New Products & Services
January 2012
This company has improved its fault-tolerant Simatic S7-400H high-performance controllers and equipped them with new functions. In addition, the range of controllers has been extended with the new CPU 416-5H. All CPUs now have a Profinet interface with a two-port switch, larger memory and an expanded quantity structure for data and function block as well as function calls. One of the new functions concerns the master-reserve switchover that can now be programmed by the user. The Profinet interface with a two-port switch is used for plant communication and supports fault-tolerant H-connections via TCP/IP (ISO on TCP). In combination with the integrated MPI/DP and Profibus DP interfaces, the new Profinet interface permits the system-redundant connection of I/O devices. — Siemens Industry Sector, Industry Automation Div., Nuremberg, Germany
www.siemens.com/industryautomationThe FT450 is a float thermostatic steam-trap series that has been redesigned. The series now includes a new fabricated mechanism suitable for the oil, petrochemical, hydrocarbon processing, pulp and paper, chemical processing and power-generating industries. The 3- and 4-in. FT450 mechanical ball float trap has a body and cover made of cast carbon steel to increase longevity, and the trap has a balanced pressure thermostatic air vent available for maximum temperatures of 572°F. All internals are stainless steel and coated with UCT EXO nickel-boron. The trap series has an infinite turndown ratio over a wide range of flow, and can operate from 0 to 450 psig steam pressure. — Spirax Sarco Inc., Blythewood, S.C.
A non-contact proximity alarm from this company combines audio and visual alerts. When the trigger element approaches the base element, an LED indicator light illuminates, and an audio warning sounds. The technology is built around this company’s magnetic reed switches, which sense the proximity without contact. These proximity alarms are ideal for position sensing, security and other applications. It is a battery-powered device built around proven technology. — Standex International Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio
The BTU-Block Board product line is part of a family of microporous insulation, and is design for use as backup insulation for high-temperature applications in non-ferrous metals, steel processing, chemical processing, power generation, fire protection and commercial heaters. Microporous insulation is based on ultrafine particles of fumed silica, metal oxides and reinforcement fibers. This blend of materials create a structure that limits air convection, heat conduction and radiation transmission. With a uniquely low thermal conductivity, the BTU-Block insulation has the ability to reduce temperature variation in high-temperature manufacturing processes. BTU-Block materials are up to four times more efficient than traditional insulation, the company says, so designers can reduce lining thickness without sacrificing thermal performance. — Morgan Thermal Ceramics, a div. of the Morgan Crucible Co. Plc, Windsor, U.K.
Hazlux 5 HID Lighting Fixtures are certified for use in Class I, Division 1, Groups C and D hazardous areas, featuring thermal- and shock-resistant glass globes that are factory-assembled and pretested for quality and safety. The Hazlux lighting fixtures are also certified for outdoor wet locations (Class II, Div. 1, groups E, F and G), making the lights ideal for outdoor and offshore use. The fixtures are available with high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamps and wattages from 50 to 400 W. They also have a variety of mounting options and wiring that supports a wireless connection if needed. — Thomas & Betts Corp., Memphis, Tenn.
The Visi-Flo 1400 and 1500 Series sight-flow indicators offer an inexpensive method for verifying flowrate and direction, while simultaneously monitoring color and clarity in fluid lines. Visi-Flo devices are designed with an innovative radial seal that creates a constant and uninterrupted sealing force between the body and the outside diameter of the glass lens. The sealing method provides a longer-lasting and better seal than conventional flat seals, the company says. Both the 1400 and 1500 Series sight-flow indicators are available with threaded or flanged configurations, and are tested at 150% of rated pressure to ensure high reliability in harsh conditions. The device requires no special maintenance or torqueing sequence to prevent leaks. — OPW Engineered Systems, Lebanon, Ohio
Oil- and grease-free carbon-graphite piston rings from this company are ideal for use in reciprocating compressors, where gases, such as air, steam, refrigerants, hydrogen, chlorine, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen, can be compressed to pressures over 800 psi. This company’s segmented carbon-graphite piston rings with overlapped joints are placed in a radial groove in the reciprocating piston with little clearance between the wide of the groove and the width of the ring, the company says. The carbon-graphite materials are particularly suited to this application because of their lubricating properties and wear resistance. — Metallized Carbon Corp., Ossining, N.Y.
The Modular Tru-Balance Sifter utilizes four to nine sieves and can obtain up to three separations. Numerous construction options mean that the sifter can be adapted to a wide range of products and installation requirements. The Modular Tru-Balance sifter is ideal for plastics processors, flour mills, cereal plants and chemical facilities. It is an economic machine with reliable performance and excellent sanitation features suitable when stainless-steel construction and complex separations are not required. — Great Western Manufacturing Co., Leavenworth, Kan.
The SmartBob-TS1 is a continuous level sensor with a sealed electronics compartment designed to prevent the ingress of dust into the electronics cavity of the sensor. The sealed compartment protects critical components and enhances durability. With proven accuracy and reliability, the SmartBob-TS1 sensor can be used to measure powders or granular materials in bins, tanks and silos where high levels of dust are present, especially after filling operations. The newly designed SmartBob-TS1 is suitable for tanks and silos up to 60 ft tall in any operation that needs to monitor inventories of bulk solids or powders. The product can also be used in a variety of liquid and slurry applications. — BinMaster Level Controls, Lincon, Neb.
Crude oil that is transported in railway cars can be too stiff to unload in cold regions. The Ecoarm is an unloading device that allows high volume flows during unloading in cold weather. Traditionally, train-transported oil is unloaded through valves underneath the tank by a base-unloading arm with a built-in heating system. When bottom unloading is not possible, the oil must be unloaded through a top manhole — a time-consuming process that requires heating with steam from the outside. The Ecoarm system heats the oil from the inside out via the top manhole. The Ecoarm has a pump nozzle that is pressed into stiff oil, where it thins the oil around the nozzle. The thinned oil is then pumped to a heat exchanger on the outside, from which hot oil is sent back into the spray nozzles. The Ecoarm is hydraulically operated and steered remotely. — Neste Jacobs Oy, Porvoo, Finland
Designed for the detection of explosive and toxic gases, the OLCT 10N gas detector recently received ATEX certification for use in potentially explosive environments. The instrument is capable of detecting the flammable gases methane, ethane and butane, as well as toxic gases like carbon monoxide, NO, NO2, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia. The OLCT 10N is a digital detector that is intended to be used with this company’s MX43 controller. Among its advantages are the possibility of up to 32 detectors per line, semi-automatic calibration and reduced wiring costs. The gas detector comes with a two-year warranty. — Industrial Scientific Oldham, Arras, France
The RAGN is a glass rotamer that is suitable for safety integrity level (SIL) 1 environments, and complies with the Machinery Directive ISO 13849-1. Designed for long lifetime and maintenance-free operation, the RAGN resists highly corrosive media and is used for the continuous flow measurement of liquids and gases. The RAGN has reed switches, and works by the same rotamer mechanical principle — that a float rises inside a conical glass tube and its position on a scale can be read as the flowrate — as previous products from this company. — Yokogawa Corp. of America, Newnan, Ga.
A limit controller that is suited for oven applications
This company has recently introduced the UT35A-L Limit Controller (photo), which is an FM-approved instrument suited for oven, furnace and kiln applications. The UT35A-L can be configured as a high or low limit. It comes standard with universal input, three alarm outputs and retransmission output. There is also a timer for exceeded duration and a display for maximum temperature. RS485 and Ethernet communications are available as an option. — Yokogawa Corp. of America, Sugar Land, Tex.
www.yokogawa.com/us
A new mass flow controller expands this series’ flow range
The Smart-Trak 50 Series Medium Flow Controller (photo) is a mass flow controller that increases the maximum flow range of the Smart-Trak 50 Series from 50 to 200 standard L/min. The 50 Series has a standard accuracy of ±1.5% of full scale. A flexible and powerful direct-acting frictionless-hovering control valve minimizes leak-by, while offering ±0.25% repeatability, according to the manufacturer. Both analog and digital inputs and outputs are available, enabling the 50 Series to work with older analog systems or the newest multi-drop digital tools. Field adjustment of zero and span enable the small adjustments in calibration necessary to align with onsite process conditions. — Sierra Instruments, Monterey, Calif.
www.sierrainstruments.com
New digital pressure gage offers simple set up and readability
The PG10 Digital Pressure Gauge (photo) is an IP65-rated indoor/outdoor gage featuring a 5.5-in. display casing, a full five-digit display with characters at 0.68-in. tall, and a 270-deg. digital “dial” or radial bar graph that shows a user-selectable pressure range from 0 to 100%. Standard features include tare, peak hold, and maximum and minimum readings, as well as user-selectable units of measure and an auto-off timer. The gage has an operating temperature range from 0 to 160°F, boasts ±0.25% accuracy of full scale, and features pressure ranges from vacuum to 500 psi, or 0 to 10,000 psi. Data logging provides local access to the latest 60 readings. These features and functions make the PG10 digital pressure gage well-suited for use in applications where visibility, functionality and stability are of primary concern. — Automation Products Group, Inc., Logan, Utah
www.apgsensors.comAn airflow conditioner that increases accuracy
A new video demonstrates how the Vortab VIP (Vortab Insertion Panel) Flow Conditioner (photo) can maximize the accuracy of air/gas flowmeter-measurement performance with a design that significantly reduces flowmeter straight-run requirements. Vortab tab-type flow conditioning technology greatly reduces line pressure drop compared to alternative technologies, such as tube bundles, screens and perforated plates, says the manufacturer. Many flowmeter technologies require several diameters of straight pipe run to provide the flow profile required for accurate and repeatable measurement. Most chemical process industries (CPI) plants, however, are rich with elbows, valves and tees. The Model VIP Insertion Panel Flow Conditioner’s tab-type plate design neutralizes distorted flow profiles caused by elbows, valves and tees that commonly occur in piping and duct runs. The thin, lightweight panel design of VIP is easily installed between flanges or can be welded in place. — Fluid Components International (FCI), San Marcos, Calif.
www.fluidcomponents.com
Process monitoring software helps avoid forced shutdowns
The Unscrambler X Process Pulse realtime process-monitoring software uses powerful multivariate predictive models and diagnostics to give a more complete view of a process than some traditional statistical tools. This provides early event-detection capabilities so users can identify and correct process issues before they become problems. The software is designed for CPI companies and is particularly useful for helping resolve issues during scaleup from R&D to production. Process Pulse can be used either as a stand-alone process-monitoring tool or integrated into a third-party control system. A free trial of the software can be downloaded at the company’s website. CAMO Software, Oslo, Norway
www.camo.comEasily monitor energized circuits in tight spaces
The AS1 Series Compact Case Current Sensing Switch (photo), with its 1-in. housing, is a compact and cost-effective solution that enables users to monitor an energized circuit in tight spaces. The easy-to-use ring design slips onto a conductor to detect currents as low as 0.5 A. The AS1 has 24-in. leads that can be connected directly to controller input terminals or brought out to a terminal block to facilitate remote operation. The contact can control either a.c. or d.c. circuits to 120 V, with a maximum load capacity of 150 mA. This current sensing switch is powered directly from the monitored circuit to monitor and report electric motor-load status, identify open heater-circuit connections and independently verify that a load is energized. It is also useful for confirming current flow to and operation of critical lighting and other equipment, such as fans, heaters, pumps or other a.c.-powered devices. The AS1 is rated for use in ambient temperatures ranging from –4 to 122F (–20 to 50C). — NK Technologies, San Jose, Calif.
www.nktechnologies.com.Reduce wiring in hazardous areas
Three new Switch Amplifiers (photo) with Line Fault Transparency (LFT) have recently been introduced by this company. NIC2831 and HIC2832 are one- and two-channel switch amplifiers with LFT suitable for mounting on termination boards. The K-System KFD2-SOT2-EX1.N provides line fault transparency to the control system in a standard DIN rail-mounting configuration. These switch amplifiers reduce the amount of wiring required in hazardous area applications. Using switch amplifiers with LFT, switching and fault signals from the hazardous area are simultaneously transferred to the control level via a single output to maximize signal transmission integrity. Integrating switch amplifier with LFT technology requires a digital input with line fault detection in the control system. — Pepperl+Fuchs,Twinsburg, Ohio
www.pepperl-fuchs.usElectronic marshalling technology for hazardous areas
Building on its electronic marshalling and single-channel characterization module (Charm) technology, this company now offers intrinsically safe (IS) Charms. I/O in hazardous areas traditionally requires explosion-proof mounting or isolation barriers. These approaches are costly, require space for additional barrier and termination cabinets, and need ongoing maintenance to ensure safety requirements continue to be met. IS Charms deliver a reduced footprint and eliminate the need for separate barriers and the associated intercabinet wiring. The DeltaV Charm I/O Card supports both conventional and IS Charms. I/O can be added anywhere it is needed using standard Ethernet hardware. Each I/O channel has a dedicated CHARM that provides both signal characterization and galvanic isolation for intrinsically safe applications. IS barriers are integrated inside the Charm to provide single-channel fault isolation as well as electrical isolation and energy limiting circuitry that meets IEC Ex ia ratings. — Emerson Process Management, St. Louis Mo.
www.EmersonProcess.com Programmable controllers for small and large applicationsThis company has expanded its Integrated Architecture portfolio for smaller applications with a series of scalable, CompactLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs), servo drives, I/O, visualization and simplification tools. With features such as integrated motion, safety and Ethernet/IP connectivity, users can standardize on a single control platform for small- to large-scale applications. The Integrated Architecture features the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix PAC family that is ideally suited for applications that have up to 10,000 I/O and 100 axes of motion, and the CompactLogix PAC family that is ideal for applications with fewer than 200 I/O and up to 16 axes of motion. — Rockwell Automation, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.
www.rockwellautomation.comDorothy Lozowski
The metering pump from this company has been improved with new pumping elements and integral variable-frequency drive (VFD) controls. The new features expand the scope of the pump’s metering applications, and enable efficient performance when metering low-flow liquids, the company says. The pump is suitable for a wide range of processing applications, such as water and wastewater chemical injection, food-and-beverage flavorings transfer, and other chemical processing uses, in addition to metering. The metering pumps also feature dust and water resistance for dirty and wet environments, and a pump cavity design that results in smooth, pulsation-free operation. — Moyno Inc., Springfield, Ohio
EasyMax is a synthesis workstation designed to replace the traditional round-bottom flask. It is simple to use, efficient, safe, requires no cryostat or PC and takes up only minimal fumehood space. With its wide range of hardware and software accessories, the system can grow in line with specific requirements allowing more complicated applications and experiments to be executed as and when required. The system operates with an easy-to-use touchpad and has a built-in, solid-state thermostat covering the temperature range from –40 to 180°C. Experimental records are collected, stored and can be transferred to a PC with a USB memory stick. — Mettler-Toledo, Zurich, Switzerland
www.mt.com
The Multibox Vario insulated outdoor enclosures can be specified to millimeter accuracy and cover a wide range of sizes, with dimensions as small as 100 x 100 x 100 (with 20-mm thick walls) to 2,000 x 1,200 x 800 mm (with a wall thickness of 102 mm). This flexibility simplifies containment of awkwardly shaped components, such as process valves and analyzers. To help engineers accelerate their design process, this company has developed a Web-based configurator specifically for the Multibox Vario enclosures. — Intertec Instrumentation, Ltd., Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
www.intertec-inst.comThe 91000TN computer printable label range features a clear wrap-around protection tail, which permanently seals and safeguards printed variable data. These labels provide an immediate high-strength adhesive to all tubes and vials, ensuring a permanent lifelong bond during cryogenic freezer storage (–196°C) and steam sterilization cycles. Variable data (barcodes, batch numbers and so on) can be added in minutes straight from a standard laser or thermal-transfer printer. — CILS International, Ltd., Worthing, U.K.
www.cils-international.com