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.
07/06/2010
Pumped up and potent
Choosing the right pump can be hit-and-miss, as plant engineers seek to escape issues such as over-sizing and over-engineering. Steed Webzell investigates
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07/06/2010
The heat is on
There is a world of difference between art, black art and science, but thermal cameras are ready to move from the former to the latter. Brian Tinham explains
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01/03/2010
Wasting away
The Carbon Trust reckons that UK companies are still wasting €1 billion worth of energy per year, largely due to unresolved plant optimisation issues and inefficiencies in energy generation plant itself. Brian Wall reports on ways ...
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01/03/2010
Sensing invisible hazards
There is a new state-of-the-art in toxic and flammable gas sensor technologies that changes the art of what's possible. Dr Tom Shelley reports
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01/03/2010
Pump prediction
Modern non-invasive motor condition monitoring equipment is proving its worth at Wessex Water. Brian Tinham talks to operational services manager Dave Durkin
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01/03/2010
Latent heating
As UK government ups the ante on going green and slashing emissions, air- and ground-source heat pumps are rearing their heads again. Brian Tinham examines the issues
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01/03/2010
Got what it takes?
As engineers and training providers alike seek independent assessment of competence, SOE
is seeking some additional assessors, interviewers and mentors. Brian Tinham explains
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01/03/2010
Game,set and match
The famous Wimbledon sliding roof is often held up as a triumph of engineering ingenuity. Brian Tinham takes us behind the scenes, with its designers
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01/03/2010
Fixing maintenance
Properly implemented, maintenance management systems can help transform the efficiency of plant engineering departments. Steed Webzell reports on what makes best practice
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01/03/2010
CV Operator show
There are good reasons for plant engineers to get to this year's CV Operator Show - particularly if your responsibilities include mobile equipment. Brian Tinham explains.
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01/03/2010
Now is the time for action
Life-long learning' used to be the term; now it's 'continuing professional development' (CPD). What's in a name? Both emphasise the importance of continuously enhancing our knowledge throughout our careers.
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01/03/2010
Automatic for the people
REM probably didn't have plant automation on their minds when they released that album in 1992, but computing for the masses is reinvigorating control, writes Brian Tinham
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01/03/2010
Hose pump distils solution
Plant engineers at whisky manufacturer Chivas Regal say they selected a Verderflex Dura 10 peristaltic hose pump for a lime-dosing water treatment
application at the Glenlivet plant, because of its suitability for dosing abrasive and ...
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01/03/2010
Choppers cut Severn Trent costs
Vaughan chopper pumps, supplied by P&M Pumps, have cut costs caused by unplanned maintenance at Severn Trent Water's Netheridge, Gloucester
treatment works, and are now also achieving significant savings on energy consumption.
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01/03/2010
Corus opens doors on high power gearboxes
Hybrid gearboxes, installed to open and close fume capture doors at Corus steelworks' iron desulphurisation plant in Scunthorpe, have proved
themselves strong, durable and capable of very high torque, despite low energy input.
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01/03/2010
Steelworks saves thousands on bearings
Savings of a staggering _372,558 per annum are being reported on an annealing process line accumulator sheave at a major UK steelworks, following
bespoke redesign of the bearing assembly.
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01/03/2010
Dry ice cuts machine maintenance by 60%
By turning to cryogenic (dry ice) cleaning, fruit pre-packer Turners PPL reckons it has cut the time to strip down, clean, refurbish and reassemble its weighing and packing machines from five days to two - an amazing 60%.
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01/01/2010
When old meets new
When it comes to refurbishing plant, it makes a lot of sense to consider its operating conditions today, not just those when it was installed. Brian Tinham takes sound
engineering advice from David Bates
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01/01/2010
Steam sensation
The technology behind last year's record-breaking steam car has been shrouded in mystery. Brian Tinham gets project manager Matt Candy to reveal all
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01/01/2010
Seeing is preventing
An ability to anticipate mechanical breakdowns before they impact plant performance can be invaluable in minimising unplanned downtime. Dr Tom Shelley reports
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01/01/2010
Not just hot air
With the announcement late last year that Atlas Copco compressors can now recover 100% of their energy input, Peter Lattaway provides in-depth insight into the technology
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01/01/2010
Maintec 2010 show
Getting maintenance right, and squeezing that bit extra out of existing and new plant, is the name of the game for 2010. Brian Wall suggests taking a day at Maintec 2010
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01/01/2010
Hone your skills
Like a finely tuned instrument, investing in training and continuing professional development for plant engineers helps them to perform their roles with greater speed, accuracy and precision. Brian Wall provides some insights
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01/01/2010
Efficient energy
Combined heat and power plants are anything but new. However, evolving technologies are revolutionising their scope and HM government likes the sound of it. Brian Tinham reports
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