Plant Engineering articles from August 2004

Plant Engineering archives from August 2004

Dangerous solution.(Arc Flash)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... The "Bus Buddy" solution printed on Page 80 of the June 2004 issue of PLANT ENGINEERING is extremely dangerous. Modifications of the containment enclosure of an electric bus duct should not be made casually... and must never involve a...

Sustaining member total reaches 21 for SMRPCO.(Arc Flash)(Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization (SMRPCO) recently enrolled its 21st Sustaining Member. While exams are completed by individuals, companies can participate in the certification process by...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... Every once in a while I see a "gotcha" in your editorial ["Comment," June 2004, p 13]. Eli Goldratt, not Goldblatt, authored The Goal and subsequent constraint theory books. I am sure Eli would not mind a correction. Joe Greil, Director,...

Prices climb for 14 industries.(Arc Flash)
August 1, 2004... The PLANT ENGINEERING construction and maintenance price and cost indexes, up 4.1% and 4.9% respectively, moved practically in tandem during the 12-month period ending May 2004. On the price front, 14 industries registered price increases,...

The change triumvirate.(Comment)
August 1, 2004... It was almost a throw-away line--one of those comments that isn't expected to get much reaction. We were just finishing a nice lunch, about to say our goodbyes, when he dropped it on me. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "He" is Bill Maggard, one...

Labor management committee: define its power.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... In the interest of labor-management cooperation and goodwill, the general manager decided to establish a joint committee that would hopefully create improved understanding and efficiency. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The committee was...

Recalling employees on layoff: take care.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... With orders falling off and the bottom line shrinking, the time for work force curtailment was at hand. Among employees laid off was Frank Prentice, a maintenance department mechanic. As weeks passed by economic conditions did not improve...

Can he choose a job he prefers?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... With efficiency and overhead reduction in mind, management decided to discontinue a second shift where only three men were employed. One of the displaced workers was Utility Man Charley Winkler. Two jobs were available on the day shift,...

Can supervisor pitch in when shorthanded?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Asupervisor's headaches never cease. The department was three workers short, and with vacations coming up, the situation was aggravated. If there's one thing line employees monitor religiously, Maintenance Foreman Irv Pinsky realized, it's...

Don't get personal when assessing performance.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Carpenter Grade II Allen Dukoff was a marginal employee at best. He was argumentative, and his attendance was poor. Maintenance Supervisor George Gross didn't look forward to confronting him in the department's quarterly appraisal meeting. ...

Can layoff time be charged against vacation?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Even the best of labor agreements omit unusual situations from time to time. A contract clause in a Maryland company's contract contained the following proviso: "An employee's seniority shall be regarded as unbroken if he or she is on...

When the party turns sour.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Some managements never learn. At an Ohio manufacturing plant the annual Christmas party was regarded as a tradition. Plant Engineer Horace Franken wasn't opposed to the celebration per se. But in view of unpleasant occurrences in the past, what...

Veteran re-employment.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Maintenance Department Utility Worker Carl Koslowski had been bypassed twice for promotion and was fed up with his job. One day he handed in his resignation on the hopes of finding a better job. Koslowski's efforts continued to be...

Accommodate leave to management's convenience.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Machine Operator 2nd Class George Axelrod appeared at Maintenance Supervisor Grover Hadley's desk Monday morning and requested a four-week medical leave of absence to begin in five weeks. "What for?" "I'm scheduled for a knee...

Employee right to record an appraisal interview?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Maintenance Department Mechanic Grade II Don Carlson had an appraisal interview scheduled for the next afternoon. The day before, he appeared at his boss's desk and said he wanted to tape the session. "Why would you want to do that?"...

Fighting when provoked.(Human Side)(Workplace violence)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... It happened in the employee cafeteria during lunch period. What started as a peaceful discussion among a few maintenance employees about a horrific suicide bombing in Israel gradually turned into a heated argument. "What causes all the...

Transforming your business with asset lifecycle management.(Management Side)(Asset lifecycle management )
August 1, 2004... The livelihood of manufacturing is production efficiency. Despite knowing this, the production, operation, maintenance, design, and marketing data necessary for making sound business decisions are not well integrated with business processes or...

Understanding event data collection: Part 2.(Plant Electronics)(Computerized maintenance management system)
August 1, 2004... Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series. Part 1 appeared in the July 2004 issue. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most modern process and manufacturing plants use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to help manage...

Advancements in busways.(Electrical)
August 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Busway systems provide efficiency and flexibility for low and high-amperage applications. * Busway can be installed in most applications where cable and conduit are used. * Maintenance requirements are annual IR...

Tips & Tricks 2004; Apply these tips to save time, money, and aggravation. Use the special ballot to help select the "Maintenance Tip of the Year." Return your ballot by: October 1, 2004. (The ballot follows p 52).(Maintenance)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... Time-conserving, money-saving, aggravation-avoiding ideas for solving typical maintenance problems should be shared with others in the plant engineering profession. This idea exchange concept serves as the basic philosophy for PLANT ENGINEERING...

Thread locking technologies.(Power Transmission/Maintenance)
August 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * There are three common thread treatments; locking, sealing, and antiseize. * Locking threads prevent loosening and leakage. * Threads that have been previously treated can be cleaned and reused. ********** ...

Mobile technology cuts paper; improves asset management.(Software Maintenance)
August 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Companies that want to revolutionize their maintenance practices and improve asset performance must find a better way to feed their starving EAM systems. * As increased productivity eliminates work backlogs, preventive...

Basics of industrial Ethernet.(Reference File)(related article: Ethernet, OSI, and TCP/IP)(related article: Regular, fast, and ultrafast Ethernet)
August 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Equipment * Cabling * Robustness ********** Ethernet is not the internet; Ethernet is not a fieldbus; and Ethernet is not a control system. Ethernet is a networking standard. Period. Ethernet...

Belt maintenance.(Suggestions)
August 1, 2004... A free Belt Drive Preventive Maintenance and Safety Program provides information to help avoid costly belt failures and increase production uptime. A belt maintenance and safety expert can be sent to your site to help maximize the efficiency...

Custom plastic bearings.(Suggestions)
August 1, 2004... A plastic bearing solution to suit any application can be delivered quickly with no lead time. Sixteen high-performance, engineered polymers (such as Q for high loads, H for wet environments, and L280 for extended service life) boast unique...

Safe couplings.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Tamper resistant (locking) Swing-Couplings cannot be removed without the use of a special tool. This makes them the perfect coupling in plants that need to restrict workers' ability to change out pneumatic tools. The coupling possesses inherent...

Tough gauge.(Products)
August 1, 2004... The Ashcroft digital gauge comes in three case styles: welded stainless steel, fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic, and cast aluminum. Safety features include pressure ranges on the keypad and a bar graph to reduce the possibility of accidental...

Disposable filter.(Products)
August 1, 2004... PT Series Disposable Filter Cartridges provide high-efficiency microglass filtration for applications in industrial and metalworking industries. The filter is available in two diameters and three lengths for flow ranges from 5 to 50 gpm. The...

Shaft flaw detection.(Products)
August 1, 2004... ShafTest ultrasonic flaw detection system uses unique volumetric grid scanning to test large, complex shafts. The portable system allows fast in-situ scanning from the shaft end, maximizes data capture and detail, while 3D graphic displays and...

Reducer eliminates alignment.(Products)
August 1, 2004... QC 700 Series worm gear speed reducers are designed for applications that experience aggressive washdown, heavy shock loading, or frequent motor changes. The reducer utilizes a "quick connect" coupling system that enables the motor to connect...

Specialty bearings.(Products)
August 1, 2004... A specialty bearing product line includes Type SX adapter deep groove ball bearings with tapered bores and sleeves for mounting on inch-size shafting, Type CONV conveyor roll ball bearings for inboard and outboard idler roller applications, and...

Rod lock.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Static Rod Lock is a spring-engaged, air-released rod lock designed to clamp and hold cylinder rods and shafts up to 1 3/8-in. diameter. Features include: extremely low backlash (0.000 to 0.003 in.), high clamping force, IP67 rated for...

Accumulators store power.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Accumulators are designed to store fluid power for intermittent duty cycles, economizing pump drive power. They can also provide emergency or standby power, compensate for leakage loss, and dampen periodic pulsations and shocks. Accumulators...

Disk seal protects bearings.(Power Transmission: Products)
August 1, 2004... NILOS-Ring steel disk seals offer protection for grease-lubricated roller bearings in applications where wash-down or regular exposure to liquids is required. Their design uniquely incorporates a Viton gasket, which enhances sealing...

Shaft locking.(Power Transmission: Literature)
August 1, 2004... A catalogue details proper sizing, selection, applications, and installation of shaft locking devices. Nine models include one external and eight internal designs for applications from low-torque situations with small radial dimensions to...

HVAC seminars.(HVAC: Training)
August 1, 2004... A summer and fall schedule is available for air conditioning and refrigeration, and heating and ventilating seminars. Hands-on exercises provide system and component familiarization; demonstrate pressure-temperature relationships, gauge...

Handy blowers.(HVAC: Products)
August 1, 2004... A line of high-performance, portable venturi blowers offers the perfect solution for quickly and easily moving fumes that may be explosive, or hazardous. Four models feature a galvanized diffuser, cast aluminum inlet housing and a carrying...

Efficient bag filters.(HVAC: Products)
August 1, 2004... Hilco Bag Filter Cartridges are intended to increase the filtration efficiency of existing bag filter housings while reducing labor and other associated costs of frequent bag change-outs. Each cartridge is designed with an external O-ring that...

No overcooling.(HVAC: Products)
August 1, 2004... Predator MagnaDRY convertible, single-package rooftop unit combines the high efficiency of the Predator series with an advanced dehumidification system that allows maximum dehumidification independent of the cooling load. The unit provides high...

Vacuum filters fines.(HVAC: Products)
August 1, 2004... CFM 217 vacuum has the power of a large industrial vacuum in a compact, portable, and easy-to-use machine. The unit includes a HEPA exhaust filter. The multistage filtration system traps 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. ...

Pocket hygrometer.(HVAC: Products)
August 1, 2004... Lufft E200 pocket thermo-hygrometer with fixed probe is small in size (6 7/8 in. X 1 7/8 in. x 1 in.). A thumb wheel operates all the menus and functions such as max. and min. temperatures, averages, dewpoint, absolute humidity, and hold....

Leak detection.(HVAC: Literature)
August 1, 2004... A free, 6-p, full color brochure provides practical information on three tools for adding fluorescent dye to AC & R systems: a multidose dye injector and dye capsules for small to medium-size systems, a multidose injector for medium to large...

IR-to-TC converter.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
August 1, 2004... OSM101 infrared-to-analog converter module is a portable, miniature, low-cost, battery-powered unit that converts noncontact infrared energy to a compensated K-type thermocouple output. It operates with thermocouple metering, display, or...

Multifunction psychrometer.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
August 1, 2004... RH350 superheat psychrometer is designed for HVACR, mold prevention, and plant maintenance applications. Instrument features a large display, which indicates relative humidity (rh); ambient air temperature; and either dew point, wet bulb, or...

Panel flow display.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
August 1, 2004... M750 display unit/register accepts inputs from flowmeters, orifice plates, and vortex flowmeters. Unit indicates instantaneous flow rate as well as totalized flow. Instrument can be configured with single isolated 4-20 mA retransmission pod or...

Fiber optic controller.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
August 1, 2004... Series 00 multichannel fiber optic controllers reduce excessive wiring for multiple fiber applications with a single cable. Controllers are compact, mechanically robust, and available in 2, 4, 6, and 8-fiber DIN-rail mountable models. Units...

Fiber optic tester.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
August 1, 2004... XC-8513 dual wavelength optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) measures both fibers of a duplex fiber optic cable automatically with one connection. OTDR examines fiber optic systems to troubleshoot fiber segments, including the fiber and...

Protection relay.(Electrical: Products)
August 1, 2004... SEL-387L line current differential relay requires no settings after the transmit and receive addresses are configured. Microprocessor-based unit is for applications with identical ratio CTs at both ends of a line with a digital communications...

Circuit breakers.(Electrical: Products)
August 1, 2004... Powerpact 150-A H-frame and 250-A J-frame molded case circuit breakers are designed to simplify installation and modification. Snap-in design accommodates bus bar and lug applications. Field-installable accessories include auxiliary switches,...

Brushless servomotors.(Electrical: Products)
August 1, 2004... BSM series brushless servomotor line includes standard and low-inertia models with a wide variety of feedback devices. Servomotors use resolvers as primary feedback devices, but other encoder types are available. Series expansion includes...

Utility outlets.(Electrical: Products)
August 1, 2004... Dual DIN-rail mount utility outlet family has been expanded to include 20 different versions in four outlet families, which include standard power, surge suppressor, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and switched outlets. Phoenix...

Disconnect switches.(Electrical: Products)
August 1, 2004... Air conditioning (AC) disconnect switch series is designed to satisfy requirements of 2002 NEC, such as line of sight from the AC condenser to the disconnect and receptacle, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and a "while in use" cover...

Dielectric coolant.(Electrical: Literature)
August 1, 2004... Envirotemp FR3 dielectric coolant is explained in color brochure. Literature highlights the fluid's environmental and fire protection benefits as well as its insulation life extension properties. Cooper Power Systems cooperpower.com...

Liquid desiccant systems for food processing meeting the need for precise humidity control.(Industrial Processing)(RELATED ARTICLE: AT A GLANCE)
August 1, 2004... Liquid desiccant dehumidification systems are not a new concept. Technology for comfort and process air conditioning using liquid desiccants goes back to the 1930's, and has been widely used in many industries since the 1950's. What is new is...

Industrial heat recovery; Strategies and options: getting full value for your energy dollar.(Plant & Building Utilities)(related article: AT A GLANCE)
August 1, 2004... Natural gas is used for many industrial purposes, most of them involving combustion and having a heated exhaust stream. How much thermal energy remains in that stream varies widely, but probably averages between 20% and 40% of the thermal...

Small packaged generation systems; This issue: microturbine use on the rise.(Steam & Power Generation)
August 1, 2004... Recognition is growing that small packaged generation systems can increase the energy security of a facility, and allow the owner to make independent energy decisions. Being "off the grid" was at one time considered a costly and risky business...

Small packaged boilers solve many problems: "ponies" turn out to be real workhorses.(Steam & Power Generation)
August 1, 2004... Does this sound familiar? Your facility has a central boiler plant that supplies steam for many applications, including space heating, domestic hot water, laundry, kitchen or key manufacturing processes. Your boilers have capacity to meet all...

Indiana utility works on industrial gas pricing: price stability is greatest concern.(Insights and Issues)
August 1, 2004... "The nature of natural gas service to industry is evolving. As an industry, we've been making some radical changes in response." In this way, Don Babcock, director of economic development from Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO),...