1 June 2002
ISA Western Regional Conference starring in Vegas:
Safety, Internet control, wireless technologies, smart valves, plant information systems, and animatronics are in the spotlight.
While hoping Lady Luck joins them after hours, it'll be all business when the curtain raises on the ISA Western Regional Conference & Exhibition 18-19 June at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Thousands of buyers, sellers, and those who just come to learn will gain new knowledge at the two-day event, which spotlights the latest in ever-changing instrumentation, systems, and automation technology.
Produced by ISA in cooperation with ISA District 11, the show will feature industry experts discussing the latest developments in safety, fieldbus, advanced control via the Internet, control valve technology, environmental systems, wireless communications, plant information systems, smart valves, and animatronics.
 |
| Pete Pitsker |
Pitsker plans to relate actual cases he encountered, including "changing the names to protect the innocent." He will also comment on the plethora of current corporate ethics issues now making news headlines and plans to test his audience for their reactions to hypothetical ethical situations. In addition, Pitsker will suggest a set of basic ethical principles on which to build a "better corporate environment."
More than 50 vendors will show their latest in analytical and environmental equipment; automation systems and software; calibration/test and measurement; maintenance equipment; control software and equipment; controllers, programmable logic controllers, PCs, I/O products, and recorders; final control elements; integrated control systems and equipment; positioning equipment; sensors/ transmitters/signal conditioners; system components and enclosures; and technical services.
Industries represented will include aerospace, chemical/petrochemicals, construction/retrofitting, consumer products, electrical and electronic components, facilities design/ engineering, food and beverage, industrial machinery, instrumentation/industrial controls, mining, oil/gas, plastics/metals/composites, primary metals, pulp and paper, utilities, and water/wastewater.
A tutorial led by Terry Molloy, CMES Inc., on "Control Valves for the Systems Engineer I" will cover various valve types used to control the flow of fluids—and why a particular style is a good choice for a given application. That session will also cover system requirements such as energy cost considerations and start-up/shutdown conditions.
Several technical presentations will address how safety systems in today's manufacturing facility play a key role in protecting equipment and personnel. "Implementing ISA S84.01 at a Department of Energy Site" by Carl Sossman of Westinghouse Safety will detail case studies and implementing ANSI-ISA-84.01, Application of Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industries, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently approved as "a national consensus standard for the application of safety instrumented systems for the process industry."
Other safety-focused papers will include "Failure Mode & Effects Analysis, Friend or Foe?" by Herbert Hecht, SoHaR Inc., and "On-Line, High Speed Temperature Measurement for Gas Turbine Saftey Monitoring and Efficiency Optimization" by Richard Hovan of Combustion Instrumentation.
Another safety session will focus on techniques to eliminate problems in hazardous locations. A paper by Sean Clark of Epsilon Ltd. will detail "The ATEX Directive: A Safer Methodology for the Explosion." Another, by Mark Menezes of Rosemount Inc., will cover "Selecting Transmitters for Safety Instrumented Systems." A third, by Riyaz Ali of Fisher Controls, discusses "Using Smart Positioners in Emergency Shutdown Applications." The fourth paper, by Walt Pastorius of LMI Technologies, will focus on "Vision Sensors in Hostile Environments."
Several presentations will explore fieldbus options, recognizing the age of the equipment being upgraded affects the implementation of digital communications. Papers include "HART to Enterprise Connectivity" by Ron Helson, HART Communications; "Digital Bus Selection—It's not your typical Quick Pick at 7-11" by James Noel, The Foxboro Co.; and "Distributed Control System Network Architecture" by Harold Nelson of Lockheed Martin Information.
A second fieldbus session aims to help show goers implement a fieldbus base system. It will includes two presentations: "Updating Foundation Fieldbus Devices" by Alan Dewey of Emerson Process Management and "Fieldbuses and Education: How Will We Ever Get Them Ready?" by Chuck Carter, Lee College Center for Fieldbus.
One of two sessions on Internet-based control will cover technologies to navigate and create human-to machine interfaces. Papers include "Using Internet Technologies to Create Web-Based HMI" by Marcos Taccolini of InduSoft and "Industrial Ethernet: Leveraging IP Without Breaking the Bank" by Michael Tennefoss of Echelon Corp.
The second Internet control session will review remote monitoring and real-time embedded communications, answering questions such as "What is real time?" and "Are you making the best of your connection?"
Gerardo Pardo-Castell of Real-Time Innovations, will report on "Real-time Publish-subscribe Protocol for IP-based Real-time Communications." Stephen Ferree of Field Server Technologies will discuss "Remote Monitoring System Maximizes Availability of Broadbanding Services," and Zoran Galovic of Intrinsyc Software will cover "NET and Embedded Web Services."
One of two sessions on plant information systems will take participants beyond the distributed control system to discuss integrating information from the shop floor to the top floor. Papers include "IPMC: A Competitive Strategy" by Raymond Grosch, IntelliSys Inc.; "Factors in Replacing Legacy DCS Systems" by Bruce Jensen of Yokogawa Corp.; and "Benefits of Plant/ERP Integration" by Ronald Kolz of OSI Software Inc.
The second plant information systems session will focus on designing SCADA systems. Papers presented there will include "Taking Back Control: The Benefits of Designing Your SCADA System In House" by Tony Stafford of the Camrosa Water District and "Using Your SCADA System to Save Energy and Money" by Lou Mondello of Provimetrics.
Participants in a session focusing on smart valves will learn how today's valves not only turn off and on but also provide diagnostic and position information 24 hours a day. Papers include "Positioning Control Performance of Separate-Type Valve Positioner" by Toshinori Fujita, IDEC Izumi Corp.; "Rising Stem or Quarter Turn, Who is in Control?" by William Lyons, The Foxboro Co.; "Valve Diagnosis Identifies Process Problems" by Michel Ruel, Top Controls Inc.; and "It Is 10:00 p.m.—Do You Know Where Your Control Valve Is?" by Peter Ginn, Solutia Inc.
A session focusing on environmental issues will review some of the latest developments in gas lines—for example, learning what's in the line is as important as measuring how much goes through it. Speakers will include John Groetsch of K-Patents Inc., detailing "Using Inline Refractive Index Analyzers to Optimize Acid and Acid Gas Removal Processes"; Steve Drevik of Environmental Systems Corp., discussing "New Technologies and Possible Use in CEM Data Acquisition and Reporting"; and Gary Brewer of ABB Automation on "Sour Gas Feed Analyzer in Sulfur Recovery Units."
Two separate sessions will detail wireless networking technologies in industrial plants. Rob Henley of Xsilogy Inc. will discuss "Industrial Wireless Sensor Application"; Brian Cunningham of OMNEX Control Systems Inc. will detail "The Reliability of Spread Spectrum Wireless in Industrial Environments"; Kevin Zamzow of Locus will cover "Wireless Industrial Ethernet: Practical Considerations and Applications"; Steven Case of Minnesota State University will cover "Real-Time Control with Bluetooth Ad Hoc Networks."
Because optimizating your process can mean less downtime and increased efficiency, users will detail advanced control techniques in two sessions as well. Papers include "Understanding How To Measure Electric Power" by Michael Paik, Southern California Edison; "Control of Separation Processes for Process Optimization and Loss Prevention" by Chip Westaby, Agar Corp.; "Saving Energy Through Compressed Air Control and Monitoring" by David Vanderbeek, SAVAIR LLC; and "Dead-time Compensating Controller Applied to a Tank Lab Process" by Jose Fernandes, Universidade Federal.
A session on hydrocarbon gas and measurement detection will provide insight into difficult measurement problems faced throughout the world by reviewing key elements in the measurement and calibration of hydrocarbon-based products. Presentations include "Improved Metering for Natural Gas Production, Transmission & Distribution" by Don Church, Rosemount Inc.; "Active Leak Detection Systems for Above-Ground Hydrocarbon Storage Facilities" by Tommy Groves, Enraf Inc.; "Recent Advancements in Radar Level Measurement Technology" by Chris Lamakul, Siemens Energy Automation; and "Improved Calibration Data Collection of Gas Flow Computers Using Handheld Electronic Pressure Calibrators" by Bill Modlin, Hathaway Process.
One tutorial on "Animatronics/Show Motion/Motion Control and Stop Motion" will feature "10 Truths About Animatronics" by Rodney Heiligmann of LifeFormations. A second animatronics tutorial will focus on designing PC-based motion control systems and will include information on computer-based measurement and automation, motion systems, and motion components. It will feature a paper by Jayson Wilkinson of National Instruments.
ISA also plans several training sessions during both days on fundamentals of measurement and control, industrial networks and communication, control systems safety, and electrical systems and components. IT
Related Files
ISA Western Regional Conference starring in Vegas (Adobe PDF File)
Read questions answered by our experts or join the email list.
