Mobile Navigation

Processing & Handling

View Comments PDF

Focus on Software

| By Suzanne Shelley

Seeq

Seeq

Software enables interactive analytics on collected data

This company recently updated its Seeq R20 advanced-analytics solution (photo) for engineers and scientists working in process manufacturing. The software application now offers expanded machine-learning functionality for users carrying out predictive analytics, and an improved query model for customers bringing in contextual data from data sources, to enable faster connections among data sources. Target markets include oil-and-gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, mining, food-and-beverage and other chemical process industries (CPI) segments. Seeq R20 also includes new integration support for Inductive Automations’ Ignition SCADA system, including integrated display window capabilities, says the company. — Seeq Corp., Seattle, Wash.

www.seeq.com

 

BinMaster

BinMaster

Level-scanner software guards against silo collapse

Uneven loading of bulk solids stored in silos can cause the steel and concrete walls of silos to crack, dent, buckle and bend, potentially leading to catastrophic collapse. The 3DLevelScanner includes a new software option (photo) that can identify the location of the center of gravity of the bulk solids (based on material topography), display it graphically and alert the operator when the center of gravity moves beyond an accepted, user-defined area. A 3DLevelScanner device is mounted on the roof of the silo at an optimal location to view the material surface inside the silo during operations. This system can help operators to reduce structural stress and reduce uneven loading when when filling or emptying a silo.— BinMaster, Lincoln, Neb.

www.binmaster.com

 

 

Use machine learning to improve asset performance

The Aspen Edge Connect and Aspen Cloud Connect family of software solutions helps process operators to support assets and infrastructure that are connected via the industrial internet of things (IIoT), bringing improved analytics and machine-learning capabilities to asset-intensive companies within a connected environment. Aspen Cloud Connect is server-based and supports a wide range of communication protocols. The system collects, cleanses and analyzes data from historians, data lakes and other data sources, integrates with process, equipment and enterprise data via AspenONE Manufacturing Execution (MES) and Asset Performance Management (APM) software, to support sustainable application developent and deployment, and these capabilities can be scaled from pilot-scale operations to commercial-scale production, says the company. — Aspentech Technology, Bedford, Mass.

www.aspentech.com

 

Comprehensive package eases turbomachinery design

TurboTides Turbomachinery Design software supports all steps of system design in the turbomachinery-design process, from thermodynamic cycles through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA), while offering user-friendly integrated optimization and knowledge management. It can be used to design centrifugal, mixed-flow and axial compressors, turbines, fans, blowers and pumps for virtually any application. The program is built to handle single-stage and multi-stage turbomachinery, including thermodynamic cycle design and optimization capabilities, supporting key decisions related to the power balance between compressor and turbine in a turbocharger, or the pressure-ratio split in a multi-stage air compressor. — TurboTides, Inc., Lebanon, N.H.

www.turbotides.com

 

View and query model data in a web-based interface

OpenPlant Connect Edition uses the company’s iModelHub cloud service, to support collaborative 2-D and 3-D plant design and operations using cloud-based data management capabilities. This software solution gives owner-operators and engineering, procurement and construction personnel the ability to design and manage their data through cloud-based services, supporting reliable and asynchronous project visibility, says the company. The iModelHub tracks all changes made to project designs and notifies users of changes. Participants can choose to synchronize to and from particular timeline milestones, and can visualize, summarize, analyze and interpret the impact of ongoing changes, says the company. — Bentley Systems, Exton, Pa.

www.bentley.com

 

Altair Engineering

Altair Engineering

Design software helps to optimize product innovation

Inspire 2018 simulation software (photo) is used to optimize product design and optimization. The product is said to integrate well into large manufacturing enterprises, and provides rapid simulation capabilities that help designers to explore weight-reduction opportunities during product design. It has an intuitive user experience that is ideal for small- and medium-size businesses that have little or no simulation experience, says the company. The software can be applied both at the beginning of “clean-sheet” design programs, and during ongoing design exploration of current production parts. It allows designers and engineers to rapidly assemble and simulate dynamic mechanical systems to automatically resolve loads on system components (for analysis and optimization), generate weight-efficient design proposals, and simulate the performance of competing design concepts with regard to static loads, normal modes and buckling. — Altair Engineering, Inc., Troy, Mich.

www.altair.com

 

A paperless way to streamline and improve calibration

The intuitive multi-platform mobile paperless CMX Calibration software is an online solution for executing and documenting calibrations and maintenance inspections. It is used to calibrate weighing instruments, analytical instruments for pH and humidity and more, says the company. It can be used in an offline mode, as well, with Beamex Documenting Calibrators. The latest version (bMobile 2.0) is available for Windows Mobile or Android-based tablets and smartphones. — Beamex Oy Ab, Pietarsaari, Finland

www.beamex.com

 

Engineers and designers can now use CAD on the go

CorelCAD Mobile is a standalone computer-aided drawing (CAD) experience designed to complement the CorelCAD 2018 desktop application for both Windows and Mac systems. CorelCAD Mobile subscribers receive a full set of 2-D drawing and editing tools, 3-D viewing tools, advanced annotation capabilities and more. For users looking for a lighter feature set, a free version is also available with simplified capabilities, including 2-D and 3-D.dwg viewing and basic annotation. CAD experiences to view, create, edit and share 2D technical CAD drawings. The product is now available for use on both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. This boosts productivity on the go and in the field. Using the system, engineers can edit and share drawings and designs between desktop and mobile applications, which helps to make meetings with colleagues and clients more efficient and productive, says the company.— Corel Corp., Ottawa, Ont.

www.corel.com

 

Turbomachinery-design software adds new features

The version 6.4 update of the TURBOdesign Suite provides new features and added functionality to enable designers to produce highly optimized designs in a more streamlined fashion. The update, according to the company, expands the software’s functionality by adding a flexible new geometry-parameterization capability (which allows the user to create arbitrary meridional geometries with arbitrary levels of control) and a new TURBOdesign integration module with Link-CCM+ (which enables the seamless integration of STAR-CCM+ into TURBOdesign Optima by leveraging the capability of TURBOdesign 3DLab to export high-quality CAD models. The software also includes TURBOdesign 3DLab, a new export of flow domains capability that lets users generate and partition flow domains and facilitate the preparation of the geometry for import into their desired CFD tool when running an optimization case with TURBOdesign Optima and 3DLab with either TURBOdesign Link-CCM+ or ANSYS Workbench.— Advanced Design Technology, London, U.K.

www.adtechnology.co.uk

 

CADWorx & Analysis Solutions

CADWorx & Analysis Solutions

Software enables intelligent3-D plant design and modeling

CADWork Structure 2018 (photo) is an integrated CAD modeling structural-design software program. Recently added, easy-to-use enhancements give structural designers and engineers intelligent drawing capabilities and advanced levels of automation. The most recent enhancements include new steel and concrete modeling commands, shape-modeling enhancements, import-export tools and enhancements for modeling shapes, detecting clashes, placing spiral stairs, creating drawing templates and more. This tool allows structural designers and engineers to start modeling right away with its ready-to-use steel and concrete catalogs and assembly templates. The software’s fast processing and highly refined user interface empowers users to work efficiently together on both large and small projects, says the company. — CADWorx & Analysis Solutions, part of Hexagon PPM, Houston

www.hexagonppm.com

 

Keep close track of equipment operation for improved results

The modeling, supervision and remote-control solutions developed by this company combine sensors and software to collect information from machines, and provide detailed reporting of all functions and required intervention, providing data in realtime and storing all the information so it is available in customized reports, listings and graphs that are easy to see and easy to customize. An internal system of alarm management can be completely personalized to user or government agency requirements. These products and solutions are compatible with “Industry 4.0” standards, and are compatible with other systems to gather and centralize data related to production processes and their daily activities, says the company. — CapTemp USA LLC, Windham, N.H.

www.captemp.com

 

Software integrates three water-treatment technologies

Water and wastewater treatment typically involves the use of many treatment technologies to achieve the desired water quality. Optimizing the treatment train can be challenging. The Dow WAVE (Water Application Value Engine) design software integrates three technologies — ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO) and ion exchange (IX) — into one comprehensive tool using a common interface. It is said to simplify the multi-technology design process and ultimately help to reduce the time it takes to design site-specific water-treatment systems. WAVE upgrades the best feature’s of the company’s older, single-technology design software (ROSA, UFLOW, IXCALC and CADIX), while bringing all of these technologies together under one common user-friendly and time-saving interface, and can estimate the performace of UF, RO and IX technologies in water-treatment systems, either individually or in various combinations. The benefits of integrating these three technologies include improved algorithms, true mass balance volumes and flows that reflect changes in density due to temperature, water composition and water compressibility, consistent hydraulic constraints and regeneration parameters, harmonized data management, improved case management and more. — Dow Water & Process Solutions, Edina, Minn.

www.dow.com/wave

 

Protect assets and IT systems from security threats

Using its expertise and several Vulnerability and Software Asset Manager (SAM) solutions, this company provides a standardized, three-pronged approach to help chemical process operators to reduce risk by managing IT security vulnerabilities associated with software and cloud services (including the documented Spectre and Meltdown processor vulnerabilities, which are pervasive and potentially harmful, according to the company). The system helps to determine risk criticality using verified vulnerability intelligence, prioritize remediation of known vulnerabilities based on criticality, and apply patches using a conservative mitigation approach that places an emphasis on testing in controlled environments. — Flexera, Itasca, Ill.

www.flexera.com

 

Micro-Measurements

Micro-Measurements

Software eases strain-data acquisition and calibration

The StrainSmart 9000 dynamic data-acquisition software (photo), launched to support the company’s resistive-foil sensors for high-precision strain and high-stress measurements, allows for the simultaneous sampling of up to 48 channels, at speeds of up to 50,000 samples per second. It offers easy setup and minimal-to-no downtime, says the company. This allows it to perform accurate, realtime data recording, analysis, display and export within just minutes of software setup, with one-touch autobalance and post-processing data filtering. Channel settings within StrainSmart 9000 are performed automatically from sensor properties, largely without manual intervention. Sensor-specific input assignments associated with various strain gages, thermocouples and other sensing types helps to ease mathematical data manipulation. Signal-visualization algorithms within the system provide full graphical representation of channel assignments, for reduced potential connection errors. — Micro-Measurements, Malvern, Pa.

www.micro-measurements.com

 

Advanced digital capabilities improve wet-grinding systems

The SmartPro suite of solutions provide improved process control for the company’s wet-grinding systems. SmartPro Cockpit uploads data into a high-security cloud, allowing seamless data access anytime from any location. To ensure traceability, all data are linked to a manufacturing batch identification. SmartPro Statistics detects changes of defined parameters, which alerts operators if the process performance deviates beyond the target window. The system either creates an alarm messege or adjusts single or complete sets of parameters to optimize production. SmartPro Optimization uses optimization algorithms to help operators assess and manage product properties, such as quality (for instance, particle-size distribution, viscosity and more), and allows the behcnhmarking of processes, machine locaions or even industry competitors. — Bühler Group, Uzwil, Switzerland

www.buhlergroup.com

 

Mohawk Energy

Mohawk Energy

Software advances target downhole design and operation

Working in partnership with Innova Drilling and Intervention, this company offers analysis software to support safe effective drilling, wellhead and rig management. The company’s existing tools, Openhole and ReFrac Liners, are already widely used to monitor and manage in-situ performance of the company’s expandable tubular technology, drill strings, liners and casing under wellbore loads (photo). Meanwhile, Innova’s software offerings allow for realtime analysis of deployment loads, horizontal liner shrinkage, and management of three drilling strings in operation. — Mohawk Energy, Houston

www.mohawkenergy.com

 

Pentair Thermal Management

Pentair Thermal Management

Improved software supports heat-tracing operations

The Raychem XPI-F is the latest addition to this company’s XPI polymer-insulated resistance heat-tracing cables (photo), which are developed to provide freeze protection and temperature maintenance in hazardous environments on long-line applications. This product includes Raychem TraceCalc Pro design software, which provides a step-by-step guide to choosing the best heat-tracing solution to meet the site-specific requirements. The software also provides heat-tracing system design data, such as pipe heat loss, number of circuits, electrical loads, maximum sheath temperatures and more, while providing automated heating cable and component selection solutions. — Pentair Thermal Management, Leuven, Belgium

www.pentairthermal.com

 

 

3D product-design software streamlines manufacturing

The patent-pending TrueSOLID solution delivers multi-part assembly topology optimization, advanced optimization modes and kernal-integrated mesostructures (lattices), to help engineers design ligher, stronger and more efficient products. It works alongside traditional CAD to drive better, faster 3-D manufacturing with fewer errors and lower costs. Its volumetric geometry kernal allows for the blending of indeterminate generative geometry to traditional surface-based CAD with engineering precision. The solution provides greater control over complex geometry, handling intricate and rugged designs and workflows that support additive manufacturing, milling and casting, says the company.— Frustum, Boulder, Colo.

www.frustum.com