Control and Instrumentation articles from October 1996

Control and Instrumentation archives from October 1996

Where to with programming? (multiple language control programming standard)
October 1, 1996... Just when you thought it was safe to commit to a new standard, change could be looming yet again. What are we talking about? IEC 1131-3 (page 31), the international, multiple language control programming standard, originally aimed at PLCs, is...

Transmitters and conditioners.
October 1, 1996... The diversity of transmitters and signal conditioners is on the increase, but more is expected of them Transmitters and signal conditioners - they sound simple enough devices, don't they? In fact, this product group in the control environment...

Open control: will IEC 1131 provide an answer? (international open programming standard)
October 1, 1996... The standard control languages of IEC 1131-3 may be just the beginning - stand by for high level graphical programming Open control is one of those marvellous ambiguous terms of the mid '90s. Particularly with the years of fieldbus hype, it...

Should PCs be used for process control? (personal computers)
October 1, 1996... Off-spec product or loss of production, due to unreliable controls, can cost [pound][pound][pound]s per batch Are desk top PCs, their operating systems and networks, suitable for real time industrial control? Or should we stay with PLC and...

Control strategies for processing.
October 1, 1996... Distributed control systems without advanced control are just expensive wall-to-wall computers Most of the plants in operation today were designed over 20 years ago. Some have been upgraded but many are still over engineered, inflexible and...

Fuzzy control: present and future.
October 1, 1996... As the complexity of a system changes, our ability to make precise statements about its behaviour diminishes Fuzzy logic was introduced in 1965 by Lofti Zadeh as a means to counter the problems and disillusionment caused by an over-emphasis on...

Automating plant one step at a time.
October 1, 1996... Although there is a lot to be gained by automating batch processes, it's crucial to do it right The competitive demands on industry today are fierce, and in order to gain an increasing share of the market, or even just to survive, resources...

The four pillars of variable speed. (variable speed drives)
October 1, 1996... Variable speed drives have come on apace, particularly in the last two years. But don't let the market confuse you Marketing hype surrounding variable speed drives can be confusing - with drives using the same technology often branded as...

Pipeline SCADA: the ultimate test.
October 1, 1996... When the Oil and Pipelines Agency, which manages the UK Government Pipeline and Storage System, decided to modernise, a substantial and interesting SCADA project resulted The Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS) is a multi-product...

MES solutions for process. (manufacturing execution system)
October 1, 1996... Is MES the real time process-related solution equivalent to MRPII in manufacturing? My job is to make my company's products obsolete before the competition does', said Dudley Williams, from Glaxo Welcome, at the second Manufacturing Execution...