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New Functionality Expands the Value of the HMI
The human machine interface (HMI) is where people and technology meet. Therefore, they are ubiquitous, found everywhere from vending machines to nuclear power plants. The HMIs we’re familiar with first appeared in 1981. However, in today’s economy, with end users wary about investing in upgrades or plant expansion, HMI manufacturers have had to add features to their products that can meet a new set of needs, such as greater compliance with environmental regulations and security.
According to Claire Cerrato, director of HMI/SCADA product management, GE FANUC Intelligent Platforms, “The customer trends driving evolution in the HMI/SCADA environment are secure access to information anywhere, low cost of ownership and new regulatory and security compliance requirements. Companies are demanding the ability to manage data from the plant floor to the enterprise with solutions that can operate independently or in a fully integrated way. HMI/SCADA solutions now need to drive easy access to information from the plant floor to the remote site, whether users are in an operational center or on a mobile access device. You will see your information anytime, anywhere in a secure end-to-end system. HMI/SCADA will be the ‘advisor’ that presents that data about process, production and logistics to improve decision-making and maximize plant operations.”
End users can look for additional features in their HMIs such as HMI-PLC functionality, greater use of graphics, easier configuration tools, Internet access and extra memory from low-end HMI dedicated terminals to high-end industrial computer-based HMIs.
Patti Pool
Products Editor
ppool@putman.net
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MONITOR VIDEO INPUT Christensen Display Products 425/222-3800 www.christensendisplay.com Industrial flat panel monitors are now available with a direct NTSC video input capability. Live video input simplifies system architecture. Where the application calls for a remote camera monitor, CCTV video display or other live video, a direct monitor input eliminates a PC or other third party video conversion devices. Monitors are available in 15 in., 18 in. and 19 in. in a variety of configurations. |
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MONITOR INVENTORY IN BULK SOLIDS Monitor Technologies 800/766-6486 www.monitortech.com SiloPatrol SE Model HMI is environmentally hardened for outside installation and can monitor inventory level measurements of up to 16 sensors, one in each silo. Connection between the HMI and sensors is a single twisted-pair RS485 communications cable. The HMI provides for automatic and manual measurement updates and can convert the basic distance measurement in each silo to level, volume, weight and %-full based on user input data. Display of data is via a multi-line backlit display. |
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TRI-COLOR BARGRAPH OTEK Corp. 877/227-6835 www.otekcorp.com Model HI-QTBS programmable intelligent controller offers a 101 automatic tricolor bargraph that changes color as signal changes and 6-digit display with 6 alarm annunciators, RS232/422/485 I/O, analog (2) and relays (4) outputs, power inputs of 5, 8-32 V dc or 90-265 V ac and signal inputs for V/mA dc and true rms, TC, RTD, strain gage, 4-20 mA, ohms, ORP, pH, event, time and Hz. Enclosed in an explosion-proof housing, it is approved for Class I, II and III, CENELEC, EEx and NEMA 4, 7 and 9 for applications in petrochemical, ordinance, mining and pharmaceutical. The EP case withstands temperatures up to 250 ºF and is panel, pipe or wall mount. |
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MISSION-CRITICAL HMI Vista Control Systems 505/662-3956 www.vista-control.com Vsystem Historian records 8 million 32-bit values per second continuously and with the HMI portion, Vdraw, displays selected data on a chart at 1 KHz data rate per tag. Vsystem licenses are not tag limited. With support for many computer operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Solaris and OpenVMS, VSystem allows use of trusted operating systems for mission-critical functions and popular operating systems for other functions. |
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TOUCH SCREEN |
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GRAPHIC TOUCH SCREEN |
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PROGRAMMING AND HMI IN ONE |
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OPERATOR PANEL |
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COMPACT GUI |
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CONTROL PANELS |
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PLANT FLOOR VISUALIZATION |
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HMI APPLICATION |
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REMOTE AIR PILOT VALVE Spartan Scientific 330/758-8466 www.spartanscientific.com Series APV-10 2-way, 2-position, air- piloted valve can be controlled by either a 3-way, 4-way solenoid valve or a hand pilot valve. Its media-separated, reciprocating piston operator controls, air, fluids, fluid emulsions, water or any other medium compatible with the valve body materials. It is suitable for any application involving media control of solvents, water, water with suspended particles and coolants. NO, NC and double-acting versions available. The bronze body is available in ½-in. to 2-in. NPT port sizes. Specific models can handle operating pressures from 0 to 235 psi. Temperature range is -20 ºC to 80 ºC; flow range, 4.7 to 60.5 Cv. |
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SANITARY CONDUCTIVITY SENSOR Emerson Process Management 800/854-8257 www.EmersonProcess.com PUR-Sense Model 410 VP is a four-electrode contacting sensor designed for sanitary applications. It is made from FDA-compliant materials, meets 3A and EHEDG hygienic standards and is available in a range of sanitary process connections. Typical applications include monitoring the concentration of highly conductivity fluids such as clean-in-place solvents and low-conductivity rinses. It can also monitor effluents in chromatographic separations and detect liquid interfaces, all with the same sensor. |
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TEMPERATURE/PROCESS CONTROLLER Love Controls Division, Dwyer Instruments 800/872-9141 www.dwyer-inst.com Series 32B temperature/process controller supports 64 temperature and time (ramp/soak) control actions. Dual-loop output control allows simultaneous heating and cooling control. An additional alarm output is standard with 13 preprogrammed alarm functions. The second output can also be configured as an alarm function. Output status, alarm status, engineering units and auto-tuning are indicated on the front panel. Series 32B offers RS485 communication and supports up to 247 addresses. |
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FLOW/LEVEL SWITCH FCI 800/854-1993 www.fluidcomponents.com FlexSwitch FLT flow and level switch provides monitoring, controlling and alarming on flow rates or critical fluids such as water, air, gases, coolants and lubricants used in metals and material processing and equipment, in one, dual-function instrument. Available in both insertion and in-line styles for pipe or tube installation, a single FLT measures and monitors flow or level and temperature simultaneously. Flow range in water is from 0.01 FPS to 3.0 FPS. Temperature range is up to 350 ºF with optional versions up to 850 ºF. |
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FLOW/LEVEL SWITCH FCI 800/854-1993 www.fluidcomponents.com FlexSwitch FLT flow and level switch provides monitoring, controlling and alarming on flow rates or critical fluids such as water, air, gases, coolants and lubricants used in metals and material processing and equipment, in one, dual-function instrument. Available in both insertion and in-line styles for pipe or tube installation, a single FLT measures and monitors flow or level and temperature simultaneously. Flow range in water is from 0.01 FPS to 3.0 FPS. Temperature range is up to 350 ºF with optional versions up to 850 ºF. |
| HARSH DUTY SENSORS TURCK 800/544-7769 www.turck.com Stainless steel, front-face sensors use one-piece construction for the barrel and sensing face, delivering an IP68 and IP 69K protection rating against moisture and fluid ingress. This enables the sensors to be used in areas where oil, lubricants and chemical washdowns occur, such as food and beverage applications. |
For an exclusive review of Aruba Network’s new AP-85 outdoor wireless network access point, see page 31 in the Q1 2008 issue of Industrial Networking that accompanied this issue or browse to industrialnetworking.net/aruba.
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