Articles
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Gamma scanning seeks an inside edge Many companies decide not to build up certain capabilities in-house mainly because they dont have sufficient regular demand for them. Gamma scanning of distillation columns is a case in point, but on-site scanning specialists may be the wave of the future. |
05/08/2007 |
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Whats in the air for continuous emissions monitoring? More attention to mercury and increased acceptance of predictive approaches is emerging. Such monitoring not only can keep plants on the right side of regulators but also can help provide insights for optimizing operation of equipment. |
04/13/2007 |
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Wireless technology conquers industry conservatism Potential applications at chemical plants just grow and grow, says Mike Spear, editor at large, in his End Point column. |
03/28/2007 |
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Get full value from partial stroking There are two main drivers for partial stroking of valves in safety systems: the desire to extend manual test intervals to as long as possible; and to reduce the amount of redundant hardware required for higher safety integrity levels. Like most things in life, it all boils down to one thing: trying to save money. |
03/20/2007 |
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Remember the basics of maintenance Despite the buzz about asset management systems dont forget the oilers, advises Mike Spear, in this month's End Point column. |
03/01/2007 |
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Plants get help in boosting reliability More and more companies are placing greater emphasis on maintenance and seeking help from vendors to boost the effectiveness of their efforts, as some recent major investment decisions demonstrate. Many automation companies now are benefiting by building up asset management services alongside process control capabilities. |
02/26/2007 |
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More attention to steam systems and trap monitoring provides big benefits. At most chemical plants, plant management and operators face increasing pressures to improve the energy efficiency of their processes, so they should see how they can save on steam. |
01/30/2007 |
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Increasing interest will translate into far more monitoring applications. The worldwide market for wireless technology will grow 26% annually over the next few years, forecasts the ARC Advisory Group. Vendors are responding and key concerns are being addressed. |
01/11/2007 |
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Wireless devices may get a shake up Last months ISA Expo in Houston clearly showed how much attention wireless technology is attracting. However, concern about the reliability and life of batteries remains an issue. Thats why harvested or scavenged power is attracting interest. |
10/31/2006 |
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As wireless Ethernet continues its aggressive growth, end users have to wonder, Will it replace fieldbuses? It is clear that a battle is shaping up. |
08/23/2006 |
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Cutting the wires of communications Users want wireless, vendors want to sell wireless, so whats the problem? This article tackles one of the most discussed topics: the use of wireless communications in process automation. |
08/15/2006 |
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Automation systems have now reached such a high degree of reliability that many personnel at plants now take them for granted. Learn to use digital communication with your asset management tools to achieve predictive maintenance and substantial savings. |
07/12/2006 |
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Pilot plants: destined for development Pilot plants are on the verge of an unprecedented evolution. Read about the 10 factors that'll impact the design, construction and operation of these next-generation units. |
06/28/2006 |
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Small sensors promise big impact Because many environmental applications of nanotechnology will almost certainly revolutionize the science, law, and regulation of water pollution, readers are urged to keep abreast of this fast-changing area. |
06/28/2006 |
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Lets cut through barbed wireless Divergent standards could snag efficient deployment of devices. |
06/16/2006 |
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Smart field devices can be a smart investment to better manage assets and thus boost competitiveness. These devices are increasingly being relied for analysis as well as data collection. |
06/13/2006 |
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Outsourcing moves up the maintenance ladder Outsourcing of non-core operations within a company, large or small, is now a well established corporate strategy. By entrusting services such as IT support, accounting, human resources and other back office activities to specialist firms prepared to do the job at an acceptable price, chemical companies can concentrate on their main business where they are the specialists. That's the theory, at least. |
05/29/2006 |
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Protect the perimeter and the process A visit to Honeywell's Geismar plant reminded Editor in Chief Mark Rosenzweig how to integrate security and control. |
04/12/2006 |
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Wireless is poised for a big breakthrough in plant operations because of its ease of use, safety and potential for energy savings. |
03/14/2006 |
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Repair your maintenance program Take a fresh look at how to improve staff productivity and skills. |
02/28/2006 |
