Turck: Compact Temperature Transmitters | Sensors

The TTM sensor line has been expanded to include dynamic programmability and special features via IO-Link.

These fully programmable sensors allow a user to program the temperature range required, rather 

than be constrained to specific ranges, for more specific temperature control. This new functionality also allows the sensor to be programmed and used as a temperature switch. 

The line includes several models, including remote-mount transmitters, transmitters with integral Class A RTDs, as well as all stainless steel configurations to meet different measurement, space and material needs. To eliminate problems associated with conventional transmitter assemblies, all are factory assembled with an overmolded or welded housing, and come ready for installation. 

The overmolded remote transmitters are suitable for applications with limited clearance because they ensure electronics stay out of harm's way. Remote versions can also be mounted separately from the RTD, for improved temperature readings by isolating the transmitter circuitry from the temperature being measured. 

The stainless version offers a more robust package without an overmolded housing suitable for food and beverage applications. The sensors feature a 4-20 mA transmitter. They are pre-scaled 0 to 150 ºC but can easily to programmed to specific temperatures within those ranges via IO-Link.

Industrial Automation Controls Custom Car

Multiple functions on this custom car—from raising the hood and trunk to the controlling the electrical systems and windshield wipers—are powered by industrial automation components.  

Hints of the 1986 Ford XF Falcon can still be seen when viewing the purple and red custom car known as “The Psycho”. And though it’s clear from outward appearances that this car has been radically transformed from its original delivery specs, what’s not so obvious is how different this car is with respect to its operation.

Greg Maskell, the Australia-based designer of "The Psycho", turned to industrial automation technologies to control many of the car’s functions. Underneath the dash, along with the high-tension coil packs of the ignition, are a Rockwell Automation MicroLogix PLC and a ProSoft Technology Industrial Hotspot. The 802.11 a/b/g HotSpot is ProSoft Technology’s RLX2-IHW industrial-grade wireless Ethernet device rated up to 54 Mbps with Power over Ethernet and serial encapsulation.

Without the use of industrial automation controls technology, remote control of all these functions in the car would have required 18 separate toggle switches.

The controller and Industrial Hotspot are connected to a Rockwell Automation PanelView Plus 600 HMI through a Hirschmann Spider 4TX switch. The ProSoft Technology Industrial Hotspot is used for remote programming of the PLC and HMI.

Though the use remote controls via a mobile device in custom cars is not new, Maskell (who produces two the three custom cars a year) says this is the first time he has incorporated the use of a PLC.

The PLC controls all of the car’s electrical systems including “start up, shut down, fuel pump, thermo fans, water pump, windscreen wipers, windows and the stereo,” Maskell says. Without the use of industrial automation controls technology, remote control of all these functions in the car would have required 18 separate toggle switches.

Maskell relied on Gary Lomer, a Melbourne, Australia-based industrial electrician with 30 years of experience, to build the controls system for the custom car based on his industrial automation knowledge. Lomer currently works for Visy (a paper, packaging and recycling company), but has also worked at General Motors in Melbourne, as well as in many other industries. “I used my industrial background to select components that were proven with solid and reliable software and hardware,” Lomer said.

Working on "The Psycho" was an after-hours job for Lomer, who took on the extra work because “it was something different and challenging that didn’t come along every day.”

Maskell said he and the owners of the car are very happy with the performance of the equipment. He plans on using the PLC/ProSoft industrial wireless car control system more often when a customer decides they want to control their car remotely. He adds that “we are working on using ProSoft’s i-View iPhone app to operate the car via an iPhone.”

In just one car show in Australia, “The Psycho” won Top Paint, Top Undercarriage, Top Engine Bay, Top Interior, Top Coupe, Top Five, Top Street Machine and Australia’s Coolest Ride. It is considered by many to be the Top Show Car in Australia today.

Source:-http://www.automationworld.com/industrial-automation-controls-custom-car

Market for IAE Expected to Show Strong Growth

The market for industrial automation equipment is expected to show strong growth in 2014, with global revenue reaching $185.3 billion. 

IAE Course at Sofcon with 100% Placement Assistance

So says a recent report from information and analytics source IHS Technology.

The $185.3 billion represents a 7% increase over the $173 billion racked up in 2013. This year marks the return of more vigorous activity after the industry managed only middling revenue increases of 1.2% in 2012 and 3.4% in 2013. Prior to those two years, expansion had been in the double digits in a heartening show of force after the recession. Healthy expansion is set to continue after this year, says IHS, with industry revenue forecast to hit $225 billion by 2017.

Motors and motor controls will be the largest segment in 2014, accounting for 40% of total industrial automation equipment revenue. Automation equipment is next with 31%, followed by power-transmission equipment with 29%.

The automation equipment sector will be affected substantially this year by technological innovation, says IHS. Specifically, demand for more communication and more sophisticated machine control will drive technical advancements, especially in the discrete controller markets. Controllers overall are at the hightest risk of cybersecurity attacks, and this will prompt product development seeking solutions to forestall or prevent unauthorized incursions altogether.

Three distinct market developments will help the industrial automation equipment market continue to grow in the future. First, manufacturing will be transformed from a productivity-driven process to one that is controlled by digital information; IHS refers to this trend as "convergence." Second, 3-D printing could also represent another turning point, offering possibilities likely to alter the manufacturing landscape in sweeping ways. And third, the combination of an aging workforce of skilled engineers along with low rates of replacement will pose a significant concern for manufacturers, particularly in the West. Increasing levels of automation and semiautonomous robots will ultimately drive a transition to more and more automation.

Scalable Energy Efficient HMIs for Intelligent Building Automation Systems

Building Automation Management Solution Provider and BMS Training Provider

Known for their energy efficient, open platform and flexible building control and monitoring solutions, American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS), introduces their standard and custom offering of HMI panels for the building automation industry.

Known for their energy efficient, open platform and flexible building control and monitoring solutions, American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS), introduces their standard and custom offering of HMI panels for the building automation industry.  AIS open and flexible building control and monitoring solutions are designed for commercial and industrial facilities. By controlling building automation systems and simplifying operator interaction and engagement, AIS HMIs help building owners and operators manage their Building Management Systems (BMS), Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Building Automation Systems (BAS) more cost-effectively.  Building control systems applications suited for AIS HMI building management panels include: chiller control, boiler control, lighting control, HVAC control and access control systems.

In commercial buildings, the BMS is a computer-based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment. An EMS has software and data acquisition hardware components that are used to collect and analyze energy usage at the building or system level, mainly for monitoring decisions only. The BAS consists of stand-alone or networked hardware and embedded software that automatically controls a single building function (mechanical, electrical, or electronic).

AIS’s HMI Building Management Panels Solve Energy Challenges for Smart Building Operators

The building automation industry was an early innovator and adopter of the green movement in addressing environmental issues, reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.  Building and facilities operator embrace the need for continued energy management and sustainability.  BAS and BMS data from commercial buildings are new high-value assets and a major focus in managing energy consumption, triggered by rising energy costs, the benefits of proactive system maintenance and the need for remote property monitoring. AIS’s scalable and flexible operator interface panels deliver HMI integration and visualization of automation systems for smart buildings. Open platform HMI panels with pre-installed Windows embedded operating system from AIS offer hardware and software functional expansion capabilities with software development kits (SDK) for customer-specific applications. AIS building control management HMI panels and operator interfaces offer many benefits, including:

·       Powerful control, monitoring and targeting of energy consumption

·       Computerized and efficient maintenance scheduling

·       Effective use of maintenance staff and increased productivity

·       Reduced maintenance and energy costs

·       Remote monitoring and diagnostics of buildings and facilities

AIS’s Extensive Portfolio of Open & Rugged HMI Systems for Building Automation Control
AIS offers a broad range of flexible and versatile HMI panels and operator interface solutions for smart building control and automation systems that deliver the lowest total cost of ownership for building and facilities operators. Easy-to-use interfaces with advanced visualization capabilities and open communications platforms, AIS HMI panels are also rugged and can endure extreme conditions in HVAC environments and applications. The portfolio of HMI, operator interface terminals and touch panel PCs solutions for building control and management from AIS include:

·       Wide Temperature Touch Panel PCs feature Intel® Atom dual core processor N2800 1.86 GHz, in an industrial-grade LCD flat panel with resistive touch screen technology, and supports an extended temperature range of -20 to 60°C (-4 to 140°F). This selection of industrial and building automation displays are offered in screen sizes 10.4", 15" and 17".

·       HMI Operator Interface Terminals are web-based and ARM-based HMI solutions and one of the most versatile operator interface choices for visualization applications. They are ideal for building control applications that need information displayed in dynamic ways to help operators quickly understand machine status and make faster decisions. The displays for intelligent building automation are offered in sizes ranging from 4.3" to 15".

·       HMI Compact Thin Clients are compact web-based thin clients for faster, better and lower-cost building and HVAC applications. As standard, AIS HMI Compact Thin Clients for building control are ruggedized, and carry NEMA 12, 4X, 4, IP52, IP54, IP66 ratings and certifications. These smart building HMI displays are offered in 5.7", 10.1" and 15" size screens.

·  HMI PoE Touch Panel PCs are fully integrated, utilizing the very latest in Projective Capacitive Touch display (PCT) technology and Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) capability in industrial-grade LCD panels. As the need for end devices continue to expand for communications, collaboration, security and productivity, the need for PoE capabilities to support these end devices with increased power requirements is essential. These smart, Multi-Touch “Room Scheduling” Panel PCs are offered in 7", 10.1” and 18.5" size screens.

ABB and Hitachi Form HVDC Partnership for Japan’s Power Grid

With Hitachi as the prime contractor, the joint venture will take ABB’s direct current technology into Japan’s evolving HVDC market.

By Aaron Hand, Executive Editor, Automation World

Swiss power and automation giant ABB has teamed up with Hitachi to gain a foothold in Japan’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) market. The two companies have agreed to form a Tokyo-based joint venture that will be supply DC systems and services in Japan, with Hitachi as the prime contractor.

In the first step of a strategic partnership aimed at Japan's evolving power network, Hitachi will have an equity interest of 51 percent, and ABB will have the remaining 49 percent. The two companies will continue to explore the relationship further, looking to widen the scope for future collaboration.
“Since the first development in the 1970s,

Hitachi has participated in every HVDC project in Japan and has continued to underpin the stabilization of the electricity grid,” said Hiroaki Nakanishi, Hitachi’s chairman and CEO. “I am confident that the establishment of a new company combining the strengths of Hitachi and ABB will provide a framework for the timely provision of the new technologies required by the Japanese HVDC market. By enhancing and expanding the HVDC business through its partnership with ABB, which has a strong performance record in the global market, Hitachi will continue to contribute to the stabilization of Japan's electric power grid.”

Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB, pointed to ABB’s pioneering role in HVDC 60 years ago. “Our presence across half the world’s installed base and our capability to develop and manufacture all major components of the HVDC value chain in-house have put us in a leading position in the industry,” he said. “We are proud to enter into this partnership with Hitachi, with a solid reputation and extensive, 100-year experience in the Japanese market. Together we can build on our complementary strengths to play our part in the evolution of Japan’s power infrastructure."

The global HVDC market has been dominated by line commutated converter (LCC) technology since the 1970s. But more recent focus on HVDC to connect renewable energy sources has seen an increase in voltage source converter (VSC) systems, which advanced as a new technology around 2000, and facilitate grid stabilization.

VSC-HVDC technology is suited to long-distance underground and underwater power links and interconnections, and is increasingly being deployed across a range of applications. These include the integration of renewable energies from land-based and offshore wind farms, the mainland power supply to islands and offshore oil and gas platforms, city center in-feeds where space is a major constraint, and cross-border interconnections that often require subsea links. Its ability to comply with grid codes ensures robust network connections regardless of application.

In Japan, nine HVDC projects were carried out up to 2006, all of them using the LCC technology. Now, with the increasing introduction of renewable energy and innovation in electric power systems, demand for VSC-HVDC systems is expected to increase for applications such as wide-area power transmission grids and connection of offshore wind farms.

The new joint venture will combine Hitachi's sales network, project management expertise, quality assurance processes and delivery performance record with ABB’s state-of-the-art HVDC technologies, and contribute to innovation in electric power systems in Japan.


Source:-http://www.automationworld.com/power-supplies/abb-and-hitachi-form-hvdc-partnership-japans-power-grid

Siemens Launches Optimized Servo Drive System for Motion Control Applications

Cost effective and easy-to-use, SINAMICS V90 servo drive and SIMOTICS S-1FL6 servo motor together form an optimized servo-drive system. Addresses a wide range of applications such as pick & place, labeling, horizontal packaging and printing.

Sofcon Providing Industrial Automation Training with 100% Placement Assistance.

Siemens Industry launched the newly-developed SINAMICS V90 servo drive and SIMOTICS S-1FL6 servo motor for motion control applications. The drive and the motor, together form an optimized servo drive system for positioning, speed and torque control. It not only provides a cost-effective solution but also shortens time-to-market with easy commissioning, thus improving customers’ competitiveness.

Cost-effective

Being a cost-effective product, SINAMICS V90 has various integrated control modes to address a wide range of applications such as pick & place, labeling, horizontal packaging, printing etc. It also finds use in winders and unwinders and automatic assembly machines. Point-to-point positioning is possible by using a basic PLC without a positioning functionality. With integrated braking resistor for all frame sizes, most applications can be realized without an additional braking resistor.

Optimized servo performance

SINAMICS V90 enables the machine to achieve a high dynamic performance and smooth operation through automatically optimized control loop parameters. Presence of 1 MHz pulse train setpoint and 20-bit encoder resolution enables the system to reach high positioning accuracy. The 300% overload capacity of the drive and motor along with fast acceleration and braking ensures high productivity for customers’ machines.

Easy to use

SINAMICS V-Assistant, an optimized, standalone, graphic configuration software tool makes commissioning and diagnostics quick and easy. This tool performs parameter settings, jogging, trouble shooting and monitoring. Standard interface makes it easy to couple the drive with PLCs and motion controllers.

Reliable operation

PCB coating on the SINAMICS V90 and high quality bearings of SIMOTICS S-1FL6 ensures a high robustness of the drive system, thus enabling them to withstand harsh environmental conditions. The integrated safety function STO (safe toque off) prevents the motor from unexpected movement; thereby ensuring safety of both machines and employees.

SINAMICS and SIMOTICS form an integral part of Siemens Integrated Drive Systems. Drive Technology based on Integrated Drive Systems ensures maximum productivity, energy-efficiency, and reliability in any automation environment and throughout the lifecycle.

The Future of Factory Automation | Industrial Automation Training at Sofcon

The concept of Factory Automation started in 1986 and dealt primarily with the automation of manufacturing, quality control and material handling processes. The idea was to employ automation to save up on the labor cost, reduce human error, save energy and materials and to improve quality, accuracy and precision. Various concepts & technologies like DCS, PLC, Industrial PC, Computer Numeric Control Network, Wireless sensor networks, Industrial Ethernet etc. have emerged and evolved over the years.

 

In today’s world, in order to remain competitive and thrive, many businesses are increasingly turning to advanced industrial automation to maximize productivity, economies of scale and quality. The increasingly connected world is inevitably connecting the factory floors. Human machine interfaces (HMI), Programmable logic controllers (PLC), Motor control and sensors need to be connected in a scalable and efficient way. The Internet of Things (IoT) is enabling machines and the automation systems to securely connect to each other, in an enterprise and to the rest of the supply chain and offer information that can be used for operative and analytical purposes.

Market & Trends

The global industrial automation market is forecasted to reach more than $200 billion by 2015, buoyed by improved economies worldwide. Purchased largely for manufacturing processes, industrial automation equipment is a key factor in a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and, as IMS Research notes, generally indicative of economic health. As per a survey conducted by Frost & Sullivan, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) along with other emerging economies worldwide are forecast to sustain high growth in industrial automation markets. The strongest growth is expected in emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. However, in more developed regions like North America and Western Europe, opportunities exist in the modernization of old infrastructure.

The biggest change to the factory of the future will come from technology. Future factories in the pursuit of sustainability, productivity & efficiency are adopting Factory Automation which will enable a truly integrated enterprise. Advanced controls, automation systems, and sensors are being used to improve industrial process control and energy efficiency in industrial settings. Whether reducing energy consumption or monitoring equipment for maintenance purposes, sensors, and wireless controls provide real-time data and the ability to configure and control plant related functions. The Integrated enterprise provides for an effective interaction between the factory floor and the enterprise across all end users, enabling organizations to gain a competitive edge in the global market. The organizations are also leveraging the benefits of IoT (Internet of Things) to connect data-driven devices to optimize their operations and improve decision making thus impacting revenues & profitability.

As per the latest report from IHS Technology on Industrial Automation Equipments, Motors and motor controls will be the largest segment in 2014, accounting for 40 percent of total IAE market revenue. Automation equipment is next with 31 percent, followed by power-transmission equipment with 29 percent. In the market’s biggest segment made up of motors, generators, and motor controls, energy efficiency continues to be the driver for growth and is a key care about.

One such Industry forum is the Industrial Energy Efficiency Coalition (IEEC) which is an alliance of leading Industrial organizations seeking to leverage their expertise and track record in industrial controls and automation to promote continuous energy efficiency improvements in industrial systems and processes, as well as business ecosystems.

The Anatomy of Factory Automation

Factory Automation constitute of five major components - PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers), HMI (Human Machine Interface) , Sensor,  Motor Control / Drives which are interconnected by Industrial communication protocols.

• PLC is the brain of an industrial automation system; it provides relay control, motion control, industrial input and output process control, distributed system, and networking control. PLCs often need to work in harsh environmental conditions, withstanding heat, cold, moisture, vibration and other extreme conditions while providing precise, deterministic and real-time controls to the other parts of the industrial automation system through reliable communication links.

• HMI is the graphical user interface for industrial control. It provides a command input and feedback output interface for controlling the industrial machinery. An HMI is connected through common communication links to other parts of industrial systems.

• Industrial drives are motor controllers used for controlling optimal motor operation. They are used in a very diverse range of industrial applications and come with a wide range of voltage and power levels. Industrial drives include but are not limited to AC and DC drives as well as servo drives that use a motor feedback system to control and adjust the behavior and performance of servo mechanisms.

• Sensors are the hands and legs of the industrial automation system that monitor the industrial operation conditions, inspections, measurements, and more, in real time.  A sensor in the industrial environment is either continuously or periodically measuring vital parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow, etc. Monitoring and maintaining process variables at the appropriate levels is extremely critical in industrial automation and process control. They are an integral part of industrial automation systems and provide trigger point and feedback for system control.

• Communication is the backbone of all the industrial components for efficient automation. The most common being Industrial Ethernet and Fieldbus communication protocols with master and slave functionality including EtherCAT®, Ethernet/IP, PROFIBUS®, PROFINET®, POWERLINK and SERCOS III. Wireless connectivity holds enormous promises for advance factory automation. Zigbee, Sub 1-GHz Smart Mesh, 6LoWPAN, ANT+ and evolving standards are enabling machines and the automation systems to securely connect to each other, in an enterprise and to the rest of the supply chain.

System Requirements

In today's factory automation market, new technology brings opportunities for industrial system developers to successfully address new challenges where systems require technologies to meet stringent requirements for high reliability in mission-critical environments. The success of an advance factory automation system design depends on few key factors.

Semiconductor Portfolio specific –

• Specialized product portfolio for Harsh Environments.
• Reliable and efficient communication network that connects all the components of the factory to work together effectively.
• Energy Efficiency is also a must have from a sustainability perspective.
• Long product life supply policy.
• Flexible and future-proof embedded processors.
• Solutions that meet industry safety needs (IEC61508, SIL)
• Space efficient solutions.

System specific –

• The primary challenge of sensing in industrial environments is conditioning low signal levels in the presence of high noise and high-surge voltage.
• Industrial-specific reference design and development tools.
• Production-ready comprehensive software, including communication protocols and signal chain solution.

Automation applications range from programmable logic controllers and industrial computers to human machine interface and industrial peripherals and drives. Texas Instruments is a global supplier with a broad selection of the right products and tools the complete and optimize the Industrial Automation system. TI Technology brings many new opportunities to industrial automation system developers, successfully addressing design challenges like providing high reliability products to support stringent manufacturer requirements needed for harsh environments, long product life supply policy, products optimized for industrial environments, reference design, software libraries.

The Works

Texas Instruments has a strategic commitment to the industrial automation industry, providing an extensive and reliable solution set - ranging from robust microcontrollers and ARM®-based microprocessors and wireless transceivers, complemented by a rich portfolio of analog IC's for power management, data converters, interfaces, amplifiers, industrial drivers. TI’s cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing processes provide industrial designers with products that meet the highest standards and that are optimized for industrial environments and extend product life cycles.

Apart from the broad portfolio, TI has a rich suite of reference designs that have been introduced along with documentation on BOM, design files & test reports. There are currently 86 reference designs under the Factory Automation theme, developed by system experts in TI, targeting PLC, HMI, Machine vision, Field Transmitter & Process instrumentation & others. An example is the TI reference design targeting analog and digital I/O modules as well as power supply boards for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). These boards are designed with consideration for special needs encountered with testing for EMC and surge requirements as described in industry standards like IEC61000-4. All boards undergo rigorous testing and come with full documentation, test results, design files and necessary firmware. These designs make it very easy to evaluate complete signal chain performance and help reduce time to market.

The benefits of TI's system-optimized products are immediate product availability, tools, software and hardware that ease and accelerate design time - plus the added reliability of a worldwide supplier with local expertise and support.

On the communication front, developers can get to market faster with the low-power ARM Cortex-A8 microprocessor family to incorporate multiple industrial communication protocols on a single chip. TI provides production-ready industrial Ethernet and Fieldbus communication protocols with master and slave functionality including: EtherCAT®, Ethernet/IP, PROFIBUS®, PROFINET®, POWERLINK and SERCOS III.  WiFi capability can be enabled with easy development on the IoT ready portfolio with flexible connection options, cloud support and on-chip Wi-Fi, Internet and robust security protocols.

Source:-http://www.aandctoday.com/technical-article/318-the-future-of-factory-automation