features - crown publications · 2013. 11. 29. · cont r ol syst e ms and automation t he only...

FEATURES:• Control systems and automation

• Flow measurement

• Hazardous areas and safety

• Transformers and substations

• Technology of the future

• Energy and enviroFiciency

E+C Dec 2013 cover.indd 1 2013/11/20 03:25:44 PM

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA, IESSA or Copper Development Association Africa

Comment

Electricity+Control is supported by:

What a year this was! I trust it treated you, your family

and your company as well as could be expected. We

probably need to speak more sternly to the incoming

year wouldn’t you think?

It is not always to find the time to reflect on the year just passed

- and certainly there are many who argue that this can be akin to

driving while looking in the rear view mirror. But that misses the

point! You are supposed to be safely ensconced in a picnic area,

relaxing, clearing your head - and then looking into the rear view

mirror to see what lessons may have been learned.

I find it hard to think clearly while faced with the continuous grind

of our everyday existence - so one needs to find that time to get

the background noise out of your head - and really think.

But I can assure you that knowing the road you have travelled,

really thinking about it and looking carefully at it, can tell you a

lot not just about the road ahead, but how best to traverse it.

This time for reflection is important to us in our personal capacity,

but also to our organisation and indeed the nation as a whole.

At the core of any growing economy must be a reliable supplier

of energy. In my book, that is electricity and in this final edition

of Electricity+Control for 2013, we include a brief overview

of Eskom’s road over the past 90 years. It is, without doubt,

worthwhile reading. When reading through the document, what

really struck me was how many times South Africa and Eskom

have had to deal with really tough situations.

The path out of the various holes that were dug (by governments,

employees, citizens, political imperatives) were never simple and

were never purely technical - but were always fed by a need to

improve the energy supply situation of the nation (as variously

perceived) and the expectations of industry and society at large.

My sense is that we tend to forget all too quickly how many real

strides we have made over the past while.

Of course we have problems - and of course I join you in throwing

up my hands in despair over many things - but read this document

and remind yourself of the remarkable achievements that have

been made: this is not the country it was in 1923, nor 1939,

1948, 1963, 1976 or even 1994 - this is a vibrant and remarkable

new country.

It has all the problems of any new country - but most of all, it

has potential.

It is appropriate to end this year, therefore, with a special request

to everyone - you, me, industry, government, and civil society

- to do everything in our power to make it possible to realise

that potential.

That said, I am so proud to be here. I sincerely hope that you,

too, feel the same.

Ian Jandrell

Ian JandrellPr Eng, BSc (Eng) GDE PhD, FSAIEE SMIEEE

We wish everyone a happy,

restful and safe festive season.

From The Electricity+Control team

1December ‘13 Electricity+Control

Just as Leonardo daVinci was a Master painter and inventor – so are Elspec and Impact Energy Masters in innovative power qual-ity solutions. Read more on page 33.








Features

Contents

Control systems and automation4 Measuring the quality of operator alarms By R Brooks, J Wilson and A Mahoney, Process Plant Computing Limited (PPCL)9 Round UP

Flow measurement14 Go with the flow – gas flow measurement By H Springer (Mecosa) and A Mangell (Bronkhorst UK)18 Round UP

Hazardous areas and safety20 Hardened IP camera solution for NamPower’s Gerus substation By T Craven, H3iSquared24 Intrinsic safety for zone 2 (Exic) using longer cable runs By G Friend, Extech Safety Systems26 Round UP

Transformers and substations28 The great debate: Copper versus aluminium By E Swanepoel, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA)31 Panama Canal locks – dynamic VA4 compensation project By L Rzezak, Elspec32 Round UP

Technology of the future36 I think – therefore I ‘ARM’ By G Peyton, Biomedical Engineering Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand38 Round UP

Energy and enviroFiciency40 External costs of power generation By PJ Lloyd, Energy Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology44 Round UP

Regulars

Publisher: Jenny Warwick

Editor: Wendy Izgorsek

Editorial Technical Director: Ian Jandrell

Design & Layout: Adél JvR Bothma

Advertising Managers: Helen Couvaras and Heidi Jandrell

Circulation: Karen Smith

Reader Enquiries: Radha Naidoo

Cover

Published monthly by:Crown Publications cc

Cnr Theunis and Sovereign StsBedford Gardens

PO Box 140, Bedfordview 2008Tel: (011) 622-4770; Fax: (011) 615-6108

e-mail: [email protected]@crown.co.za

Website: www.crown.co.za

Printed by: Tandym Print

Quarter 3 (July – October 2013)Paid circulation: 57

Free circulation: 4704Total circulation: 4746

1 Comment33 Cover article46 Light+Current47 Bizz Buzz50 Social Engineers52 Clipboard


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The only advice for positioning operator alarm limits from EEMUA 191 [1], ISA SP18.2 [2] and others was to put them on ‘the boundary of Normal Operation’ of a process. This was not

very useable advice in the absence of a method to find the boundary of normal operation until we provided a simple method to find the boundary in a previous paper [3] where we established that operator alarms are not independent of each other but are inter-related through the process operating envelope.

The method is being adopted at an accelerating rate, dramatically reducing the time needed for alarm rationalisation and at the same time providing much better alarm systems' performance and alarm systems' quality.

‘Alarm quality’ has not received the same attention in the last 15 years as ‘alarm performance’ but is arguably even more important. Using ‘alarm performance’ alone as an alarm system objective invari-ably leads to an alarm system in which only a fraction of the alarmed variables will ever alarm.

This fractional annunciation has been observed as fact by so many observers in so many processes that it has wrongly become accepted as normal. A little thought soon reveals that it is an inevitable consequence of attempting to improve the performance of an alarm system one variable at a time. Such fractional annunciation systems are a process safety exposure since they do not allow the operator alarm system to function properly as ‘the first line of defence’.

This article reviews some of the factors causing us to focus on alarm quality and proposes the Alarm Quality Index (AQI) as an

easily calculated and easily understandable metric. AQI can be used to quantify alarm quality and track progress in identifying and elimi-nating fractional annunciation alarm systems. It can also be used to monitor improvement progress after the rationalisation project when alarm performance and improvement have been handed over to process stewardship.

It represents a recognition that no matter how good, automated process control can never anticipate all possible circumstances and emphasises the strong inter-dependency between control automation and operator alarming.

It is expected that the alarm will help the operator in understand-ing why intervention is required as well as listing the possible operator action. It is generally accepted in recent thinking that an alarm which has no defined action should not be an alarm but a status variable.

An alarm on a single variable represents one bit of information that the operator has to integrate with the single bits of information from other alarms - and with the current and recent past history of the many process variables available in his process control system - as well as his own unique knowledge of the process and its foibles. His knowledge will be unique if only because human beings learn much more from their own mistakes, whether of omission or commission, than they do from the mistakes of others. Fortunately most mistakes are recoverable and many pass unnoticed by others.

There will usually be a choice of actions for the operator to perform as there may be more than one causative event sending an individual variable into alarm. If there is only one desired action and

Measuring the quality of operator alarmsBy R Brooks, J Wilson and A Mahoney, Process Plant Computing Limited (PPCL) A review of some of the factors causing a focus on Alarm Quality and a proposal that an Alarm Quality Index is an easily calculated and easily understandable metric.

Operator alarm: A request by the process control system for the operator to intervene with human intelligence and judgement in response to symptoms that may indicate an abnormal situation developing in the process.

Process control: Used in the widest sense and includes the operator as a part of the control capability.

Control automation: Refers to electronic or computer-based control by a DCS or PLC.

Electricity+Control December ‘134

Abbreviations

possibly valuable information. It is a human characteristic that a single negative experience requires many positive experiences to cancel it out and this carries over into alarms too. An alarm once shown to be false, will carry that designation far into the future and be ignored.

Alarms that are, unknown to the operator, truly false demand as much attention from the operator as the alarms later determined to be true so take away diagnosis time and delay the taking of action.

Timeliness of event notification matters in that late notification erodes diagnosis time and delays action but also allows the process disturbance more time to gain momentum so that a larger corrective action may become necessary to return to normal.

Events that occur without being alarmed would be of the high-est concern. Plants in general protect against this by having alarms defined on many more variables than some unknown (and probably unknowable) minimum. Few have in place any effective review pro-cess to identify unalarmed events that did not develop into recognis-able events. For those that did become recognisable a subsequent HAZOP is likely to add alarms to more variables without necessarily taking the time to determine whether the event should have been identified by existing alarms had they been properly set.

Measuring alarm quality

Three essential quality attributes of an effective alarm system are:Low percentage of false alarms - ie alarms that annunciate to re-

quest action when none is necessary. Limits placed inside the bound-

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it is always to be performed then consideration could be given to automating it and removing it as an alarm - thus reducing the load on the operator. The immediate cause of the request for intervention could be:• Recognised or unrecognised sensor (eg sticking level indicator)

or equipment failure• A consequence of another operator action such as leaving a

cascade or output in manual• An external cause such as weather or security breach • A combination of events too improbable to have been envisaged• A false alarm because of badly-positioned alarm limitsImmediate alarm quality issues would be whether the alarm or alarms were the most appropriate in helping the operator to diagnose the cause of the event to understand how the situation arose and whether the alarms gave timely notification.

The information available to the operator for diagnosis is the identity of the alarm(s), their location on the process flow diagram (PFD) and the time-order in which they annunciated if more than one alarm is present. Time-order (sequence-of-events) of alarms is often valuable in diagnosing unusual events but can be made very confusing if alarm limits are poorly set so that some alarms annunci-ate early and others late (or never) and therefore not in the sequence that might be expected from the PFD.

Alarms that annunciate very early are likely to be labelled as ‘false’ or ‘bad actors’ and not be associated with the later better-set alarms recognised as belonging to the same event, thus losing a piece of

aQi - alarm Quality indexdCs - distributed Control systemEEmua - Engineering Equipment & materials users' associationisa - international society of automationHaZoP - Hazard and operabilitylGo - light Gas oil, a major constituent of diesel FuelPFd - Process Flow diagramPlC - Programmable logic Controller


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ary of ‘normal operation’ shown in Figure 1 will cause premature alarming of an approach to the boundary and possibly so premature that the operator will ignore the request for intervention. False alarms bring the whole alarm system into disrepute. They are measurable, although very few have attempted to measure them, and are predict-able using our method against the objectives of ‘normal operation’.

Zero unalarmed events – predictable only for known abnormal events that occurred in the past. One can never be sure that unimag-ined or unimaginable events would be alarmed. This exposure can only be addressed by assiduously recording and investigating every unalarmed event that occurs so is best done by the unit process en-gineer within the ‘process stewardship’ application. The solution may involve the addition of new alarms following a HAZOP.

A high rather than low proportion of alarmed variables annunciat-ing during a long time period - this is both measurable and predict-able. This follows from observing in Figure 1 that alarm limits placed outside the boundary of normal operation in the orange ‘recovery’ space will at best annunciate late and if placed too far out may never annunciate at all. Using alarm performance as the only target leads, in practice, to many alarms being disabled through being pushed too far into the orange zone. The boundary of normal operation corresponds to the envelope of the operating objectives of the plant projected onto all variables. It used to be that there was no way to locate this

boundary so that alarms were scattered in its general vicin-ity as shown schematically in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Operator alarm limits as they usually are when the boundary of normal operation is unknown.

Some alarm limits are set in the orange recovery space where

they will, at best, annunciate late, giving the process disturbance more time to grow and requiring a larger corrective action, or in many cases are set so wide that they can never annunciate. Other alarm limits are set inside the green ‘normal operation’ space where they will annunciate unnecessarily some of the time creating false alarms and leading to their being labelled as ‘bad actors’. Without knowledge of the location of boundary or of how alarms relate to each other there is little that can be done to cure a bad actor other than to push the alarm limit ‘outwards’ towards or past the guessed position of the boundary.

An observation in [1]showed that the concept that was missing was that of a multi-dimensional ‘operating envelope’ of a process and introduced the parallel coordinate graph as a novel method of viewing envelopes and the boundary of normal operation for many hundreds of variables at the same time. Super-imposing the exist-ing alarm limits as red triangles on the parallel co-ordinate graph

containing three months of process data at 10-minute intervals as in Figure 2 it is immediately apparent that this is not a good set of alarm limits. Some are inside the solid black area so will give false alarms at least some of the time; others are so far outside the black area that they will, at best, annunciate late in the event of an excursion out of past operating experience and may never annunciate at all. This is confirmed in Figure 4 which shows ‘annunciations per hour’ and the ‘number of alarms’ visible on the operator’s alarm display throughout the whole three months of operation covered by the data.

Figure 2: Existing HiLo alarm limits superimposed upon three months of operating data.

The Envelope of all operation in Figure 2 encloses other Envelopes with more specific objectives such as the ‘kerosene operating mode envelope ’, the ‘LGO mode operating envelope’ and the ‘stand-by mode operating envelope’. These are shown in Figure 3 in pink, blue and black respectively.

Figure 3: The ‘all-operation envelope’ separated into its sub-envelopes of ‘kerosene mode’ in pink, LGO mode in blue and standby mode in black.

Figure 4: Existing alarm performance annunciations per hour (top) and alarm count (bottom) versus time for three months of operation.


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About the authors

Annunciation rates and alarm counts calculated from process history data after removal of ‘bad actor’ alarm limits caused by instrumenta-tion faults are shown in Figure 4. Ignoring standby mode, the annun-ciation rate is typically in the region of four to five alarms per hour and the number of alarms visible on the operators alarm list display is typically four to five at any time. That this performance is accept-able against the EEMUA 191/SP 18.2 [1,2] human factors guidelines emphasises that meeting these human factors guidelines is not by itself sufficient to create a good operator alarm system. An Alarm Quality target is needed as well.

Using a single set of alarm limits across all three modes is ‘lumped mode alarming’ and is the norm in most plants today because of the difficulty and cost of setting any alarm limits with today’s method. Much better is to define a set of limits for each mode and use multi-Mode alarming. Using this new method it is very likely that three sets of limits can be found in less time than it took to find one set previously.

We separated out just the kerosene mode from Figure 3 and created a new set of limits from the envelope of the 82% of the time when subsequent laboratory analyses of process samples showed that in-specification kerosene was being produced. This was considered the ‘normal’ operating envelope for kerosene operations. The ‘alarm annunciation’ rates were then calculated for the original set of alarm limits and the new set. They are shown in the two Pareto plots of Figures 5 and 6 which emphasise not only that the total number of annunciations has been much reduced but also that annunciations are spread across many more variables and thus giving better protection.

Conclusion

This suggests a simple alarm quality measure could be the fraction of variables that account for, say, 90% of all annunciations. For the original alarms this was 15 variables out of 60 alarmed variables giv-ing an AQI of 25%. For the new alarm set it was 35 variables out of 60 giving an AQI of 58%. Norms for AQI will appear as this dimensionless measure is collected from larger numbers of plants.

Figure 5: Annunciations of the original alarms in turquoise and the new set in pink in the order of numbers of annunciations of the original alarm limits.

Figure 6: The same data as in Figure 5 to the same scale but in the order of numbers of annuniciations of the new alarm’s limits.

References

[1] EEMUA 191. 2013. Alarm systems: a guide to design, manage-ment and procurement. Third edition. Available from www.eemua.co.uk.

[2] ANSI/ISA SP18.2. 2009. Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries. Available from www.isa.org.

[3] IChemE. Proceedings of Hazards XXIII/316 November 2012. Brooks, Mahoney, Wilson and Zhao. Operator Alarms are the First Line of Defence. Also available from www.ppcl.com.

dr Robin Brooks is the founder and managing director of Process Plant Computing limited (previously Curvaceous software limited). He is a chemical engineer with Bsc and Phd degrees from the university of swansea. Robin has worked for mobil, laporte, inCo, then had a long career

with iBm as a control systems engineer designing and implementing some of the most advanced whole - refinery control systems of their time with companies such as Exxon, mobil, shell, total, CEPsa and PdVsa.

dr John Wilson is Research and development manager at PPCl. after his Phd in nuclear Physics at imperial Col-lege london John worked for British Gas, scicon, Pavilion technologies and other companies producing engineering software and carrying out consultancy in optimisation,

scheduling and simulation applied to the gas, electricity and process industries. While working in dr Brooks’s group at iBm he first encountered Parallel Co-ordinate technology, and joined PPCl when dr Brooks founded it in 1998. John is an inventor on all of PPCl’s 20 patents. He is a member of the institution of Engineering and technology.

dr alan mahoney is technology manager and senior consult-ant at PPCl. He is a chemical engineer with a bachelors degree from the university of illinois at urbana-Champaign and a Phd from Purdue university, indiana. this was fol-lowed by post-doctoral research at the max Planck institute

for the dynamics of Complex systems at magdeburg, Germany and then by a number of years as a professor at the university of sheffield in the uK. interspersed with these academic positions were long periods work-ing for Hicks oil in illinois and air Products & Chemicals in Pennsylvania. alan joined PPCl in 2008 and is an inventor on PPCl’s most recent patents.Enquiries: Email [email protected]. Visitwww.ppcl.com.

Take note

• operator alarms are inter-related through the process operating envelope.• aQi can be used to quantify alarm quality and track progress in identifying

and eliminating fractional annunciation alarm systems.• no matter how good, automated process control can never anticipate

all possible circumstances.


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Round uP

ACDC Dynamics, the sole supplier of Rhomberg in South Africa and worldwide, offers the full range of the world renowned power

monitors, electronic timers, process controllers, motor protection relays, proximity switches and photo sensors, voltage monitors and liquid level monitors.

Our Slimline timers are available in two distinct series, Slimline 11 pin plug- in format, with timing ranges of up to 240 minutes as standard and 25 to 200 hours as special requests. ALine din rail mount format timing range up to 999 hours as standard.

This comprehensive range of timers has helped solve many timing applications, required by industry both locally and internationally.

The feature of being fully programmable allows parameters such as time and or function to be set or adjusted as required. Because of this programmability, stockholding is dramatically reduced offering a cost and space saving to stockists and end users alike. All the timers in the range are multi-function with the exception of the Star/ Delta timer (ST130 or AT130), and the ‘No Power Delay’ off timer (ST300/301). Added together there are over 20 different timing modes available over the range. This varies from simple ‘Delay On’ to ‘Pulse reset’ and ‘hold’ functions.

A wide range of power input options are also available, with options such as 90 - 250 Vac. (non galvanic) and 10 – 30 Vac/dc.

Output relay ratings are 12 A 440 Vac/ 125 Vdc for SPST and 8 A 440 Vac/ 125 Vdc for DPDT.

Another popular Rhomberg timer is the 48 x 48 format timers.Rhomberg offer two timer units in the popular 48 x 48 mm format,

which can be either panel mounted or plug-in base mounted (8 or 11 pin options available).

Both units are microprocessor based, designed for improved reli-ability, setting accuracy and repeatability. Both offer timing ranges from 0,1 second to 100 hours in eight overlapping setting ranges. Choice of power supplies are 100 – 250 Vac, 24 Vac/dc or 12 Vdc. • The 48T-101 has two functions: * Delay to On * One Shot• The 48T-100 has six functions: * Delay to On * Cycling Off first * Cycling On first * Signal On/Off * Interval Operation (Hold Start) * Interval Operation (Pulse Start)The 48T-100 has a Gate input which is used to pause or extend timing, and a separate reset function is also available.

Both units have a ‘Quick Test’ function, which allows for the installa-tion timing operation to be tested without waiting for a full time period to run. The large transparent front control is removable and acts as a screwdriver for adjusting the function and time setting controls. DPDT relays (5 A contacts) are fitted as standard to both units.

Enquiries: Tel. 010 202 3400 or email [email protected].

Comprehensive range of timers

Round uP

Moxa’s latest product is the AWK-1127 Series, an IEEE 802.11 a/b/g WLAN client with a serial interface,

making it the most rugged wireless client available for industrial networking applications. Virtually identical to the AWK-1121, with the exception of a serial port, the AWK-1127 is optimised for applications requiring a dedicated wireless client with compact design and industrial-strength features. With ‘turbo roaming’ to give millisecond-level handoffs, redundant power inputs, optional wide-temperature operation (-40 to 75°C), and a serial interface for effortless serial device connectivity, the AWK-1127 ensures the highest level of reliability and availability for wireless communications, making it a sturdy, ideal solution for any serial industrial application with limited space.

The AWK-1127 comes with a RS-232/422/485 supported serial port, allowing connection to both Ethernet and serial devices for application versatility. With this small, light, and yet rugged industrial design, the AWK-1127 pro-vides the perfect solution for connecting legacy devices to WLAN networks where space is limited and a robust, dedicated client is required. The AWK-1127 is not only ruggedly designed for harsh industrial environments, it also satisfies your need to connect your legacy devices to the Ethernet allowing for greater versatility.

The AWK-1127 WLAN client provides key wireless benefits like mobility, flexibility, wider coverage, highly cost-effective, and is specifically designed for hard-to-wire, tightly spaced applications.


In large, high production sawmills where success can be measured in board meters,

the price per board is determined by the grade of each individual board. It is essential that every board be properly graded, sorted and processed. Operators grade each board as it travels along the conveyor line, mark-ing it with a UV detectable crayon wherever there is a flaw or imperfection in the wood. A sensor or manual inspection is then used to detect the UV marks and direct the board to an area where it can be repaired or rejected.

Equipment used in sawmills faces unique environmental challenges from tree pulp, dirt and other debris. Traditional UV sensors frequently fail under these conditions. They also have a limited operating distance and therefore need to be mounted close to the sensing point, resulting in some mills pre-

ferring to use manual operator inspections. Banner Engineering were approached by a mill to offer a better solution to detect the UV marks, a solution which allowed the sensor to be mounted further away from the board and with a wide field-of- view to accommodate wide boards.

The iVu Plus Remote TG image sensor from Banner proved to be a cost-effective UV detection system. The system consists of an image sensor with a built-in UV light, and a remote touch screen used to view the image and to program the sensor parameters. The vision tools incorporated in the iVu Plus TG include Match, Sort, Area and Blemish - all in the one device. Ethernet communication enhances control and communications, and each sensor also offers three programmable discrete outputs. The durable IP67 rated en-

closure ensures reliable performance even in the difficult environmental conditions. The remote touch screen makes it easy for the operator to monitor and manage the system.

Enquiries: RET Automation Controls. Tel. 011 453 2468. Visit www.retautomation.com.

New line of WLAN clients for serial applications

Reliable, cost effective alternative to manual UV detection system

Tool for configuring and deploying industrial network devices

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Moxa has introduced MXconfig, a new software utility for configuring and deploy-

ing industrial network devices. MXconfig can be used with a wide range of Moxa industrial Ethernet switches, and supports an impressive assortment of features well suited for industrial applications, including fast group configura-tion and deployment, link sequence detection, configuration overview and documentation, and user privilege settings. By making it extremely easy for users to configure large numbers of devices, MXconfig goes a long way to reducing setup and maintenance costs. “MXconfig’s most attractive feature is its ability to simultaneously configure large numbers of devices,” said Yiwei

Chen, product manager of Moxa Inc. “By being able to deploy the same configuration settings, including IP addresses, redundancy protocols, and VLAN settings, across multiple Moxa switch-es, MXconfig not only significantly saves set-up time, but also eliminates the inevitable configu-ration errors that arise when configuration is done manually. Configuration duplication is also available for users to easily copy the configura-tion from one device to a large number of other devices. The combination of easy configuration modification and regularly firmware uploads is sure to greatly enhance maintenance efficiency.”



Round uP

Pre-planning is a decisive phase in the engineering process. It involves developing concepts for technical

machinery and plant design and estimating initial volumes of project data.

The new Eplan Platform 2.3 breaks new ground in this ‘key phase’ for innovative designs. Whether it is graphical overviews, placeholders for functions, initial project data for drives, sensors and PLC inputs/ outputs, or parts lists for calculations - comprehensive pre-planning tasks can be processed directly in the Eplan Platform.

The subsequent enclosure production and detailed design of the system is based on this comprehensive data - without new data entry or transfer from other systems. Users can benefit from very easy entry into this new plan-ning method based on the Eplan Platform. This additional integration allows you to increase data consistency and project quality. At the same time, it reduces the cost of the project development process.

The central dialogue in the Eplan Platform is the new pre-planning navigator. In this dialogue, the defined seg-ments for pre-planning are displayed and administered within the project.

The use of pre-planning macros, and copying and moving existing segments by drag and drop makes it quick and easy to create and edit machine/ plant structures. Alternatively, the CAE software has the option of working directly in the graphical editor for pre-planning. The data defined at the pre-planning stage can be output in report form and used, for example, for parts lists or for calculating prices and labour. The process is integrative.

Based on the pre-planning in the navigator, the next phase of configuration involves deriving and producing the detailed plan, ie the schematic, using drag & drop. As a further alternative for data entry, the pre-planning option incorporates a comprehensive import functionality allowing data to be exported into Eplan from Excel spreadsheets. This means that information from other planning depart-ments can be taken into consideration. Using the import function pre-planning structures can also be generated automatically.

Enquiries: Email [email protected]. Visit www.eplan.co.za.

Siemens is introducing three new communication modules CP 1243-1, CP 1243-1 DNP3 and CP 1243-1 IEC for Simatic S7-1200 and two mobile

wireless routers Scalance M874-2 and Scalance M874-3 with which remote terminal units (RTUs) can be economically implemented.

The CP 1243-1 module is based on the Telecontrol Basic telecontrol sys-tem, which is designed for simple applications and small data volumes. The CP 1243-1 DNP3 and CP 1243-1 IEC communication modules can establish the connections according to the DNP3 and IEC 60870-5-104 telecontrol protocols. They use the comprehensive Telecontrol Professional telecontrol system for demanding monitoring and control tasks. Due to their compact design, the communication modules can be seamlessly installed alongside the Simatic S7-1200 controller. To connect new modules to second-gener-ation mobile wireless networks (GSM, GPRS, and EDGE), Siemens offers the Scalance M874-2 industrial router. The Scalance M874-3 variant estab-lishes links over third-generation networks (UMTS). The user can optionally also connect routers and modules for LTE mobile wireless networks, the Internet, or serial point-to-point links to the new communication modules. Industrial routers or modems are connected to the new communication modules via an Ethernet interface. The new communication modules are configured and parameterized in Step 7 Basic, an engineering tool within the TIA Portal. Users can set parameters for setpoints and alarms quickly and simply in Step 7 Basic.

The modular structure comprising the control, communication module, and industrial router and modem enables users to implement economical and space-saving RTUs designed for the specific application. All variants of the new communication module for Simatic S7-1200 transmit measured values, setpoints, and alarms between the RTUs and control centre both cyclically and under event control.

Enquiries: Keshin Govender. Email [email protected].

Integration of pre-planning and detail engineering

Economical remote connection of controls using a communication module

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Round uP

Schneider Electric has launched its new Pelco Spectra High-definition (HD) 1080 dome positioning system in South Africa.

The new system features a clearer image with stronger resolu-tion, without sacrificing low-light or programmable performance.

The Spectra HD 1080, built on the Sarix technology platform, is an all-digital system that delivers 2.0 megapixel resolution, high-profile H.264 compression and built-in analytics.

Key features of the new Spectra HD 1080 system include: • The best image quality: The Spectra HD 1080 delivers the clearest

possible images with its 1/2.8-inch Exmor CMOS imager with an inte-grated 20x or 30x optical zoom lens options, delivering 2.0 megapixel resolutions (1920x1080 at 25IPS).

• Sarix technology at its core: Built on the Sarix technology platform, it features a dual-processor design for guaranteed streams and high-profile H.264, which is 10 percent more efficient than base-profile H.264, for more efficient compression.

• Easy configuration: Sharing a common browser with all Sarix-based cameras means easy configuration, and allows users to have advanced pan/ tilt management features through a browser.

• Solid pendant design, optically perfect bubble: Spectra HD 1080’s solid pendant design eliminates the subtle vibrations that can occur in demanding installations, ensuring a better image. The optically perfect dome delivers flawless image quality over the entire viewing range of the system.

• Built-in analytics: The Spectra HD 1080 system comes with a powerful suite of advanced analytics built into the cam-era system, including object tracking, which allows users to define the size of the object of interest and track the subject through the full 360 degree rotation of the camera.

Enquiries: Belinda Aslett. Tel. 011 254 6400 or email [email protected].

As part of its VPS initiative, Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces released an upgraded VPSRemote service

solution in November. VPSRemote is a solution for the remote monitoring and general and preventive maintenance of sys-tems. The upgraded

VPSRemote now allows users to link their plants around the world and provide

support and engineering services from specified locations on the network. The upgraded VPSRemote solution can now be used with information systems as well as control systems. Vigi-lantPlant Services: A suite of services that realizes Yokogawa’s VigilantPlant control business concept by helping customers achieve the ideal plant.

As plant control systems grow more complex and so-phisticated, they are increasingly used together with safety instrumented systems, manufacturing execution systems, and the like. Manufacturers with global operations thus need the capability to provide remote operation support and engineer-ing services for both the control and the information systems used at their plants.

Yokogawa has upgraded VPSRemote to add flexibility in how these services are provided:• Support of the use of dedicated networks by customers

for the remote operation support and engineering: With this upgrade to VPSRemote, customers now can set up a dedicated network linking their plants and engineering departments. Via this network, company personnel can share access to system displays and, in real time, perform operations, set parameters, and change settings from any location on the network. Thus, for example, operators at a main factory can check the condition of a system at a new plant in another country. If required, they can provide remote support to an operator while viewing the target system’s display.

• Information systems support: Previously, VPSRemote could only be used with the CENTUM integrated production control system and the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system. The upgraded VPSRemote service now covers information systems such as the Exaquantum plant in-formation management system. Using VPSRemote, both Yokogawa’s Global Response Centres and Yokogawa’s customers now have the ability to remotely monitor and maintain the control and information systems at plants 24 hours a day, all year round.

Enquiries: Charles van Haght. Tel. 011 831 6300 or email [email protected].

New optical zoom high-speed dome positioning systems

Upgraded remote service solution

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Choosing a flowmeter to measure gas flow can be daunting for anybody who is not often exposed to this task. Not only are there many manufacturers advertising their brand and types

of flowmeters, but there are also many varying technologies avail-able at significantly different cost structures. The outputs vary from local indication, through the standard 4 – 20 mA signal to advanced digital bus protocols.

Current gas flowmeter technology is changing and many differ-ing products, including coriolis and ultrasonic flowmeters, are now available.

Flow measurement is recognised as one of the ‘need-to-know’ process parameters, alongside temperature, pressure and level measurement. Accurate measurement of gas flow is critical in the operation and control of many industrial and laboratory processes. In the food and beverage sector, the chemical industry and semiconduc-tor fabrication, flowmeter accuracy is often the determining factor between optimum quality and reject products. In areas like laboratory research, pilot plants and custody transfer, precise and repeatable measurement is equally critical. Elsewhere, high levels of accuracy are not so crucial and flowmeters are used to give an indication of the rate at which a gas is flowing through a pipeline.

Regarding the global installed base, differential pressure (DP) is the dominant means of measuring both gas and liquid flow, although there are clear signs that other existing or evolving technologies like coriolis, ultrasonic, vortex and thermal are growing strongly, as considerations like accuracy, reliability and lifecycle cost ascend the customer’s agenda. Not surprisingly, DP flowmeters are currently maintaining the market lead, partly because users keep replacement instruments in stock and partly because retaining the same flowmeter is often regarded as the most risk-free solution. But reliability and performance problems reportedly arising with these instruments mean coriolis flowmeters, in particular, are being increasingly speci-fied for new plant and new processes, in addition to being integrated into existing schemes.

Old versus new

Indeed, flow control experts now tend to distinguish between ‘new technologies’ and ‘traditional technologies’, grouping coriolis, mag-netic, ultrasonic and vortex flowmeters under the ‘new’ category, with methods such as DP, turbine, positive displacement (PD) and

variable area (VA) under the ‘old’. This is a useful classification as it underlines the advanced computer processing capabilities of newer instruments, although, thermal flowmeters could be placed in the ‘new’ category, as they are very much at the forefront of digital tech-nology and upcoming innovations from leading manufacturers, who put thermal mass monitoring at the cutting edge of flowmeter design.

Flowmeters can also be distinguished by whether they measure flow rates in terms of volume, expressed in units like ml/min, or mass, in units such as kg/hr or lbs/min. Strictly speaking, PD flowmeters are the only ones that directly measure volumetric flow, although techniques like turbine, ultrasonic and vortex measure the velocity of the gas stream, to determine volumetric flow. Inferential flowmeters, such as DP and VA sensors, measure neither volumetric nor mass flow, but infer its rate from other parameters, like a drop in pressure or the displacement of a float. Coriolis and thermal instruments are the only (instruments) where the measured flow rate is given as mass flow of the gases, albeit using rather different techniques.

All this would be somewhat immaterial if mass and volume were much the same, but measured volumetric flow rates do vary dra-matically with temperature and pressure changes. Moreover, whilst volumetric and mass measurements can be converted between one another if the fluid density is known, the density of gases is equally sensitive to pressure and temperature, unlike liquids which are less susceptible to changing conditions. Thus, while volumetric flow measurement, undoubtedly, still has its place in many industry pro-cesses, it is widely accepted that current ‘best practice’ is to measure mass flow in gases and steam, thereby reducing process variables - leading to more consistent quality. Accurate, repeatable mass flow measurement improves chemical reactions, leads to more precise dosing and custody transfer, facilitates laboratory analysis and helps to eliminate wastage. This also explains why the coriolis technique, in particular, which continuously and directly monitors mass flow, is often described as the near-perfect measuring principle.

Having stated that, various specifying criteria like compatibility, repeatability, reliability, simplicity and, of course, purchase price, dictate that the different types of new and old technology flowmeter each having their own advocates and optimum applications.

Coriolis flowmeters

The coriolis effect causes a vibrating tube to distort and is used for

By H Springer, Mecosa and A Mangell, Bronkhorst UK

Go with the flow – gas flow measurement

It is important to know the strengths and limitations of the different technologies in measuring gas flow - as accurate measurement is critical

in the operation and control of industrial and laboratory processes.


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measuring the flow rate directly, eliminating the need to compensate

for temperature, pressure and density. Coriolis meters can also meas-

ure a mixture of gases, unknown gases, and fluids moving between

gaseous and liquid states. They offer high measuring accuracy, unaf-

fected by flow profile, even down to very low flow rates as used in

nanochemistry. Line size was considered a limitation, but the largest

instruments can be fitted to 12” diameter pipes.

Strengths Limitations

Universal measuring principle Higher set-up costs

Direct measurement of mass More limited line size

Very high accuracy High flow rates

Low flow rates

Low cost of ownership

No major moving parts

Possible density output

Table 1: Strengths and limitations of coriolis flowmeters.

Differential pressure flowmeters

The most common type of flowmeter, the DP, measures the flow of gases inferentially, employing the Bernoulli equation that interprets the relationship between pressure and flow rate. These flowmeters introduce a constriction or obstruction in the pipeline, creating a pressure drop from which velocity and volumetric flow can be cal-culated. Various types of DP flowmeters are used, the most popular being orifice plate, which can be subject to wear. They are typically less accurate than coriolis flowmeters and are best used with clean, non-corrosive gases.

Abbreviations

Take note

dP - differential PressurePd - Positive displacementVa - Variable area

• accurate measurement of gas flow is critical in the operation and control of industrial and laboratory processes.

• new technology flowmeters offer increased levels of accuracy which make them worthy of consideration.

• in the food and beverage sector, the chemical industry and semiconductor fabrication, flowmeter accuracy is often the determining factor between optimum quality and reject products.


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Large installed base Subject to wear

Comparatively inexpensive Medium accuracy

Wide range of flow rates Complex mass calculations

Simple, straightforward Possible regular maintenance/

inspection

Extensive pipe diameters Poor turn-down

Table 2: Strengths and limitations of differential pressure flowmeters.

Positive displacement flowmeters

PD flowmeters measure volumes of fluid by repeatedly filling and discharging compartments of known volume, with gas from the flowstream. There are various types of PD meter, using vanes, gears, pistons, paddles or diaphragms to separate the fluid. They provide high accuracy, but cannot handle dirty fluids and incorporate moving parts that are subject to wear.


High accuracy Clean gases only

Unaffected by flow profile Subject to wear

High rangeability Pressure drop issues

Higher maintenance costs

Low flow rates

Table 3: Strengths and limitations of positive displacement flowmeters.

Thermal flowmeters

Thermal flowmeters measure the mass flow of gases, employing a combination of heated elements and temperature sensors, with thermo-dynamic principles used to derive actual mass flow. They do not require correction for changes in gas temperature, pressure or density and are extremely accurate, especially when measuring low and very low flow rates, and are no longer regarded as high cost. Thermal meters are often limited to clean gas; however, with the ‘non-bypass’ principle, there are no narrow pipelines to clog with particulate, and they, therefore, can handle most gases.


Measure mass flow Clean gases (bypass types only)

Highly accurate and repeatable High flow rates (above 11 000m3/hr)

No moving parts

Minimal maintenance

Low to very low flow rates

Table 4: Strengths and limitations of thermal flowmeters.

Turbine flowmeters

Fluid passing through a turbine flowmeter spins an axial rotor, the rotation speed of which indicates flow velocity. They have a wide flow range and offer a reasonable level of accuracy at an affordable price,

although they are restricted in use to clean, non-corrosive fluids and measure only volumetric flow. Similar comments apply to paddle wheel and pin wheel flowmeters, which translate the mechanical action of paddles/ wheels into volumetric flow.


Familiar technology Clean gases only

Medium purchase price Need consistent velocity

Reasonable accuracy Require straight pipe runs

Easy to install and maintain Bearings subject to wear

Wide-flow rangeability Need enough flow to spin

Table 5: Strengths and weaknesses of turbine flowmeters.

Ultrasonic flowmeters

Ultrasonic flowmeters use sound waves to determine the velocity of a gas, employing either transit-time sound travel or Doppler frequency shift techniques. Volumetric flow is determined by multiplying velocity with the pipe area. Available in inline and clamp-on formats, ultrasonic meters are non-obstructive and very accurate, although this may require multipath meters, where flow rate is determined by averaging the values.


Non-invasive (clamp-on) Higher set-up costs

No moving parts Pipe-wall interference (clamp-on)

Detect zero flow Clean gases only (transit)

High life expectancy Need particles (Doppler)

Wide range of larger pipe sizes Known gas profiles only

Table 6: Strengths and limitations of ultrasonic flowmeters.

Variable area flowmeters

Also known as rotameters, VA flowmeters typically comprise a ta-pered glass or plastic tube and an internal metering float, with the volumetric flow rate proportional to the displacement of the float. Among the oldest flow technologies, it is inexpensive and easy to install, although historically had to be fitted vertically, and is sensi-tive to changes in temperature, pressure and density. Interestingly, a digital alternative has been recently introduced, the ‘mass-view’, which offers greatly improved accuracy, electronic output signals and no fragile glass components in the flow path, eliminating some of the limitations of VA flowmeters.


Ease of installation No data output (glass/ plastic

types)

Large installed base Glass breakage issues

Low maintenance Sensitive to condition changes

Simple technology Moderate accuracy

Float sticking problems

Table 7: Strengths and limitations of variable area flowmeters.


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Vortex flowmeters


Long term stability Not for low flow rates

Low sensitivity to process vari-

ations

Straight pipe run needed

Moderate set-up costs Some pressure drop

No moving parts Pipe vibration/ noise issues

Minimal maintenance Limited turn-down

Good accuracy

Table 8: Strengths and limitations of vortex flowmeters.

About the authors

andy mangell graduated from the university of Exeter with a B.sc (Comb. Hons) in 1984. andy spent six years in the oil industry throughout africa and the middle East working on both explo-

ration rigs and production facilities. Having returned to the uK in 1990, andy continued his sales career within instrumentation initially as an area sales engineer but ultimately as national sales manager for a product distributor. in 1999 andy joined the Bronkhorst 'family and in 2002 set up Bronkhorst uK at their Headquarters in newmarket.

Henning springer was born in Johan-nesburg and attended the German school Johannesburg. after matriculat-ing he studied Electrical Engineering at the university of the Witwatersrand

and graduated in 1986. He joined anglo american and gained extensive engineering experience while working in the mining industry, both in the gold and coal sectors. after 10 years in this industry he joined mecosa as technical director in 1997 and took over as managing director in 2001. Enquiries: tel. 011 257 6100 or email [email protected].

Vortex flowmeters measure the frequency of vortices created by an obstacle placed in the fluid stream, which are proportional to the flow velocity. Velocity multiplied by pipe area again gives volumetric flow. The measuring signal is not subject to drift, so Vortex meters do not need frequent recalibration, although they are best used with swirl-free, medium-to-high speed flow rates, which generate sufficient vortices.

Conclusion

Compatibility with existing meters, familiarity with a traditional tech-nology and a low purchase price are not necessarily the most valid specifying criteria for many applications. New technology flowmeters are offering increased levels of accuracy, fewer maintenance issues, impressive digital output capabilities and competitive lifecycle costs, which surely make them worthy of serious consideration.

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AMETEK Rotron has introduced a tubeaxial cooling and ventilation fan with the highest performance in the industry

for its package size, the company reports. The MIL-XTM Extreme Performance Series fans deliver best-in-class 300 cfm at 1 m 5 iwg (inches of water gauge). This is a 24% increase in airflow over previous models with the same package configuration.

With significant advances in aerodynamics, motor and dc drive, the new fan maintains ruggedness and reliability suitable for mis-sion- and personnel-critical duty. For example, it can be used to cool electronic countermeasures mounted on armored vehicles to prevent detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additional applications include commercial aircraft electronics, telecommunications, heat exchangers and crew ventilation.

Operating at 7500 RPM, the MIL-XTM delivers up to 42% efficiency, a significant increase over a

typical tubeaxial fan efficiency of 27%.

Standard features in-clude shock-proof con-

struction (meeting Mil-S-901), immersion and wash-down capabil-ity, over voltage and reverse polarity pro-tection and locked rotor shutdown with automatic restart.

Enquiries: Email milinquiry@ametek.

com or visit www.ametekaerodefense.com.

Metso and Turbine Services (TSL) have entered into a supply agree-ment according to which the Metso DNA Turbine Automation

system can be used on all future projects where TSL supplies turbine components and other materials.

“This service partnership is significant for the owners and operators of industrial gas turbines, as it will provide the most up-to-date turbine control solution available that can be combined with any manufactur-ers’ turbine technical know-how, support and services,” says Juha-Pekka Jalkanen, director of plant performance solutions (automation) Metso.

Turbine Services, based in Glasgow, Scotland, is a global maintenance services provider for original equipment manufacturers’ industrial gas turbines. “Our strong capabilities complement Metso’s control applica-tion expertise, forming a unique service solution for industrial gas turbine owners and operators,” says Graham Taylor, general manager, turbine services. “Metso’s wide global sales network complements our global presence - and will benefit customers worldwide.”

Metso offers a total concept for steam, gas and hydro turbine control-lers, including machine monitoring, information management and the possibility to integrate them into a plant-wide distributed control system. Having engineering tools in the control system creates a deeper view into the process.

Its concept includes many powerful benefits, one of which is the pos-sibility to perform an online IO exchange on a running control system and machine without jeopardising the operation of the unit.

This saves on downtime costs and lost production while boosting revenues. Other advantages include remote access by Metso specialists for online analysis and support. Metso supports its control systems for at least 25 years and provides them with new software that communicates with the existing system without any need to redesign or re-engineer.

Enquiries: Steve Clark. Email [email protected].

New performance standard set for electronics cooling and ventilation

Capabilities expand in industrial gas turbine control system retrofits

Agreement between Metso and Turbine Services Limited (TSL) is signed. From left: Eric Chalengeas, (Metso); Neil Buckland, (Metso); David Phillips (TSL) and Kari Huovila (Metso).


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In 1932 engineers from Bopp & Reuther Messtechnik, based in Speyer, Germany, invented the oval wheel meter. Based on the so

called positive displacement measuring principle, this technology measures accurately volumes of liquid flow using two precise rotat-ing oval rotors. Each rotor rotation allows a given volume of liquid to pass through the meter. This volume can be measured using local mechanical indicators; in that case the meter doesn’t need any power supply to perform the measurement. Alternatively it is also possible to detect the rotation of the rotors using electronic sensors and count their pulses, each pulse being proportional to a given volume of flow and providing the volume or flow rate on a local electronic indicator or via 4-20 mA signals or electronic pulses to a remote flow computer. In this case the electronic uses either a battery or external power supply.

Users appreciate positive displacement meters and especially oval wheel meters because they are proven in rugged applications since decades, and extremely reliable showing not only extremely high accuracies down to 0,1% of measured value but also a high repeat-ability and long term stability (no drift of zero or similar). Moreover this measuring principle is insensitive to flow profile, allowing the users to install such meter in extremely compact way. Vibrations, pres-sure or temperature will not affect the quality of the measurement.

Recently Bopp & Reuther Messtechnik presented a new develop-ment of its technology and introduced a so called energy harvesting module. This module is at the same time a sensor able to detect the rotation of the oval wheels and more or less a sort of ‘dynamo’

extracting directly in high efficient manner as much electrical energy out of the rotation of the oval wheels without however impacting the excellent metrological properties of the meters.This electrical energy is employed to supply a local electronic indicator. Depending on the application the life time of the battery can be only prolongedbut in specific cases it is even possible to design a self-sustaining meter.

As an example a pilot project demonstrated successfully the fea-sibility of controlling the plausibility of the fuel volumes out coming of several fuel dispensers. In this application the local electronic indicator is fitted with a GSM module transmitting the fuel balance volumes periodically to a data center. Here the user is able to control the plausibility of these data in order to detect fraud or vandalism at the fuel stations. As another example a special set-up can be adapted to already install oval-wheel meters in order to generate electrical power locally. This power can supply a local electronic indicator or be used in combination with a data transfer module, e.g. GSM. It is then possible for the user to control remotely the data transmitted and their plausibility. By this means the stocks or the transfer of products can be remotely controlled. It is possible to detect faults like leakages in pipeline systems or overload events in pumping stations.

These kinds of tailor made solutions are completing the broad and reliable offer of Bopp & Reuther Messtechnik with new innovative flow metering electronic products and help our customers to further reduce their costs of ownership.

Enquiries: Tel. 011 257 6100 or email [email protected]

The Atrato is the culmination of eight years research and develop-ment in collaboration with the Department of Process & Engineer-

ing at Cranfield University. It can handle low flows from luminar to turbulent and is largely immune from viscosity. It has excellent turndown, repeatability and linearity and can monitor flow over a range of 200:1. Accuracy is better than approximately 1,5%.

Utilising patented technology that enables it to operate with ex-cellent accuracy over very wide flow ranges, across the whole span, the Atrato range of inline flowmeters is a genuine breakthrough in flowmeter technology. Its rugged, clean bore construction makes the Atrato ideal for a whole range of low flow applications and its USB port allows software connectivity at literally the touch of a button. Its signal processing system permits flow measurement across the

whole Reynolds number range allowing both viscous and non-viscous products to metered accurately, whilst signal discrimination identifies anomalies in the flow and generates reports as required. The Atrato’s time of flight measuring system measures both the upstream and downstream flight times and half the difference is the velocity of the fluid. Its patented system measures these time differences to an accuracy of more than 200 picaseconds, indicative of its excellent metering performance. As the pipe geometry is know the resulting pulse output is accurate for the volume passed. This performance is further enhanced by our primary signal to noise ratio which is typi-cally 1000:1 and at times as high as 3000:1.

Enquiries: Email [email protected].

Kobold Instrumentation, represented in South Afri-ca by Instrotech - a Comtest Group company – has

launched the KFR line of acrylic body flowmeters of-fering the perfect balance between low-cost, accuracy and range availability. Bridging the microflow and large flow ranges, this flowmeter can provide an ef-fective solution to industrial applications, such as gas analysis and water applications. The KFR operates on proven suspended float system, ie the installation po-sition is vertical and the flow is from bottom to top. It has a one-piece acrylic body with PVC or metal fittings for durability. Large lettering and extra hash marks

make the scale clearly visible and take the guesswork out of reading flow. Further enhancing readability, the low flow meters offer an inherently stable float design, while the larger flowmeters feature a float stabilisation mechanism. In the larger flow ranges, the stabilisation mechanism allows a smaller installation footprint at a correspondingly lower price. Most units are offered both with, or without needle valves. Accuracy, value, low cost are three non-mutually exclusive attributes which are made possible by Kobold KFR flowmeters.

Enquiries: Pieter Deysel. Tel. 011 462 1920 or email [email protected].

Energy harvesting and oval wheel meters

Excellent flow accuracy

New low volume variable area flowmeters for liquids and gases


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In 2013 NamPower contracted H3iSquared to design, install and commission a camera system for monitoring of the Gerus sub-station yards. This camera system was not meant for security

purposes, rather it was to be used for monitoring of the various switchgear (bus bars and earth links), horizontal and vertical pan-tograph disconnectors, transformers and reactors in the substation.

As NamPower is running the countrywide grid from a national control room in Windhoek, the communication infrastructure was already in place for remote control and monitoring of substations. However problems could arise with such a distributed system whereby mechanical failures are not correctly reported to SCADA operators. For instance, if a bus bar was set to open, but became stuck after opening only 20% of the way, the SCADA would still report that the bus bar had opened correctly. This type of scenario could lead to widespread damage of the grid, as well as potential hazardous or deadly environments for anyone on site.

The pro-active approach to such potential failures was to im-plement a camera system whereby operators could have a visual confirmation of any commands sent to the remote substation. The proposed solution would preferably integrate with the SCADA sys-tem to provide automatic pop-ups of relevant views on any events or commands sent by operators. This solution would give increased peace of mind for users, along with increased productivity (Due to less downtime caused by mechanical problems) and greatly reducing troubleshooting and travelling time required.

Customer requirements

NamPower’s requirements for the Gerus project were to provide real time visuals of the substations yards, in a system that was easy to control and maintain. The hardware used for the installation was to be correctly hardened and specified for use in a high EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) environment, and visuals or communications could not be overly affected by EMI spikes. The system had to be fully remote controllable and configurable, with minimal regular maintenance required.

Cameras used in the solution for Gerus also had to be able to handle the harsh environments in Namibia and have a reasonably long op-erating life under such conditions. These included both the extreme temperatures experienced in Namibia, which range from extreme highs during the days to extreme lows at night, as well as the dry and dusty conditions. The cameras used had to provide clear visuals of the substation yards, at distances of up to around 1 km, and needed to have clear enough pictures to allow operators to read various signs around the yards. The video feeds needed to be automatically recorded for a period of time and stored in the event that operators needed to review footage at a later stage in order to troubleshoot any problems.

NamPower also required that the camera traffic did not overly tax the network, and could not cause interruptions of critical traffic. The cameras were required to be able to operate at different frame rates for local recording versus remote viewing, as well as be able to increase recorded and viewed frame rates on detection of an event at the substation.

Solution

After visiting the site along with the installers, H3iSquared began designing a camera scheme that would cover NamPower’s require-ments. It was decided to use IV&C’s PTZ-3330-19-1-110 cameras, which are outdoor PTZ cameras with a 36x optical zoom. A Rugged-Com RSG2100 Ethernet switch would be installed in the Gerus server room, which would interface to their existing network infrastructure through the existing RuggedCom infrastructure.

Hardened IP camera solution for NamPower’s Gerus substationBy T Craven, H3iSquared

A case study on the installation of an IP camera system for monitoring substation equipment.

Take note

• namPower’s requirements for the Gerus project were to provide real-time visuals of the substation yards using a system that was easy to control and maintain.

• Cameras have to be able to withstand the harsh namibian climate.• the solution allows operators, within seconds of being notified, a

visual of the site and relevant areas.


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Fibre optic cabling would be used to extend the links to the server room, with a fibre-to-copper media convert-er installed in an enclosure alongside the camera. The final copper run to the camera would use STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) cabling in order to eliminate EMI and provide a clear picture. A total of seven PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras were planned for, which would give coverage of the majority of devices in the yard.

Part of the requirements from NamPower’s side was that no new structures were to be erected in the yards. For this reason it was decided that these cameras would be mounted atop existing light posts that overlooked each of the yards, as these would provide an overall bird’s eye view that would allow operators to easily identify and focus on rel-evant components of the substation.

In October 2013, after a few months of planning and designing of the system, the go ahead was given to order the hardware and prepare the installation. Along with Namibian based company Tesla Energy Solutions, H3iSquared trav-

Abbreviations

NamPower is the national power utility of Namibia and specialises in the generation and transmission of electricity. As an electricity company NamPower understands that electricity invariably plays an important role in the socio-economic development of Namibia. NamPower's main sources of power are the thermal, coal-fired Van Eck Power Station outside Windhoek, the hydroelectric plant at the Ruacana Falls in the Kunene Region, the standby diesel-driven Paratus Power Station at Walvis Bay and several interconnections into the Southern African Power Pool.

Emi – Electromagnetic interferenceiV&C – industrial Video and ControlPtZ – Pan-tilt-ZoomsCada – supervisory Control and data acquisitionstP – shielded twisted Pair


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elled out to the Gerus site to complete the installation, and a week later the hardware was completely installed and signed off.

The following week a representative from H3iSquared met the operators at NamPower control in Windhoek, Namibia in order to complete the commissioning and system training for the camera solution. Using the IV&C software, the operators viewing screens were fully customised to show all views that were interesting and relevant to the operators, and various preset viewing positions for the cameras were setup. These allowed the operators to move, zoom and focus the cameras with a single click of the mouse button. This meant that on any event operators could have a visual of the site and relevant areas within seconds of being notified of the event.

Conclusion

At this point the original scope of the project was completed and signed off. Future scope for this project includes the integration of the camera system to the SCADA system using an ActiveX control-ler, allowing further automation of the system and SCADA solutions.

Acknowledgements

H3iSquared would like to acknowledge and thank the NamPower team for their assistance with the planning, shipping, installation and com-missioning of this pilot project; as well as to the installation team from Tesla Energy Solutions for their hard and neat work on this project. About the author

tim Craven joined H3isquared in 2008 in a technical support role, and has been with the company since then, providing technical support, network auditing and train-ing to leaders in the industrial, utility and its industries.Enquiries: tel. 011 454 6025 or email info@h3isquared. Visit www.h3isquared.com.

Electricity+Control Features

• Cables and accessories• Control systems and automation• Sensors, switches and transducers• Transformers and substations• Valves and actuators• Energy and enviroFiciency

• Control systems and automation• Drives, motors and switchgear• Earthing and lightning protection• Pressure and level measurement• Standby and back-up• Energy and enviroFiciency

February 2014January 2014

* Editorial contributions should be sent to the editor, Wendy Izgorsek: Email [email protected].

* For advertising queries, please contact:Helen Couvaras: Email [email protected] Jandrell: Email [email protected]


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ExnL (Energy Limiting) was a technique used for zone 2 which was effectively IS in normal operation ie with no safety factor required. ExnL has been reassigned as Exic in IEC/SANS60079-

11 [1] and IEC/SANS60079-25 [2]. Previously, although not spelled out in the standards, it was a generally accepted practice to run ExnL loops in the same trunking as IS loops. With the new standards, it is clear that Exic loops can be run in the same multi-core or trunking as other Exic loops. This means that single multi-core (or trunking) can be used for IS instruments in Zones 0, 1 and 2. However, shared multicore must be Type A or B in accordance with system standard IEC/SANS 60079-25 [2], that is not subject to faults.

The CENLEC standard, and subsequently the IEC standard, changed the capacitive reference curves because of some tests done in Germany. This reduced the allowed cable capacitance from 2002 which had an impact on plants built between 1995 and 2002 based on earlier ATEX standards where longer cable runs were required. For a standard 24 V loop (Uo = 28 V) this changed the Co from 130 nF to 83 nF, reducing the maximum cable length allowed. When these plants require a distributed control system (DCS) upgrade and a new isolator is to be fitted, the IS loop calculation now fails.

How can we handle this? Firstly and importantly, there is a mis-conception that the Co values are defined by the design of barrier/isolator. The Co value is actually defined in IEC/SANS60079-11: 2012 (Table A.2 on page 96 (102 of 149). So any barrier or isolator with 28 V safety description will have Co = 83 nF (Zone 0/1; IIC). In practice this parameter will define the maximum allowable cable length.

Figure 1: Intrinsic safety levels of protection.

Figure 2. Instrument located in Zone 0 (or 1).

Figure 2 shows an Exia loop with a Co = 83 nF. The max cable ca-pacitance Cc = 63 nF. With a typical cable capacitance of 95 nF/km, this would equate to maximum cable of 660 m. If the loop were Exic, the Co = 272 nF, so Cc = 252 nF would theoretically allow 2,5 kms of cable - ie no longer a limiting factor. (The limiting factor in this system is likely to be operating voltage at the end of the cable being high enough for the transmitter to work). In Figure 3, you can see that the system is Exic certified.

Figure 3: Field instrument in Zone 2.

Intrinsic Safety for zone 2 (Exic) using longer cable runsBy G Friend, Extech Safety Systems

The impact of Exic and how to handle long cable runs in IS loops.


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Conclusion

• For new installations requiring long cable runs, classifying the area as zone 2 offers significant benefits.

• For upgrading existing plants where the new loop approval fails, there are actually two options:

o Re-classify the hazardous area as zone 2, use Exic and make use of the higher Co value. If this is possible, this is a simpler option.

o If it is not possible to reclassify, there is an alternative due to be defined in the new ARP0108 [3] due out shortly ie there is the availability of a ‘risk assessment’ for these loops (reference in A.10).

If a change to loop apparatus results in incompatible safety parameters in accordance with the certification standard, the ATL may consider the use of risk assess-ment methods and a concession may be issued.’

In both cases, Exic offers some flexibility and allows for upgrades of old control systems improving safety. Regarding equipment for Zone 2 - in Europe, the ATEX directive allows for Cat 3 self certification (eg ExnA non-arcing). Due to the low risk of ignition and high skills pro-ficiency (suppliers and end-users), this is acceptable. Most ExnL ATEX certified product was also Cat 3 self-certified.

However, with changing to Exic, this is now covered by the third party Exi certification (with minimal extra work or cost), making it an accepted practice in South Africa.

References

[1] IEC/SANS 60079-11: 2012. Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres, Part 11: Equipment protection by Intrinsic safety 'i'.

[2] IEC/SANS60079-25. 2010. Explosive atmospheres Part 25: Intrinsically safe electrical systems.

[3] ARP 0108: 2007. Regulatory requirements for explo-sion-protected apparatus. To be read in conjunction with SANS 10108.

Take note

About the author

Gary Friend completed his Bsc Electrical Engineering at the university of Witwatersrand in 1990. He worked for temperature Controls at various stages between 1986 and 1992. in1992 he worked as a design engineer for ltH Electronics in the united Kingdom, designing process control instrumentation for water quality moni-toring. Gary joined mtl in november 1995 where he

program managed the mtl4500 galvanic isolators development. in 2006, he returned to south africa and he joined Extech safety systems. in 1995 he registered with miEt and is a registered Chartered Engineer (uK). He is registered as a Professional Engineer (sa) with ECsa. Gary sits on the Johannesburg branch of saimC committee, Ex-steering committee and is sub-committee of sa Flameproof association and is Chairman of the Fieldbus Foundation southern african marketing Committee. Enquiries: tel. 011 791 6000 or email [email protected].

Abbreviations

aRP - address Resolution ProtocolatEX - Explosive atmospheres (atmosphere EXplosibles)atl - accredited test laboratoryCEnlEC - European Committee for Electrotechnical standardisation (Comité

Européen de normalisation Électrotechnique)dCs - distributed Control systemExnl - Energy limitingiEC - international Electrotechnical Commissionis - instrinsically safesans - south african national standards

• Exnl (energy limiting) was a technique used for zone 2 which was effectively intrinsically safe in normal operation.

• Exnl (energy limiting) has been reassigned as Exic.• With the new standards, it is clear that Exic loops can

be run in the same trunking as other Exic loops.

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CapeTown: Tel: 021 300-1727 Fax: 021-300-1728

www.solar-solutions.co.za / www.rectifier.co.za

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Fire protective gear with NFPA approval

Locally developed IS barriers for mines

The Centa Group’s extensive range of fire protection equipment, which encompasses nearly 3 000 fire

protection line items, is designed to protect people and property from the devastating affects of a fire.

The company’s range of fire protection equipment includes electronic fire detection and sprinkler systems, as well as standard fire equipment, encompassing fire extinguishers, hose reels and hoses and emergency signage. The company also supplies cabinets, fittings, accessories and a wide range of spares.

Key to this range, is fire protective gear, which meets stringent quality and safety specifications, including National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) approval.

“Fire fighters are exposed to harsh conditions, often for long periods and need the protection of reliable clothing that can withstand the effects of elevated temperatures and thermal flux,” says Siva Govender, director, Centa Group. “The Centa Group’s range of fire protection cloth-ing is designed to offer protection to fire fighters from thermal environments experienced during fire fighting.”

This fire protective gear encompasses durable bunker and arc flash suits, fire fighting boots, helmets, balaclavas, goggles and protective gloves.

Centa’s fire fighting combat suits, which consist of a coat and pull-on strap trousers, are manufactured from four layers of fabric, ensuring optimum protection and enhanced comfort.

The outer shell of the suit is a blended anti-tearing rip stop fabric of Nomex and Kevlar, with a moisture and thermal barrier quilted onto an aramid-FR viscose flame retardant lining.

The moisture barrier prevents the ingress of water, but allows through moisture, making the suit breathable and comfortable to wear. The thermal barrier offers flame and

thermal protection. These suits have specially designed inner ribs and cuffs to prevent fire incursion. For added safety, retro reflective sewing thread and trim enhances visibility.

Fire fighters’ helmets are manufactured from an integrated assembly of advanced materials and qual-ity components for reliable protection, comfort and ex-tended service life. These durable helmets are avail-able in yellow, red, black and white.

Centa’s fire fight-ing boots, with a vulcanised rubber upper and sole, have been air pressure tested to 50 kPa for water leakage. The steel toe cap has been tested to withstand an impact of 200 Joules and a compression of 15 000 Newtons. The steel midsole, which of-fers footstep protection against punctures, has a resistance of 1,5-million flexes without cracking.

Enquiries: Siva Govender. Tel. 031 569 1175 or email

[email protected].

Stringent occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations prohibit the use of

non-compliant equipment on coal mines, chemical and petro-chemical plants. With the risk of explosions always top of mind, man-agement complies with legal requirements by use of intrinsically safe (IS) technology within the working environment.

“Booyco Electronics supplies a range of intrinsically safe barriers, tailored to the specific needs of these extremely safety con-scious industries. As demands increase for more advanced technology, we are now im-plementing more Ethernet-based equipment in the mining, chemical and petro-chemical environments,” says managing director of Booyco Electronics, Anton Lourens.

This new range of intrinsically safe barri-

ers, which are approved for ETH, USB and RS485 based equipment, complement the company’s ISS (Intrinsically Safe Solutions) product range for customers with a high requirement for IS equipment.

Lourens points out that these barriers are designed, engineered and built specifically for the South African mining industry. “It is important to consider the idiosyncrasies and rugged conditions of the local mining sector. Most available barriers are fully imported and are not specifically designed for local conditions. Not only do we custom manufacture our barriers, but we are able to contain costs and provide instantaneous support for our products.”

The intrinsically safe barriers are suitable for use in all hazardous areas and are engi-

neered to be compact, easy to use and robust enough for the surface and underground mining sectors.

Enquiries: Anton Lourens. Email [email protected].

Top: Arc flash suit.Left: Fire suit.


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High performance digital camera for hazardous areas

Extronics, designer and manufacturer of intrinsically safe and explosion proof

equipment, has made available a new digital camera for hazardous areas - the iCAM502. Building on the outstanding success of the original iCAM501, this latest model has a number of significant new enhancements designed for users with high performance requirements.

The new auto-focus lens allows crystal-clear images to be taken from as close as 5 cm. This makes the iCAM502 ideal for taking pictures of rating plates, close-ups of wiring cabinets etc. The auto-focus lens also provides pin sharp images at all distances and the improved white balance further enhances picture performance.

A key feature of the iCAM50x series has been its highly portable and lightweight form factor - less than 200 g. This is achieved by allowing image quality feedback via the camera's three LED lights. This powerful feature has been enhanced in the iCAM502 which carries the latest image analysis soft-ware, providing greatly improved picture quality, speed of shot and overall camera performance. The camera also comes with a removable rubber casing which enhances durability and grip whilst retaining portabil-ity and ease of use.

"The iCAM501 Ultra continues to be an out-standing success for Extronics due to its cost-effective combi-nation of portability and performance," said John Hartley, manag-ing director at Extron-

ics. "The new iCAM502 builds on that success and is designed for those customers demanding improved picture perfor-mance, particularly close-up images."

Extech has been ap-pointed sole authorised distributor for Southern Africa.

Enquiries: 011 791 6000 or email sales@extech.

co.za.

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Keller, manufacturer of measuring technology - represented in southern Africa by In-strotech - has a complete range of pressure transmitters for use in hazardous areas.

These intrinsically safe transmitters offer measurement ranges of between 0,2 bar and 1 000 bar, so they can be used for measurements of all types in areas subject to explosion hazards in Group II (gas), and as per the relevant ATEX Directive. Individual types from the product range are also approved for Group I (mining) respec¬tively Group II (dust).

Common features of all Y-line pressure transmitters include a very low temperature error, with correspondingly high measure¬ment accuracy. Thanks to the integrated temperature sensor and an additional digital circuit, the range of envisaged opera¬ting temperatures can be divided into as many as 120 sections with a width of 1,5 Kelvin. During factory calibration, a mathe¬matical model is used to calculate individual compensation values for TK zero point and TK amplification for each of these sections; the values are then stored in the transmitter. During operation, these values are fed into the analogue signal path according to the temperature, without reducing the 2 kHz signal processing dynamic. A relevant total error band for measure¬ment purposes of ±0,8% FS can therefore be attained over the typical temperature range of -10°C to +80°C.


Pressure transmitters for gas, dust atmospheres and danger zones

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The pros and cons of copper versus aluminium conductors have been debated for many years. Many of the concerns are based on old information and misinformation. The concerns centre on

the very different properties of the two materials and their suitability for application within the electrical equipment industry. Reliable performance from the conductors, the joints and terminations of the conductors, are essential to the operation of the electrical system. Customers are seeing the recent increases in the price of copper passed onto them by the equipment manufacturer.

In 2003 a study was conducted for the Canadian Copper and Brass Development Association (CCBDA) in Toronto by Powertech Labs of Surrey, BC. The objective of the study was to compare the connector performance under equivalent, severe environmental conditions for the following three configurations:• Copper connectors on copper conductor• Aluminium connectors on copper conductor• Aluminium connectors on aluminium conductorThe power connectors, conductor and oxide inhibitor used to make the samples were standard commercial varieties, obtained from several different manufacturers. The sizes were 2/0 AWG copper and 4/0 AWG aluminium.

Background

Copper connectors are available for use with copper conductors, and aluminium connectors are available for use with copper and alu-minium conductors. There are significant differences in the material and electrical properties of aluminium and copper and their oxides, which may affect their long-term performance.

Aluminium oxidises readily when exposed to air and a strongly attached hard outer layer of electrically insulating oxide quickly forms around the metal. For this reason, aluminium connectors are often manufactured with an outer tin coating, which is intended to prevent

surface oxidation of the connector from occurring. Aluminium crimp connectors are also pre-filled with oxide, inhibiting the compound to reduce oxidation between the conductor and connector when in service. Aluminium conductors must always be wire-brushed to remove the oxide layer, and oxide inhibiting oxidation.

Copper also oxidises when exposed to air, but the oxide which forms is relatively soft and conductive, although not as conductive as the base metal. Copper connectors can therefore often be installed without the oxide inhibitor. Wire brushing of the conductor, although recommended, is not as critical as with aluminium. Copper connectors are often manufactured with a tine coating to reduce surface oxidation and discoloration, but they are also available without a tin coating.

When copper and aluminium are brought into direct contact in the presence of moisture, a strong galvanic reaction takes place due to the dissimilar properties of the metals. Therefore aluminium con-nectors cannot be used with copper conductors unless an interface material, which is more compatible with both copper and aluminium, is present, such as tin. However, tin is also susceptible to oxidation and if the tin layer is compromised, then galvanic corrosion between the base metals can still occur.

The differences in properties of copper and aluminium may result in a significant performance difference in the various types of electri-cal connectors in long term service.

For this study, copper-to-copper, aluminium-to-copper and aluminium-to-aluminium connections were subjected to accelerated ageing which consisted of 2 000 hours of environmental exposure and high current, short time testing. The copper-to-copper connections had very little change in resistance during testing and performed the best in this study.

Test samples

The test samples used in this study were combinations of copper and aluminium conductors and connectors, with all components being

The great debate: Copper versus aluminiumBy E Swanepoel, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA)

The variance in cost between equipment with copper versus aluminium conductors is now affecting the customers’ buying decision. But should it?


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standard off-the-shelf varieties. Copper conductor was bare 19-strand 2/0 AWG, and aluminium conductor was Alcan NUAL 18-strand com-pact 4/0 AWG. Conductor sizes were selected to be approximately the same ampacity. Connectors were a combination of compression and mechanical bolted type one-hole lug connectors. All aluminium compression connectors were tin-plated and supplied pre-filled with an oxide inhibitor.

Connector installation procedures

Connectors were installed onto 50 cm long conductor segments ac-cording to the manufacturer’s recommendations, using the following procedures:• All conductors were wire-brushed immediately before installing

the connectors• Thomas & Betts Contax CTB8 oxide inhibitor was applied to the

aluminium conductor for installation of mechanical connectors• No oxide inhibitor was applied to any of the copper-to-copper

connections• Compression connectors were crimped using a Thomas & Betts

(Blackburn) model TBM5 crimping tool• Mechanical connectors were installed using torque levels as

shown in Table 1• A brazed or welded equaliser was installed on the other end of

each conductor segment to provide good current distribution to the conductor for current testing and resistance measurements

Conductor size Screw size Torque

AWG In In lb N m

2/0 7/16 120 13,6

2/0 – 4/0 11/16 275 31,1

2/0 – 4/0 3/4 375 42,4

Table 1: Mechanical connector torque levels for installation.

Test procedures

The testing consisted of periods of corrosive environmental exposure, followed by the application of high current. This was intended to produce conditions in which connectors that are susceptible t corro-sion show an increase in contact resistance as the testing progresses.

The cyclic testing was conducted in the following sequence:• Salt fog corrosion cycling – carried out for 500-blocks of time• Current burst tests – carried out following each 500-hour salt fog

period• Dc resistance readings of each connector were made approxi-

mately every 170 hours during the corrosion testing, and before

and after each set of current burst tests• A total of four sets of salt fog and current burst tests were con-

ducted for a total of approximately 2 000 hours of salt fog testing

Corrosion cycling

Connector sample groups were arranged on a three-tier PVC rack in an environmental chamber with the conductors and connectors oriented horizontally and the connectors suspended in clean air. The positions of the connector sets were exchanged periodically so that more consistent environmental exposure from sample to sample was achieved over the testing period. Each four-hour corrosion testing cycle consisted of the following steps:• Salt fog spray for a period of one hour and 45 minutes, consisting

of a fine mist of aerated 3% NaC1 solution, buffered to apH of 5,5 using nitric acid

• Dry heat for a period of two hours, reaching a maximum of 70°C during the two hour period

• Clear water rinse for a period of 15 minutesThe cycle was repeated continuously during the corrosion testing.

Current burst testing

The reason for conducting current burst testing was to encourage accelerated degradation at the connector contact with the conductor. For the test, current levels of 1,750 Arms for 4/0 aluminium conduc-tor and 1,800 Arms for 2/0 copper conductor were determined to be sufficient to produce the desired effect. For each test, the current was held at these levels long enough to raise the temperature of the control conductor to 250°C, as determined by the thermocouple measurement at the centre of the control conductor span. Typically, this required an application of current for approximately 50 seconds, starting with a conductor at near room temperature. Samples were subjected to current burst testing as follows:• Each set of ten connectors, which were joined together in series,

were subjected to current burst testing simultaneously• The control conductor was placed in series with the connector

assembly; a thermocouple was attached to the centre of the length

Take note

By E Swanepoel, Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA)

Abbreviations

aWG – american Wired GaugePVC – Polyvinyl Chloride

• many concerns in the copper versus aluminium conductor debate are based on outdated and incorrect information.

• a study conducted by the Canadian Copper and Brass development association compared the connector performance under equivalent, harsh environmental conditions.

• the configurations used were copper connectors on copper conductor; aluminium connectors on copper conductor; aluminium connectors on aluminium conductor.


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of each control conductor to measure the conductor temperature during current burst testing

• Five short duration bursts of high current were applied in suc-cession; the control sample was allowed to cool to 40°C, or less, between each current burst

The resistance of each sample (from each equaliser to each connec-tor) was measured at room temperature using a micro-ohm meter before and after each set of five current burst tests.

Conclusion

The final results of the corrosion and current burst testing show the number of samples of each type listed by percent-change in resistance over the entire testing period. It was determined that a resistance increase of great than 5% for the whole sample (equaliser, conductor segment and connector) was equivalent to an increase of more than 100% for the contact from the conductor to the connector. Therefore an increase in sample resistance of greater than 5% was considered to be significant.• Aluminium connectors on aluminium conductor: o 40% of the connector samples could be considered to have

failed o 10% showed a moderate increase in resistance o 20% showed a moderate increase in resistance o 30% showed a decrease in resistance• Aluminium connectors on copper conductor o 40% of the samples showed a significant increase in

resistance o 30% showed a moderate increase in resistance

o 30% showed a small increase in resistance• Copper connectors on copper conductor o 70% of the samples showed a small increase in resistance o 30% showed a decrease in resistanceOverall the best performance in this 2 000 hour corrosion and current burst test was obtained by all copper connectors on copper conduc-tors, the all copper system.

About the Copper Development Association Africa

The Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) has represented

the local copper industry in southern Africa since 1962 and now

promotes copper usage throughout Africa. The CDAA’s head office is

based in Johannesburg and, on behalf of its members, the organisation

is committed to promoting and expanding the use of copper and copper

alloys throughout Africa.

About the author

Evert swanepoel is centre director for the Copper devel-opment association africa (Cdaa. Enquiries: tel. 011 824 3916 or email [email protected].

‘Decades of Engineering Excellence’ is a 216 page hardcover prestige coffee table publication of the Engineering Council

of South Africa. Du Toit Grobler, a Professional Electrical/Electronic and Certificated Electrical/ Mechanical Engineer was requested to compile and edit the contents which commemorates the excellence of engineering in South Africa over many decades.

The inspiration to publish the book was derived from the First Ten Decades, compiled and edited by Mike Crouch during the centenary year of the SAIEE. The book provides a brief overview of engineering mainly in South Africa but also globally, of the cat-egories, disciplines and sub-disciplines of engineering which are predominantly practised in South Africa, of engineering achieve-ments in various disciplines and combinations of disciplines in South Africa, of the tertiary education of engineering practitioners in South Africa and reference to the statutory and voluntary legs of the engineering profession in South Africa. The main body of the book consist of 5 chapters, with comprehensive reference lists:• Engineering• Engineering achievements in South Africa• Engineering education in South Africa

• The Engineering profession in South Africa• The Engineering Council of South AfricaForwards and messages were written by the Minister of Public Works, President of ECSA, chief executive officer of ECSA and Compiler and Editor of the book.

Annexures consist of the ECSA Code of Conduct, a comprehen-sive list of abbreviations and acronyms (56+65+65=186) used in the text, contact details of ECSA, recognised voluntary associations, CBE and councils of the built environment professions, govern-ment departments, tertiary educational institutions including traditional universities, comprehensive universities, universities of technology, further education and training colleges and SETAs (168 contact details), and current South African legislation pertain-ing to engineering (17 references).

Du Toit Grobler (IntPI(SA)(EE), PrIng(EE), PrDiplIng(EM), BSc(Ing)(Elek)(Pret), FSAIEE, SMICMEESA is a multi-category, multi-disci-plinary engineering professional. He is dedicated to the promotion of the engineering profession.


‘Decades of Engineering Excellence’


About the author

luiz Rzezak is the regional sales manager for Elspec in south america. He has 25 years’ experience in sales, mar-keting, and market development in various electrical and electrical software support systems. luis is responsible for securing a significant market presence for Elspec in south america. Enquiries: impact Energy. Email Wayne@

impactenergy.co.za.

The Panama Canal, the waterway between the Atlantic and Pa-cific Oceans, provides transit service to vessels of all nations, some 13 – 14 000 per year. This number accounts for approxi-

mately 5% of the commercial world trade. The canal uses a series of locks, as well as a tow track with a fleet of locomotives to transit vessels through the canal. The Panama Canal had problems due to a 90-year old weak grid. The locomotives that pull the ships through the canal had extremely heavy and fast changing loads caused by the many starts and stops, thus creating power quality and voltage stability issues. The locomotives require delivered power to be free of transients, over and- under voltage, unbalanced voltage and cur-rent and must maintain a stable frequency to ensure a safe transit.

The hilly terrain added to the complications. Locomotives would cease to function on uphill climbs; they often plummeted backwards, crashing into oncoming locomotives. The canal had many technicians and maintenance crew on duty 24 hours a day. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) searched for a solution to their PQ problems with the following objectives:• Improving the electrical quality in the Panama Canal locks• Reducing the impact of the fluctuations and disturbances of

voltage on the equipment and machinery in both the locks and locomotives

• Implementing a monitoring system in a local and remote meth-odology

• Reducing or avoiding delays at the locks due to electrical distur-bances.

Panama Canal locks dynamic VAr compensation project

Initially, four prototype Equalizer systems were installed by ACP per-sonnel in the Miraflores Lock central east wall in the four transformers that feed the locomotives. The Equalizers were then monitored for three months before the entire project was realised. An additional 44 Equalizer systems were then installed by ACP personnel on both the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the canal with a final inspection made by the ACP with system start-up performed by Elspec. Immediately upon installation, the three locks (Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun) saw an almost complete mitigation of voltage disturbance. Machinery, which may have gone off-line because of the disturbances, continued running smoothly, eliminating the costly delays in traffic flow.

Take note

In addition, harmonic distortion, especially the 5th and 7th was drasti-cally reduced. All 48 ‘Equalizer’ systems were also equipped with the G4K BLACKBOX and connected to the ACP’s SCADA system, enabling the ACP to continuously monitor the electrical network of the locks. The G4K has many advantages in relation to the competition, one of the most important being the capacity to record all of the electrical pa-rameters cycle-by-cycle with no need to establish limits (thresholds).

Conclusion

The installation of the Equalizer systems have eliminated costly transit delays in the Panama Canal locks by improving power quality and reducing harmonic distortion.

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Panama Canal locks – dynamic VAr compensation projectBy L Rzezak, Elspec

Compensation of reactive energy, voltage control, harmonic filtering and power monitoring solve a serious problem in the locks of the Panama Canal.

Abbreviations

aCP – Panama Canal authoritysCada – supervisory Control and data acquisitionPQ – Power Quality

• the Panama Canal had serious problems due to a 90-year old weak grid.

• improving the electrical power quality in the Panama Canal locks was necessary for the safe transit of vessels.

• the systems installed improved power quality and reduced harmonic distortion - eliminating costly delays.


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Local firm JB Switchgear Solutions recently won a contract for the design, manufacture and supply of

low voltage switchgear equipment destined for the new Red Area Tailings Treatment plant for Venetia Diamond mine in Limpopo province. The contract came through DRA, the well-known project house based in Sunninghill, Johannesburg. The entire plant is built as a modular con-struction which will be tested and cold-commissioned in Chamdor, south of Johannesburg, before being dis-mantled for transport to the mine, and re-erected on site.

JB Switchgear’s scope included seven specially de-signed outdoor kiosks, one containerised MCC substa-tion complete with fire suppression and internal arc vent-ing ducts, twenty-six distribution boards, forty-one field isolator stations, and a container-based control room.

The plant is scheduled for erection and commission-ing on site during December 2013.Enquiries: Johan Basson. Tel. 011 027 5804 or email info@

jbswitchgear.co.za.

LV switchgear contract for mine equipment in Limpopo The Pretoria Factory Test Department of Powertech Transformers, a

subsidiary of Powertech and the JSE listed Altron Group, recently received SANAS accreditation conforming to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard.

The company is the first transformer Original Equipment Manufac-turer (OEM) within South Africa to receive this particular accreditation. The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is recognised by the South African Government as the single National Accreditation Body that awards formal recognition to Laboratories, Certification Bod-ies, Inspection Bodies, Proficiency Testing Scheme Providers and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) that their test facilities are competent to carry out specific tasks.

The process which commenced more than two years ago involves the integration of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard into the current system which Powertech Transformers’ Test Department has in place. This entailed follow-ing guidelines set by the ISO/IEC17025 in creating a quality process that would suit the industry. The main challenge for the team was the absence of a base to work from in terms of an accreditation process for trans-formers. Normally a set standard can be found based on other facilities’ accreditation processes; however with Powertech Transformers being the first transformer manufacturing company in South Africa to be awarded this accreditation, the standard had to be created from a zero base.

Enquiries: Nico Günter. Tel. 012 318 9823 or email [email protected]. Jacqui Burn. Tel. 012 318 9802 or email jacqueline.

[email protected].

EG manufactures a full range of SABS-approved miniature circuit breakers, including all accessories in both 5 kA and 10 kA, making

it possible for the Zest WEG Group to supply customers with complete solutions for specific projects. These miniature circuit breakers can be used in all commercial and domestic applications.

The WEG MDW and WEG MDWH miniature circuit-breaker line offers protection against overload and short circuit in electric conductors, com-plying with the tripping characteristic curves B and C, according to standards IEC 60898 and IEC 60947-2. These products have been developed to be used in low volt-age circuits with di-rect or alternating current from 2 to 125 A and short-circuit breaking ca-pacity up to 10 kA.

Enquiries: Jamie Wilson

Tel. 011 723 6000 or email [email protected].

Testing facility achieves SANAS accreditation – a first for SA

Complete solution in miniature circuit breakers


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Impact Energy is the Appointed Distributor in Southern Africa for Elspec and works jointly on numerous projects and systems countrywide.Elspec’s technology simplifies the understanding of the quality of

power itself. It is highly compatible and assists customers enhance electrical network power quality (PQ).

Through many years of direct engineering involvement with clients, the Elspec team has developed a wide range of application expertise. The vast experience of Elspec’s Research and Development (R&D) department extends to in-depth fields of PQ, software and hardware development.

Elspec’s BLACKBOX PQ analysers, empowered by the patented PQZIP compression technology, make it possible to store up to a thousand times more than other typical file formats. In order to pro-vide a high quality electric power service, it is essential to monitor the quality of all the electric signals at different locations and along an electrical power network. The PQZIP technology realises this capability by facilitating the BLACKBOX with unique capacities to completely and accurately store this vast quantity of data over extended periods of time.

Foremost in the monitoring of PQ is the identification of power anomalies. The concept itself is very difficult to understand or identify as power anomalies encom-pass all the power problems including any condition which may be irregular. In many instances estimates based purely on guesswork or experience will make corrective action unjustifiable, or these actions may be limited as the root cause of the problem may be unknown. Correct and precise analysis can only be achieved by four contributing factors, namely:• Continuous recordings• All parameter recordings• High sampling and recording rate• Synchronised recordings at multi

points

PQZIP takes the guesswork out of power anomalies. It allows the BLACKBOX to continuously store the waveform of one or more power signals, regardless of whether or not an event of interest has been identified. Set-up occurs at UTC-Time and measurements are col-lected over eight input channels at a sampling rate of 1 024 samples per cycle on all three phases simultaneously and the current sampling rate at 256 per cycle for all three phases simultaneously. Applied at different points and locations, the unique time synchronization algo-rithm enables two or more BLACKBOX devices to be synchronised with one another and provides a complete and comprehensive picture of the entire grid.

The innovative design of the BLACKBOX device series is a techno-logical breakthrough that provides the perfect PQ analysis solution. The built-in capabilities of the series are uniquely adaptable to address the individual needs and requirements for almost any application.

Enquiries: Impact Energy, Wayne Bromfield. Tel. 0861 357 732 (0861 ELSPEC) or visit: wwwimpactenergy.co.za.

Elspec and Impact EnergyLeaders in innovative power quality solutions

32MVAR Equalizer System at Substation at Emu Downs in Australia.


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During a roadshow that included Durban, Cape Town and Johan-nesburg, Engen Lubricants introduced Hydrokin ESF, a hydraulic

fluid with excellent energy-saving properties, to its customers in the South African and SADC markets.

Less input energy

Anton Allner, Engen Industrial Lubricants strategy manager, says the numerous sectors that consume hydraulic fluids (including mining, engineering and energy) can save up to 11% on their machines’ power use by merely changing fluids. He says the small amount of energy consumption needed with Hydrokin ESF is due to its better sealing performance at all operating temperatures around machine parts including pumps, pistons and rings – the result of a viscosity index improver (VII). “A better viscosity index enables the oil to stay more fluid at lower temperatures and more viscous at higher temperatures while still meeting all its performance requirements, thereby reducing machines’ input energy requirements,” says Allner. “This “stay-in-grade” performance of the fluid is central to its enhanced ability.”

Local proof

Allner says many lubricant marketers claim to have energy-saving products, but Engen’s claim is based on local trials – not just additive

supplier data. It is these trials that have demonstrat-ed more than 11% savings in electricity consump-tion, as well as a 4,5% reduction in maximum power demand of machines. Further indirect cost benefits can be realised through increased machine production output and in the longer life of machine components and fluid (due to the lower operating temperatures).

Innovation at your service

Allner says hydraulic power is used in dozens of industries to precisely control the movement of machinery and material, yet these industries have little experience in effective design and maintenance of hydraulic power systems for greater efficiencies. “Hydraulic power can be a far more competitive technology choice if the fluid design is allowed to demonstrate its significant energy and cost savings for companies and the customers they serve. Engen has the technological innova-tion and value-based partnerships to unlock energy efficiencies in hydraulic systems without sacrificing performance, thus contributing to the success of our customers’ operations.”

Enquiries: Anton Allner. Tel. 011 480 6320 or email [email protected].

The Pretoria Factory Test Department of Powertech Transform-ers, a subsidiary of Powertech and the JSE listed Altron Group,

recently received SANAS accreditation conforming to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard.

The company is the first transformer Original Equipment Manu-facturer (OEM) within South Africa to receive this particular accredi-tation. The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is recognised by the South African Government as the single National Accreditation Body that awards formal recognition to Laboratories, Certification Bodies, Inspection Bodies, Proficiency Testing Scheme Providers and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) that their test facilities are competent to carry out specific tasks. The process which com-menced more than two years ago involves the integration of the

ISO/IEC 17025 standard into the current system which Powertech Transformers’ Test Department has in place. This entailed following guidelines set by the ISO/IEC17025 in creating a quality process that would suit the industry. The main challenge for the team was the absence of a base to work from in terms of an accreditation process for transformers. Normally a set standard can be found based on other facilities’ accreditation processes; however with Powertech Transformers being the first transformer manufacturing company in South Africa to be awarded this accreditation, the standard had to be created from a zero base.

Enquiries: Nico Günter. Tel. 012 318 9823 or email [email protected]. Jacqui Burn. Tel. 012 318 9802 or email jacqueline.

[email protected].

A reed element now also belongs to ifm’s family of T-slot cylinder sensors for the ac/dc voltage range up to 120 V. The sensor’s

response sensitivity to magnetic field changes is comparable to that of common electronic cylinder sensors.

The ifm sensor can be locked in the T-slot by its self-locking mecha-nism and the fixing at the end of the housing allows excellent strain relief. Thanks to the wide selection of adapter accessories, the T-slot sensor can be fixed to almost every clean-line, tie rod, integrated profile or trapezoidal slot cylinder The sensors have a wide tempera-ture range from -25 to 70°C and connection is via cable, M8 or M12 connector.

Connection as a 2-wire PNP/NPN is also possible. The self-locking mechanism as well as the convenient easy and quick fit ‘drop from the top’ into the slot allows easy single-handed installation. ifm’s T-slot

cylinder sensors are ideal for use in industrial environments such as packaging or handling machines.

Enquiries: Chris Cronje. Tel. 012 450 0370 or email [email protected].

Local hydraulic fluid cuts energy needs by up to 11%

Testing facility achieves SANAS accreditation – a for SA

T-slot reed sensors - low cost alternative


A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a communication interface between a human and a computer. BCIs provide a direct, alternative means for humans to interact with machines

and vice versa. The communication medium allows one to interact with the machine cognitively instead of through other means such as tactile or verbal input. BCIs would therefore greatly benefit those with severe disabilities such as locked-in syndrome or quadriplegia. Locked-in syndrome is a condition in which a patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for the eyes. BCIs would provide such individuals with a greater degree of independence by enabling them to interact with their environment.

Spurred on by the possibility of assisting disabled people in this way, students Graham Peyton and Rudolf Hoehler from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, designed a brain-computer interface that translates cognitive commands and facial gestures into movements of a robotic arm. The students designed the system as part of their fourth year Electrical Engineering project at Wits, within the Biomedical Engineering Research Group in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, and under the supervision of Adam Pantanowitz. Professor David Rubin is the leader of the Biomedical Engineering Research Group, where researchers such as Graham Peyton, Steven Dinger and Adam Pantanowitz have a great interest in BCIs.

The system is a non-invasive BCI that makes use of electroen-cephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) to measure the electrical activity produced by the brain on the surface of the scalp, and the electrical activity of facial muscles responsible for facial gestures. It is designed to enable the user to operate a robotic arm in one of two ways.

Motor imagery

The first is to use ‘motor imagery’ – imagining or visualising a move-ment of the robotic arm. In this case, EEG data are recorded from the brain, and algorithms are used to detect and classify what action that the user is visualising. The corresponding action is then sent to the robotic arm.

The use of motor imagery, however, is less reliable than simply mapping facial gestures to specific movements of the robotic arm. For example, one may frown to move the robotic arm downwards. Clenching one’s jaws, on the other hand, will close the pincers of the

robotic arm. It is possible to map one of the many facial expressions or motor imagery to activities of the robotic arm – or by extension of the principles – another physical device, communication device or computer.

When the user performs a facial gesture, EEG and EMG data are recorded simultaneously. Machine learning algorithms and signal processing techniques are used to analyse and classify the electrical signals that are produced when one carries out the facial expression. This classification process enables a computer to determine the facial expression of the person wearing the device from the measurements received.

The system makes use of machine learning algorithms which must be trained and optimised before it can be used. All the algorithms were written in software using C++. Once an appropriate action has been classified using the algorithms, the corresponding commands are sent to the robotic arm. Training takes approximately 10 minutes and is required for the system to respond to a specific individual’s unique facial expressions. Training is done by firstly recording EEG data under ‘neutral’ and ‘active’ conditions (such as frowning, clench-ing, etc). The data is used to train the algorithm to classify facial gestures based upon the characteristics of the EEG signals associated with the corresponding gestures.

Brain switch

The system is also designed to address the problem of how severely disabled people can turn the robotic arm on or off without the use of their hands. The solution that Peyton and Hoehler came up with was to implement an attention-based ‘brain switch’.

The switch exploits a physiological phenomenon called a Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential (SSVEP). An SSVEP is a resonance response produced in the brain when an individual gazes intently at a light source flashing at a particular frequency. SSVEPs can be detected in the occipital cortex of the brain using EEG. Algorithms such as Power Spectrum Density Analysis (PSDA) and Canonical Cross-Correlation Analysis (CCA) were used to detect the presence of an SSVEP in the brain so as to identify whether the individual is gazing at the light source or not. As the subject gazes at the light source, an SSVEP is detected, the SSVEP ‘brain switch’ is turned on, and the robotic arm may be operated. To turn the system off, the user must then gaze at the light source again. Overall, this allows one to operate the system with no tactile input.

I think - therefore I ‘Arm’ By G Peyton, Biomedical Engineering Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand

The ability of computers to enhance and augment both mental and physical abilities is no longer the exclusive realm of science fiction. It is fast

becoming a reality. Brain-computer interface research is rapidly blurring the lines between man and machine.

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Controlling an object without using hands

The system provides a complete, cost-effective means for someone to control an object without the use of their hands. Previous systems have been implemented, but are generally more expensive. Last year, researchers at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Brown University, and Massachusetts General Hospital created a versatile mind-controlled robotic arm that enables a woman to drink from a bottle without assistance.

The difference, however, is that the robotic arm is controlled via a chip that is implanted in the brain. Invasive surgery is therefore required, and the overall cost of the system is relatively much higher than the cost-effective system described in this article.

Consumer-grade BCI devices

What is required for a viable system is a low-cost, non-invasive solu-tion to the problem on hand. Consumer-grade BCI devices currently exist on the market like the Emotive EPOC EEG headset. The EPOC can be purchased off the shelf for less than R9 000. Peyton and Hoehler made use of the EPOC as a cost-effective, non-invasive alternative for monitoring the activity of the brain. The only down-side of using a consumer-grade device is that it allows for less precise control of the arm. Peyton and Hoehler’s system is able to move in three degrees of freedom (up and down, left and right, and open and close pincers),

but the movement is fairly slow and imprecise. Nonetheless, the research is one significant step in the right direction.

Dream BCI

While the field of BCI research and devel-opment has focused primarily on neuro-prosthetic applications, the possibilities for applications in other arenas such as information technology are practically limitless. The ultimate goal converges on what may be termed ‘Dream BCI’ – the achievement of total reconnaissance of human thoughts without any problem or concern. Such a system could be fully integrated into a system such as the in-ternet, in order to control more than just a wheelchair or prosthesis, but entire systems and processes. Of course, this ‘dream’ is currently idealistic. Present

signal acquisition methods are presently still imperfect and our un-derstanding of the human brain limited.

Conclusion

Despite these challenges, robotic prostheses and BCIs will undoubt-edly gain much momentum in the near future. Ray Kurzweil, the acclaimed inventor and futurist, believes that humans and technol-ogy will eventually merge. We have always been a human-machine civilisation; since the origin of our species, we created tools to extend our reach, and will continue to do so. Increasingly advanced research in the field of BCIs is becoming so advanced that it is set to create a whole new symbiotic relationship between man and machine.

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About the author

Graham Peyton received his BEngsc and Bsc degrees in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from the university of the Witwatersrand in 2010 and 2012. He is currently working on his msc degree as part of the Biomedical Engineering Research Group at the university of the Witwatersrand.

Graham's main areas of interest are biomedical signal processing and brain-computer interfaces. Presently, he is working on developing signal processing techniques to analyse magneto-encephalography (mEG) data.Enquiries: Email [email protected]

Abbreviations

BCi - Brain Computer interfaceEEG - Electroencephalography EmG - ElectromyographymEG – magneto-encephalography ssVEP - steady-state Visually Evoked Potential

• a brain computer interface (BCi) is a communication interface between a human and a computer.

• a BCi that translates cognitive commands and facial gestures into movements of a robotic arm has been designed.

• the possibilities for BCi applications in other areas - such as information technology - are limitless.

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Researchers at South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have developed the world's first digital laser. This

innovation is regarded as a milestone in laser technology and could spur future laser-related innovations team has shown that laser beams can be digitally controlled from within a laser device.

There is hardly a domain of our modern existence which does not benefit from some form of laser technology. The domains range from devices for laser lighting displays in entertainment to office equip-ment such as laser printers, DVD players at home, barcode scanners in the shops, surgical technology in hospitals or devices to cut and weld industrial materials in factories.

“This groundbreaking development is further evidence of the great potential we have in scientific innovation – that the world’s first digital laser should come from our country is testimony to the calibre of scientists that South Africa has,” says Minister of Science and Technol-ogy, Mr Derek Hanekom.

Laser devices normally consist of mirrors, energy (light) and a cas-ing containing a medium, for example crystal or glass. The medium changes the frequency of the light to create a laser beam with the perfect characteristics for these different applications.

In conventional lasers, the shape of the light that comes out is either not controlled at all, or a single shape is selected by expensive optics. For example, when a medical doctor undertakes surgery, the beam must be appropriate for precision-cutting.

Alternatively, the laser light can be shaped after exiting the laser using a spatial light modulator – a liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be digitally addressed with grey-scale images representing the desired change to the light. The CSIR team has demonstrated for the first time that this can all be done inside the laser.

“Our digital laser uses the LCD as one of its mirrors that is fitted at one end of the laser cavity. Just as with LCD televisions, the LCD inside the laser can be sent pictures to display. When the pictures change on the LCD inside, the properties of the laser beams that exit the device change accordingly,” says Professor Andrew Forbes, leader of the mathematical optics research group.

The researchers have shown that this allows a purely digital control

of what comes out of the laser (laser modes) in real-time, hence the name ‘digital laser’.

“We showed that by sending an appropriate picture to the LCD, any desired laser beam could be created inside the laser device. This is a significant advancement from the traditional approach to laser beam control, which requires costly optics and realignment of the laser device for every beam change. Since this is all done with pictures, the digital laser represents a paradigm shift for laser resona-tors,” says Forbes.

In a ground-breaking experiment at the CSIR’s laboratories in Pre-toria, the team programmed the LCD to play a video of a selection of images representing a variety of desired laser modes. The result was that the laser output changed in real-time from one mode shape to another. “The dynamic control of laser modes could open up many future applications, from communications to medicine. Our device represents a new way of thinking about laser technology and we see it as a new platform on which future technologies may be built,” says Forbes. CSIR Researcher Sandile Ngcobo, who conducted the breakthrough experimental work as part of his PhD studies, believes the significance of the research is to demonstrate the ability within the CSIR to lead innovation in this field.

"I believe the digital laser will be a 'disruptive' technology. This is technology which may change the status quo and which could cre-ate new markets and value networks within the next few years or decade. The research into the digital laser continues. It adds to the CSIR’s strong track record in the development of laser technology in mathematical optics,” says Ngcobo.


World's first digital laser – developed by researchers at the CSIR

The work was done in the mathematical optics group at the CSIR National Laser Centre. The team was led by Professor Andrew Forbes, chief scientist and research group leader, supported by post-doctoral fellow, Dr Igor Litvin, and doctoral students, Sandile Ngcobo and Liesl Burger. The CSIR Researcher, Sandile Ngcobo, performed the breakthrough experimental work as part of his PhD studies.


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Alstom introduced its advanced circulat-ing fluidised bed boiler at Asia's premier

industry expo, Power-Gen Asia in Thailand.Utilising the efficiency of ultra-supercriti-

cal (USC) steam conditions and the flexibility of circulating fluidised beds (CFB), the Ad-vanced CFB boiler offers 660 MW or more in output, based on the type of fuel. The boiler provides customers in coal-rich markets with the opportunity to reduce operating costs and increase output. By combining the two principles, Alstom offers customers a single, highly attractive boiler option, which diminishes fuel consumption and the CO2 footprint by 6% versus plants of comparable size using traditional technology. The boiler is able to achieve this while ensuring fuel flexibility and reliability.

With ultra-supercritical boilers the overall net efficiency of the power plant is increased by around three points compared to tradi-tional technology based on subcritical steam pressure and lower steam temperatures. Alstom has already established leadership

in ultra-supercritical boilers and up to 30% of the world’s boilers use Alstom technology.

In addition, circulating fluidised bed technology allows for a wide range of lower-grade fuels, such as lignite and anthracite, to be com-busted efficiently and with low emis-sions – reducing the need for additional environmental protection measures. Further versatility comes from the ability to fire on mixes of fuel types, and even ‘fuels of oppor-tunity’, including biomass and oil shale. Over 32 GW of CFB boilers installed in the world today use the Alstom technology with a maximum commercial size around 350 MW.

“The new advanced circulating fluidised bed boiler brings together Alstom's leading expertise in both USC and CFB technology,” said senior vice president of Steam, Andreas Lusch. “By offering both fuel flexibility and high efficiency it enables operators of coal-fired plants to take full advantage of cheaper fuels, safe in the knowledge that

performance and emissions levels will be comparable to plants burning higher grade fuels.” This product is best deployed in markets where lower quality fuel is avail-able. As a result, areas of Vietnam near the anthracite mining industry is a prime market, as are the lignite producing regions in Turkey, India and eastern Europe. Other developing markets include Indonesia, where more high moisture lignite is being produced and South Africa which has large amounts of waste bituminous coal available.

Enquiries: Sue-Ellen Swazi. Tel. 011 784 2598 or email [email protected].

Advanced circulating fluidised bed boiler

2015 USB shocks the power grids

A new form of utility power is taking the world by storm. The humble USB plug, so common for connecting and charging gadgets, is emerg-ing as the new standard for electric power in the home and office, and on the move. Invented over 20 years ago, the USB plug was originally designed to simplify connecting devices to computers, but hidden in its design was a stroke of genius that would change the world - it also carried power to the device you were connecting. That made it easy to do away with power adapters and proprietary plugs; if you could connect your gadget, you could charge it too. Smartphones and tablets were the first to jump on this idea, but soon any device that could operate on low voltage, from GPS to LED lights, was happily plugged in to USB. USB is smart power; it operates in any country; it is digitally controlled; and the cables can carry data to and from the device at the same time.

Now USB has upped the ante, with variable voltage and two-way current; so you can feed into your micro-grid from a battery pack when you need it, and charge the battery later, when your solar panel is active, all from the same plug.

USB wall sockets come with built in intelligence, and you find them everywhere these days, even on airplanes and boats. You never need a travel adapter for your gadgets ever again! Adding to your micro-grid at home is simple - just plug n play. The one thing you cannot charge from USB is your electric car.

2017 Global warming is no more

It is official, the global warming scare is over. The latest report from the independent panel on climate change is warning of decreasing global temperatures, and the impact that will have on crops and food security. If you believe the power of computer models to predict the future, then you had better stock up on winter woollies. According to the meddling modellers, it is about to get a whole lot colder in the great northern hemisphere, where so much of humanity has its home. With no significant warming in 20 years, you would have thought the bureaucrats would have abandoned the global warming band wagon much sooner. But a trillion dollar international edifice takes some time to unbundle. Those who placed the responsibility for climate at the door of human carbon emissions have faded into obscurity. The hard-core officials have argued that ‘climate anomalies’ are still a major threat to world peace, and need to be managed, no matter if it is warming or cooling that is at issue. Optimistic realists, on the other hand, point out that the cycle turned in 2013, when sea ice made an unexpected come back in the Arctic summer, destroying all predictions of an ice-free northern sea route in the future. So preparing for an ice age in the next century may be equally alarmist. Climate change, like so many phenomena at the geological and cosmic scale, cannot be controlled by humans, no matter how arrogant we are. Perhaps now we can get back to dealing with real environmental problems, like pollution, biodiversity and preserving natural habitats.

MindBullets scenarios are fictitious and designed purely to explore possible futures, challenge and stimulate strategic thinking.



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There has been growing concern about the external costs of power generation, particularly the generation of power from coal. A major effort by a team from the European Union pro-

duced the ExternE study, which concluded that the external costs were a strong function of such variables as the population density in the area around the power station, the local climatology and the level of pollution control employed. There was therefore a wide range of external costs.

Other studies have ignored the ExternE, and attempted a number of shortcut methods which have had a doubtful theoretical basis. Typically, they have relied on an assumption of linear no-threshold, which in effect states that no matter how low the dose, harm will result. The assumption almost certainly overestimates the impact and therefore the external costs. The linear no-threshold theory is there-fore examined, and it is concluded that it is most unlikely to be valid.

In economics, an external cost (or benefit) arises from an activity that has some impact upon someone who had not chosen to incur the cost (or receive the benefit). So, for example, diesel fumes may settle on buildings, which therefore require more frequent cleaning. The extra cost of cleaning falls on the owners of the buildings, not on the owners of the diesel vehicles. That extra cost is therefore an external cost. In the same vein, the city may decide to provide lights in your street, and you would benefit from improved security at night even though your contribution to the cost of the lighting installation was minimal.

There is an economic philosophy which holds that for goods or activities that have external costs, market prices do not reflect the full social cost of the goods or activities. The market is therefore be-lieved to be inefficient, because goods or activities which have high external costs could be sold at a lower cost than competitive goods or activities that have low external costs. Should one, for example, prefer cheap electricity generated from coal combustion over rela-tively expensive electricity generated from renewable sources, when it is clear that the coal-generated electricity has some external costs

associated with it, whereas the primary external cost of renewable energy is the cost of public relations to overcome objections to the relatively large footprint they have.

These concepts can be illustrated graphically. In Figure 1, the im-pact of an external cost is shown. If the impact of an activity on society is ignored, then the costs will be purely the private costs. Demand will vary with price. Where the private cost intersects the demand line, the equilibrium demand Qp will determine the equilibrium price Pp.

Figure 1: Price-demand and external costs [1].

However, an external cost will increase the private cost to the social cost. The price should then rise to Ps and the demand will reduce to Qs. The problem, however, is how to determine these external costs. Taking the simple example of the diesel fumes above, one needs to know how often the buildings would have been cleaned if there had been no diesel fumes, because it is only the additional cleaning that incurs the external cost. Establishing a baseline from which the ex-ternal costs may be estimated is therefore necessary. This task may be made difficult by the natural background, which itself is variable.

Facing this difficulty, in 1991 the European Union set up a pro-gramme, ExternE, to estimate the external costs of energy genera-tion. It took more than 50 teams from 20 countries to develop these estimates. As the final report in 2006 notes:

External costs of power generationBy PJ Lloyd, Energy Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

The social benefits of power so far exceed the social ‘external’ costs that one can conclude that power generation is well-merited, even from coal.


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‘The effects of energy conversion are physically, environmentally, and socially complex and difficult to estimate, and involve very large, sometimes ultimately unresolvable, uncertainties, unpredictabilites, and differences of opinion.’ Despite these difficulties, ExternE has become a well-recognised source for method and results of exter-nalities estimation.

The ExternE programme has had ongoing work since 2006, but the methodology developed has been essentially unchanged. The further work has concentrated on improving the various estimates of the effects.

In this article therefore, the methodology is reviewed, and other attempts to determine external costs are considered in the light of that review.

ExternE methodology

The ExternE study started by identifying the site of a specific form of pollution, and determining the technology employed and any mitigatory measures already in place. This allowed estimation of the emission, eg kg of pollutant per year. It then addressed the way in which the emitted pollutant was dispersed, taking into account the atmospheric conditions ruling at various times of year. Fairly sophis-ticated atmospheric dispersion models were necessary to allow for seasonal changes in weather patterns. Because some pollutants have a considerable lifetime in the atmosphere, it was necessary for the dispersion models to be able to model a wide area, perhaps as large as a hemisphere, as well as modelling the lifetime of the various spe-cies and the way in which that lifetime might be affected by weather. Atmospheric chemistry had to be taken into account, because some species changed their nature during atmospheric transport. The output of this stage was the change in the pollutant concentration at receptor sites, eg μg/m3 of particulates. Strictly this should have been as a function of time, but a degree of simplification was introduced by considering only annual averages. Pollution of soil and water was taken into account in addition to direct atmospheric pollution.

It was necessary to do the dispersion study both for a baseline, with no local emissions included, and with the case of the local source. It was found that the background concentration of pollutants was criti-cal for the baseline, particularly for pollutants affected by residence time in the atmosphere or pollutants whose impact was non-linear.

The third step was to introduce dose-response functions for each pollutant. Many pollutants have an impact on living species that varies with the duration of the exposure and the concentration of the pollutant during the exposure. The difference between the air quality calculated for the baseline and for inclusion of the local source was then used with the dose response functions to determine the changes in public health, crop performance or similar measure of pollution. Figure 2 illustrates this for one pollutant and one impact.

This figure illustrates how necessary it is to establish a baseline. Because the response is non-linear, a 50% increase in the dose dou-bles the impact. In the case considered in Figure 2, the dose-response is always positive, but some species can have a negative impact (ie a positive response) at low doses.

Figure 2: Dose response curve and impact over baseline.

For instance, many plants have an absolute need for some sulphur. Wheat, for instance, requires sulphur in order to produce gluten, a sulphur compound. Most rain carries some sulphur naturally, which replenishes that removed by harvesting the wheat. However, the concentration in rain is low, so it is essential to allow fields to lie fallow for a few years after several wheat crops have used the avail-able sulphur. Alternatively it may be necessary to add some sulphur compound – typically gypsum – to the field to restore productivity. A little sulphur in rain is beneficial; too much can be harmful.

For the example given in Figure 2, the net impact is the difference between the case studied and the baseline, a little over two in this case (in whatever units are appropriate). Having determined the net impact, it is then necessary to give this impact a monetary value. For instance, epidemiology may have shown that an increase of two units in the sulphur dioxide concentration may cause a 10% increase in the number of those who suffer from asthma, and it is then necessary to estimate a) how many asthma sufferers were impacted at the baseline and b) what the lifetime cost of asthma to the individual might be.

Finally, to obtain the external cost it is necessary to integrate the cost of all impacts over all impacted areas. Of course, not all impacts are those on humans – there may be impacts on crops or the biosphere. As ExternE noted:

'For some of the impacts (crops and materials), market prices can be used to evaluate the damages. However, for non-market goods (especially damages to human health), evaluation is only possible on the basis of the willingness-to-pay or willingness-to-accept approach that is based on individual preferences. The monetary values recom-mended in ExternE by the economic expert group have been derived on the basis of informal meta-analysis (in the case of mortality values) and most recent robust estimates.’

ExternE attempted to address all significant impacts, but as the work progressed, the team became aware of gaps and uncertain-ties in the current knowledge. Nevertheless, they felt reasonably confident that they had addressed most of the environmental and

Abbreviations

ERF - Exposure Response FunctionsEsP - Electrostatic PrecipitatorGlC – Ground level Concentration

• there is a growing concern about the external costs of power generation.• in economics, an external cost arises from an activity that has some

impact upon someone who has not chosen to incur the cost (or receive the benefit).

• the European union’s study, ExternE, identifies external costs as a func-tion of variables such as population density around the power station, local climatology and level of pollution costs.


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global warming impacts (the latter on an avoided-cost basis), ac-cidents (except those of very low frequency and potentially very high impact, for which no methodology of quantifying the costs has yet been evolved) and energy security. There were some issues that were – at least in the opinion of the ExternE team – not external costs, such as impacts on employment and the depletion of non-renewable natural resources, and which were consequently not included. What this makes apparent is that: • The estimation of external costs is not a trivial exercise, and • In evaluating the impacts, baseline and dose response are critical

Local studies

One of the earliest studies was that of Dutkiewicz and de Villiers [3], who estimated a cost of the order of 1 c/kWh in 1994 Rand. van Horen (1996) [4] estimated between 5 and 8 c/kWh, also in 1994 Rand. Unfor-tunately, his study suffered from a disastrous arithmetical error – in calculating the impact, he employed the wrong set of data, with the result that the costs were overstated by a large factor. Spalding-Fecher and Matibe (1999) [5] estimated that external costs were between 1 and 9 c/kWh in 1999 Rand. Interestingly, they assessed the health benefits of electrification at between -0.1 and -1,4 c/kWh, and the pollution and health effects at between 0,5 and 0,9 c/kWh. However, climate change impacts were large, with costs between 1 and 9,8 c/kWh, and therefore dominated the overall externalities. Recently, Riekert and Koch [1] have attempted to estimate the external costs of generating power by coal-fired plant. They found a wide range, between 0,1 and 6,8 c/kWh, for health impacts from air pollution alone.

One reason for the difference from earlier studies is the effect of inflation, and Riekert and Koch cited the earlier study of Tophil and Pouris [6] who inflation-accounted the earlier studies to a common 2006 base date. Thus Spalding-Fecher and Matibe’s estimate of external costs was 0,4 – 2,7 USc/kWh in 2006 money, for all damage including health impacts, whereas Riekert and Koch focussed only on health impacts.

Riekert and Koch’s study was not without problems. For instance, they assumed that they could use data on PM10 emissions from Kendal power station, but Kendal is only equipped with electrostatic precipitators, and Kusile will employ high-temperature baghouses [7], which will reduce the emissions by a factor of at least 10. They assumed a range of stack heights from 150 to 310 m, but managed to include the actual height of Kusile’s stacks, 220 m. They presented data on As, Cr(VI), Pb and Ni in their Table 8, but this table was not referenced in the text in any way, and there was no indication of the source of the data. It is suspected that they employed some relation-ship to the PM10 which, as already noted, is itself in error.

In any event, arsenic is effectively absent from South African coal – indeed, a recent review [8] concluded that:

‘In Africa, arsenic contamination is most remarkable for its general absence.’ Similarly, the source of the Cr(VI), Pb and Ni in Riekert and Koch’s Table 8 does not appear to have a solid base. Finally, there is a feature of Riekert and Koch’s analysis that must be questioned. In general, they followed the methodology employed in ExternE, How-

ever, when they came to consider the dose response, they employed a single model. The expected outcomes are given by Sakulniyomporn et al (2011:3467) and Thomas and Scorgie (2006:2.16), based on the assumption of zero-threshold linear ERFs.’

Zero-threshold linear exposure

Zero-threshold linear exposure response is relatively widespread in epidemiological circles. However, its scientific validity has been seri-ously questioned. It entered epidemiological thinking via radiation exposure. A major driver for its acceptance was the simplification that it allowed – the dose accumulated over any given period such as a year could readily be calculated. The US National Academy of Sciences has concluded that: ‘The preponderance of information indicates that there will be some risk, even at low doses.’ [9]

However, there is debate over this matter even as regards ra-diation. In France, the Academy of Sciences rejected the linear no-threshold model, preferring a threshold for any response to a dose of radiation [10]. The Society of Health Physicists states [11]:

‘There is substantial and convincing scientific evidence for health risks following high-dose exposures. However, below 50 -100 mSv (which includes occupational and environmental exposures), risks of health effects are either too small to be observed or are nonexistent’.

When considering the health impacts of other agents such as pol-lutants, the evidence for a zero-threshold linear response is equivocal. Consider, for example, the question of exposure to sulphur dioxide, and one million people being exposed to an additional 1 ppb due to a coal-fired power station. According to the zero-threshold linear response, that is the equivalent of one person being exposed to one million times 1 ppb, or 1 000 ppm, 0,1%, which would be fatal within an hour. So the impact of 1 ppb SO2 above background is assumed to be one death per million exposed. Is this reasonable?

Consideration of the part played by sulphur in nature makes it seem most unlikely. Most plants contain around 0,25% S, and sul-phur is a fertiliser with a potency similar to that of potassium. Under natural circumstances, plants that die recycle their sulphur for use by the next generation. However, harvesting a crop for food will remove the sulphur, and the essential element will be removed from the field. In former times, it was the practice to allow fields to lie fallow for a period after a few harvests, in order to allow the sulphur and other nutrient levels to be restored.

It transpires that, in the tropical and temperate zones of the world, all rain contains quite a lot of sulphur, either as dissolved SO2 or as sulphite/sulphate. The annual flux is about 10 – 20 kgS/ha, somewhat higher closer to the sea. But plants are clever - if there is insufficient in the ground, they can always scavenge some directly from the air [12]. This is one reason why the fertility seems to be so good near volcanoes; and there can be insufficient sulphur in both ground and air. Interestingly, the decision to use flue-gas desulphurisation in Britain led to poor wheat in Western Europe 13:

‘Deficiency of sulphur (S) has been recognised as a limiting fac-tor for crop production in many regions in the world. In particular, incidence of S deficiency has increasingly been reported in Brassica


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About the author

and cereal crops in Western Europe over the last decade, mainly as a consequence of a massive decrease of atmospheric S inputs.’

Gluten is a sulphur compound, and lack of sulphur in the wheat-fields resulted in a low-gluten wheat that gave a loaf perceived to be markedly inferior to one made with normal-gluten wheat. A natural flux of 10 – 20 kgS/ha from the atmosphere requires an ambient concentration of 0,7 - 1,4 ppm SO2. If this is the effectively natural background of SO2, is it reasonable that 1 ppb SO2 could be in any way harmful? It seems most unlikely.

The difficulty of employing the zero-threshold liners impact response model can also be illustrated by considering the dose-response similar to that shown in Figure 2.

In this case, a 50% increase in the dose only increases the impact by 50%, whereas in the case considered in Figure 2, it doubled the impact. For low concentrations it certainly seems more reasonable that the impact would increase faster than the dose, rather than in direct proportion to the dose.

Figure 3: Dose-impact for zero-threshold response.

Corrections to Riekert and Koch

The stacks at Kusile will be 220 m high, and it seems most reasonable to assume a flue gas desulphurisation efficiency of 90%, so following Riekert and Koch, at the maximum ground level concentration (GLC) and at Phola, the nearest conurbation would be increased by:

GLC, μg.m-3. Phola, μg.m-3

SO2 6,2 6,2

NO2 1,8 3,1

PM10 0,1a 2,2a

As 0,76E-07b 1,68E-06b

Cr(VI) 1,50E-06 3,30E-05

Pb 2,93E-07 6.,4E-06

Ni 4,35E-07 9,56E-06

Table 1: Additions to background levels at two conurbations near Kusile

• a – reduced by a factor of 10 due to use of bag filters in place of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs)

• b – all ions scaled from PM10

References

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Negative_externality.svg. [2] http://www.externe.info/externe_2006/ Accessed April 2013. [3] Dutkiewicz, RK and De Villiers, M.G. (1993). Social cost of elec-

tricity production. Engineering research, Report for the National Energy Council, Pretoria

[4] Van Horen C. 1996. Counting the social costs: Electricity and ex-ternalities in South Africa. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press and Elan Press

[5] Spalding-Fecher R and Matibe DK. 2003.Electricity and externali-ties in South Africa, Energy Policy.

[6] Thopil GA and Pouris A. 2010. An overview of the electricity ex-ternality analysis in South Africa within the international context. South African Journal of Science.

[7] http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Industrial/Contracts-for-Eskoms-Kusile-plant-awarded-20101129.

[8] Ravenscroft P, Brammer H,Richards, K. 2011. Arsenic pollution - a global synthesis. Science Publishers.

[9] National Academy of Sciences. 2005. http://www8.nationalacad-emies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11340.

[10] Aurengo A, Averbeck D, Bonnin A, Le Guen B, Masse R, Mornier R, Tubiana M, Valleron AJ and de Vathaire F. 2006. Dose-effect relationships and estimation of the carcinogenic effects of low doses of ionising radiation: Joint report of the Académie des Sciences & Académie nationale de Médecine. International J of Low Radiation 2.3 (2006).

[11] Health Physics Society (2010) Radiation risk in perspective: Posi-tion paper. http://hps.org/documents/risk_ps010-2.

[12] Rennenberg H. 1984. The fate of excess sulfur in higher plants. Ann.Rev.Plant Physiol.

[13] Zhao FJ, Hawkesford MJ & McGrath SP. 1999. Sulphur Assimila-tion and Effects on Yield and Quality of Wheat, J. Cereal Science.

[14] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2011. Arsenic Toxicity. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=1&po=9.

[15] http://www.lecbiz.com/serv02.htm. [16] Nielsen FH. 1974. Essentiality and function of nickel. Trace Element

Metabolism in Animals – 2. Ed. Hoekstra, W.G. et al, Butterworth, London.

Philip lloyd is on his third career, as a Research Professor at CPut, having previously been part of the R&d team of the Chamber of mines Research organisation and then part of the world of international construction. He trained as a chemical engineer at uCt and nuclear physicist at mit. He

has won a number of awards, including a sanEa award in 2010. Enquiries: Email [email protected].


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Aurecon has provided a wide range of innovative engineering services for two environmentally-friendly buildings for the local

Korean motor trade.

Solar powered Kia dealership

Started in January 2012 and completed in February this year, this project is the first eco-friendly, solar powered dealership for Kia Mo-tors, Weltevreden Park, Gauteng, South Africa. The consideration of a renewable energy concept for a 3 000 m2 multi-function building inevitably involves debating the virtues of a grid-tie inverter (GTI) system versus an off-grid system. This is influenced by the life-cycle costs of large battery back-ups and the precarious state of the coun-try’s electrical power supply.

To meet the client’s requirement for total reliance on solar energy, Aurecon specified an innovative combination of a GTI and an off-grid system that is the largest of its kind in the local motor industry.

A significant design challenge was to size the two systems and optimise them according to the building’s anticipated electrical load. In order to minimise the costs of the off-grid solar power system, especially the bank of batteries, the electrical design of the building had to be as energy efficient as possible.

“The most exciting aspect of this project was the unique design and integration between a traditional grid-tie system and a traditional off-grid system,” says Herman Nortje, electrical engineer at Aurecon.

Aurecon’s computer modelling expertise and experience in design-ing many of the country’s first Green Star rated buildings enabled the team to accurately calculate the future building load. This was followed by advanced solar simulations to predict the yield of the envisaged solar power system. Together with a water collection and recycling package, these aspects were then integrated into an electri-cal system and solar power design that enables the motor dealership to be fully operational and sustainable from solar power.

The optimised solar panel system generates a maximum daily

output of close to 70 kW. This is split between four inverters to pro-duce 3-phase, 50 Hertz, 230 V electricity that is directly usable by the standard electrical demand circuits of the building. Surplus power first charges the battery back-up units and is then transferred to the grid. Achieving this required a combination of energy efficient equip-ment initiatives and client training in best practice efficient energy management. Another unique feature was customising the system and yield control to maximise the savings achievable with the specific municipal electricity tariff structure.

It posed a number of design challenges and demanded custom-made solutions from the equipment manufacturers. The benefit for the client is a saving in electricity charges of R260 000 per annum and a carbon saving of 117 tonne per annum.

Hyundai headquarters

Hyundai Automotive South Africa consolidated several departments in an impressive new 10 000 m² building that was constructed in two integrated phases. The Phase 1 structure was designed as an attrac-tive, LED-lit work environment for approximately 200 employees, while Phase 2 included a training facility with a hands-on training vehicle workshop and conference centre that features a large audito-rium. Both phases managed to achieve a 4-Star Green Star SA – Office Design v1 rating, with Aurecon responsible for structural, electrical and electronic, HVAC, and wet services, as well as environmentally sustainable design and site supervision. The building includes im-pressive sustainable design features such as a sophisticated energy efficient electrical installation, use of lower carbon footprint materi-als, solar water heating, water usage efficient systems and waste management. Aurecon has designed an electrical and electronic system that, on a limited budget, meets the Green Building Council of South Africa’s (GBCSA) requirements, as well as the new building requirements of SANS 10400 XA+A.

Enquiries: Jody Boshoff. Email [email protected].

Environmentally-friendly buildings for two Korean motor companies


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Six months after breaking ground, the construction of the Coega Industrial Development Zone’s (IDZ) first wind turbine manufac-

turing facility is on track to be completed in record time thanks to innovative and advanced engineering techniques used to fast track the process. The wind turbine factory is more than 60% complete and the ambitious task undertaken by lead construction firm NMC to build the 23 000 m² facility is nearing realisation, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) said today. The project is joint initiative between the DCD Group, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the CDC.

“The aim is to have the facility up-and-running in under 11 months after construction started in March, so that the DCD Group is able to supply its first two customers by February 2014,” said Bruno Ponzo, CDC infrastructure project manager. The facility is located in Zone 3 of the Coega IDZ and will be a first of its kind for the Eastern Cape.

According to Frans Namuhuya of Worley Parsons – provider of professional services to the resources and energy sectors and com-plex process industries – the next few months will 'be tight' as they review the timeline to gain ground on time lost due to the construc-tion industry strike.

“We have had to revise our schedule and increase the man hours and labour force to achieve our targets. We faced some challenges, but we also realised some noteworthy engineering feats that allowed us to fast track the project – such as the design, creation of shop draw-ings and manufacturing of steel that was cardinal to the successful delivery of the factory,” said Namuhuya.

“The galvanised steel lattice column design used also allowed for a quick construction time considering the high speed nature of the project.”

Economic impact

While work on site is moving at a rapid pace, the economic injection into the regional economy has also been escalating.

So far, the materials used in the construction process amount to 236 tonnes of reinforcement, 1 896 tonnes of structural steel and 8 440 m3 of concrete. The project has also created 250 temporary jobs, with more than 90% of the workers coming from the Nelson Mandela

Bay region. Coega is responsible for the construction of the facility. Although construction is moving rapidly, safety, health, environ-

mental and quality standards remain a top priority. The factory promotes the green objectives of the renewable energy

sector with its green building features. An example of such is the introduction of natural light shafts in the façade walls and the use of passive natural ventilation elements. The on-site offices will also make use of solar control devices and performance glazing to reinforce the aesthetic aspects of the structure.

In the past few months a number of wind farm components have ar-rived at the Port of Ngqura and made its way in a convoy of abnormal load vehicles to its destination of wind farms across the Eastern Cape.

Once complete the DCD Wind Tower manufacturing facility will produce complete tubular steel towers, which entails the manufacture of the round steel tower sections from flat steel, welding flanges and assembling the inner parts of the towers. The wind turbine towers will vary in sizes ranging between 80 and 120 metres, with individual sections weighing between 40 to 60 tons.

Enquiries: Ayanda Vilakazi. Tel. 041 403 0464 or email [email protected].

For companies that produce liquid pharmaceutical products, such as those used in syringes and IV bags, it is critical to identify particulates or foreign substances of any size before

the products are released for distribution. A global provider of healthcare products had been using vision machines to detect particulates in their pharmaceuticals. When the machines were no longer able to detect contaminants to the required percentage level, the company began using human visual inspections. Since many of the particulates are extremely minute, the company needed to install bright and highly uniform illumination in their work stations so operators could effectively verify the quality of the products. Banner Engineering intro-duced the customer to the WLA Work Light Series, a perfect fit for their application. First, the bright LEDs provide stable, durable and uniform lighting for quality inspection. Compared to fluorescent lighting, Banner’s Work Lights use less energy and have a significantly longer lifespan (over 50 thousand hours of continuous light). In addition, LEDs are more ergonomic for operator use than fluorescents, which tend to flicker from changes in intensity. Second, the durable IP69K thermoplastic housing is ideal for the customer’s facility. As cleanliness is vital, the lights are easy to wipe down and keep free of dust. With different size, mounting and lens options, the Banner lights fit easily into the customers various work cells.

Enquiries: RET Automation Controls. Tel. 011 453 2468. Visit www.retautomation.com.

Wind tower factory on track


&CurrentLight& Product News

Bosch Ulwazi, a subsidiary of Bosch Holdings, plays a key role in the development of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs).

“An important part of Bosch Ulwazi’s operation is ‘Enterprise Development’, a programme which supports companies in identifying, mentoring and developing small black-owned businesses,” says Shonah Voigt, marketing consultant, Bosch Ulwazi. “Since its establishment in 2009, the programme has accepted more than 20 small businesses into its programme. Beneficiar-ies are selected by our clients, or from our own Bosch Ulwazi data base. The model used, which is in line with the Government Gazette Codes of Good Practice, is recognised by the National Association of BEE Consultants (NABC) and has a 100% success rate. Our clients have all received maximum benefit on their scorecards for ‘Enterprise Development’”. Bosch Ulwazi’s success can be attributed to a detailed needs analysis and development plan that is tailored to suit each small business. The company’s hands-on, step-by-step approach ensures that each business achieves its milestones. One of Bosch Ulwazi’s most recent successes involves a welding and trailer manufacturing company, Siyazenzela Trailers, which started on the ED pro-gramme a year ago. The business owner, Mlungisi Zwane, was personally motivated to expand his business and to streamline his products, but he was not sure how to achieve these goals.

Enquiries: Shonah Voigt. Tel. 031 535 6000 or email [email protected].

Fourteen lecturers of the North-West University (NWU) were awarded as the most inspiring lecturers for 2013. It is the passion,

commitment, enthusiasm and motivation of these lecturers that won them the Rapport Top Lecturer Award to the value of R50 000 each. The prize money was presented to the winning lecturers at a gala event in Potchefstroom on 13 November 2013. This is the fourth year that these awards are being made. The students themselves chose the winning lecturers. This year students again voted twice – at the end of each semester – for their favourite lecturers. The results of

the two semesters were combined to obtain one winner per faculty.

Students’ participation in the competition shows a growing in-

terest. More than 44% of the eligible students, 11 432 in total, are

involved in the project. During the prize-giving function, Dr Theuns

Eloff, vice-chancellor of the NWU, said the project acknowledges

the huge role that students play as stakeholders and participants to

teaching-learning.Enquiries: Willie du Plessis. Tel. 018 299 4915 or email Willie.DuPlessis@

nwu.ac.za.

Enterprise development

Inspiring lecturers win R50 000 each

Vikesh Thulsi (Trotech Engineering), Gavin Heron (managing director, Trotech Engineering), Sanele Miya (Siyazenzela Trailers), Mlungisi Zwane (owner,

Siyazenzela Trailers), Ndoda Zwane, Siyazenzela, Richard Mackanick (Trotech Engineering) and Siyabulela Ngubelanga (Siyazenzela Trailers).

Back: Prof Thys Human (Arts, Potchefstroom Campus), Dr Ashmore Mawire (Agriculture, Science and Technology, Mafikeng), Dr Aubrey Golightly (Education Sciences, Potchefstroom), Prof Jorrie Jordaan (Theology, Potchefstroom), Dr Colin Read (Natural Sciences, Potchefstroom). Middle: Leonard Loftus (Humanities, Vaal Triangle Campus), René Koraan (Law, Potchefstroom), Minnet du Preez (Health Sciences, Potchefstroom), Alicia Fourie (Economic and Management Sciences, Potchefstroom), Pieter-Henk Boer (Human and Social Sciences, Mafikeng), Frikkie van der Merwe (Engineering, Potchefstroom). Front: Andre Bechuke (Education, Mafikeng Campus, Prof Martin Oosthuizen (deputy vice-chancellor: Teaching-Learning), Inge Kühne (news editor: Rapport), Dr Theuns Eloff (vice-chancellor), Wilma Coetzee (Economic Sciences and Information Technology, Vaal Triangle).



A team from Royal HaskoningDHV was announced the winners in the water category for the St Helens Rock Pump Station upgrade project at the recent

South African Institution of Civil Engineers Annual Awards, held in Johannesburg. Sharing the presentation stage with Royal HaskoningDHV was Councillor Mondli Chaliza Ugu District Municipality deputy mayor. The project involved the rehabili-tation and upgrading of 1970’s St Helens Rock Pump Station – in its day it was a marvellous engineering feat as it was carved out of and anchored into sheer granite slopes of the Umzimkhulu River. The project is located nine kilometres upstream from the town of Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu Natal south coast in South Africa.

Said delighted project manager, Rowen Clark: “For 30 years the pump station worked tirelessly providing up to 54 Ml/day raw water to the Bhobhoyi Water Works supplying the greater Port Shepstone area as far as Margate, as well as growing rural and peri-urban communities, whilst supporting the explosive tour-ism economy of the south coast. “In 2006, the severe demand and strain on the system, as well as lowering water levels in the Umzimkhulu River, prompted the Ugu District Municipality to take action. After an investment of R83 M with final completion certified in April 2012 the district now has a guaranteed supply system of 81 Ml/day with pumping capacity potential of 108 Ml/day."

Enquiries: Hillary Erasmus. Tel. 011 798 6511 or email [email protected].

GIGAGVAC of Santa Barbara USA, has released a new brochure outlining their ever expanding range of contactors, which includes: • GX series of commercial contactors 800 V/600 A• MX series - military specified contactors 48 V up to 1 000 A• MiniTactor - low cost sealed contactors up to 1 500V/ 50 A• HX series - high voltage contactors 1 500 V/ 350 A• Sensing contactors - voltage sensing for low volt disconnect and current sens-

ing for remote controlled circuit breakers• BD series – 2 pole manual disconnect 48 V/ 600 A• HBD series - hermetically sealed manual disconnect 1 000 V/ 400 A

Enquiries: Denver Technical Products. Tel. 011 626-2023 or email [email protected].

Extech appointed sole distributor for MercuryHMI and for ExtronicsMercuryHMI has appointed Extech as its sole author-ised distributor for sub-Saharan Africa. Mercury HMI is a UK based company specialising in the design and manufacture of hazardous area products for the petro-chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Extronics has also appointed Extech as its sole authorised distributor for Southern Africa. Founded in 1992, Extronics is a leading global designer and manufacturer of intrinsi-cally safe and explosion-proof equipment. From their UK headquarters, they serve customers that work in potentially explosive environments, especially those in the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, oil and gas industries. Founded in early 1970s, Extech has served the Southern African petrochemical, oil and gas, phar-maceutical and mining industries with equipment and expertise for hazardous areas. Extech is heavily involved with South African Flameproof Association (SAFA) and South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in the development and adoption of standards and legislation.

Enquiries: Gary Friend. Tel. 011 791 6000 or email [email protected].

ManTech acquires AP ElectronicsManTech, a Mobicon company, and a distributor of elec-tronic components, test equipment, tools, consumables and accessories, based in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, has acquired the business of AP Electronics. AP Electronics, established in 1979 in Johannesburg, recently experienced a fire that changed the course of its business, resulting in the sale to ManTech. The busi-ness of AP will be fully integrated into ManTech and no business will be done at AP in Commissioner Street, Johannesburg.

Enquiries: Manny Moutinho. Email [email protected].

WearCheck - a new gem in South-East AfricaCondition monitoring specialists, WearCheck, recently extended their growing African footprint from Southern Africa to West and now South-East, into Tete Province Mozambique, where they service the region’s burgeon-ing precious stone and coal mining industries. This fol-lows hard the recent launch of WearCheck’s first West African laboratory, in Ghana. WearCheck Mozambique offers a range of condition monitoring services, includ-ing oil analysis, coolant testing and 24 hour sample turnaround time.


Guaranteed water security

Expanding range of contactors

Bizz Buzz

Receiving the SAICE Annual Award for Water Engineering are Rowen Clark (RHDHV), Mondi Chalize (deputy mayor Ugu District Municipality), Pieter Kleynhans, (president of

SAICE) and Sibusiso Nselo (RHDHV).



The student engineering design competi-tion, which has run annually since 2008,

provides a learning platform that brings together engineering theory, the latest tech-nology in drive engineering, pneumatics, and business relevance. Sponsors of this year’s competition, SEW-EURODRIVE and Pneumax, required students to explore a ‘Greener Mining’ theme for 2013.

The top three places for engineering design went to:1st – Cape Peninsula University of Technolo-gy – Waste Granite to Cobblestone Machine.2nd – TshwaneUniversity of Technology – The Dust Buster (Winners of the Innovation Prize).3rd – WITS University – Water Solar StillAn additional entry from WITS University – The Dust Emission Filtration System – was-selected as the Autodesk Design Prize winner.

Cape Peninsula University of Tech-nology - Waste Granite to Cobble Machine

Students Christian Mpiana and Gareth Hard-man submitted a design that proposes the rehabilitation of abandoned granite mines

by turning surplus “waste” granite blocks into usable cobblestones. These can then in turn be used to develop access roads and walkways in rural areas. Apart from the direct benefit paved roads and paths will bring to these areas, they proposed that other possible business interventions around the system could generate job crea-tion. Lecturer Francois Hoffman expressed that his students winning the competition was the highlight of his year. The winners

receive a ten day all expenses paid trip to Germany and Italy where they will be hosted by the head offices of the sponsor compa-nies. Furthermore the winning university receives R100 000 worth of products from SEW-EURODRIVE and Pneumax,while each participating is entitled to R40 000 worth of products for completing the competition.

Enquiries: SEW-EuroDrive: Rene Rose. Tel. 011 248 7000 or email [email protected].

Pneumax: Eugene van der Lith. Tel. 011 573 0902 or email [email protected].

Roodepoort Child Welfare received a pleasant surprise at the ROCCI Business of the year Cocktail awards which was took place on 10

October 2013 at Silverstar Casino. John Groom, managing director of VEGA Instruments SA, presented Angelique McAdam, chairperson of Roodepoort Child Welfare with a new Honda BRIO Trend at the awards event.

VEGA Instruments SA first heard about the struggles that Angelique and her staff were having with their vehicles when John Groom did a presentation for ROCCI. At the time, all that Angelique was looking for was a sponsor for a new sign board to help children in need to find their offices.

Angelique and her team currently care for two thousand seven hundred children and they take in between five to nine children a week under the age of eighteen years. Some of the children were abandoned at birth and most of the other children come from abusive backgrounds. Roodepoort Child Welfare is responsible for finding the children a place of safety, before they go to a foster home and then adoption.

In keeping with VEGA Grieshaber KG’s motto ‘Looking Forward’, John Groom hopes that the new vehicle will help Roodepoort Child Welfare move forward in their work with the children they care for. “Being in a position to help the community we work in would not be possible without the hard work and dedication from each and every one of the staff members at VEGA and our customers. There is noth-

ing more important than helping to protect our community’s children as they are the future of our company and country”, he explained.

Enquiries: Angelique McAdam. Tel. 083 325 1013 or email [email protected]; Chantal Groom. Tel. 011 795 3249 or

email [email protected].

PneuDrive challenge - 2013 winners

‘Looking forward’ and assisting the community

The 2013 Judging Panel: Heathcliff Barnard (Pneumax SA), Russell Gill (SAFPA), Brian Paxton (Mixtec), Brandon Skinner (DRA Mining), John Menasce (HATCH) and Raymond Obermeyer SEW-EURODRIVE).

Angelique McAdam, chairperson of Roodepoort Child Welfare, in a new Honda BRIO Trend presented to her by VEGA Instruments SA.



Resulting from over four years of research and development by Extronics, the iSOLATE500 is a major breakthrough in hazardous

area wireless networking. Featuring a unique, patented galvanic isola-tion design, the unit blocks all possible faults, including hazardous transients, and makes any RF output intrinsically safe.

Fully certified for use in ATEX & IECEx Zone 0, the iSOLATE500 enables standard wireless equipment to be deployed in hazardous areas without the need for costly assessment by notified bodies. Live connect/ disconnect of standard antennas is now allowed and the whole process of deploying wireless networks in hazardous process areas is made a far simpler, elegant and more cost-effective process.

Key features are: • Blocks all faults: ac, dc & Hazardous Transients• Enables the use of standard RF equipment

• Enables any antenna to be used - improved performance• No need for notified body assessment• Simple installation using conventional tools• Zone 0 ATEX and IECEx approved

iSOLATE500 is designed & built in the UK by Extronics.Enquiries: Extech Safety Systems. Tel. 011 791 6000 or email sales@

extech.co.za.

The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) recently launched another independent sub-association: the

Power Line Association of Southern Africa (POLASA). The SAISC launched POLASA in response to a period that

has been termed a ‘crisis period’ by the industry. Describing the situation Gary Whalley, MD of Babcock Ntuthuko Powerlines and the first Chairman of POLASA, said the irony is that in an environment where much work needs to be done, the industry is at a stand-still to the extent that in the recent past, six contrac-tors in the power line and associated industries were liquidated or applied for Business Rescue, no significant enquiries were issued for more than 22 months and the industry faces up to 12 months without power line work.

POLASA’s fundamental task will be to turn this situation around by helping the local industry to make interim arrange-ments and to take advantage of the fact that power line con-struction is integral to the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) in which, of the 18 Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs), six contain transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Enquiries: Kobus de Beer. Tel. 011 726-6111. Visit www.saisc.co.za.

To comply with the requirements of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), (Mines Health and Safety ACT) MHS Act: Regula-

tion 2(1) of MHS Act (Act 29 of 1996) (Mines Health and Safety), clause 21.17.2: Electrical apparatus used in a hazardous area shall be explo-sion protected and certified as such in a test report by an inspection authority approved by the chief inspector. Further to this comes the SANS ARP 0108:2007 Edition 1.1 Annex C: Upgrading and maintenance of EPA certificates for mines and factories.• C.1 - In South Africa, all EPA used in underground mines (Group I)

and on surface (Group II) shall be covered by an IA certificate. The requirements in C.2 to C.15 - cover the validity of IA certificates.

• C.2 - All IA certificates shall have a validity period of 10 years.

Where a product is in service and its certificate has expired it will not be affected. IA certificates will be valid for a period of one year.

This, in short, states that all imported IS equipment based on over-seas certification must be inspected and certified by a South African inspection authority approved by the chief inspector. No overseas certification is valid unless it is underwritten by a local IA certificate. This has a huge impact on local importers of overseas IS certified instrumentation if they supply these instruments to customers without the local IA certification.


World's first apparatus-certified IS RF isolator

SAISC Launches Power Line Industry Association

Locally certified IS infrared thermometers

The first board of POLASA: From left: Leon Heymans (Consolidated Power Projects), Marcello Lamperini (Mkhulu Electro Distribution Projects), Vincent Kanyongolo

(Dyambwini Construction), Gary Whalley - POLASA Chairman (Babcock Nthuthuko Powerlines), Sagren Moodley (Metpress), Nick van der Mescht (Stefanutti Stocks

Power). Not in the picture: John I Buyers (Preformed Line Products).


Social Engineers

The Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) sponsored five

of the Hendrik van der Bijl Special Awards at the Eskom Expo for

Young Scientists, South Africa's premier international science fair in

September. Hendrik van der Bijl was a notable South African scientist

and entrepreneur and the awards bearing his name were established

in 2013 to acknowledge those young scientists who have produced

outstanding projects. The CDAA was the single largest contributor to

these awards, sponsoring five cash prizes at the event. The CDAA’s

award winners were:

• Iselle van den Heever (Jim Fouche High School) for her project:

The rate of change in maximum sun elevation.

• Jacques Briers and Milan van Veenhuyzen (Hoerskool Nelspruit)

for: Baby box.

• Toni-Ann Black (Roedean School) for: Is your phone bugged?

• Carla Prins (Lebone College) for: Magnets and electricity.

• Richard Senzo Sithole and Sandile Samanga Mngomezulu (Aman-

dla High School) for: Preventing electricity theft.

Enquiries: Evert Swanepoel. Tel. 011 824 3916 or email [email protected], www.copperalliance.org.za .

Eskom’s general manager (legal specialist), Willie du Plessis,

won the ‘General Counsel of the Year’ award at the inaugural

African Legal Awards. Du Plessis won the award in his capac-

ity as the head of Eskom’s legal and compliance department

in the utility’s regulation and legal division, which services

all Eskom business units and subsidiaries. Bowman Gilfillan

won Property and Construction team of the year for their legal

and project management support on the Medupi and Kusile

Power Station projects.


CDAA sponsors Hendrik van der Bijl Awards at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists

Eskom’s legal specialist wins award

The CDAA’s Levine Warries presents an award to Carla Prins of Lebone College.

The CDAA’s Levine Warries presents an award to Richard Senzo Sithole and Sandile Samanga Mngomezulu of Amandla High School.

Jonathan Lang of Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys, Eskom’s Willie du Plessis and Derek Watts of Carte Blanche.


Social Engineers

ACDC Dynamics, sole distributors of the GEWISS product range in

South Africa, recently launched its new range of IEC309 HIGH PER-

FORMANCE plugs and sockets around the country - at three separate

events. A great time was held by all and positive feedback was received

from industry. GEWISS's new IEC 309 HIGH PERFORMANCE range

is a high-end range of industrial connections delivering outstanding

performance, functionality and technical features. The range boasts

a fully comprehensive assortment of products to create any kind of

service or industrial system and is geared to make your installation

simpler and more efficient.

Enquiries: Sara Ross. Email [email protected].

ACDC Dynamics launches new range of industrial connections

From Gewiss Italy are Max Cadei (product manager) and Guido Bonacina (area manager).

ACDC Dynamics: Nelen Govendar (product manager).

Roger Burrows (operations manager ACDC Dynamics), Ray Geldenhuys (owner, Electro Sales) and Helen Couvaras (Crown Publications).

From ACDC Dynamics are Sara Ross (marketing manager), Mario Maio (member/ owner) and Guida Maio (financial manager).

ACDC Dynamics: Chris Watt (brand manager Gewiss), Pieter Rheeder (field sales) and Thomas Bond (lighting engineer - Gewiss).

LMTK Electrical Warehouse: Nash Owdbehari (manager) Leon Nicodemus (general manager) Kershinee Govender (director) and Chris Naidoo (sales).


CliPBoaRd

aPPointmEnts

musts FoR youR diaRyindEX to adVERtisERs

aC/dC dynamics .....................................2

Current automation..........................insert

Engen.......................................................9

Extech safety systems..........................25

H3isquared............................................23

impact Energy............................oFC/ oBC

instrotech ..............................................17

mecosa..................................................15

nordland................................................27

REt automation ................................... iFC

Rittal ......................................................13

RJ Connect .......................................insert

schneider Electric ...................................7

siemens.................................................11

transelectron ....................................... iBC

Zest WEG Group....................................35

Africa Energy Indaba 201418 – 20 February 2014

Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

This energy event provides companies with a

business platform to find new technologies, ex-

plore partnerships, develop innovative concepts

and meet influential decision makers from Africa

and abroad.

Enquiries: Visit www.africanenergyindaba.com

Operating Regulations for High/Medium Voltage Systems Workshop (ORHVS)5 – 7 March, Hackle Brooke Conference Centre,

Craighall Park, Johannesburg

This course is aimed at those individuals who

work with high voltage electricity (authorised

persons) or are exposed to High voltage in any

way (responsible persons).

Enquiries: Zuka Zondo. Tel. 011 455 5184 or email

[email protected].

Power-Gen Africa & Distributech Africa17 – 19 March 2014, Cape Town

Solutions for Africa’s Energy Future

A three-day event, Power-Gen Africa serves the

industry’s information and networking needs with

a trade show featuring the prime movers in the

conventional power and renewable energy indus-

tries. A multi-track conference covering strategic,

technical and renewable topics will feature com-

mercial and practical solutions (including case

studies) for power industry businesses.

Enquiries: Visit www.powergenafrica.com

IFSEC SA 201413 to 15 May 2014

Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand

Everything you need to know about commercial

and government security.

Enquiries: Email [email protected]

5th Industrial Automation Conference20 – 22 May 2014, Johannesburg

Call for papers

Engineering professionals working in the SCADA,

DCS, PLC or industrial automation industry are

invited to attend this conference – and present

new trends, good practice, forensics and the latest

technologies and case studies.

Enquiries: Tel. 011 024 5520/1/2/3/4/5 or email

[email protected]

Sulzer Dowding & Mills (UK)

Schneider Electric

Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA)

WearCheck Magnet

OMSA Philips Lighting SA

Dave Hawley, general manager (formed coil business)

James Shirley, solar business leader for southern Africa

Carel Ballack, project consultant.

Phillip Croukamp, national sales manager

Arnè Smit, instrumentation specialist.

Doran Walker, sales representative

Mayuri Naidoo, business development manager for

turnkey projects and solutions

Hilda Naidoo, office manager


features - crown publications · 2013. 11. 29. · cont r ol syst e ms and automation t he only...

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