In the 1970s, there was a concerted effort at the chemical company I worked for to provide extra process measurement connections throughout the plants for pressure and temperature measurement. These connections could be used as needed to help identify and solve unforeseen problems. The installation of a wired transmitter on a temporary basis was not [...]
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ISA fully engaged in cybersecurity
Presidential Executive Order on Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity draws comprehensive response from ISA and AF U.S. ...
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Projects commissioning with Fieldbus Foundation
The commissioning and configuration of digital communications of a field-level network, such as Foundation Fieldbus, ...
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Enabling new automation engineers
As a result of the ISA Mentor Program, I have had the personal pleasure of ...
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Level measurement: determining interface position between two media
Few measurements are as common and widespread in terms of application, operation, and variety as ...
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Improving distillation tower operation
The distillation process uses enormous amounts of energy, consuming up to 50 percent of a ...
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A guide to effectively executing compressor control retrofits
Compressors are major pieces of capital equipment with long, effective lifespans. Unfortunately, control system obsolescence, ...
ISA-sponsored webinar: Alarm Management Bootcamp
ISA is sponsoring a free Alarm Management Bootcamp webinar with MAVERICK Technologies on Thursday, May 30. By attending, you will learn how to whip your alarm system into shape. Two of the industry’s top alarm management experts will share their insights – real engineers presenting real solutions and real results. Topics include: Approaches for new [...]
Design of PI controllers for achieving time and frequency domain specifications simultaneously
Abstract: This paper deals with the design of PI controllers which achieve the desired frequency and time domain specifications simultaneously. A systematic method, which is effective and simple to apply, is proposed. The required values of the frequency domain performance measures namely the gain and phase margins and the time domain performance measures such as [...]
Tip #21: Too Many Alarms Can Be Worse Than None at All
At one time, I worked in a large continuous process plant that had alarms coming in constantly. The operators could hit the “Silence” button in their sleep. We had a case where a process flow was accidently diverted to the wrong tank, and it eventually filled and overflowed the tank. Even though the tank had [...]
FIRST Championship demonstrates young people’s passion for science and technology learning
If recent events in St. Louis, Mo., are any indication of the future of automation, then prospects are indeed bright. More than 10,000 students from around the globe, from ages 6 to 18, gathered April 24-27 at the Edward Jones Dome to put their engineering skills and scientific know-how to the test at the annual [...]
ISA authors team to discuss best practices for safety instrumented systems
Safety experts and ISA authors Bill Goble, Ed Marszal, Paul Gruhn will participate in a webinar on the latest safety instrumented system performance developments. The webinar, co-sponsored by ISA and hosted by Knovel, will be held Thursday, 16 May at 2 p.m. Eastern time and will cover the pros and cons of the following areas: • [...]
ISA fully engaged in cybersecurity
Presidential Executive Order on Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity draws comprehensive response from ISA and AF U.S. Presidential Executive Order 13636, announced in President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union address and signed on 12 February, is intended to confront the growing threats and risks of destructive and potentially deadly cyber attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure. [...]
Take the automation industry survey
What’s going on in the automation industry? What are current trends and challenges? How does the industry compare to our current membership base? Help ISA gain views and insights from automation professionals and automatically enter to win an Apple iPad®. Take the 10-minute industry survey before June 15 and we encourage you to also pass [...]
Tip #68: Find the Best Valve Location
When I am in an instrument and valve repair shop, I see many more control valves than instruments, particularly with the advances in sensor technology, transmitter intelligence, and asset management systems. Valves are mechanical devices and as such require more maintenance. Packings, seals, seats, and O-rings wear out. To ease maintenance, a control valve must [...]
ISA Member’s Choice Awards: Time To Cast Your Vote
Voting for this year’s Member’s Choice Awards is now open. The Member’s Choice Awards recognizes those individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership as decided by someone who knows them best — you! There are many wonderful things about being awarded the Member’s Choice Award — peer recognition, an amazing trophy, bragging rights, and an incredible [...]
