High Velocity Air Conditioning System From Unico

Unico’s ICC-ES PMG listed high velocity air system features heating and air conditioning ducts that are one quarter standard size. The custom system offers greater efficiency and comfort, and can be zoned, offering even greater energy savings. Craig Messmer, director of engineering, Unico, says that what makes the system different is how it delivers air. The Unico System features outlets that consist of a five inch diameter face plate with two inch holes connected to similar sized ducts delivering heated or cooled air.

The amount of holes corresponds to the size of the room. Ceiling ventilation comes through ducts twice as large, or 4 inches, because of insulation. Unobtrusive duct work is fabulous for renovation, especially for older homes and buildings. Small duct high velocity air distribution systems have been around for years – but they are a niche product. The Unico System is now recognised through the trusted ICC Evaluation Service PMG listings, the first in their field to be so.

ICC-ES Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas listings verify that new or innovative building products meet code requirements, exactly what Unico needed. Many states also require a certain R-value (measure of thermal resistance) in duct work. A higher R-value means thicker insulation and less heat leakage. But previous codes only took flat-walled ducts into account. The equation works differently when comparing round ducts of varying diameters.

Lanner has launched the latest edition of its Witness process simulation solution. This edition will enable businesses to simulate options and make operational decisions to maximise performance levels while reducing carbon footprint and energy consumption, according to the company. The solution enables businesses to choose the most relevant metrics.

From CO2 to electricity, oil, water, gas or even steam, all measures of sustainability can be modelled in any units. These can then be cross referenced against business performance to strike the optimum ‘efficiency balance’ between operational performance, cost and environmental responsibility. These new options are included in the latest version of Lanner’s Witness software. The solution adds sustainability considerations to conventional simulation parameters aimed at reducing risk and costs.

Interlock Ensures Safe Operation Of Switchgear

The Fortress Interlocks design team has worked closely with ABB to develop an interlock suitable for use on the Sace Emax circuit breaker. The Breaker Lock forms an essential part of a sequential interlocking system that ensures the safe operation of switchgear. This new lock expands the existing range of switchgear interlocks. Fortress can supply interlocks to suit all makes and model of switchgear.

The heavy-duty lock is constructed of zinc alloy, with internal contact surfaces made of stainless steel. It is suitable for high-frequency applications, tested to a million operations. The Breaker Lock offers more than 200,000 non-masterable combinations, although a limited number of masterable locks is available for some applications. The key moves the spindle clockwise with smooth rotation and the key is freed at the 12 o’clock position for ease of operation.

A spring-loaded stainless-steel dustcover is available for the standard locks as an extra; customers have the option to buy a low-profile key designed to fit under such covers. The Breaker Lock is designed for use with the entire Sace Emax range.

The Process Safety Leadership Group’s (PSLG) final report on the Buncefield explosion recommends minimum safety and environmental-protection standards for all sites storing large volumes of gasoline. The report and recommendations, issued on the fourth anniversary of the explosion, are also intended for use across all major hazard sectors, including the chemicals industry. Following the massive explosion at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in Hemel Hempstead, PSLG has worked with regulators and trade unions to learn the lessons from the incident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

As the lessons extended beyond the oil sector to other high-hazard sites, the industry stakeholders included the chemical sector as well as oil/fuels and tank storage. The PSLG report builds on recommendations previously developed by the Buncefield Standards Task Group, which provided comprehensive guidance in addressing all 25 recommendations of the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) report on the design and operation of fuel-storage sites.

In its conclusions, PSLG said industry has already made progress in addressing the task group’s recommendations and in the areas of high reliability organisations and delivering high performance through culture and leadership. It added that a period of gap analysis will be undertaken to identify where additional work is required, prioritising this work on a risk basis and agreeing timescales for implementation with the CA (COMAH Competent Authority).

Responding to the PSLG report, Steve Elliott, chief-executive of the Chemical Industries Association, said: ‘While the focus of the report is quite properly on the oils and fuels sector and in particular bulk storage of gasoline as the main priority, we recognise there are many aspects of the recommendations that all sectors, including chemicals, can learn from. ‘Indeed we have already been making good progress in raising both awareness and standards in many of these areas, including process safety leadership, as part of CIA’s ongoing work plans.

‘It is our task now to look at the fundamental differences between chemicals and the oils/fuels sector and to find the optimum way for some of these generic lessons to be applied more broadly to the chemical sector. ‘We therefore welcome the opportunity, which the report outlines, to discuss these issues with the regulator and come to an agreement on the best way forward. ‘We also support wholeheartedly the move to greater sharing and cooperation across sectors, which HSE has challenged industry to deliver, and we are working actively with colleagues from other sectors on this,’ Elliot finished.

Aquaflow Valves has announced its Wedge Gate Valve range for potable water applications has been approved by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS). The valve is suitable for potable water and wastewater duties, thus allowing clients to greatly reduce stockholding costs. The Isolating Wedge Gate Valve range conforms to BS5163:2004 Parts 1 and 2, and EN1074:2000 Part 2.

It is rated to 16 bar, flanged to EN1092:1997 Part 2 Table 9 (PN16), and is operated by a handwheel or tapered stem cap. The valve is manufactured in robust and durable fusion-bonded epoxy-coated ductile iron with a non-rising clockwise-closing stainless-steel spindle and gunmetal seats. It also features triple upper spindle O-ring seats that are replaceable under pressure. In addition to the standard configuration, the valve is available with an ISO5210 mounting pad for the safe and cost-effective fixing of actuators and gearboxes.

Other options include anti-clockwise closing spindle, position indicator, locking device and imperial flange drilling (BS10 Table D or E). To complement the Wedge Gate Valve, Aquaflow provides a selection of WRAS-approved valves for drinking-water distribution networks, including check valves, butterfly valves, control valves and air valves. Aquaflow can also make bespoke operating equipment. WRAS approval relates to Wedge Gate Valves within the size range of DN50 to DN150.

LED Uptake Grows In Hazardous-Area Lighting

Recent developments in LED lighting technology have reduced ‘whole-life’ costs through greater power efficiency and the reduced need for maintenance. This has made the technology more suitable for use in hazardous areas. Marc Fernandez, a market-research analyst with IMS Research, has released a report on LEDs’ application in this area.

He said: ‘In the past, LED lighting has been seen as an expensive alternative to fluorescent lighting, but with recent developments, many lighting manufacturers and suppliers are considering it. ‘It is thought to be a ‘greener’ option as there is less maintenance required and it is more power-efficient than fluorescent lighting.

‘Growth in its use in the hazardous-area equipment market will be driven by the growing adoption of maintenance-free lighting and by the replacement of existing lighting with new forms of luminaries. ‘A survey of end users of hazardous-area equipment carried out by IMS Research indicates that a large proportion of respondents intended to increase their usage of LED lighting in three years.

‘While this take-up of LED lighting is significant, it should be noted that a larger proportion of respondents still currently used and planned to use fluorescent lighting. ‘This suggests that LED technology still has a long way to go against its established competitor,’ he concluded.

Sycode has released Catia V4 and V5 file import add-ins for Solidworks. Using these add-ins, Solidworks users will now be able to open Catia V4 and V5 parts and assemblies without needing a license for Catia on the computer or network. These add-ins are powered by the 3D Interop technology from Spatial. 3D Interop is the industry standard for proprietary and neutral CAD file format data exchange. Besides data exchange, 3D Interop also offers repairing and healing features.

Repairing involves checking the file for corrupted data and fixing invalid data. Healing corrects the differences in precision. The add-ins also create detailed log files, which are useful in identifying data translation problems and aid in locating and fixing errors. The add-ins have been tested to work with the 32 bit as well as the 64 bit versions of Solidworks and are available as fully functional trials. They come with installers and detailed documentation in the form of compiled HTML help files that contain step-by-step tutorials.

Yokogawa Controllers Use Ladder Logic

Yokogawa Electric has released the UT35A (quarter DIN size) and the UT32A (one-eighth DIN size), two entry-level models in the UTAdvanced series of digital indicating controllers. These low-cost models, which replace Yokogawa’s UT300 range, have a sequence-control function that is based on the general-purpose ladder-logic programming language and are targeted for use in the single-loop control of production equipment. The UTAdvanced Series adopts an open system architecture with an Ethernet communications interface.

They are compatible with Modbus/TCP protocol and, as an option, with the Profibus DP protocol. As well as eliminating the need for dedicated communication programs and converters for connecting to devices such as data-acquisition units and/or PLCs, this feature makes it easy to develop optimal multi-vendor systems for users. Indicating controllers are embedded in industrial furnaces and other relatively small-scale production-line equipment and installations, and are used to measure, display and control various types of data, including temperature, pressure and flow rate.

Yokogawa’s UTAdvanced series of digital indicating controllers features sequence control based on the ladder-logic programming language. The first models in this series, the UT55A and UT52A, integrate peripheral devices such as relays. These indicating controllers have a range of control-function modes, with the most capable units able to perform full cascade control for controlling relatively complex installations such as continuous furnaces. Yokogawa is releasing the UT35A and UT32A entry-level models to meet the need for general-purpose indicating controllers that have only the functionality needed for controlling single-loop production equipment.

The models have a fixed control-scan period of 200ms and 300 steps for ladder programming, compared with the three control-scan periods and 500 steps in the UT55A and UT52A models. The UT35A and UT32A also include a ladder-language-based sequence-control function; support of the Ethernet or RS485 interfaces and Modbus or Profibus-DP communication protocols; a colour LCD display; and operation-guidance functions, including navigation keys.

Also included is a user-default function. It is possible to reset the unit to factory-default settings and for the user to define their own default profile, to which it is possible to return. This means that an engineer can always quickly revert to a known working setup profile without starting again from scratch or having to load a configuration file from a PC. Main target markets for the controllers are machining facilities industries including electrical equipment, machinery, chemicals, foods, semiconductors and automotive manufacturing.

Parker Terminal Helps Boost Machinery Productivity

Parker Vansco, part of Parker Hannifin, has launched an entry-level ISO standard virtual terminal for use with a wide range of farm and agricultural machinery. Called Isobus-VT (Isobus Virtual Terminal), the device complies with the latest ISO 11783 standard for serial communication networks, and forms part of Parker Vansco’s advanced information and control equipment.

The Isobus-VT has been developed for use as the primary man/machine interface for any ISO 11783 compatible system, enabling an operator to control vehicle and auxiliary equipment from a central unit via a suitable network interconnection unit, regardless of manufacturer. By enabling all Isobus applications to share the same screen, it eliminates the need for operators to have multiple display and control units in the cab of each vehicle, thereby reducing cost, complexity and the risk of errors. Parker Vansco’s Isobus-VT offers fast connection speeds between the terminal and auxiliary equipment, incorporates a high-speed 16-bit processor, plus a range of features including CAN and RS232 interfaces.

Each terminal unit is housed in a lightweight and rugged ergonomic IP54 enclosure, with a large 5.7in colour anti-glare TFT display, with a wide viewing angle. Additionally, equipment selection, setup and monitoring is made quick, simple and efficient by means of a sequence of front mounted and backlit soft keys, a multipurpose rotary encoder, working set selection and arrow function keys.

Parker Vansco also manufactures a dedicated ISO 11783 implement controller (GW-MUX) designed to be used as the interconnection device between network devices, including the Isobus-VT. The GW-MUX combines both hardware and software functionality, for ISO and SAE J1939 protocols, with support for implement and vehicle outputs and inputs. The Parker Vansco Isobus system is supported by the company’s manufacturing, sales and technical service centres, as well as a network of specialised distributors.

The Wolfson Centre, part of the School of Engineering at the University of Greenwich, will run a series of short courses in 2010 to attract engineers from industry to bulk solids handling. Course content includes, among other topics, the basics of operation of powder and bulk solids handling equipment, understanding materials, causes and solutions to common problems, design and selection of plant components. The two-day courses are designed to teach about the identification of bulk solids handling problems and techniques on how to overcome them.

Topics include: correct design of equipment to minimise segregation (de-mixing) effects; handling of materials to reduce particle breakage and dust generation; approaches to minimising caking of materials; and re-design of particulate materials to make them less prone to these problems. In 2010, Wolfson will introduce a course looking at the selection and operation of equipment designed to reduce the risk of working with hazardous powders.

Topics include: perceptions of dust and consequences of exposure; key principles and equipment for air flow capture systems; key principles and equipment for barrier systems; equipment performance expectations and performance verification; and factors affecting performance such as ergonomics, worker behaviour and powder characteristics. The Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Solids course will take place from 2-3 March 2010 and topics will include: basics of hopper and silo function; dealing with potential problems; determination of hopper geometry; discharge aids and interfacing to feeders; and feeder design.

The Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Solids will be held on 20-21 April 2010 and 23-24 November 2010. Topics include: components of pneumatic conveying systems; design techniques; diagnosis of operational problems; interfacing storage bins to conveying systems; operational problems and effects on system design; aspects of system selection and operation; and correct design of systems for reliable operation. The Overview of Particulate Handling Technology course is scheduled for 12-13 October 2010, with topics including: vessel types and reliable flow; characterisation of materials; pneumatic and mechanical handling; and feeder interfacing.