December 2019

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× COMMENTARY

Pursuing the potential of hydrogen
Hydrogen’s potential for playing a significant role in the global…

IN THE NEWSNEWSFRONTS

Workforce 4.0: The Human Side of Digital Transformation
As chemical process industries (CPI) companies continue to experiment with,…

The Changing Face of Simulation
Easier-to-use features and simplified integration lead to new applications for…

CHEMENTATOR + Show More

Electro-swing adsorption separates CO2 from mixed gases at any concentration
Effectively separating carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust or directly from…

Machine learning helps achieve a five-fold boost in formaldehyde yield
Chemistry professor Oliver Trapp and his colleagues at the Ludwig…

Lower-cost engineered composites for transportation infrastructure applications
Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are concrete-like materials with exceptional ductility…

Pursuing methanation as a means to recycle CO2
By the end of fiscal 2019, commissioning and continuous operation…

Chementator Briefs
Direct route to PG Dow Inc. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) and…

Geothermal brine may be a new U.S. source of lithium
Currently the U.S. has only one domestic source of lithium,…

This process may produce lithium from borate process waste
Rio Tinto (London, U.K.; www.riotinto.com) will shortly start up a…

A microbe for making chemicals and biofuels from brown algae
A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology…

Novel catalyst for transforming polyethylene into lubricants and waxes
Efficient upcycling of post-consumer plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), is…

Solvent chemistry is key for cleaner oil-sands processing
Petroteq Energy Inc. (Sherman Oaks, Calif.; www.petroteq.energy) has achieved continuous…

BUSINESS NEWS

Plant Watch: December 2019
Plant Watch Wacker starts up new silicon-metal production plant in…

TECHNICAL & PRACTICALFEATURE REPORT

Interpreting Normalized Profitability Metrics
Normalized profitability metrics provide a basis for comparing the efficiency…

Storage Tanks: Snapshots of Failures, Damages and Inspections
Lessons learned from past failures provide insight and know-how needed…

Standard ASME B16.5 Flanges: Bolt Tightening and Target Loads
Using the approach outlined here, piping engineers can select the…

FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Facts at your Fingertips: Agglomeration Processes
Agglomeration converts fine powder particles into larger ones by introducing…

TECHNOLOGY PROFILE

Technology Profile: Ethylene oxide production from ethylene
This column is based on “Ethylene Oxide Production from Ethylene…

ENGINEERING PRACTICE

Selecting the Right Thermodynamic Models for Process Simulation
Software that enables complex processes to be simulated continues to…

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

How a Waste Treatment Plan Can Improve Your Bottom Line
Although waste is unavoidable in industrial processes, many companies are…

EQUIPMENT & SERVICESFOCUS

Focus on Valves
Safe combustible-dust-explosion isolation Isolation is essential to protect adjoining system…

NEW PRODUCTS + Show More

Direct, in-situ assessment of critical catalyst properties
The new in situ catalyst-characterization system (ICCS; photo) delivers high-performance…

Rugged scales handle logistical tasks
The AGB and AGF range of bench and floor scales…

A fully integrated, loop-powered displacement transmitter
The DT-12x Series of transmitters (photo) are loop-powered displacement transmitters…

Intrinsically safe smartwatch for use in hazardous areas
The new Smart-Ex Watch 01 (photo, p. 31) is said…

See filter status in real time with this software solution
This company offers a solution for precise monitoring of the…

A new volumetric feeder for additive dispensing systems
The new VMF-90D volumetric screw feeder (photo) is an automatic…

AI improves asset monitoring and maintenance planning
The Maximo Asset Monitor (photo) is a new remote-monitoring platform…

High-volume twin-screw feeder delivers precision
The Model TSF twin-screw feeder (photo) is designed for precise…

This power supply has a new IO-Link Communication Module
The Pro 2 line of power-supply units (PSU; photo), with…

Data connectors for Ethernet and Profinet
The new, two-piece M8 circular connectors for data transmission (photo)…

Decentralized field unit for measuring water parameters
The modular Online Analysis System for measuring water quality is…

Software for comprehensive pipeline management
PipePatrol (photo) is a comprehensive suite of software modules for…

New technology enables biogas optimization
The MGP261 is a new Ex-certified inline multigas measurement instrument…

New filtration media adds strength and cleanability
Introduced at Filtech (Cologne, Germany; October 22–24), Sinterflo FMC (photo)…

Highlights Looking Beyond Chemical Compatibility Charts: Matching Plastic and Elastomer Seals with Fluids Selecting the Right Thermodynamic Models for Process Simulation Pursuing the potential of hydrogen Storage Tanks: Snapshots of Failures, Damages and Inspections How a Waste Treatment Plan Can Improve Your Bottom Line

Comment

This power supply has a new IO-Link Communication Module

By Chemical Engineering | December 1, 2019

WAGO Kontakttechnik

The Pro 2 line of power-supply units (PSU; photo), with units ranging from 120 to 960 W, can connect to various gateways via a snap-on communication module (currently, IO-Link; Ethernet-based protocols such as Modbus TCP, Ethernet IP, ProfiNet in the future). This selection of standardized protocols ensures convenient and reliable integration into the respective infrastructure. Data from the Pro 2 PSU can be saved and analyzed for energy optimization; the central PLC can switch off distributed PSUs in parts of the system via a hardware signal or bus command in order to activate standby mode to save energy — and with the unit’s monitoring functions, provide information about current power supply or connected load data, and signal errors for seamless application monitoring. This status information, which can be retrieved by the controller at any time, eliminates the need to check the output voltage manually and allows on-time maintenance of the power supply and all connected loads. — WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Minden, Germany

www.wago.com

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