FLOW METER

Intertec Instrumentation is launching a range of tough field enclosures for housing remote I/O and other control and instrumentation electronics, featuring compact passive cooling to dramatically reduce costs of ownership. The new enclosures help EPCs and processing plant engineers to eliminate the need for large and costly plant buildings such as satellite instrument houses or remote instrument enclosures - which often need to be air conditioned and blast- and fire-resistant.

CAS DataLoggers has provided an automated data collection and transfer solution for a crude oil refinery which wanted a standalone data logger to take thermocouple readings in several their observation wells. These shafts are connected to the refinery via extensive pipelines for subsequent processing. Management stressed that alarming features were important-sudden temperature spikes during crude extraction could cause a rupture, while sudden drops lowered pumping efficiency.

AW-Lake Company introduces the new PRO Plus Series of TRICOR Coriolis Mass Flow Meters that incorporates a new sensor with their DSP transmitter (released earlier this year) to provide a complete flow measurement solution in a compact configuration for simple installation in a variety of applications with limited space.  In addition to the smallest installation length on the market, the PRO Plus Series features a self-draining, hygienic design to provide high performance under harsh and sanitary process conditions.

Process engineers who need to communicate flow measurement information over Modbus about air or gases flowing in line sizes from 0.25 to 24 inches (6 to 610 mm) will find the newly extended lines of ST51A and ST75A Flow Meters from Fluid Components International (FCI) provide the solution in a highly accurate, rugged, and compact instrument.

ESG Solutions has recently completed a successful commercial test of its new HOTSHOT downhole microseismic system in the Eagle Ford shale. HOTSHOT represents ESG's latest commitment to acquiring the highest quality microseismic data. The new downhole system was designed specifically for high-temperature, high-pressure operational environments up to 177°C/350°F and 10,000 psi.

Emerson has enhanced its Rosemount 5300 Guided Wave Radar Level Transmitter to optimize separation process performance and prevent costly product ingress by accurately measuring a thinner top liquid layer in interface applications. The Rosemount 5300, which is the market-leading guided wave radar for liquid level measurement (VDC Research 2017), can now also perform measurements to the top of a tank, enabling increased throughput and profitability. Additional new features provide greater ease-of-use, increased safety and enhanced performance in the most challenging level and interface applications.

Universal mCloud Corp., a  provider of asset management solutions combining IoT, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and analytics, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Fulcrum Automation Technologies and subsequently, Autopro Automation Consultants.

INOR Process AB announces a whole new way to configure and monitor temperature transmitters without supply voltage and cables. Operators can connect to the transmitter with a smartphone or tablet using near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth and configure through the new INOR Connect app. Using wireless communication means operators never need to remove the signal converter from the process. Now available are the INOR 330 series temperature transmitters, and the INOR 530 series, fully compatible with HART 7.

Providing an accurate, simple, economical solution to the measurement of natural gas for industry, the ST75A and ST51A Thermal Flow Meters from Fluid Components International offer all the advantages of thermal mass flow sensing technology including accuracy, reliability, low maintenance, long life and low-life cycle costs.

The X3302 multispectrum infrared flame detector (X3302) from Det-Tronics is now third-party approved for the industry's largest field-of-view for hydrogen fires, as well as approved for methane, methanol and synthesis gas (syngas) fires. Det-Tronics, a leader in fire- and gas-safety systems, is a part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.

ABB's new low voltage IEC (LV) flameproof motors in frame sizes 80 - 132  offer the same safety and efficiency features usually found in ABB's larger products. These motors are ideal for use in hazardous and explosive environments, typically found in the chemical, mining, and oil and gas industries. 

Process engineers at oil/gas refineries will find the rugged ST100 Thermal Mass Flow Meter Series from Fluid Components International provides highly accurate, dependable measurement of air and fuel gases to optimize the performance of the boilers utilized by sulfur recovery units (SRUs).

Festo has made the world's first software-driven valve terminal - the VTEM Motion Terminal - the technology core of a new pneumatic fingerboard latching system for drill-rig tublars that offers enhanced safety and durability. This control and monitoring system utilizes the VTEM's intelligent valves to control and monitor the fully locked or completely open position of each latch in lieu of placing electronic sensors and wire harnesses on the fingerboard. 

KROHNE, Inc. announces it will highlight the OPTIWAVE 5400 and OPTIWAVE 7400 radar level transmitters for liquids in chemical, oil & gas and power industries at the 2019 International Liquid Terminals Association's (ILTA's) Annual Operating Conference & Trade Show, to be held June 3-5, 2019, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas, Booth 306. Also to be showcased will be the OPTIMASS 2400 twin straight tube Coriolis flowmeter. Experts will be on hand to conduct a demonstration of the OPTIMASS 1400, a cost-effective twin straight tube Coriolis mass flowmeter for a wide range of standard applications with gases and liquids. 

Process and plant engineers designing or instrumenting safety integrity systems (SIS) requiring air or gas flow meters will want to discover the new SIL compliant ST80 Series Thermal Mass Flow Meter from Fluid Components International (FCI).   FCI's ST80 has already been independently evaluated by industry expert exida for compliance and the FMEDA summary is available for review by prospective users.           

Siemens and Chronicle, an Alphabet company, today announced a new partnership to protect the energy industry's critical infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated and malicious industrial cyber threats at Spotlight on Innovation, Siemens flagship U.S. technology and innovation conference. Through a unified approach that will leverage Chronicle's Backstory platform and Siemens' strength in industrial cyber security, the combined offering gives energy customers unparalleled visibility across information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) to provide operational insights and confidentially act on threats.

Within natural gas systems, one of the most important methods to verify the integrity of pipelines is through the hydrostatic pressure test. Designed to test the transmission systems - one of the largest sections in a natural gas system - the hydrostatic test varies on the level of requirements. Depending on local regulations, it may require testing pressure and multiple temperatures in the pipeline for several hours prior to and after a pipe is put into service.

AW-Lake Company now offers its HUB-40EX Hazardous Area Rated Flow Sensor with a choice of either sinking or sourcing digital output and a choice of 316 stainless steel or aluminum junction box; or for areas with limited space, a version with no junction box at all.  Compatible with any stainless-steel AW-Lake flow meter, the explosion-proof frequency output sensor is ideal for use in any industry or flow measurement application requiring an explosion-proof sensor such as chemical injection or hydraulic fracturing.

AW-Lake adds the RT-50 Flow Rate Transmitter to its Bluetooth Series of Products that support remote monitoring and programming of its flow meters from the convenience of a smartphone.  The FAC-S Analog Output Sensor and FAC-R Frequency to Analog Converter also offer Bluetooth connectivity and analog output options when interfacing with AW-Lake Flow Meters and other instrumentation.  Bluetooth connectivity provides an added convenience for users to monitor and program flow meters from the convenience of a smart device.

• The RT-50 Battery-Powered Flow Rate Transmitter offers a local and remote display of flow rates in locations where equipment is exposed to different environmental elements.  When operating locally, the transmitter offers a six-digit LCD display that continuously shows either the flow rate or total.   When using Bluetooth connectivity, users can opt to view readings and adjust rate, total, reset, sleep mode, or time on a smart device

• The FAC-S  Analog Output Sensor is ideal for users of AW-Lake flow meters that want a voltage, current or handheld flow reading.  Mounted directly to a gear or turbine flow meter, the FAC-S Analog Output Sensor provides five user-selectable analog and current outputs including 4-20mA, 0-5V, 1-5V, 0-10V, and 2-.  Using the Bluetooth interface, users can program and watch live flow measurements from the convenience of a smartphone.  The microprocessor-based FAC-S Sensor supports process monitoring, data acquisition and signal conditioning in various industries.

• A remote version of the FAC-S, the FAC-R Frequency to Analog Converter interfaces with flow meters, tachometers, pumps, motors and linear/rotational encoders to convert sensor frequency to current and analog outputs.  Bluetooth connectivity supports remote programming and flow monitoring from a smartphone.  An economical alternative to a PLC card, the FAC-R is ideal for use in process monitoring, data acquisition and virtually any application when sending an analog signal to a PLC or other control system. 

With no need for compressed air, early electric actuators could operate with less sound and less maintenance than the predominant pneumatic actuator. Of course, the standard pneumatic option offered its own apparent benefits - performance in extreme temperatures, for example, and an elegant simplicity. As a result, the flow control industry has stubbornly clung to pneumatic actuators, specifically in the American market, for decades.

Honeywell announced  that Venture Global LNG, Inc. will use a series of technologies from Honeywell UOP to remove various contaminants from natural gas prior to liquefaction at its Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Probe continues to make headway in offering its customers additional resources to dramatically increase their data logging capabilities through the adoption of its high-speed digital (HD) telemetry platform.

The newly released ENI58PL series incremental rotary encoder from Pepperl+Fuchs offers incredible efficiency for a wide range of applications. IO-Link enables custom configuration, making it possible to commission machinery and equipment even faster. ENI58PL boasts flexible configuration options and a wide range of use cases-from classic industrial applications to special engineering. 

IntelliView Technologies Inc., a leader in AI-powered computer vision systems for industrial detection and alerting applications, has rolled out the latest software update for its IIOT monitoring platform, the IntelliView Vision System (IVS) 5.0.

In becoming the exclusive sales & service source for SpectraSensors gas analyzing technology in Canada, Endress+Hauser is filling a need for solutions-based approaches tailored to each application measuring contaminant levels in natural gas and gas processing operations, refineries and chemical plants.

Swagelok, a provider of fluid system products, assemblies, and services, has announced the release of a new low-temperature seal option. The new seal, a product expansion for the company's RHPS Series pressure regulators line, is designed to maintain a strong seal in cold climates and applications where significant cooling occurs due to high pressure drop. Comprised of low-temperature-resistant nitrile material, these regulator components are ideal for use even in environments with extensive presence of hydrocarbons, such as at large industrial gas suppliers' facilities where climate control may not be an option.

POSITAL has added a new communications interface for its innovative Dynamic TILTIX series - making it even easier to use these smart and rugged instruments in mobile machinery and heavy duty construction vehicles. Now available with either CANopen or SAE J1939 interfaces, these acceleration-compensated tilt sensors are able to deliver accurate measurement under the harshest operating conditions, including rapid motions, shock and vibration loadings. 

Honeywell announced the latest release of its change management software, offering users across the process industries significant performance and time savings benefits. Honeywell Trace R130 delivers daily snapshots of control system configuration, changes and engineering anomalies that help amplify users' situational awareness, enabling optimization of system management.

Siemens sets new standards in process automation and is launching an innovative web-based process control system for all industries at the Hannover Messe.  Simatic PCS neo is a brand-new system software, which offers companies in the process industry unique opportunities in the age of digitalization. Main features include global web-based collaboration in engineering and operation and intuitive handling representing all relevant information in a single workbench.

Dynatrol CL-10GH Liquid Level Detector is the latest addition to the reliable Dynatrol line of high, intermediate and low point level detectors for liquids or slurries. It has no moving parts, floats, diaphragms or packing glands to deteriorate.  Successful applications in the Petroleum Chemical Industry include liquid hydrocarbons: (1) toluene hexane (2) ethanes (3) glycols (4) butadiene.

AW-Lake Company introduces its new PCU Series of Controllers that connect with Vogtlin or any thermal mass flow meter or controller to provide a local display of flow output.  Serving as a single- or multi-channel mass flow controller with up to four channels, the PCU instruments support multiple unit networked operations.   A large, high-contrast backlit display offers easy-to-read views of process variables and programmed setpoints for each connected device on one screen.

H. G. Schaevitz LLC, Alliance Sensors Group has released its LV-45 series inductive, contactless linear position sensor using LVIT Technology. The LV-45 linear position sensors are specifically designed for measuring applications requiring rugged devices, whether measuring position of steam turbine valves, mounted in a paper mill head box or calendar roll stand, or outdoors fastened to a building, bridge or structure. The LV-45 series was designed after identifying the wants and needs of engineers in the industrial world, so LV-45 Series linear position sensors can withstand the high vibration and severe shock environment found in steel, aluminum, and paper mills, as well as extremes of temperature and humidity found in most outdoor applications where many other types of linear position sensors cannot survive.

NewTek Sensor Solutions expanded the capabilities of its DC LVDT technology with 4-20mA output capabilities to meet the needs of industrial monitoring and feedback applications. In addition to offering 4-20 mA versions of its free-core and spring-loaded LVDTs, the company customizes 4-20mA position sensors to customer specifications.

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has entered into a global partnership with Vericlave, a leading cybersecurity technology provider. Under the terms of the agreement, Schneider Electric will provide Vericlave's advanced encryption technology to further secure and protect its customers' critical IT and OT systems from the risk of cyberattack.

Honeywell and Wood will work together through the Honeywell Connected Plant platform to commercialize digital services that help refiners and petrochemical manufacturers make their operations safer, more efficient and more reliable.

INOR Process AB announces the INOR IPAQ C/R330 universal temperature transmitter, a modern, isolated, universal temperature transmitter developed for maximum flexibility, accuracy and reliability. Compatible with RTD and thermocouple sensors, Ω and mV inputs, the IPAQ C/R330's robust design offers high vibration resistance and noise immunity, guaranteeing reliable and accurate operation under the most demanding conditions.

INOR Process AB announces a whole new way to configure and monitor temperature transmitters without supply voltage and cables. Operators can connect to the transmitter with a smartphone or tablet using near-field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth and configure through the new INOR Connect app. Using wireless communication means operators never need to remove the signal converter from the process. Now available are the INOR 330 series temperature transmitters, and the INOR 530 series, fully compatible with HART 7.

United Electric Controls, a producer of safety, alarm and shutdown technology, has announced that it has added carbon monoxide (CO) to the list of gases detected by the latest Vanguard WirelessHART gas detector.  Vanguard version 1.2 also includes new mounting flexibility and a variety of other features that enhance installation, configurability and maintainability.

ABB's new CP600-Pro is designed for applications requiring true glass touch-screens for clear information display and easy operation.

Pfannenberg, a global manufacturer of thermal management and signaling technologies, highlights the availability of rugged PATROL Series Flashing Sounders for fixed gas detection alarming. Designed to alert personnel of an evacuation when there is presence of hazardous gas, these combined signaling products increase safety when used with ammonia (NH³), carbon dioxide (CO²), freon (R²²), methane (CH⁴), or chlorine (CL²) gas monitoring systems in energy generation, wastewater treatment, landfill applications, food and beverage manufacturing, refrigeration, gas production, agricultural chemical use and storage, and other industrial applications.