Top Control Engineering articles, April 2012
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during April 2012 included articles on process control and safety systems, mobile engineering applications, alarm rationalization, machine control, industrial energy savings, and machine guarding, among others.
Most-read Control Engineering online articles for April 2012 at www.controleng.com included articles on articles on process control and safety systems, mobile engineering applications, alarm rationalization, machine control, industrial energy savings, and machine guarding, among others. More about each article and links follow.
Social media and process control merge using artificial intelligence
Emerson Process adds “tweeting” function to flagship DeltaV so it can reach out to operators. The system will establish friends, compose messages, and interact independently. Exclusive video: Jim Cahill explains new concept, operation. [April 1 – April Fool’s Day posting.]
When can the process control system, safety system share field devices?
An SIS and BPCS can sometimes share components, but not without careful analysis.
Apps for Engineers - Product Exclusive
CFE Media’s Apps For Engineers software is an “app of aps,” providing an interactive directory of approximately 60 mobile engineering-related software applications useful for Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer areas of coverage.
A rational approach to alarm rationalization
While it may not be your favorite activity, thoughtful alarm rationalization pays major operational dividends in the long run and will keep your operators happier.
Moving up from hardwired relay logic
If you’re still trying to control machine functions with relays and discrete electromechanical devices, you should be looking at the small and inexpensive PLCs available these days.
Their versatility and simplicity may surprise you.
Cut Chiller Energy Costs by 30%
Industrial Energy Management: Prepackaged retrofit for centrifugal compressor chiller also said to reduce required maintenance and extend operating life.
Machine Guarding: Trouble shooting old systems is doomed with iPad skills
Do today's new hires have what it takes? Over the past 10 years machine safety has experienced probably the greatest transformation since the advent of machine control technology, which sets the stage for an organizational skills gap discussion. Are the skilled trades persons entering industry over the past ten years equipped to evaluate and trouble shoot 40-year-old control systems without any connection for plugging in a lap top computer?
U.S. nuclear power update: A 2012 overture?
The first new operating license in 34 years was approved in early February 2012 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for two reactors at Southern Nuclear Operating Co.’s Vogtle power plant located near Augusta, Ga. Other license approvals are pending. The industry is at a crossroad with positive and negative developments. Link to photos, videos.
How to avoid nightmare system integration projects: When an automation project is far astray, there may be a point where you must call in reinforcements to clean up rather than scrap it. Here’s how to recover from that nightmare project and what signs might point to a future nightmare.
Production Energy Optimization Profile
Industrial Energy Management: We can’t necessarily see energy being wasted, but it can be identified and tracked on the road to lower costs in manufacturing and process industries.
Links to the next five most-read online articles
Self-sculpting sand: Algorithms could help with micro robotics
Direct-drive Wind Turbines Flex Muscles
Top Control Engineering articles, March 2012
2012 Engineers' Choice Awards: Winners
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- Compiled by Mark T. Hoske, CFE Media, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com.
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2012 Salary Survey
In a year when manufacturing continued to lead the economic rebound, it makes sense that plant manager bonuses rebounded. Plant Engineering’s annual Salary Survey shows both wages and bonuses rose in 2012 after a retreat the year before.
Average salary across all job titles for plant floor management rose 3.5% to $95,446, and bonus compensation jumped to $15,162, a 4.2% increase from the 2010 level and double the 2011 total, which showed a sharp drop in bonus.