Global availability of sensor capabilities evaluation kit
Sensirion has launched its SEK-SEN66 evaluation kit, a part of the company’s versatile SEN6x family, offering a user-friendly solution for assessing sensor capabilities. The advanced SEN6x modules are equipped with built-in algorithms that manage data processing, enabling device manufacturers to focus on their core competencies and application development.
By eliminating the need for costly, time-consuming optimizations, the SEN6x family allows for faster time-to-market and reduced overall cost of ownership.
A key feature of the SEN6x series is its modular approach. With a single design-in, multiple product tiers can be easily supported, providing exceptional flexibility and enabling customized solutions for diverse market needs.
Whether for particulate matter (PM) measurements or a comprehensive set of air quality parameters—including temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2) or formaldehyde (HCHO)—the SEN6x offers a scalable, all-encompassing solution.
The SEK-SEN66 evaluation kit is now available for purchase through Sensirion’s global distribution network, providing the opportunity to test and evaluate the sensors’ extensive capabilities firsthand. Designed to accelerate product development, the evaluation kit is an ideal tool for businesses looking to implement advanced air quality monitoring solutions.
SEN6x modularity:
SEN60: PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10
SEN63C: PM, RH, T, CO2
SEN65: PM, RH, T, VOC, NOx
SEN66: PM, RH, T, VOC, NOx, CO2
SEN68: PM, RH, T, VOC, NOx, HCHO
To learn more, visit SEK-SEN66 - Evaluation kit SEN60, SEN65, SEN66.
Generative AI solution improves efficiency, productivity and sustainability
Building on its long-standing collaboration with Microsoft, ABB has launched ABB Ability™ Genix Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) solution that helps energy, utilities and other industries improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability by contextualizing vast amounts of data and providing actionable insights in an intuitive manner (FIG. 1).
Genix Copilot utilizes large language models such as GPT-4, customized for industrial use cases. Unlike traditional natural language processing that works primarily with text, Genix Copilot uses real-world data from the production environment, providing insights that can be immediately implemented to improve industrial operations.
ABB estimates that by embedding Genix Copilot capabilities into its industrial digital solutions, customers can achieve significant cost savings in operations and maintenance, boost production efficiency and drive improvements in sustainability metrics such as optimized energy use and reduced emissions.
Genix Copilot architecture is designed to handle and process data from multiple sources, including shop floor operations, operator conversations, enterprise systems, unstructured data and metadata, to deliver comprehensive insights with natural language support.
The intuitive conversational interface allows users to inquire about various operational parameters, such as asset health, performance, fault analysis and more, receiving clear and concise responses. For example, a maintenance manager can request a summary of the day’s events for their plant, including insights on critical assets that may require attention, root cause analysis as well as the status of the work orders.
Genix Copilot provides a role-based user experience, offering real-time actionable insights to various functions across an industrial organization—from executives in the boardroom to specialists analyzing performance metrics, and engineers troubleshooting equipment. With a strong emphasis on safeguarding data, the solution enables capturing an operator’s knowledge and facilitates collaborative decision-making across roles.
Three use cases already seeing early adoption:
Genix Asset Performance Management Copilot delivers an intuitive user experience for maintenance teams in asset-intensive industries, providing real-time insights in natural language, summarizing key events, as well as delivering contextual analytics and actionable recommendations. With predictive maintenance insights, it helps to improve asset performance and minimize downtime.
Genix My Measurement Assistant Copilot streamlines troubleshooting and maintenance for industrial devices by leveraging AI to quickly access relevant documentation, error codes and spare part details.
Genix Sustainability Insights Copilot supports industries in monitoring and enhancing sustainability efforts by providing actionable insights on energy consumption and emission management.
To learn more, visit Helping industries do better with generative AI: ABB launches Genix Copilot with Microsoft | News center.
Updated edge technology drives integration for batch processes
Emerson, an industrial technology leader delivering advanced automation solutions, has introduced DeltaV™ Edge Environment 2.0, the newest version of its edge technology for delivering operational technology (OT) applications and contextualized control data anywhere in the enterprise.
The updated DeltaV Edge Environment 2.0 (FIG. 2) now supports batch data integration to help chemical processing, life sciences and other batch processing industries leverage their critical data in analytics applications, AI and machine-learning applications, IT enterprise systems and more, whether on-premises or in the cloud.
Batch processing operations frequently require data reconciliation, aggregation and validation, driving a need for seamless data mobility to bring critical data to varied technologies across the enterprise. However, integrating control system data—critical to making key business decisions—is typically too difficult, costly and risky using traditional technologies.
DeltaV Edge Environment 2.0 bridges the gap between OT control systems and information technology (IT)-focused applications with one-way egress of control system data via a secure, read-only replica of contextualized DeltaV distributed control system data. Armed with comprehensive control data for use in tools at the edge or in the business cloud, teams can overlay batch data with process values to identify performance deviations during batch runs. Increased visibility into batch health empowers teams to intervene earlier to prevent costly, off-specification batches.
DeltaV Edge Environment 2.0 can integrate with the control system configuration hierarchy, helping clarify how configuration changes impact batch execution. OT teams also gain the ability to correlate batch-related alarms and events with other system events to identify root causes of production issues quickly and effectively.
To learn more, visit https://www.emerson.com/global.
Decarbonization of the transportation sector through HVO and SAF
The transportation sector faces growing challenges in meeting ambitious carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction targets. GEA is breaking new ground with its innovative Pre2Fuel technology to make the production of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more efficient and sustainable.
Biofuels such as HVO and SAF play a central role in the decarbonization of the global transportation sector, which is under increasing pressure to reduce its CO2 emissions. GEA's Pre2Fuel process (FIG. 3) offers a promising solution for this challenge: through an optimized pretreatment process, biofuel plant owners can reduce their operating costs by up to 50% and cut CO2 emissions by up to 12% compared to conventional pretreatment. A first project with a customer that will use the Pre2Fuel technology in Asia to process used cooking oil and palm oil waste products underlines the potential of this innovation.
Pretreatment plays a crucial role in HVO and SAF production. Byproducts and waste materials such as used cooking oil (UCO), animal fats or palm oil mill effluent (POME) are increasingly being used as raw materials. These are often characterized by low quality and high levels of contamination. At the same time, the purity requirements in HVO and SAF production are on a par with or even higher than the standards of the food industry. To meet these high requirements, especially when using low-quality raw materials, traditional processes require the use of bleaching earth, which entails considerable costs and ecological impacts.
With the new Pre2Fuel technology, GEA has developed a solution that cleans the raw materials so effectively during degumming that bleaching is no longer necessary. This results in compelling advantages for users:
Cost savings: Operating costs for pre-treatment are reduced by up to 50%, as the purchase, handling and disposal of bleaching earth is no longer necessary.
Efficiency increase: Reduced oil losses contribute to revenue optimization.
Environmental benefits: Reduction of up to 12% of CO2 emissions by avoiding environmentally harmful steps.
GEA Pre2Fuel is based on a two-stage process that focuses on polyethylene (PE) filtration and degumming. The experts at GEA Separation have optimized the separation efficiency of the process to such an extent that the previous three process steps—PE filtration, degumming and bleaching—have been reduced to two. Tests with a wide range of raw materials show that the results of the Pre2Fuel process exceed those of conventional processes in terms of purity and efficiency.
GEA has conducted extensive tests to validate the performance of Pre2Fuel. These tests include both laboratory studies and trials with specially developed pilot plants. The results show:
Higher purity: Significantly lower residual phosphorus and metal levels compared to conventional processes.
Extended feedstock flexibility: Successful processing of used cooking oils, animal fats (categories 1–3), palm oil mill effluents and residues (POME), and non-edible vegetable oils such as carinata.
These advantages make the process particularly attractive for operators seeking to maximize the efficiency and sustainability of their operations while processing a wide range of raw materials of varying quality.
The market for HVO and SAF is growing rapidly. Both fuels are based on the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) technology. Regulations and stricter emissions targets are steadily increasing the demand for sustainable fuels. In the EU, for example, 2% of aviation fuel must already be sustainable by 2025, and 70% by 2050. GEA's Pre2Fuel process aims to provide biofuel producers with a solution that supports cost-effective and environmentally friendly production, thus contributing to the decarbonization of the transportation sector.
To learn more, visit gea-pre2fuel.
Technology unlocks increases in ethanol plant capacity
RCM Technologies Inc., RCM Thermal Kinetics, a division of RCM Technologies, has launched its innovative New Ethanol eXpansion Technology (NEXT) program. This solution is designed to revolutionize ethanol plant expansion projects by enhancing production capacity and energy efficiency without requiring costly and time-consuming major equipment replacement.
International fuel ethanol consumption is projected to grow by 173% from 2021 through 2030. As this global demand rises, NEXT offers ethanol producers a sustainable and efficient path to increased profitability.
Incorporating advanced engineering concepts adapted from the refining industry, NEXT can enable existing ethanol plants to unlock > 20% additional production annually, which, for a plant currently producing 100 MM gallons per year (gpy) of ethanol, would equate to an increase in production of 20 MMgal without major equipment replacement.
Developed by chemical engineers with experience and understanding of plant requirements, the program is tailored to meet each facility's individual design and expansion requirements.
The NEXT program offers significant benefits to ethanol producers. Integrating strategic equipment upgrades with a detailed hydraulic balance across critical systems such as distillation, dehydration and evaporation provides measurable improvements in operational efficiency and plant profitability. The program can be implemented during short-duration plant turnarounds, enabling production schedules to remain uninterrupted while delivering an affordable expansion strategy.
This program aligns with RCM Thermal Kinetics’ mission to advance the biofuels industry through eco-conscious and innovative solutions (FIG. 4). By enabling ethanol producers to expand operations with minimal disruption and low implementation costs, NEXT supports business success and environmental stewardship.
To learn more, visit www.rcmt.com/next.
Fine silica for reliable, efficient carbon capture
AGC Chemicals Americas has introduced RESIFA™ SOLESPHERE™ silica particles (FIG. 5), an innovative solution for efficient CO2 absorption.
With their unique microspherical shape and exceptional pore volume, these advanced mesoporous silica grades deliver superior performance as solid sorbents for carbon capture. Available in three versatile forms—bare silica, silica pellets and AGC’s proprietary amine-treated silica pellets—SOLESPHERE silica sets a new standard in CO2 absorption technology.
Key features of SOLESPHERE fine silica that maximize CO2 capture efficiency include:
Highly porous structure: Pore volume of up to 2.0 ml/g, with a pore diameter of 50 nm that effectively traps and retains CO2 molecules.
Air-stable, heat-resistant amines: Ensure thermal stability and reliable capture efficiency.
Energy-efficient design: When matched with the best amine, SOLESPHERE silica’s high porosity and surface area reduce the energy required for CO2 absorption and release.
Customizable solutions: Available in various particle sizes and porosities to meet specific carbon capture needs.
To learn more, visit www.agcchem.com. HP