A plethora of products

A plethora of products and services made their debut at the ISA 2001 show in Houston in September. Following is a brief glimpse of some of these introductions.

Phoenix Contact displayed its new MCR-RAD integrated radio and I/O module, designed to eliminate cable and conduit for analog and digital signals in harsh industrial environments. It uses spread-spectrum, frequency-hopping techniques to guarantee a license-free, interference-free link between remote devices and the control room.

Omega introduced its patented, all-in-one Supermeter Model HHM290. It combines the power of a True RMS, full-function multimeter, noncontact IR pyrometer with laser sighting and a dual-input Type-K thermocouple meter with a differential measurement feature into one handheld instrument. The multimeter measures DC/AC voltage, current, resistance, frequency, and capacitance. It also features a built-in logic and diode tester

Fluke’s 707 loop calibrator is the newest member of its family of portable process calibration tools. It features an ergonomic design that combines knob- and button-based loop calibrators into one device, allowing technicians to operate it with one hand. It provides simultaneous milliampere and percentage of span readouts, making it ideal for process instrument technicians in a variety of industries.

ABB announced its OptimizeIT Dynamic Solut-ions, a model-based software product that delivers actionable knowledge to the desktop to enable improved processing, maintenance prioritization, and economic decision support. It’s geared for chemical, hydrocarbon processing, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries, as well as other process industries. OptimizeIT includes a library of commonly used models. User-defined models can also be imported. The standard OptimizeIT library includes a variety of processing equipment.

RTP, a supplier of hybrid control systems, demonstrated a nonobsolescence policy that extends through the normal life span of the user’s plant. The RTP 2000 and 2200 feature an open, scalable architecture; nuclear-level quality certification; point-and-click programming; hot-swappable cards; and full system redundancy with automatic failover in milliseconds.

Barton Instrument Systems presented its TankScan W series bidirectional wireless measurement system, comprised of wireless measurement monitors, indicators, communication controllers, and a full-featured PC-based host software package. System benefits include easy installation in minutes, low deployment cost and low cost of ownership, accuracy, dependability, and the availability of on-demand data. Applications include liquid product distribution, vendor-managed inventories, and feedstock usage monitoring. Features include user-adjustable measurement intervals, no calibration requirements after initial setup, host data exchange via modem or serial link, intrinsic safety, and either rescheduled or on-demand data reports.

Cirronet introduced the SEM2410X, a networking system for automation and production control in energy and process industries that enables cost-effective, long- range wireless Ethernet connections in harsh environments—indoors and outdoors. Suited for automation and production control in energy and process industries, it can be used with the emerging process control standard, Ethernet, because it allows the RF unit to be mounted away from the Ethernet connection. Housed in a NEMA-4X-rated enclosure, the RF unit can be mounted without further protection in harsh factory and outdoor environments, up to 100 ft from the Ethernet connection. .

Endress + Hauser released its PROline generation of Promags. The Promag 22 meter offers four-wire performance with two-wire economy. The 4–20 mA loop- powered magmeter generates cost savings through reduced installation costs, simplified hazardous area protection, and lower energy costs.

DEHN, the wholly owned subsidiary of DEHN + SOHNE GmbH, has been established in the U.S. to provide DEHN’s technology for protecting electrical systems from the consequences of lightning and voltage surges. These lightning current arresters and voltage surge protective components are constructed using a standardized modular concept where each component is neatly installed on a standardized 35-mm DIN rail mounted within an existing or separate enclosure, resulting in an efficient and compact installation.

CyboSoft’s General Cybernation Group, developer of model-free adaptive control technology, unveiled what it called the first embedded MFA controllers in the RTP 2000, a hybrid control system with all the power and capabilities of a full-scale DCS. While CyboSoft has been offering its model-free adaptive controllers in CyboCon MFA control software and CyboCon CE advanced control instruments, the RTP 2000 hybrid control system gives users another high-speed option for using MFA to solve various control problems.

Ametek’s Thermox business unit of process and analytical instruments presented an online demonstration of the remote servicing and maintenance capabilities of its Smart Sensor and Series 2000 product lines. All Thermox Smart Sensor and Series 2000 products are upgradeable for remote service capability. These include oxygen analyzers such as the WDG IV/IQ, the WDG HPII/IQ, the WDG Insitu/IQ, and the CEM O2/IQ.

Yamatake introduced the new SVP3000 alphaplus series fieldbus positioners, due to be launched in December. These positioners will be equipped with the latest in maintenance systems, ensuring that each control valve receives appropriate care and attention. Yamatake engineers have focused on the random failure period and are developing algorithms for collecting, processing, and analyzing critical valve data.

Wieland presented the ricos Buscoupler Ethernet module, an addition to its line of remote I/O for fieldbus. The new product provides customers with an Ethernet-based bus coupler that uses Modbus TCP/IP for data transfer between controller and sensor-level devices. The modular series, which may be DIN-rail or panel mounted, consists of a base module for the fieldbus interface and diagnostics and is compatible with Wieland’s I/O expansion modules.

Touchsystems announced the newest model in its all-in-one touch computer line. OpenTouch, an open-frame, all-in-one computer, is targeted for general industrial applications. It’s fully configurable and features custom bezel options. It’s a Celeron/Pentium III open frame, touch-panel PC that measures 365 mm by 294 mm by 103.5 mm, available currently in 12-in and 14-in TFT LCD sizes. The all-in-one touch design makes for a small footprint because both the CPU and the monitor are combined into one unit.

Pepperl + Fuchs introduced a complete new line of Foundation fieldbus interface products for general-purpose and Division 2/Division 1 hazardous locations, including power supplies, signal repeaters, discrete I/O field boxes, and terminators. What makes these devices unique is Fieldbus Intrinsic Safety Concept, a technology that supplies more than 40% more current to instruments inside hazardous locations.

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