps improve safety and efficiency, while preserving competitive advantage in a changing marketplace In recent years, maintenance and reliability experts have often talked about the massive wave of retirements leaving chemical plants, creating a shortage of…
A collaborative research group in Japan has engineered a self-sustaining device that can detect the presence of COVID-19 particles or droplets in air. The device, which requires no batteries, employs a magnetostrictive clad plate composed of iron, cobalt and nickel,…
Spring-loaded pressure-relief valves (PRVs) often use bellows to ensure balanced operation. Data analysis from 30,000 PRV service records across different industries and valve brands shows a bellows failure rate between 2 to 6%, according to Emerson (St. Louis, Mo.; www.emerson.com).…