Welding and Gases Today focuses on automation with PLCs.
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Press Release Summary:
The world of the industrial gas distributor involves significant investment in capital equipment and manpower to fill high-pressure and portable liquid cylinders. Programmable Logic Controllers help distributors increase industrial gas production in several ways. The use of PLC technology to automate cylinder filling is the focus of "The Basics of PLC Technology," an article in the Spring 2011 issue of Welding and Gases Today, written by Bill Jones, national sales manager at CTR Inc.
Original Press Release:
Gases and Welding Distributors Automate with PLC
Programmable Logic Controllers drive cylinder filling efficiency.
Dewitt, NY - The world of the industrial gas distributor involves a significant investment in capital equipment and manpower to successfully fill both high-pressure and portable liquid cylinders. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) help distributors increase industrial gas production in several ways. The use of PLC technology to automate cylinder filling is the focus of "The Basics of PLC Technology," an article by Bill Jones, national sales manager at CTR Inc. The article appears in the Spring 2011 issue of Welding & Gases Today, the leading magazine for the gases and welding equipment industry.
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) were invented in 1968 for the automotive industry. Since then, PLCs have been used for automating electromechanical devices in thousands of applications. These units replace mechanical timers and manual components while providing temperature sensing, data acquisition and Ethernet communication. PLCs use in industrial gas production starts with the cryogenic pump.
Traditionally, the fill plant operator would manually open the cryogenic bulk tank liquid valve and re-circulation valve to start the pump cool-down process. However, if the pump is not primed and cavitating, these conditions can damage or shorten the life of the pump and can result in significant repair and replacement costs. By automating the pump with a PLC system, the controller automatically senses the correct cool-down temperature, senses any leaks, starts the pump and ensures proper function of the pump, allowing fill plant personnel to perform other functions in the plant.
To see find out how distributors are automating cylinder filling, read "The Basics of PLC Technology," (http://www.weldingandgasestoday.org/index.php/2011/03/the-basics-of-plc-technology/) at Welding & Gases Today online. For more information, contact Devin O'Toole, content editor at Welding & Gases Today at devin@weldingandgasestoday.org or 315-445-2347.
About GAWDA
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (www.weldingandgasestoday.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (www.gawdawiki.org), GAWDA connects suppliers of gases and manufacturers of related equipment as well as manufacturers of welding equipment and distribution leaders, for the purpose of safely delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. GAWDA publications are the industry's voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning welding equipment and products and services related to industrial, medical, specialty and cryogenic gases. A 501(c)3 organization, GAWDA members are located throughout North America.
