Compact, rugged PC built to connect the industrial floor to the cloud

Emerson has released its new PACSystems™ IPC 2010 compact industrial PC (IPC), a rugged industrial computer designed to handle a wide range of machine and discrete part manufacturing automation applications (FIG. 1). The new solution is designed to serve manufacturing sites and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) machine builders that need a ruggedized, compact, durable IPC to cost-effectively support their Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and other digital transformation initiatives.

The IPC 2010 addresses this by pre-loading the PACEdge™ industrial edge platform and elements of Movicon.NExT™ SCADA software, helping users run applications quickly using a browser-based configuration. Provisions are included for keeping the software platform current and passively maintained, minimizing user effort while maximizing reliability.

Running an industrial version of Linux, and including serial and Ethernet connectivity, the IPC 2010 can be used as a communications gateway in a variety of topologies, and simultaneously or separately as an edge computing device. Users can implement the IPC 2010 as a flexible protocol converter—and for many other computing functions—in many IIoT, edge, operational technology/informational technology (OT/IT) convergence, human-machine interface (HMI) visualization, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) connectivity, and digital transformation roles.

Both the hardware and software are designed to be adaptable, universal and scalable, providing a standardized and unified user experience that is easy-to-use, powerful and supported by Emerson’s lifecycle services. The compact form factor IPC 2010 features the widest operating temperature range of any passively cooled IPC, with a low power consumption of just four watts and tough packaging so it can be installed virtually anywhere.

The IPC 2010 offers an advantageous price/performance ratio, with no ongoing annual licensing costs or charges for general and cybersecurity updates. Additional features, such as Movicon Connext^© or WebHMI, can be activated or added at any time.

Emerson is already building the IPC 2010 into a range of larger offerings for leak detection, compressed air monitoring, batching systems, cloud enablement services and other packaged solutions. This flexible industrial technology will enable customers of all types to benefit from its advanced capabilities.

For more information, visit https://www.emerson.com/en-us/catalog/emerson-ipc-2010.

Fluoroelastomer rubber performs in demanding applications

Fluoroelastomer rubber is synthetic rubber that is formulated with fluoropolymers and used to enhance the properties of fabricated parts.

Compared to silicon and other synthetic rubbers, fluoroelastomer rubber displays exceptional resistance to high temperatures and a wide range of chemicals, as well as various fluids and oils. These attributes make fluoroelastomers popular for high-performance applications that require component reliability and durability.

These synthetic rubbers are made up of fluorine, carbon and hydrogen. Their unique chemical composition, specifically the high ratio of fluorine to hydrogen, and their distinctive molecular structure, are what endows fluoroelastomers with their notable resistance qualities.

Characteristics of fluoroelastomer rubber include:

1. High heat resistance up to 200°C (392°F) and in some formulations up to 300°C (572°F) when compared with other elastomers
2. High repellency to chemicals including aggressive solvents, fuels, oil, ethanol, concentrated acids and alkalis (depending on formulations)
3. Resistance to silicone oils and greases
4. Low gas absorption
5. Slow compression set at elevated temperatures
6. Weather, UV and ozone resistance
7. High durability and strength
8. Steam resistance
9. High protection from oxidation and degradation
10. Resistance to aging for long-term reliability that reduces maintenance and prevents unscheduled downtime.

The industry recognizes the following three classifications of fluoroelastomers, distinguished by their composition and properties:

• FPM/FKM: This type was one of the first on the market and represents > 80% of fluoroelastomers. It strikes a balance between performance and cost with a fluorine content ranging from 66%–70%. Composed of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene copolymers, FKM comes in five different grades based on monomer mix. It is referred to as FKM by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D1418) and as FPM by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• FFKM: Also known as perfluoroelastomer, this variant contains > 70% fluorine, enabling it to withstand temperatures up to 325°C and maintain almost universal chemical compatibility. It offers superior performance but at a higher cost, making it suitable for specialized uses.
• FEPM: A copolymer of propylene and tetrafluoroethylene, this peroxide cross-linked elastomer has a fluorine content of around 54%. It is competitively priced and offers distinctive resistance to certain chemicals, excellent thermal stability and electrical insulation, leading to new uses for fluoroelastomers.

Classifications of fluoroelastomers are associated with certain brands. For instance, FEPM is known by the brand name AFLAS. Categorized within ASTM D1418-01 as FEPM, AFLAS fluoroelastomers possess unique properties over conventional FKM-type fluoroelastomers to excel in demanding automotive applications.

Parts molded from fluoroelastomers are critical for safe and reliable operations as well as long-term wear against the environment. This versatile synthetic rubber is crafted into a variety of dimensions, densities and hues to create components for the petrochemical industry, including various types of seals, gaskets, linings for pumps, high-voltage cables and components for oil rigs.

When selecting a fluoroelastomer, assess the specific needs of the application including:

1. Thermal stability: Can it perform within the required temperature range without losing properties?
2. Chemical compatibility: Are there any gases or chemicals involved that could diminish the elastomer’s performance or cause degradation?
3. Permeation resistance: Tighter restrictions on auto evaporative emissions make this measurement increasingly important.
4. Flexibility: Does the material need to flex in temperature cycling?
5. Service life/durability: What is the expected lifespan when subjected to operational conditions, such as high heat?
6. Manufacturing process: How well does the material handle various manufacturing techniques like extrusion or injection and compression molding?
7. Shape of the molded parts: Is the material capable of achieving the desired geometry?
8. Budget: Does the cost match its value in performance? Should you opt for a standard or a premium grade for enhanced properties?

After selecting a fluoroelastomer, it is important to perform tests and evaluations to verify its compatibility with the application’s demands. Avoid cheaper blends with inferior qualities and consider specialized grades for heightened performance.

For example, several AFLAS grades are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact so that they work in food processing applications where heat or aggressive chemicals can degrade other rubbers. The AFLAS latex series features liquid grades used for binders and coating materials, while the AFLAS FFKM series offers high-temperature durability for ultra-hot temperatures.

For more information on AFLAS fluoroelastomer, visit Contact Us - AGC Chemicals.

Unlocking the benefits of autonomous digitally connected workforces

ABB has introduced an updated ABB Ability™ Connected Worker solution with new functionalities that strengthen and accelerate the digitalization of the field operator experience to mitigate the risk of human error and unscheduled downtime (FIG. 2).

The enhanced software integrates technology and connectivity into the workplace to provide the operator more flexibility, control and ease-of-use through greater visibility of real-world circumstances and data. In doing so, it enables a more sustainable and resilient business model.

The Integrated Task Manager app will deliver ongoing, continuous improvements on current data and stronger analysis capabilities on historical data, allowing operators to more accurately measure their performance efficiency. Improvements in the Procedure Manager app mean that operators can now preview their industrial procedures across various mobile devices and in different virtual settings.

The updated mobile app features an improved audit trail and the ability to go back and enter or approve data in a more controlled way. The improved visibility allows for better prioritization and ease-of-use, increasing quality of operations as a result.

By digitalizing activities ranging from daily rounds and checklists to inspections and complex procedures, operators can reduce the likelihood of human error, enhance workflow efficiency and create safer workplaces. In today’s world of unprecedented technological change, companies that embrace more autonomous, industrial work environments can realize significant benefits.

Connected Worker connects seamlessly with MS Teams and the control system to ensure real-time synchronization of manual with automated industrial procedures, helping operators better visualize and coordinate complex workflows. It also schedules and tracks jobs, based on triggers from other systems or devices, and assigns tasks to the appropriate stakeholders, defining the date and time of the required action.

To learn more, visit https://new.abb.com/industrial-software/connected-workforce/abb-ability-connected-worker

Upgraded integrated production control system supports industrial networks, improves plant availability and operational efficiency

Yokogawa Electric Corp. has released CENTUM™ VP R6.11.10, an enhanced version of the CENTUM VP integrated production control system that is a core product in the OpreX™ Control and Safety System family of solutions.

With this new version of CENTUM VP (FIG. 3), plant uptime is improved through the addition of a redundancy function to a new IO card that supports communications via the PROFINET communications protocol for industrial networks. Furthermore, to reduce project costs and improve efficiency in plant operations, functional enhancements have been made to the Unified Alarms and Conditions Server (UACS) and the CCC Inside™ for the Yokogawa CENTUM VP compressor control solution.

PROFINET is one of the most widely used Ethernet-based industrial communications protocol worldwide, boasting superb real-time performance. In 2019, Yokogawa developed an IO card that supports PROFINET. While this enabled the monitoring of the operation of PROFINET-compatible devices from CENTUM VP, more needed to be done to improve reliability and uptime. To meet this need, Yokogawa has developed a new PROFINET IO card that supports a redundancy function, and by doing so, has made high reliability and high uptime a reality.

This new CENTUM VP release also features functional enhancements to the UACS and the CCC Inside™ for the Yokogawa CENTUM VP compressor control solution that will improve the efficiency of operations and engineering at plants.

Product features include:

1. PROFINET IO card redundancy support for greater reliability and increased uptime: To improve plant uptime, an S2^*1 redundancy function has been added to the new PROFINET IO card, enabling its use in a redundant configuration. Thanks to this and enhancements that have been made to the card’s network diagnostics function, this device has been certified by a third-party agency as having all the PROFINET functions for Conformance Class^*2 B (CC-B), including the system redundancy that is so important in process control. By supporting the use of NAMUR NE107^*3-compliant self-diagnostic information from devices that support PA Profile 4.0^*4 and enabling the use of a motor control center that centrally controls motor power sources, remote I/O and Ethernet Advanced Physical Layer (Ethernet-APL) compatible device operation monitoring are also now possible, and this expands the scope of control that is possible with a single control system.
2. Improved plant operational efficiency with alarm management that supports NAMUR NA102: When a specific alarm has been suppressed in the UACS, the suppression status can now be displayed in the Human Interface Station (HIS) graphics. By enabling the implementation of alarm management in compliance with NAMUR NA102^*3, this can help to improve operational efficiency throughout a plant.
3. Seamless integration of process and compressor control systems: It is now possible to undertake integration and engineering using a single CENTUM VP project database for the process and compressor control systems. This release of CENTUM VP also enables process and compressor control systems to be connected to a Vnet/IP^*5 control network within the same domain. As such, this allows highly seamless system integration and helps to reduce project and maintenance costs.

1. *1 A duplexing method defined in PROFINET. For a single PROFINET IO device, an application relation (AR) with two PROFINET IO controllers is established (primary AR and backup AR).
2. *2 This defines the scope of functions possessed by a PROFINET device. There are three incremental classes: CC-A, CC-B, and CC-C.
3. *3 NAMUR: German process automation user organization; NE107: Specifications for self-diagnosis functions of field devices; NA102: Specifications for procedures for designing alarm management within process control systems.
4. *4 An application profile for PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices defined by PROFIBUS and PROFINET International.
5. *5 A control network developed by Yokogawa that offers both high reliability and responsiveness and conforms to the IEC61784-2 communications standard for process industries.

Key markets include: oil refining, petrochemicals, chemicals, electric power, pulp and paper, gas, pharmaceuticals, food, iron and steel, water supply and wastewater treatment, non-ferrous metals, metal, cement, etc. Applications include plant operational monitoring and automatic control.

For more information, visit https://www.yokogawa.com/solutions/products-and-services/control/control-and-safety-system/distributed-control-systems-dcs/centum-vp/.

New strategic planning for sustainability pathways solution

Aspen Technology Inc., a global leader in industrial software, has introduced AspenTech Strategic Planning for Sustainability Pathways™, a new and unique integrated modeling and optimization solution that aims to guide companies in carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) decision-making and sustainability strategy investments.

The AspenTech Strategic Planning solution was developed through a licensing agreement with Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies. Based on this successful effort, AspenTech also announced that it is launching an expanded co-innovation program to bring together leading owner operators and EPC companies to collaboratively innovate a wider strategic planning solution portfolio to attempt to optimize across multiple sustainability pathways.

As companies make significant investments in technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, AspenTech’s Strategic Planning solution aims for these large capital investments to drive value and impact sustainability goals. They are also expected to support long-term operational performance objectives.

Asset intensive industries play a critical role in the path to global net-zero, and carbon capture is an important pathway for the company’s customers and requires significant capital investment. This is the focus of its new strategic planning solution—helping to optimize capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX) investments across the entire carbon capture value chain.

To learn more, visit AspenTech Sustainability.

Ultrasonic probe reduces inspection time, facilitates more effective measurement and efficient testing operation

Maintaining the balance of production and maintenance is never an easy task, especially when it comes to hazardous environments. Cygnus Instruments has released its latest addition to Cygnus’ diverse UT range: a new accessory expanding the applications of the Cygnus 1 Ex Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge. The new Cygnus High-Temperature Ex Probe, like the Ex gauge, is certified for use in all hazardous areas: Zone 0, 1 and 2. Coupled with the Ex gauge, the equipment can measure wall thickness, corrosion or erosion of hot assets in-service across the oil and gas, refining, energy and process sectors (FIG. 4).

Developed with Ionix^® Advanced Technologies, this twin-element, 5.0-MHz ultrasonic probe measures the remaining wall thickness range from 2.5 mm—50 mm, depending on the temperature and material. It has excellent wear resistance, allowing for continuous contact time on hot surfaces up to 300°C without the need for plant shutdown or isolation.

No cooling period is required, which significantly reduces inspection time, eliminating any need for breaks in the testing schedule, which in turn facilitates more effective measurement and efficient testing operation.

The ATEX, IECEx and UKEX certificates permit the equipment to operate in Zone 0, 1 and 2 explosive atmospheres (also known as hazardous areas). These locations present the risks of fire or explosion due to the presence of ignitable or flammable substances in the air. These substances, such as gases and vapors, are present in the air at concentrations high enough to produce an ignitable mixture. These areas as listed below, and often processing plants on the whole, contain multiple hot assets that require regular inspection:

1. Chemical plants
2. Power plants
3. Petrochemical refineries
4. Processing plants
5. Oil and gas refineries.

For enhanced protection and durability, a special probe cable wrapped in a glass-fiber outer braid has been designed for use with the High-Temperature Ex Probe. The probe and probe cable are sold separately to enable lower replacement costs.

For more information, visit https://cygnus-instruments.com/?s=Cygnus+High-Temperature+Ex+Probe&post_type=product. HP