Back Issues of the Inner Circle Newsletter

• Featured Literature
• Featured Websites
• Featured Products

Date	Description	Links
12/01	Temperature Measurement: Physical Properties Underlie 4 Common Methods A quick refresher course on temperature measurement with thermocouples, RTDs, filled thermometers, and radiation pyrometers. Discusses stability, repeatability, response time, sensitivity, and distance to readout for each.	(234K)
06/01	Got Spam? Here's How to Stop It This article explains several steps you can take to reduce the clutter of junk e-mails by using rules and filtering tools that exist in your e-mail program: Outlook, Netscape Mail, and Eudora are discussed.	(25K)
06/01	Tips to Reducing Spam Before you need filters and rules, you should know these six tips to help you reduce the amount of junk e-mail you get.	(14K)
03/01	Was Murphy Wrong? Murphy's Law in Operation & Design of Chemical Plants "If it can go wrong, it will." Captain Edward Murphy, USAF, used this statement as a predictor of the likelihood of faults and failures in advance to help prevent problems before they occur. This article describes the history of Murphy's Law and its use as a "plea for inherently safer design."	(40K)
12/00	Ethernet and the Web Gang Up on Process Monitoring and Control This InTech article discusses the broad range of Ethernet-based distributed I/O applications, the hardware and network topologies necessary, the move to Ethernet for real-time control, and the factors that need to be addressed before implementing a web-based control system.	(375K)
02/01	Connect Instruments to the Corporate Network This Test & Measurement World article covers the information you'll need to know to work with your corporate systems administrator to add measurement and control instruments to your plantwide network.	(54K)
12/00	Ethernet and the Web Gang Up on Process Monitoring and Control This InTech article discusses the broad range of Ethernet-based distributed I/O applications, the hardware and network topologies necessary, the move to Ethernet for real-time control, and the factors that need to be addressed before implementing a web-based control system.	(375K)
10/00	The Online Industrial Ethernet Book The Online Industrial Ethernet Book hosts a collection of articles on industrial Ethernet, including modular I/O, Modbus over TCP/IP, Ethernet in process control, and network management.	www
09/00	Feedback and Temperature Control This tutorial from the University of Exeter (UK) is a powerful tool for learning the effects of feedback on PID temperature controllers. It includes detailed background information, a self-test, exercises, and an interactive graphical tool so you can see how changes in controller parameters affect the process.	www
04/00	Control Engineering Online Tutorials Here's a great collection of tutorials from Control Engineering Magazine, with tips on everything from motor controls and intrinsic safety to PID control basics, valve sizing, and PC-based control networking.	www
02/00	Back to Basics: Level Sensing Technology Need a reminder of the options available for sensing tank level? From differential pressure and floats to RF admittance and radar, this June 1999 Control Engineering article illustrates six level sensing technologies, and shows common uses and restrictions of each.	(54K)
12/99	Digital Communications Guarantee Valid Safety Shutdowns A Honeywell application consultant discusses the benefits of using smart transmitters and digital communications over analog 4-20 mA current output safety systems: ending false alarms and problems caused by noise interference, limited resolution and reranging for process changes, inefficient status monitors, and more.	(374K)
10/99	Avoid the Blue Screen of Death In this Control Magazine article, experts in the field talk about keeping a PC-based control and monitoring system up and running. From common error causes, expert management tips, and software solutions to backup schemes and system tests, this article covers it!	(164K)
9/99	Loop Optimization: Improving Plant Efficiency and Consistent Product Quality Control Magazine ran a three-part series that discusses in detail how you can realize the greatest benefits from your PID control system. Part 1: Defining objectives, Part 2: Diagnosing loop behavior to correct problems, Part 3: PID controller tuning.	(302K)
7/99	Ultrasonic Sensors: Now an Even Better Choice for Solid Material Level Detection In this November 1998 I&CS magazine article, Doug Duncan, product manager of ultrasonic level products for Milltronics, Inc., discusses how using digital signal processing, multiple profile averaging, statistical filters, and temperature-compensated transducers aide in the measurement and control of solid materials applications.	(80K)
6/99	Using Your Supply Chain to Manage Inventory Costs You can work with your instrumentation suppliers to reduce inventory costs. See how one manufacturer saved more than $37,000 in a single year by working out a monthly billing arrangement with their vendor. Find out how EDI saved another company $33,000 per year in internal costs.	(66K)
4/99	Digital Integration of Transmitters: A Case Study Find out how one manufacturer reduced transmitter commissioning, maintenance, and process troubleshooting time, cut spare parts inventory, and improved product quality and process throughput by digitally integrating Honeywell smart transmitters with their plant DCS.	(549K)
3/99	Multiloop Controller Improves Heating Uniformity of Newly-Designed Atmosphere Retort Furnace Honeywell's Richard Pistoll and Greg Lewicki (L&L Special Furnace Co.) explain how the UMC800 Multiloop Control System helped save implementation time and optimize control of a customer's hydrogen atmosphere retort furnace. January 1999 Industrial Heating.	(206K)
1/99	How to Select and Use the Right Temperature Sensor Pyromation's Ron Desmarais answers the most common questions about temperature sensors. In this transcript, he reviews the basics, strenghts and weaknesses of thermocouples and RTDs, and offer tips on picking the right sensor for your application.	(105K)
11/98	Special Report: Industrial Sensors This article, from the May 1998 issue of Instrumentation and Control Systems, takes a look at electronic threshold detection switches like the UE One Series that help you meet the strict emerging safety requirements of OSHA and ANSI/ISA without breaking your budget.	(440K)
10/98	Ultrasonics Comes of Age for Solids and Liquids This article, from the April 1997 issue of InTech, shows how the latest ultrasonic technology enables you to reliably measure levels up to 200 feet, even in harsh environments, high temperatures (up to 300°F), and problematic process media.	(780K)
8/98	A Level Measurement Solutions Guide From Milltronics Milltronics has the solution for all your continuous and point level sensing applications. This chart includes 14 Milltronics level measurement products, their specifications, and the applications where they'll do the most for you.	(488K)

Date	Description	Links
12/01	Website: RAECO.com Visit the redesigned site of our partner company, RAECO, for information on safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental products. You'll find the same simple navigation as you're used to at Lesman.com, so you'll find product specifications, manuals, and ordering information in a snap.	www
06/01	Website: Vmyths.com VMyths is home to an independent organization of virus experts who work together to expose virus rumors and hoaxes. Includes articles like "How to Spot a Hoax Computer Virus Alert" and "Reduce the Virus Hoaxes Inside Your Company."	www
02/01	Website: ControlDraw LTD UK-based ControlDraw Ltd. is home to a powerful diagramming software tool for control engineers and software architects. The software can be used to produce a complete specification for large batch or continuous processes, with modulating control loops; start-up, shutdown, and interlock logic; and physical and procedural models.	www
12/00	Website: Curve Expert Software Curve Expert is a Windows shareware program for fitting curves using linear and nonlinear regression models, interpolations, or splines. You can use it to easily plot a curve and calculate its formula, and plug the resulting formula into the math function of your recorder to convert non-linear data to a 4-20 mA linear signal.	www
10/00	Website: Control.Com, Home of the Automation List Control.Com is a global community of people who work in the control field. It's a place to ask questions, discuss your interests, find solutions, keep up to date, and help others facing process control problems like those you've already experienced and solved. Home to the Automation List, a bulletin board for the discussion of automation control.	www
09/00	Website: The Center for Chemical Process Safety This site offers information on hazard and risk analysis, engineering design, operations and  maintenance, education, and process safety management issues regarding the potential dangers to plant, employees, and the environment, caused by the release of harmful chemicals and hydrocarbons.	www
09/00	Website: The Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center (Texas A&M) This site also focuses on improving safety in the chemical manufacturing industry. The center conducts programs and research activities, and develops safer processes, equipment, procedures, and management strategies to reduce losses within the process industry.	www
09/00	Website: Engineering Aspects in Solid-Liquid Separation An educational site that provides a platform for plant and design engineers and research personnel to discuss practices, experiences, and developments in the operation of solid-liquid filtration (by vacuum, pressure, centrifuge, sedimentation, and flotation).	www
04/00	Bonus Website: Packtrack.com One of our favorites! From one page, you can track packages from any one of about 12 different major freight shippers.	www
04/00	The NEW Lesman Website You asked for big changes to our website, and we delivered. Easier navigation, searchable data, order expediting, package tracking, online ordering from our secure web store, and tons of downloadable datasheets and specifications.	www
12/99	Lesman Web Warehouse Secure E-Store The Lesman web warehouse is open for secure ordering! Buy your ASCO solenoid valves, Ametek US Gauge dry and liquid-filled pressure gauges, Precision Digital panel meters, and more. Our store never closes!	www
9/99	ZDNET: Help! Healthy PC Site Looking for the latest news on computer viruses? Need help troubleshooting problems on your computer? Not sure what to do when somebody sends you a .zip file? Then this site is for you! ZDNet, the Internet side of Ziff-Davis Publishing, is a great resource for EVERYTHING computer.	www
4/99	ProSoft Technology, Inc. Are you using all the communications features your process network allows? ProSoft has developed several modules that allow Allen-Bradley PLC and SLC hardware platforms to directly connect to Honeywell smart transmitters. ProSoft modules let you connect to both single and multivariable transmitters, and access the full databases on each instrument.	www
3/99	Microsoft IE4 and Webcasting Technology Learn how to use Internet Explorer 4's Active Channels feature to automatically bring information from the web directly to your desktop. Set a schedule, pick your channel sites, and let the news come to you. Microsoft's website explains how it all works.	www
1/99	VerticalNet Host to several industry-specific web communities (Chemical Online, Food Online, Pulp and Paper Online), VerticalNet is your single source for market news. Read about breakthroughs that affect how you do business, and learn about new products and services that can make your life easier.	www

Date	Description	Links
12/01	Honeywell eZTrend Electronic Data Recorder This Ethernet-ready recorder was just named Control Design magazine 2001 Readers' Choice. It has a 5" color display for interpreting process data, and supports up to six universal analog inputs, 32 integral soft alarms, event markers, and independent display of chart speeds and logging rates.	(83K)
03/01	Two New Capacitance Level Instruments from Milltronics Milltronics introduces the CLS300 for capacitance point level in harsh environments: liquids, solids, slurries, and interfaces; pressures to 511 PSI, temperatures to 752°F, and a high solids material load. All wetted parts are stainless steel, with a PFA Teflon shield section for high chemical resistance. The Milltronics Mercap is a continuous level capacitance offering for liquids, solids, slurries, interfaces, and foam. It works reliably even in high temperatures and pressures from full vacuum to more than 7665 PSI. It's a two-wire loop-powered 4-20 mA signal transmitter and comes standard with Hart® protocol for remote setup and calibration	(183K)
12/00	Honeywell Trendview Web-Enabled Video Recorders Whether your application requires circular chart recording, high input point counts, custom screens, control, or low-cost recording, Honeywell has a paperless recorder to fit. With the new Minitrend and Multitrend Plus, you can monitor real-time recorder data through a standard web browser, or use the communication server software to e-mail configuration data or alarm reports.	(204K)
10/00	Honeywell DirectLine Modules for Durafet II pH Electrodes This innovative, palm-sized module measures, displays, and retransmits pH from a Durafet II electrode. Plus, it provides all the temperature compensation and calibration capabilities of most analyzers. The DirectLine will change the way you measure pH. (Conductivity unit due out in 2001.)	(53K)
09/00	Honeywell Low Cost Smart Transmitters for Pressure and Temperature Honeywell offers a trio of low cost smart transmitters for differential pressure (0-400" WC), gauge pressure (0-500 PSI), and temperature. Pressure transmitters start as low as $717, temperature transmitters start at $175 ($250 for intrinsically safe units). All are compatible with Honeywell's SmartLine Configuration Toolkit.	(228K)
02/00	Kobold KEL Differential Pressure Flowmeter Is there sufficient seal water flowing through your pump to keep it in optimal operating condition? The Kobold KEL flowmeter/indicator handles flow rates to 2000 GPM and withstands high pressure surges without damage. It fits on horizontal or vertical pipes, with threaded or wafer-style fittings, and is available with optional alarms and 4-20 mA output.	(265K)
12/99	Honeywell SCT3000 Configuration Toolkit for Multivariable Transmitters Honeywell's smart configuration toolkit now includes Flow Wizard, a step-by-step tool for properly configuring flowrate for SMV3000 smart multivariable flow transmitters. The new monitoring feature of SCT lets you see process variables of an application, exactly as your installed transmitter sees them. And, it lets you verify your configuration to ensure that you've set it up properly.	(104K)
10/99	Honeywell PlantScape Vista Control System Plantscape Vista is a Windows-based human-machine interface (HMI) ideally suited for smaller manufacturing and processing environments. It provides tons of control system features in a single package and works with a wide range of Honeywell and third-party devices to leverage your control investment, and enable complete integration of process information.	(345K)
9/99	Siemens (Milltronics) Senaco AS100 Acoustic Sensor and CU02 Control Unit The Siemens AS100 sensor helps to prevent serious problems in solids flow processes caused by abnormal flow, sudden blockages, product absence, or equipment failure. The single-piece construction and 304 stainless steel housing make the AS100 resistant to dust and moisture, and can almost eliminate (if not greatly reduce) general maintenance and cleaning.	(40K)
7/99	Durafet II pH Electrode from Honeywell The Durafet glass-free pH electrode just got better! Improvements to the ISFET electrode packaging and the connector make the Durafet II more resistant to errors caused by process fluids leaking into the electrode packaging. With a thermistor 1/2" closer to the electrode tip, the Durafet II responds faster to changes in process temperature, allowing for faster pH response and better accuracy. And, it's only $220!	(232K)
6/99	Large Display Process Meters from Precision Digital Corp. Keep your plant operators out of hazardous areas. Install a large display panel meter, and monitor your process from across the room. These six-digit displays are available with characters up to 2.3" tall! All three units in this series are available with up to 4 relays, 4-20 mA output, and flow rate, totalizer, and batch control capabilities.	(252K)
3/99	Milltronics' Pointek CLS200 Capacitance point level detection that works... in vessels of almost any size, shape, or construction; in liquids, solids, slurries, and foam; mounted from the top or side of the tank, or at any angle you need! While no single point level device will fit every process, the CLS200 fits more applications than any competitive capacitance level switch.	(114K)
1/99	Honeywell's UMC800 Control System The UMC800 combines the power of function block programming, PLC logic, and continuous and batch control in a single box. With 16 control loops, four setpoint programmers, and 96 relay I/Os, there's no process this beauty can't handle! Windows-based software with drag-and-drop function block programming makes setup and maintenance a snap.	(140K)
11/98	United Electric's One Series Stop worrying about the reliability of your mechanical pressure and temperature switches! UE's new One Series solid state threshold detection switches have no moving parts to fail. Local indicators and remote "I Am Working" and "I Have Switched" status signals provide continuous notification that the device is powered and operating.	(82K)