Control Automation Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

01/04/2021 Hannover Fair, 12-16 April: the virtual exhibition Although hoping for a mixed digital and in-person event in 2021, the organisers of the Hannover Fair admitted that the COVID pandemic has forced them to rule out an in-person event. Rather than cancel, it has gone ahead with a digital-only ... » Read More

31/03/2021 Out of the cold As this is being written in February, the UK has vaccinated more than 15 million people. One factor that should not be underestimated in that successful roll-out is the cold chain. Many of the vaccinations given so far have been the ... » Read More

25/03/2021 Bubbles bite: the trouble with cavitation Cavitation involves the formation and collapse of micro-bubbles in a liquid, causing erosion and damage to pipework and pump impellers. This article first explores why cavitation occurs and how it damages components. It then looks at how ... » Read More

18/03/2021 Sharing the land - a new approach for development Warwick-based property development company AC Lloyd has entered into a novel agreement with a local landowner, the Alscot Estate, offset the environmental effects of a new housing development, reports Will Dalrymple » Read More

16/03/2021 Are pumps missing in climate action? BPMA argues for their inclusion The UK Government has announced a ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution covering clean energy, transport, nature, and innovative technologies. The blueprint is intended to allow the UK to wipe out its contribution to climate ... » Read More

11/03/2021 Small bore, big problem: a guide to prevent corrosion in tubing More delicate than pipework, small-bore tubing can still resist even highly corrosive offshore environments, if the right materials are specified and installed properly. If not, damage can lead to dangerous and costly leaks. By Deborah ... » Read More

10/03/2021 Automating selective electroplating Quality, speed and reliability is paramount to power generation component repairs. These requirements can be met by automation. Powell Electrical Systems of the USA reduced its process time to electroplate copper bus bars. By Derek Kilgore ... » Read More

04/03/2021 What goes up... A familiar part of industrial and commercial landscapes, gasholders – large and expandable tanks that hold natural gas for domestic consumption – are now being taken down across the country. One gas network explains how it’s done. By Will ... » Read More

23/02/2021 My weir runneth over An advanced computing system aims to improve utilities’ ability to detect blockages that might otherwise lead to sewage pollution incidents, reports Toby Clark » Read More

23/02/2021 Blow me down The ultimate aim for a blower system used in industrial effluent treatment plants is to provide total reliability and guaranteed continuity of process operations. It should combine optimum performance with protection of the process, the ... » Read More

19/02/2021 The dual-channel principle Through a new approach to sensor information transfer, manufacturer Leuze explains how modern digital connectivity is changing the nature of electronics control. » Read More

18/02/2021 Principles of land remediation Revised Environment Agency guidance has not changed the process of planning the remediation of contaminated land or watercourses, but it has put a greater emphasis on competence and the role of sustainability » Read More

18/02/2021 Spill stop While there is no perfect way to treat large oil spills, a number of techniques have proven effective in mopping up much of them » Read More

11/02/2021 Thermal imaging to pinpoint methane leaks Methane is roughly 30 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide – which has made detecting and tackling the massive leakages across the oil & gas industry ever more urgent, reports Brian Wall » Read More

11/02/2021 Preventing steam boiler failures With as many as a quarter of steam boilers failing their annual inspection, what should engineers be doing to improve the pass rate, asks Steed Webzell » Read More

04/02/2021 Artificial intelligence: thinking IT out loud Sealing solutions provider Trelleborg explains some of its projects in the emerging areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning and the benefits of the technology to industry » Read More

04/02/2021 Proactive plate heat exchanger maintenance Regardless of industry, engineers are finding themselves tasked with doing more with less. This has led some to adopt a run-to-failure approach to their equipment. But this approach could prove costly. By Andrew Peacock, service manager, ... » Read More

28/01/2021 Greener concrete With many concrete mixes substituting portland cement (PC) for other cementitious materials, such as fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slag to reduce their carbon footprint, are we entering a new era of ultra-low carbon concrete? ... » Read More

28/01/2021 Stage V engines in construction A major change in the legislation on mobile plant engines is coming this year. The EU Stage V emissions requirements will mandate dramatic reductions in pollutants such as particulates and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), for plant of almost any ... » Read More

28/01/2021 Holding all of the cards Skills passports offer direction for strategically minded technicians and evidence of aptitude for employers. No wonder then, of their growing popularity. By Steed Webzell » Read More

21/01/2021 The uses of ultrasound inspection Ultrasound is especially good at early detection of bearing faults, lubricant condition, leaks, discharge in electrical systems and steam trap monitoring. Unlike vibration analysis, it generally doesn’t require detailed knowledge of the ... » Read More

21/01/2021 Discharging your duties - chemical effluent sensors Chemical sensors can highlight potential risks with discharged water and whether environmental standards are being met. How do these technologies work in practice and what are their limitations? By Brian Wall » Read More

20/01/2021 Sulzer-led award-winning project improves performance and control of sewage ... The Forward Flow Project, instigated by Anglian Water, looks at the flows in a station or between a network of pumping stations and was developed to include a management tool that would improve the availability and efficiency of the ... » Read More

14/01/2021 Measuring access platform safety A new report from a trade association brings together, for the first time, reports of incidents and accidents involving powered access platforms. The data pinpoints the key safety risks of these ever-more essential site machines » Read More

14/01/2021 Engineering the world’s fastest tractor British agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer JCB markets a brand of fast tractors called Fastrac that can travel up to 43mph. While at that speed even a large field will whip by, it was still not fast enough for a young ... » Read More