To make power monitoring tasks more efficient and controllable, Advantech provides a series of power meter modules, PME series, a range of RS-485 multifunction, and multiphase power meters for a range of sub-metering applications.

The PME series includes three models categorized by their functionality: the PME-1130 is a 3-phase KW & KWH energy meter; the PME-1210 is a 1-phase multifunction power meter and the PME-1230 is a 3-phase multifunction power meter. With their small form factor, the PME series are ideal for fitting in to small cabinets where the LED display can show the voltage, current, kw, kwh, kvarh and pf information accurately and instantly.

The RS-485 interface allows for the support of the modbus protocol and connection to any computer system or controller. This allows for seamless integration with controllers, such as the Advantech BEMG-4000 series. The combination of energy gateways (BEMG-4221 and BEMG-4222) and power meter series (PME-1200 series) has built an excellent energy monitoring system and ensures the accuracy of power monitoring in a wide variety of buildings such as offices, hotels, factories, campuses, and residential areas.

'Advantech Introduces New Range of Multiphase, Multifunction Power Meters – PME-1200 Series'

The robust GO Range now provides a more compact and reliable solution for automating heavy duty valve applications found in the gathering, transmission, compression and storage of gas.

Re-designed to provide longer and more efficient service in the harshest of environments with the minimum of maintenance, the new generation of Rotork GO actuators has undergone an important upgrade, including streamlined manufacturing and product improvements. As a result GO actuators are now lighter, more compact and incorporate advanced changes to functional specifications. The improved modular design enables the smallest number of components to meet a wide variety of valve torque and control requirements.

The GO range uses the pipeline gas as the motive power source. The gas is delivered to oil tanks that convert the gas into hydraulic pressure and this pressurised hydraulic oil is used to drive industry-preferred Rotork scotch-yoke quarter-turn or linear valve actuators. A complete range of sizes is now available to suit virtually any valve size or class.

Using pressurised oil as the driving force provides powerful and smooth actuator control and isolates the cylinder from the pipeline gas. This prevents contaminants from entering the hydraulic cylinder, eliminating corrosion and seal deterioration and extending actuator life.

At the centre of the gas-over-oil system, the multi-function manifold block integrates gas control functions to facilitate a wide range of valve control options. Standard gas control systems are complemented with optional equipment designed by Rotork Fluid Systems for functions including Line Break, Low Pressure Close, High Differential Inhibit and Emergency Shutdown (ESD). In all cases operation is simple and intuitive.

Rotork GO range - gas-over-oil pipeline valve actuators

This certification has been provided by exida, a certification and research firm specializing in safety critical/high availability automation systems, control system security, and alarm management. exida’s main offices are located in Sellersville, PA, USA and Munich, Germany.

Velan announces SIL 3 certification for Torqseal® triple offset valve

Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, announced that version 10 of its Triconex® Tricon® controller has been approved for use in safety-related nuclear power plant instrument and control applications by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) dated April 12, 2012, the NRC indicates that the latest version of the Tricon controller can now be used in safety-related (1E) applications, like reactor protection systems, in U.S. nuclear power plants and U.S. Department of Energy facilities that require licensing or oversight by the NRC. It is the first controller from a dedicated automation vendor to achieve such certification from the NRC and it remains the only triple-modular-redundant system to be qualified.

“The Triconex Tricon system is extremely important to us as we continue to migrate to digital technology, while providing safe, clean, reliable power to our customers in California,” said Scott Patterson, program manager for I&C obsolescence for Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in San Luis Obispo, Calif. “Partnering with Invensys, an automation vendor whose core competency is safety systems, gives us an additional layer of protection as we upgrade older safety-related equipment. NRC certification means we can move forward with modernizing and optimizing our plants to ensure their continuous safe operation. We are confident this technology will enhance future upgrades and new designs, as well as ease the licensing process.”

"In 2002, the NRC certified an earlier version of our Tricon controller, and since that time we have made a number enhancements,” said Clayton Scott, chief nuclear officer, Invensys Operations Management. “We sought this unprecedented second certification so that we can continue to deliver the industry’s most reliable safety controller, helping our customers produce the safest, most reliable energy possible. Enabled by our Triconex technology, our nuclear customers can now apply Tricon controllers in both their existing fleet and new builds. This certification will be of tremendous value to the fleet of U.S. nuclear plants that require modernization. It also sets a new standard for control and safety excellence for the global nuclear industry.”