Expanded hardware support, feature enhancements and productivity
Rockwell Automation has reinforced new capabilities in emulation and support with its first expansion of FactoryTalk® Logix Echo. Virtualizing control systems with FactoryTalk Logix Echo can help customers save significant engineering efforts and financial expenditure at every stage of a project from start to finish. Attention was dedicated to improving testing, giving users access (FIG. 1) to more than 20 variations of the 5580 ControlLogix® platform at their disposal.
FactoryTalk Logix Echo simplifies the emulator experience by providing users the opportunity to download directly to FactoryTalk Logix Echo without modifications. The modern user interface (UI) paired with project downloads gives anyone the chance to learn how to use it. Having the emulation of the 5580 ControlLogix Ethernet port means that to other software, FactoryTalk Logix Echo looks like another controller, offering flexibility to expand emulation to visualization or other controllers.
Version 2 will be the first emulation platform to support safety controllers by introducing GuardLogix 5580 controller catalogs. Users can download to GuardLogix controller types and emulate the execution of both standard and safety tasks in their project. The inaugural version supported one 17-slot chassis, but the latest release now supports the creation and communication of multiple chassis with one FactoryTalk Logix Echo license. Users can create the configuration and arrangement of controllers/slots that they need without previous limitations, adding flexibility for multiple users to each access different controllers that can all live in their respective positions.
This expansion, with Studio 5000® Logix Designer V35, includes the support of the Axis Test Mode feature that provides the physical axis to be placed into a test mode during evaluation, emulation and testing. This gives users downloading a project into FactoryTalk Logix Echo automatically a place motion axis into test mode, removing the need to make modifications.
For more information, visit FactoryTalk® Logix Echo.
Fully electric self-priming dewatering pump range
Atlas Copco has developed a new versatile range of electric self-priming dewatering pumps for a wide variety of applications. This flexible solution is ideally suited for many applications like sewage bypass, dewatering in mining and urban construction projects with access to a power source. E-Pumps successfully manage demanding flows and large solids with a reduced CO2 footprint and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
The E-Pump range, which comprises the PAC High Head and High Flow models (FIG. 2), offers an electric alternative to diesel-powered dewatering pumps. This allows customers to reduce their CO2 footprint and operate in emissions-restrictive areas with no fuel consumption.
The PAC electric pumps are quick and easy to install, making them a plug-and-pump solution. The transition to electric motors has a tremendous impact on the overall productivity of the units, lowering the TCO compared to their diesel counterparts and ensuring high performance for longer periods of time.
Due to recent environmental regulations, the need for dewatering pumps that can operate in noise-sensitive and low-emissions zones is growing. The E-Pumps have been designed to enable operators to reduce energy consumption and noise generation under normal operating conditions.
With an extended pump life, these reliable and efficient self-priming pumps offer sustainable energy savings. Also, the maintenance and servicing costs of electric motors are substantially lower than diesel engines. Service quality is high, with ensured ease of access to the key elements of the pump with the patented hinge door access to the pump internals. In addition, the electric motor does not need oil changes or shutdowns for engine services.
However, one of the most significant cost benefits of the E-Pump range is its compact size for storage. With a reduced footprint, PAC electric models offer increased transport and storage efficiency. As many as 12 open set units can fit into a 48-ft flatbed truck, resulting in improved transportation efficiency for operators. Additionally, having more compact units is critical in certain jobs, like mining and industrial applications, where operators benefit by taking up less space in the work site.
For more information on Atlas Copco’s dewatering pumps, visit https://www.atlascopco.com/e-pump.
Industrial work surface to shape future of work in carbon-intensive industries
Kongsberg Digital has launched its Industrial Work Surface (FIG. 3), which aims to fundamentally change how carbon-intensive industries operate by enabling the company’s software users to work within a single digital environment. By providing end-to-end user workflows, Kongsberg Digital’s customers will benefit from cleaner, more efficient and lower cost operations, reinforcing the company’s proven technology already deployed across the energy and maritime sectors.
Boston Consulting Group research states that as much as 70% of the value of digitalization comes from adopting new ways of working. The Industrial Work Surface will enable users across the energy and maritime industries to capitalize on this value by reducing siloed access to data and achieving better ways of working to facilitate smarter, safer and greener operations.
Using Kongsberg Digital’s proven technology—such as digital twins, data management infrastructure, simulation, visualization and machine-learning—the Industrial Work Surface will combine Kongsberg Digital’s domain and technology expertise to create a single end-to-end user surface.
Kongsberg Digital customers can use the Industrial Work Surface throughout the lifespan of projects and assets, seamlessly leveraging data and insights across the company’s suite of technology applications to reduce costs and downtime, while providing faster access to vital information on the status of assets.
Carbon-intensive companies can access and scale everything from carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) facility modelling, predictive maintenance alerts and energy optimisation recommendations to ESG reporting, carbon emissions information and performance analytics on critical equipment.
This holistic and intuitive operational view requires no retraining from existing users and places customer experience central to the technology, streamlining the number of software applications or vendors required to run operations via a single secure login.
To find out more about Kongsberg Digital’s Industrial Work Surface, Launch Webinar.
New series of reduced port-flanged ball valves
Flowserve Corp., a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has released its Worcester® 51/52 Series reduced port-flanged ball valves (FIG. 4).
These quarter-turn, floating ball valves have been reengineered for global availability by standardizing design, materials, construction and product certifications. Target applications for the valves include controlling the flow of liquids or gases in the chemical processing, petrochemicals, energy, defense, food and beverage, industrial gases, pharmaceuticals and water industries.
The bubble-tight shutoff design and robust, live-loading packing in these valves minimize fugitive emissions, enhance safety, and maximize regulatory and standards compliance. Featuring a redesigned end plug, the valves ensure positive retention and greatly reduce blowout risk.
In addition to improving safety for workers, process fluids and equipment, customers will benefit from lower total cost of ownership thanks to the interchangeability of widely available parts. Flowserve’s technical services are also available through the company’s global network of Quick Response Centers.
To learn more about the Worcester 51/52 flanged ball valves, visit https://www.flowserve.com/en/products/products-catalog/valves/ball-valves/floating-ball-valves-worcester-rp-flanged/?utm_campaign=product-launch&utm_content=WOR5152&utm_medium=email&utm_source=news-release&utm_term=product-web-page.
Transform data into critical intelligence to reduce energy and emissions while maximizing margins
With the release of AspenTech Operational Insights™ in aspenONE® V14, companies can continue accelerating their digitalization journey to unlock and unify data from across the organization, providing critical context for fast, confident decision-making. Key items that require attention to reduce energy and emissions can be identified while maximizing profitability and meeting net-zero targets.
AspenTech Operational Insights enables users to reduce emissions up to 25% by consolidating data into a “single pane of glass” with a Dynamic Visual Environment. New value can be gained with the ability to:
With AspenTech Operational Insights, teams can leverage new insights and enterprise-wide visualization to make more informed and rapid decisions, helping to achieve sustainable, profitable operations.
For more information, visit AspenTech Operational Insights.
New system to reduce refinery emissions
XRG Technologies and VPR Energy are deploying new technology to halve nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from a major European refinery and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a world-first.
XRG Technologies installed its proprietary Xceed system at VPR Energy’s Rotterdam plant. This resulted in improved heater efficiency, lower energy consumption and ultimately a drop in NOx emissions of 50%.
The Xceed system uses the underutilized portion of the heater to increase its efficiency, capacity, and lower its temperatures. The resulting reduction in emissions will help refiners significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and NOx, as well as providing savings in energy usage.
VPR Energy is wholly owned by Vitol, a leader in the energy sector. The upgrade comes as part of Vitol’s ongoing investment to ensure its portfolio maximizes efficiencies and minimizes environmental impacts.
Typically, when plants attempt to remove emissions such as NOx, it often impairs the flame quality and lowers firebox efficiency. Similarly, any attempt to improve efficiency and curb CO2 typically results in higher NOx emissions. XRG’s Xceed dispersed combustion system enables the plant to decrease NOx emissions while still improving operational reliability and increasing heater efficiency, which also reduces CO2 emissions.
To learn more about the Xceed system, visit: xrgtechnologies.com/xceed. HP