DS Refrigerant Dryers Reduce Energy Consumption

Boge has brought out a range of energy-saving refrigerant dryers. The DS series features components used in compressed-air drying. Optimally dimensioned components assure reliability and efficiency, even in the most demanding conditions. The DS series dryers also constantly adapt to changes in ambient and volume flow to ensure dry compressed air is always delivered. At the same time the intelligent heat-exchanger system creates a lower pressure drop when compared with conventional systems.

This low-pressure drop means that the compressor generation pressure can be reduced, with each 1 bar pressure reduction translating into a six per cent energy saving. By ensuring the lowest possible pressure loss, a high level of energy efficiency can be achieved. As the energy consumption of the compressor is greater than the dryer, these savings have a much larger impact and so increase the efficiency of the compressor. It is estimated that over a five-year operating period the purchase price of a compressed-air dryer accounts for only about a third of the total cost.

A third of all costs are spent on the electricity required to run the dryer for five years. A further third is consumed over a five-year period by the compressor in order to overcome the dryer’s pressure drop. With the Boge DS series, lowest possible pressure losses reduce energy consumption year on year, impacting on the associated electricity used year on year. The DS dryer control continuously adapts the dryer operation to the real operating conditions. This ensures continual energy saving.

The new DS series dryers are compact and have been designed for ease of maintenance. The DS series has a standard 3C pressure dew point and a flow capacity from 7.5 to 180m3/min. The range is environmentally friendly, emits zero ODP and low GWP and is Montreal Protocol compliant.

Pan-And-Tilt Positioner Integrates Electronics

Aerotech has launched a pan-and-tilt positioner with integrated drives and motion controls for high-end camera security, surveillance and defence applications. The APT series includes built-in electronics using the company’s Ensemble MP series of motion controls and brushless servomotor drives for a completely integrated design with top- or side-mount camera bracket and housing mounted connectors for camera, 24-80VDC power and Ethernet control.

A slip ring mounted in the base of the unit transfers power, motor signal and camera connections through the assembly, enabling a continuous 360 rotation of the pan axis and a tilt-axis travel range of +/-95. The overall specification for the standard APT-100 model is position resolution of 7.6 arc seconds and accuracy to 120 arc seconds. Repeatability is 30 arc seconds for bidirectional positioning and 10 arc seconds for unidirectional positioning. Maximum speed in both axes is up to 180 per second. The APT-100 has a 625mm diametrical footprint clearance and an overall height of less than 352mm.

With a payload rating of 35kg, the complete assembly is built for high reliability and low maintenance with a black anodised finish and optional sealing to IP66 ratings for harsh environments. The worm wheel drive mechanism includes a self-adjusting gear preload feature that ensures consistent positioning performance over the life of the product. The standard unit may be application customised for increased tilt-stage travel, increased payload or alternative camera mounting.

Aerotech can provide an inertial stabilisation option, fitting gyroscopes and sensors to maintain ‘line of sight’ when the unit is operated on moving platforms such as aircraft, ships and land vehicles. The version of the company’s Ensemble MP multi-axis motion controller built into the APT-100 has a standard 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port to communicate to a PC or other Ethernet device. The Windows-based Integrated Development Environment software package takes care of setup, programming upload/download, diagnostics and auto-tuning.

The Ensemble may be programmed with Aerotech’s Aerobasic or using Microsoft .Net tools for C#, VB.Net and managed C++ or with Labview VIs. The Ensemble may be permanently connected to a main control system via Ethernet or operate in standalone mode using its complement of digital and analogue I/O for control interfacing.

Nitrogen Generators Cut Costs Of Food Packaging

Phil Green, at Parker Hannifin’s industrial division, explains how the latest nitrogen-generation technology can help food and beverage companies increase their operational efficiency and cut costs. Nitrogen is used in food-and-drink manufacturing, processing and packaging for a range of industrial applications, from modified-atmosphere packaging for perishable-food products to blanketing alcoholic drinks to prevent oxidation.

However, while nitrogen is all around us, making up 78 per cent of the air we breathe, obtaining a ready supply of the gas can be problematic and expensive. Typically, food and beverage businesses use supply methods such as high-pressure cylinders, liquid mini tanks or bulk-storage vessels. Each of these options introduces a range of problems that need to be solved. There is the need to source a reliable supplier, set aside valuable space in or outside the company’s premises and install and maintain the network of pipe-work.

The cost of addressing these logistical issues can be high and difficult to budget for, while the price of gas and supplier rates are changing continually. One potential solution lies in a new range of gas-generation systems that enable users to produce their own supply of nitrogen onsite. As a result, companies can generate as much or as little nitrogen as they need, at a fraction of the cost of having the gas delivered by an external supplier. These integrated systems, such as the Midigas and Maxigas ranges from Parker Hannifin, use a principle known as pressure swing adsorption (PSA) to produce a continuous stream of nitrogen.

Pre-treated air from a standard industrial compressor is essentially ’sieved’ so that oxygen and other trace gases are adsorbed while nitrogen is allowed to pass through. While using a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) for air separation is not a new idea, the radical design and control system employed on these latest nitrogen generators has maximised gas output and reduced compressed-air consumption to achieve even higher levels of efficiency than were previously achievable. Being able to control the nitrogen supply in this way, as opposed to having to rely on a third party, can reduce costs considerably.

Unlike cylinders, liquid mini-tanks and bulk-storage vessels – which present rental, refill, delivery, environmental levy and order-processing costs – once a nitrogen-generation system has been purchased, the ongoing costs can be reduced by more than 90 per cent when compared with traditional methods of supply.

If a company using liquid nitrogen was to switch to gas-generation technology, it could expect the new system to pay for itself in less than two years, while for a company using cylinders, the payback period could be even sooner – less than 12 months in many cases. In addition to the cost benefits, nitrogen-generation units offer a more convenient solution than sourcing gas externally and storing it onsite. The latest compact systems can be installed quickly, easily and at minimum cost and disruption, simply requiring a pre-treated compressed-air stream to start producing nitrogen. With no need to transport or contain the gas, the environmental impact of using nitrogen for industrial processes can be minimised, while the new systems can also make the workplace considerably safer for employees, eliminating the safety risks of storing, handling and changing heavy high-pressure cylinders.

Generating its own nitrogen on-site puts a food or beverage company in control of its gas supply, producing as much or as little gas as needed and at a consistent, measurable cost. This more-efficient nitrogen supply is a flexible solution to a company’s changing gas needs, as the modular design of the latest systems means that extra banks can be added as required at minimum cost. Furthermore, to guarantee 100 per cent back up and secure the supply when routine maintenance on one set of systems is required, additional banks of units can be quickly and easily setup onsite. A large US-based coffee packager that was using nitrogen delivered in liquid form to displace the oxygen in its packs of coffee and prolong shelf life decided to install banks of nitrogen-generation units at its site.

The improvements were immediate; the company no longer needed to worry about late deliveries, fluctuating prices, de-icing the evaporator or signing long-term supply contracts. Most importantly, the company expects to save more than USD100,000 per year after a payback period of four years. With the system providing a service life of more than 15 years, the cost savings should be substantial. By eliminating the problems and costs associated with sourcing nitrogen from an external supplier and storing it onsite, companies can achieve a considerably more reliable, efficient and affordable source of gas for a wide range of applications.

Marathon Announces Availability Of 1000V CE Rated Products For Solar & Wind Power Applications

Marathon Special Products, an industry leader in electrical/electronic components, is pleased to announce availability of 1,000V AC/DC rated products for Solar, Wind Power and other industrial and commercial applications. Marathon’s Power Distribution Blocks, Fuse Holders and Terminal Blocks have been evaluated and rated to IEC 60947-1 and the appropriate IEC component standards. In addition, Marathon’s Power Distribution Blocks, Fuse Holders and Terminal Blocks are compliant to UL 1741 for use with Flexible Stranded Wires.

“Availability of 1000V AC/DC rated products allows customers to comply with CE/IEC standards and exploit Marathon’s shortest industry lead-times to serve end users effectively” said Vijay Chahar, Marathon’s Vice President and General Manager. Most of Marathon’s products are UL rated for multiple wires and can be supplied in many configurations including Finger Safe Power Distribution Blocks (IEC 60529), Din Rail and panel mounting. Marathon’s products are manufactured in United States of America.

Marathon Special Products, headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio, has been an industry leader in electrical/electronic components designed for circuit protection and connection applications for over 60 years. Our market focus is major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Electrical Panel Builders. We reach our customers using a broad network of Electrical and Electronic Distributors. Our product offering includes Fuse Holders for power fuses, Power Distribution Blocks, Single and Double Row Terminal Blocks, Heavy Duty Terminal Blocks, NEMA and DIN Sectional Terminal Blocks.

Our recent addition of Enclosed Power Distribution Blocks provides touch proof safety for electrical panels. Marathon also has high Short Circuit Current Ratings for a number of our Terminal Blocks, along with approval for flexible stranded wire per UL508A. Marathon’s products are also used in combiner boxes and inverters for the solar and wind power applications. In addition, we have the expertise to design and manufacture custom products for specific customer applications. Marathon Special Products is a division of Regal-Beloit Corporation.

Bulgin Offers Bluetooth Cable Replacement Products

Bulgin’s self-pairing Bluetooth cable replacement products eliminate data cables and allow equipment with RS485 or RS232 data ports to communicate using wireless Bluetooth technology. The company’s PX0885 enclosure, which is IP68 rated and environmentally sealed, protects against dust and moisture, meaning that the units can be used in harsh or hostile applications. The enclosure can be mounted internally or externally for maximum flexibility and optimum range.

Wireless point-to-point or multi-drop data connections can be made between serial interfaces or dumb devices and they work transparently without any need for a PC, a PLC or Bluetooth software. Master and slave units automatically establish a data link between themselves; no intervention or special serial commands are required, enabling fast and cost-effective cable replacement or data network extension, according to Bulgin.

The master automatically connects with up to six slave units to form a multi-drop network. The communication baud rate, parity, stop bits and flow control can be reconfigured using a downloadable software application. Half- and full-duplex RS232, RS422 (four-wire) and RS485 (two-wire) modes can be selected. Factory default settings are ‘9600, N, 8, 1′ without flow control and the products will self connect and work straight out of the box without any intervention or adjustment.

Typical applications include: wireless metering and telemetry; temporary and permanent installations; water industry; environmental monitoring; energy management; factory monitoring; plant and machinery; transport/traffic systems; and vehicle communications between tractor and trailer. These units can be used when cables are difficult, impractical or expensive to install, such as between different buildings, between walls or floors around other obstructions or in open field sites.

With a wireless communication range of up to 100m, significant savings could be made over a hard-wired solution in terms of installation time, disruption and cost. An interface connector adapter board, PX0884, provides screw terminals for connection to serial data lines and power supply and an industry-standard RS232 9-D connector. DIP switches allow the selection of RS232/RS485 and half-/full-duplex modes and the alteration of 9-D connector pin-out for DTE or DCE compatibility.

Carbon Model Studio Released For Amba Designer

Carbon Design Systems has announced the availability of Carbon Model Studio for ARM’s Amba Designer software, which is used to create implementation-accurate models of Amba interconnect fabric. Used with Amba Designer, Carbon Model Studio enables a designer to configure and create a model of complex Amba interconnect and then utilise that model in any virtual platform or SystemC-based environment.

Carbon Model Studio for Amba Designer now delivers the same capability to designers who do not need to create models of their own register transfer level (RTL) code but who still need 100 per cent accuracy for their architectural decisions. It leverages Carbon’s Model Studio to compile Amba interconnect RTL code directly into a software model that can be used in any virtual platform environment.

Carbon powers the IP-Xact definition created by ARM’s Amba Designer to automatically compile a model of the interconnect fabric using Carbon Model Studio. Carbon Model Studio for Amba Designer is available immediately. Pricing starts at USD10,000 (GBP6,260).

Juki Corporation, a provider of automated assembly products and systems, has announced that Juki Americas will hold two training courses in November. The first course will focus on KE-2050/60/70/80/FX1/FX3 series programming and operations and is scheduled to take place on 3-6 November 2009 at the company’s California branch in Fremont. Another course will specialise in KE-2050/60-FX 1 series service and calibration, which is scheduled to take place on 17-20 November 2009 at the same location.

The courses are designed to provide operators with operation, routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting skills. It includes classroom, lecture and hands-on training on the systems. The content is mostly the same as the training provided on site when a machine is first installed. The training courses are for personnel responsible for the daily setup, operations and programming of the machines. The courses are particularly suitable for new operators who need a little extra training.

Prerequisites for the courses include knowledge of basic SMT concepts and components and familiarity with Microsoft Windows. There is no charge for attendance at any regularly scheduled training course at Juki facilities with the purchase of any machine purchased from the company. Also included with the purchase of the machine are free machine software upgrades for the life of the machine and free 24-hour phone support.

Mill-Max has introduced threading and tapping capabilities (in metric and inch sizes) for implementation on custom socket receptacles. For specialised applications requiring a non-soldered, field-replaceable interconnect, such as a socket location terminated on a metal plate, threaded or tapped pin receptacles can offer a solution. Tapping the interior back-hole of a receptacle allows for the screw attachment of threaded mating pins.

The company can provide design solutions for both threaded pins and matching tapped receptacle (or vice versa) for field-replaceable interconnect applications. Mill-Max receptacles are precision machined using brass alloy 360 1/2 hard, which offers conductive and thermal properties. Every receptacle is press-fit assembled with a beryllium copper contact, available in 36 different sizes to accept a range of mating pins measuring 0.008in to 0.102in (0.2mm to 2.59mm) in diameter.

ON Semiconductor Unveils CMOS Process Technology

ON Semiconductor has expanded its custom foundry capabilities with the launch of an industry-compatible 0.18-micron CMOS process technology platform. The ONC18 process is a suitable platform for developing low-power and highly integrated digital and mixed-signal application-specific integrated-circuit (ASIC) devices for automotive, industrial and medical applications.

The ONC18-based solutions will be manufactured at the company’s 8in (20cm) wafer fabrication facility in Gresham, Oregon, so the process is also expected to benefit designers of US military applications seeking domestic production with ITAR-compliant partners. Suitable for ASICs requiring up to 10 M gates, the ONC18 process features between four and six levels of metal and allows designers to integrate 1.8V core voltage with 1.8V and 3.3V input/output (I/O).

Components for mixed-signal design include a variety of resistors and nominal (1.0 femtofarad per micron squared [fF/um2]) and high-value (2.0fF/um2) stackable metal-insulator-metal capacitors. This base process supports modular 0.18-micron BCD and high-voltage roadmap. ON Semiconductor’s new process is supported by a design kit offering core, I/O and memory libraries. Gate densities and power consumptions for high-density core and mixed-signal core cells are 124 K gates/mm2 and 46uW/MHz per gate and 120 K gates/mm2 and 28uW/MHz per gate respectively. Memory options include 1.1Mbit synchronous single-port and 512Kbit dual-port SRAM and 1.1Mbit high-density, low-leakage VIA-programmable ROM.

Future development for the ONC18 platform will enable the company to launch enhanced mixed-signal capabilities and options for higher-voltage handling. The process design methodology is compatible with common digital and analogue/mixed signal computer-aided-design tools, including those from Cadence, Synopsys and Mentor Graphics. ON Semiconductor services, such as advanced die stitching and shuttle services for prototyping, are also available for ONC18-based designs.

TDK-Lambda Launches RFE1000 Power Supplies

TDK-Lambda has introduced 1kW embedded 1U-high single-output AC-DC power supplies for standalone and distributed power architecture applications requiring 24V, 32V and 48V bulk power. Up to 20 per cent output voltage adjustment is possible, enabling the RFE1000 series to be used in a variety of customer-specific applications, including battery charging.

Operating from a universal input of 85VAC to 265VAC, typical applications for the RFE1000 supplies include communications, factory automation and radio-frequency amplifiers. Efficiency of up to 89 per cent minimises heat dissipation. The RFE1000-24 ,-32 and -48 power supplies can be used individually or up to eight units can be connected in parallel to form an N+1 redundant power system with optional OR’ing diodes.

Each power supply has variable-speed cooling fans and can operate in temperatures ranging from 0C to +70C. The RFE has a power density of 10.5W/in3 with dimensions of 305 x 127 x 41mm. AC input is via a terminal block and DC output is via M5 studs. Auxiliary outputs are via a JST-type 12-way connector. Over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature protection are standard features and, for system monitoring, there are opto-isolated signals for DC OK, AC fail and over-temperature warning with a rear-panel light-emitting-diode (LED) indicator for DC OK.

Remote on/off control and remote sense features also come as standard. Other standard features include single-wire current sharing and an auxiliary 12V 0.25A output with a built-in OR’ing diode. As well as being EN55022 and FCC compliant (achieving Class B conducted and radiated emission), the RFE1000 series meets UL/EN 60950-1 safety approvals and carries the CE mark. Harmonic correction meets the EN61000-3-2 standard and the power supplies are backed by a two-year warranty.