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​Turning Logs into Lumber at a Sawmill

7/26/2021

 
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Step 1 - Logging & Transportation – Timber harvesting, or logging, is the first step to getting a log to the sawmill.  Trees are cut down using chainsaws during the logging process.  This step is known as felling.  Felling is essentially cutting down the tree and cutting it to length.  Then, the log is delimbed and loaded on a truck for transportation to the mill.  Once at the mill, the logs are unloaded and stacked into piles where they wait to be cut.

Step 2 – The Log Enters the Sawmill – The log is moved using a piece of heavy machinery and put on a belt where it awaits to be cut.

Step 3 – Debarking the Log – Once the log gets to the front of the conveyor belt, it will enter the mill to be debarked.  A debarking machine is used to strip the log of its bark.  Most sawmills use debarking machines like mechanical ring cutters, cambio drums, or water-jet blasters.  Logs are also bucked or crosscut with a circular saw into specific lengths at this stage.  The bark is then saved as it can be sold as mulch or used to fuel certain kilns at a sawmill.
 
Step 4 – Metal Detection – Each log will go through a large metal detector before being cut.  Since trees can live for hundreds of years, there’s no saying what could be found in them. Often you will find nails, wire fencing, or other metals in the logs which can ruin your sawmill blades if they’re not caught beforehand.  For the logs to have metal in them, the metal will either be removed, or the log will be cut into smaller sections so as much as possible can be salvaged.
 
Step 5 – Merchandising the Log – Makes sawmills much more efficient.  Lasers scanning or camera viewing estimates the raw log for its maximum cut value.  This information determines what sizes of timber, dimensional lumber, and boards can come from a particular log.  Merchandising takes in more than just the log’s length and girth.  It assesses each log for market conditions and standing orders.
 
Step 6 – Head Rig Sawing – “The heart of the sawmill” - Logs enter the head rig saw by getting clamped on a conveyor belt where the head rig blades move through the log.
 
Step 7 – Canting – The head rig cuts the log into sections called cants.  The first or primary breakdown is called the best opening face (BOF).  This sets a flat surface to square the work for secondary cants that turn into rough sizes for finished lumber products.  Waste sections, or slabs, from cants are recycled into chips, pellets, or mulch.
 
Step 8 – Resawing – Cants that enter the resawing stage are usually being milled into rough cut lumber.  The resaw uses multiple bandsaw or gang saw blades to cut the log into the boards that were merchandised.
 
Step 9 – Edging the Log – The lumber gets its sides cut.  This squares up the log so that it fits a specific grade or width.
 
Step 10 – Trimming – The trimmer is used to cut the lumber to length.  The length will vary based on the order or lumber size.
 
Step 11 – Grading the Lumber – The actual milling process is now complete.  The lumber is ready to be graded.  This is essentially a process for quality control.  Since most sawmills won’t plane lumber and only sell rough cut, the grade is usually known as “FAS”.
 
Step 12 – Drying – Many sawmills don’t use a kiln and will just let their lumber air dry.  Others buy kilns which can speed up the drying process significantly and increase the value of the lumber.
 
Most commercial sawmills specialize in processing either softwoods or hardwoods.  A few sawmills tool up for both tree types, but that’s not common.  The residential and light commercial construction industries primarily use softwood lumber for framing and rough carpentry.  Hardwood materials are used for furniture and finished products, including flooring, staircases, and plywood veneer panels.
 
Three main lumber products come from a sawmill production line.
- Timbers – large-cut - end-products >5” thick – beams and posts
- Dimensional – most common – 2-5” thick and 2-12” wide – plate, joist, stud, header, and rafter
- Boards – Thin cuts – ¾-1” thick – 2-12” wide – sheathing, planking, pallets, crates, furniture frames
 
Specialized shapes – interlocking tongue and groove, shiplap edges, rounding profiles
 
Sawmills require power for other reasons besides turning blades and running conveyors.  They need electrical power to operate advanced computerized systems for optimizing cuts, Programmable Controllers, Human Machine Interfaces, Variable Frequency Drives, Motors, etc.
 
There are roughly 500 lumber manufacturing facilities in the USA.  Oregon constitutes 16% of the nations’ softwoods followed by Washington, Georgia, Alabama, California, Arkansas, Mississippi, Idaho, North Carolina, and Texas.  The top four largest softwood sawmill companies are:  Weyerhaeuser, Georgia-Pacific, West Fraser, and Sierra Pacific.
 
A cant is a sawn log that is sent to another machine for additional processing or sold as a large slab to be used as a building log
 
Sawmill workers have many titles:  sawing machine setters, operators, tenders, sawyers, lumber mill workers, timber mill workers, sawmill yard workers, wood machinists, or wood processing workers.
 
The first log cut above the stump is called a butt log or butt cut.  Butt off refers to cutting a piece of a log due to a defect.  Most of a tree’s value is in the butt log.
 
A stack of lumber is a charge, which refers to a stack that has been processed in a dry kiln.  If not dried in a kiln it is simply called a stack.

Safety Products

7/26/2021

 

​Quantum Automation is proud to provide a massive array of AutomationDirect Safety Products

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Safety Switches (IDEM)
Are interlocking devices used to monitor (and sometimes lock) machine guards, doors, gates, windows, jaws or other machinery to protect both people and machines.  Below variety detects unsafe conditions and isolates power from the hazard.
  • Non-Contact RFID Coded Safety Switches
  • Non-Contact Coded Magnetic Safety Switches
  • Non-Contact Magnetic Safety Switches
  • Standalone Safety Switches
  • Non-Contact Magnetic Locking RFID Switches
  • Solenoid Locking RFID Tongue Interlock Safety Switches
  • Solenoid Locking Tongue Interlock Safety Switches
  • Tongue Interlock Safety Switches
  • Hinge Interlock Safety Switches
  • Cable-Pull Safety Switches
  • Accessories
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Safety Light Curtains - 3 Brands
Use an array of photoelectric beams to sense intrusion into a plane of detection, offering protection where a process may require open and frequent access.  Type 4 / Category 4 curtains achieve high fault tolerance
through redundancy/monitoring, have a tighter field-of-view and are therefore less susceptible to optical short circuits.
  • Datalogic Light Curtains
  • Contrinex Light Curtains
  • ReeR Light Curtains
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Safety Laster Scanners (Datalogic)
Offer an ingenious yet cost-effective way to detect intrusions into a static area, or an area surrounding a moving device such as an AGV (automated guided vehicle)
  • Safety Laser Scanner, area protection, 275 degrees operating angle
  • 0.05 -3 meter operating distance - safety and warning zones - Type 3
  • 0.05 - 5.5 meter operating distance - safety and warning zones - Type 3
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Safety Controllers - ReeR (SW & Manuals - No Charge)
Use monitoring logic, over-voltage/short-circuit protection, redundant relays, and positive guided contacts to provide a high level of fail-safe operation.  Mosaic is expandable & cost effective as number of relays increase.
  • Mosaic Master Module - Controller, 8DI, 2EDM(re)DI, (2)pair OSSD DO, (2) status monitoring outputs
  • Mosaic Input Modules
  • Mosaic Output Modules
  • Mosaic Relay Modules
  • Mosaic Communication Modules
  • Mosaic Accessories
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Intrinsically Safe Isolators (Stahl)
Provide intrinsic safety and galvanic separation between the control system and the field device
  • Analog Input Isolator, 0-20mA or 4-20mA input, 0-20mA or 4-20mA ouptut
  • Many variations
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Safety Limit Switches (IDEM) - variety of actuation mechanisms, plungers, rollers, levers
  • Safety Limit Switch - Die Cast - provide positively operated switching contacts to verify the position
  • Safety Limit Switch - Stainless Steel
  • Compact Safety Limit Switch - Die Cast
  • Compact Safety Limit Switch - Plastic
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Safety Mats and Edges (ASO Safety Solutions)
  • Safety Mats - Tapered Edge - Triggered when person steps on the mat - Use in conjunction with Safety Relay
  • Safety Mats - Straight Edge
  • Safety Mats - Diamond Plate
  • Safety Edges - can be used on any surface usually near possible closing, crushing, or sharing points
  • Safety Bumpers - used in applications involving vehicles or other moving equipment
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Two-Hand Safety Controls (Schmersal Control Panel)
Two-Hand control systems are used with a two-hand control monitoring relay and require an operator to use both hands at the same time when initiating a hazardous operation….aluminum & plastic - with or w/o PBs

Semiconductor

5/15/2021

 
Fabs = Factory – typical fab will have several hundred equipment items – usually > $2Billion
Clean Rooms = Controls Temperature, Humidity, Dust, damped for Vibration – High purity Air

Tools = Machines – Steppers for photolithography, etching, cleaning, doping, and dicing
Wafers = Produce ICs - 2014 the 300mm arrived and in 2020 the new 450mm – roughly 18” diameter
PCBs = Printed Circuit Boards
SMT = Surface Mount Technology for Single or Multi-Layer PCBs

ICs = Integrated Circuits are used for all below to go on PCBs

CPU – Central Processing Unit – wires through the PCB to everything below
RAM – Random Access Memory
SSD – Solid State Drives
HD – Hard Disk
IO – Input Output Devices
  • RJ45 – Ethernet Port
  • RS232/422/485 – Serial Port
  • USB Type 2 or Type 3 Port
  • PCIe – daughter boards to PCBs for WiFi, Cellular, etc.
  • VGA or DVI Video Ports
  • Touchscreen and multi-touch circuitry
  • Microphone Input Ports
  • Discrete Inputs or Outputs or Relay Outputs
  • A/D Analog to Digital – Analog Input or D/A Digital to Analog or Analog Output Ports
Power – Terminal Block – and related circuitry including Capacitors

Wafers – How to make
  • Silicon seed is grown in a long tube called a crucible
  • Add dopants – Boron, Arsenic, Antimony, & Phosphorous
  • Heat Crucible to 2552 deg F in high purity Argon Gas
  • Finish monocrystalline ingot is then machined
  • Use diamond saw to slice to a certain thickness
  • Silicon Wafer Edges are Grinned, Diced, Lapped, Etched, Cleaned, & Polished

Major Fabs – SMIC, Micron, Intel, Apple, Analog Devices, Tower Jazz, Samsung, Texas Instruments,
TSMC, UMC, ST Microelectronics

Major Tools – Teradyne, Advantest, Applied Materials, LAM Research, KLA, ASML
​
Gas Delivery Equipment – Separated Ducts and Piping for Air and Liquid
Wet Benches – ICs get dipped into chemical tanks
Wafer Boats – transport Wafers in process to other tools
Regenerative Oxidizers – Cleans Effluent Air
Scrubbers – Cleans Effluent Liquids

Environmental

5/14/2021

 

Environmental – Landfills

Primary Treatment – Flare Stations
Secondary Treatment - Methane Cogeneration
Advanced Treatment - High BTU Cogeneration
  • EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – Basic Information about Landfill Gas – (40 CFR Part 98)
  • Landfill Gas (LFG) is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material in landfills.
  • LFG is composed of 50% methane and 50% CO2
  • As of August 2020 – 565 operating LFG energy projects in USA – 475 landfills are good candidates
  • When MSW (municipal solid waste) is first deposited in a landfill, it undergoes an aerobic (with oxygen) decomposition stage when little methane is generated. Then, typically within less than 1-year, anaerobic conditions are established and methane-producing bacteria begin to decompose the waste and generate methane.

  • LFG is collected through vertical and horizontal piping buried in a MSW landfill.
  • Primary Treatment (Moisture Removal) – LFG – Knockout Pot – Filter – Blower – Flare
  • Secondary Treatment (Impurity Removal) – After Blower – Siloxane/Sulphur Removal) – Compressor to
    Boiler to generate steam for Steam Turbine…(CHP) Combined Heat Power - Cogeneration
  • Advanced Treatment – After Compressor – CO2 removal N2, O2, VOC removal as necessary –
  • Flare/Thermal Oxidizer for Waste/Tail Gas – High-BTU (Vehicle Fuel or Pipeline Injection)

  • - 72% of current operational LFG energy projects in USA generate electricity. A variety of technologies including reciprocating internal combustion engines, turbines, microturbines and fuel cells, can be used to generate electricity for onsite use and/or sale to the grid. The reciprocating engine is the most commonly used conversion technology for LFG electricity applications because of its relatively low cost, high efficiency, and size ranges that complement the gas output of many landfills.
​
Stalled Pneumatic Pumps
- Minimize the amount of Methane Gas that is released to the atmosphere (help reduce odor & smog)
- Maximize the amount of Methane Gas you can use to fuel the landfill Cogeneration Plant
- QBumpBox and QSolarBumpBox fixes your stalled pneumatic pumps (see brochure)

Stormwater Basins
- Meet CA Regulation for Water Conditioning – Phase II MS4 Permits
- Off Grid Cloud Based Stormwater Dosing Skids (see attached article)
- Attached also is California Water Board’s Fact Sheet (other states have similar plans)
NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems
CROMERR - Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule
SMARTS - Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System
ERA – Exceedance Response Action
BMP – Best Management Practices
NAL – Numeric Action Level
SWPPP – Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
Level 2 ERA Action Plan – Intermediate Tote Treatment – Flocculant & Aeration Systems
Download Factsheet
File Size: 375 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Utilities

5/10/2021

 
Power Generation
  • Nuclear Power – generates heat and with water creates steam – Steam Turbines
  • Coal Power Plants – Generates Steam – Steam Turbines
  • Gas Power Plants – Gas Turbines
  • Hydro-Electric Power Plants – Water Turbines
  • Geo-Thermal – Earth’s Magma Core generates Steam – Steam Turbines
  • Wind Power – Wind Turbines
  • Solar – Photovoltaic – Residential and Commercial Roof Top and Ground Mount Utility
  • Solar Thermal (Utility) – Captures heat – combine with water to create steam – Steam Turbines

Substation Management – IEC 61850-3
  • Communication Networks and Systems which enable high availability, reliability, and scalability of Power Transmission and Distribution Networks – Moxa
  • Utility – Transmission Lines – Form a Grid where all utility power is shared
  • Utility – Distribution – Electric power distribution is the final stage in the delivery of electric power; it carries electricity from the transmission system to individual consumers. … Primary distribution lines carry this medium voltage power to distribution transformers located near the customer premises.
  • ApplicationsUrea / Ammonia Injection for Boilers – Productivity PLC and C-more HMI
  • Boiler Pressure Relief Valve Monitoring (PRV) – Wireless Hart – Emerson has a good solution
  • Wind and Solar Monitoring Systems – also incorporate Weather Stations – monitor Amps, Voltage, Health
  • of Wind Turbine, Maintenance Plan – clean PV panels – Digital Fence Intrusion, etc.
  • Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems – Stack Gas Monitoring + Spraying reagents onto effluent air
  • Reduces NOx going into the atmosphere
​
QSolarBattery 
  • Provides Off-Grid power using Solar Panels either Pole or Ground Mount with Lithium Ion Batteries. Our standard product goes up to 300 watts. We also provide custom skids for applications like Stormwater Dosing.

Transportation Industry

5/10/2021

 
ITS – Intelligent Transportation Systems– Signage – Urban (local power) and Rural (requires QSolarBattery) for Remote Monitoring and Control
– Toll Stations – Industrial – Embedded Computers, Routers with VPN and Fiber Optic, Managed Ethernet
switches with Single or Multimode Fiberoptic, NPort Serial to Ethernet Devices, MGate for Protocol Converters
– Street Lights & Security Cameras – PoE Managed Switches with Single or Multimode Fiber Optic
– Train Signal Crossing – Managed Ethernet Switches and Routers
– Tunnel ITS – All of the above plus Fan Control – See Caldecott Tunnel White Paper
Stormwater Control– Bridge Underpass Pump House Control + Weather Station + VPN access
– Tunnel Drainage Systems – same as above
Heavy EquipmentRequires wide temperature rating + higher shock and vibration specifications
– Remote Monitoring – QRTU using PLC – LTE Cellular Edge Gateway
– Asset Tracking – QRTU – GPS using Embedded Linux Computer with GPS and LTE Cellular

New or Recycled Pavement
​
Remote Testing of Pavement – on a pickup truck following the “Smart Paver” by about ¼ mile
Benefits –  can send the tested sample information directly to the customer and DoT for
approval right on the spot vs being sent to a test center. Also, this SQC (Statistical Quality Control
Information) can be sent via LTE Cellular to the “Smart Paver” PLC to modify the Setpoint of usually Oil or
Water to provide better consistency…therefore Statistical Process Control.
– QSolarBattery – Lithium-Ion Battery with possible small Solar Panel for remote power vs a generator to
control the Test Machine which requires power to the control panel, servo motor, and compactor.
– QRTU – The actual control panel for the Compactor Test Machine
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Saving Lives and Properties with Sandbags
​
During natural disaster situations, sandbags are used to protect people and property. In addition to becoming lifesaving tools during floods and storms, sandbags are also used to provide a steady base for oil, gas, and water pipelines. Sandbags are used in these situations because they provide consistent, flexible weight that enables them to become effective barriers and ballast in a variety of applications. 
​Read More
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PLC Upgrade Unlocks Testing Efficiency
​
For air filter manufacturer K&N Engineering, a high number of simultaneous parallel processes taxed an older test system. A  controls upgrade for the test stations doubled test-process efficiency.
K&N Engineering (www.kandn.com) manufactures washable performance air filters and air intake systems for a variety of systems, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and industrial engines. 
​Read More

Mining

5/10/2021

 
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Mine Power Centers (MPC)
  • Heavy Duty Underground Portable Skid supplied by Atlas Electric
  •  4160V Primary to 480Y/277 Secondary
  • 8 Circuit Breakers, 8 CTs, 8 Line Power Receptacles
  •  Productivity 2000 PLC and C-more HMI standard
Air handling control systems throughout the whole tunnel
  • VFD controlled by a Productivity 2000 PLC and C-more HMI to control fans
  • gets its power from MPCs
Mine Tunnel Communications 
  • Network Operating Center
    – Computer – Mission Critical
    – Supervisory Control & Data Acquisitions Software
    – Network Management Software
    – RFID Tag Management Software
    – Report Generation
  •  Communication Infrastructure
    – Single Mode Fiberoptic Cable
    – Flat Ring Topology
    – Industrial Managed Ethernet Switches
    – Industrial IP-68 Wireless Access Points
    – Industrial Cellular – GSM or LTE
  •  Personnel and Asset Tracking
    – WIFI RFID Real-Time Location System
    – WIFI Clients – On Vehicles
  • Security Cameras & Communication Panels
    – IR IP Cameras – Infrared Internet Protocol
    – Communication Panels
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Underground Mining Truckslike a Caterpillar AD60 or AD63. Use the new MC-1200 industrial Moxa Computer with wide temperature, high shock, and vibration specifications like the Open Pit Heavy Duty Trucks. Record Data either on-board and offload once out of the mine using Wi-Fi or if you have a Mine Tunnel Communications System, you can Wi-Fi directly to the Access Points every 100-200 meters depending on how hard the metal is in the tunnel…gold and silver reflects well therefore 200 meters test out great!
Open Pit Mining Dump Trucks – Like the Belaz 75710 that has (2) 2300HP Diesel Engines or the Liebherr
T284 with 4023HP. Use the new MC-1200 IIoT Industrial Moxa Computers (3-year warranty) with i7
processors, built-in Wi-Fi, LTE Cellular, GPS, and mSATA using our QCS IIoT solution with wide
temperature (-40 to +70 deg C), high shock (IEC 60068-2-27), and vibration specifications. Record Data
either on-board the computer and offload data once out of the pit and back in the service yard using on-
board WIFI client and antenna or straight to the cloud at our servers located at AWS. A big truck, Big
payloads, Bigger potential problems. Monitor and Data Log Tons/hour, Hours of Operation, Weight of
each payload, how many dumps, how many miles driven per shift. Use analytics to determine wear and
tear and do preventative maintenance for higher Availability. We can turn-key the project for you.
Mine Tunnel Communications Brochure
File Size: 1117 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Maritime

5/10/2021

 
On a ship there are many parameters that need to be controlled or monitored including:
– Temperatures, Pressure, Level, Viscosity, Flow Control, Position of Vessel, Speed, Torque Control,
Voltage, Current, Machinery Status (on/off), and equipment status (open/closed)

Propulsion (Main Engine) and Power (Auxiliary Engines) Monitoring & Control
– Fuel Consumption, combustion temperature, engine temperature, diesel engine safety and start/up,
generator voltage and frequency control, generator load in KW and %, load control, torque, heavy
consumers logic, control of diesel-electric propulsion, thrusters monitoring, and control, etc.

Auxiliary Machinery Monitoring and Control
– Main sea & fresh-water cooling system – pumps, system pressure, temp, etc.
– Potable and fresh-water control, Air Compressors, Bilge & Sludge – tank level, pumps, fuel oil system
– Tank levels, temperature, viscosity, flow, purifiers, heaters, etc.
– Other cooling systems
– Boiler/steam system – pumps, valves, pressure temperature, etc.
– Air Conditioning
– Ballast water treatment
– Exhaust gas treatment equipment

Cargo & Ballast Monitoring & Control
– For safe on and offloading of cargo, especially on tankers, this process is closely monitored, and many
times incorporates functions like level gauging, control of cargo pumps, valve control, ballast  ballast
pump control, heeling control, remote monitoring of temperature, pressure, and flow, possibly humidity
control.

Condition-based Monitoring
​
– monitor equipment – feed main control and monitoring system and/or IIoT – preventative maintenance

​Industry Solutions

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Agency Approvals are many times required in this industry for safety.​
  • DNV – Det Norske Veritas – Arnhem, The Netherlands HQ
  • ABS – American Bureau of Shipbuilding – Spring (Houston), TX – HQ

Moxa Industry Certified Solutions
  • Moxa MPC 2120 – 12” Industrial Touch Screen Computer – DNV
  • Moxa MPC 2150 – 15” Industrial Touch Screen Computer – DNV
  • Moxa MPC 2190 – 19” Industrial Touch Screen Computer – DNV
  • Moxa MC-7200 – Marine Computer – DNV
  • Moxa MD-219 – MD-224 – Marine Industrial Monitor – DNV
  • Moxa MGate – Protocol Converters – ie Modbus/RTU or TCP to EtherNet/IP or ProfiNet – DNV
  • Moxa EDR 810-VPN secure multipoint router – Firewall, NATing, VPN, router, switch
  • Automation Direct Productivity PLCs are all rated ABS
  • IDEC PS6R Power Supplies are all rated ABS
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Pharmaceutical & Medical

5/10/2021

 
Automation Projects – Machines
​
– Turn-Key Assembly Lines
– Robotic Assembly with Vision Systems for Validation
– Clean Room Systems
– Aseptic Design – Sterilizers – Incineration of Bio-Waste
– Material Handling Systems – Continuous Specimen Sorting Systems
– Packing Line Integration

These machines use many different types of Control and Networking Types
– Discrete Control – Assembly – Packaging – Material Handling – Barcoding – RFID
– Batch Control – Recipe Control – Fermentation
– Continuous Process Control – Chemical Plants
– Motion Control – Robotics – Vision Systems – Validation
– Networking – In plant or in Hospital Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

Pharmaceutical Products
– Bottle Handling
– Filling and Capping
– Vial Filling
– Dispensing & Coating
– Soft Gel Machines – Dryers
– Container & Bag Filling
– Inspection
– Packaging

Medical Products
– Laboratory Equipment for Research & Development
– Syringe Assembly, Filling, and Plunger Insertion
– Precise Drop Dispenser
– PinTool Dispenser
– Storage Systems for Cuvettes, Vials, Bottles, Tablets, Liquid Tanks
– Medical Device Assembly Machines – like valves and Instruments
– Dispensing Machines with Pumps for Blood, Plasma, Liquid Drugs in Pouches
– Fermentation Process – Growing Organisms to create certain drugs
– X-Ray, MRI, Cat-Scan, etc. machines

Success Stories

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Agriculture-Smart Farming

5/10/2021

 
Smart Trucks
​
Use any or all the above on:
– Combines
– Truck that sprays steam onto hay and hay balers
– Automatic Seeder
– Slurry Tanker (Terragator) for spreading fertilizer, pesticides, and manure.
– Produce Sorters, Conveyor Analyzers
– Cotton Pickers
Cold Storage Units
​
– Most of them have a PLC and an HMI already
– Just add an Edge Gateway like a Flexy205 which communicates to all PLCs

​Solution for Smart Farming = QSolarBattery + QRTU

  • Think of this as a Programmable Controller with input sensors and the ability to remotely control pumps for tank level control or control VFDs for Irrigation
  • Soil Moisture Sensor – 4-20mA or we can use LoRaWAN for Smart Sensors
  • Level Sensors – 4-20mA inside Tanks
  • Flow Sensors – 4-20mA to and from Tanks
  • Airmar or any Weather Stations – Serial Communications to the PLC – Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure, Wind Direction, Wind Speed
  • Or access NOAH via an API and get National Weather Reports for specific GPS coordinates.
  • We can use another serial port or an Ethernet Port and communicate to the VFD to control the pump speed and slowly ramp up the water going into the Irrigation Units.
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QSolarBattery

Provides Off-Grid Power to the QRTU for hard to reach rural places

Success Stories

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Bale Hay While the Sun Shines: A Revolution in Commercial Hay ProductionA steam generating plant on wheels? That’s right. The DewPoint 6110 hooks up between a large farm tractor and hay balers that make large rectangular bales from 1,500 to 2,000 lb each (Fig. 1). Its purpose is to add moisture to dry hay to prevent mechanical damage to the crop during the baling process. This revolutionary concept, which has been successfully used and refined over the past 14 years, will change the way hay is made. Read more

Oil, Gas & Petrochemical

5/10/2021

 
Oil & Gas Production – On-Shore– Oil Rigs, Second Stage Recovery, Fracking, Crude Oil Wells
– All need QRTU, and many need QSolarBattery

Oil &Gas Production – Off-Shore
​– Mostly use full SCADA systems with SATCOM, but QUPS, QSolarBattery, QRTU can all apply.

Oil & Gas Pipeline – from Production to Refinery
– LACT – Leased Automated Custody Transfer – determines which oil field the crude came from that goes into the pipeline

Oil Refining
– Distributed Control Systems – Honeywell Experion PKS R.410
– Emergency Shutdown Systems – Schneider Electric – Triconex – Tricon CX – SIL 3 Rated
– Rockwell Automation – ICS – Triplex “Trusted” – SIL 3 rated – Scalable Fault-Tolerant Controls System
– Quantum Automation – Sell Moxa Industrial Computers, Routers, Switches, M-Gates, N-Ports that are all Rated C1D2/ATEX Zone 2
Tank Farm Automation– Float and Tape – Strapping Tables
– Hydrostatic Tank Gauging – Pressure & Temp = Volume
– New method using Ultrasonic Sensing
Gasoline Pipeline to Truck Terminals or Airport Terminals– Truck Rack Loading Systems, Flow, Level, Volume
Marketing – Gasoline Stations– Pumps, Tanks, Level, Flow, Rate

Soil Remediation

– Gas Station Tank Leak – Clean up – Moxa M-Gates, QRTU, QSolarBattery

Fine Chemicals
– Cosmetics, Perfumes, Methane, Pharmaceuticals

Wastewater Treatment

5/10/2021

 
United States has a vast System of collection sewers, pumping stations, and treatment plants. Sewers
collect wastewater from homes, businesses, and many industries, and deliver it to plants for treatment.
Most treatment plants are built to clean wastewater for discharge into streams or other receiving waters,
or for reuse.

Primary Stage – The solids are allowed to settle and be removed from wastewater.
– As sewage enters a plant for treatment, it flows through a screen, which removes large floating objects
such as rags and sticks that might clog pipes or damage equipment.
– It then passes into a grit chamber, where cinders, sand, and small stones settle to the bottom.
– Sewage still contains organic and inorganic matter along with other suspended solids. These solids are
minute particles that sink to the bottom where they form a mass of solids called raw primary biosolids
(sludge) which can be removed from the tanks by pumping. The sludge is used as fertilizer or disposed
of in a landfill or incinerated.

The Secondary stage uses biological processes to further purify wastewater.
– The secondary stage of treatment removes about 85% of the organic matter in sewage by making use
of the bacteria in it. The principal secondary treatment techniques used are the trickling filter (a bed of
stones from 3-6 feet deep through which sewage passes) or (interlocking pieces of corrugated plastic or
other synthetic media) which then flows to another sedimentation tank. The trend today is towards the
use of the activated sludge process which speeds up the work of the bacteria by bringing air and sludge
heavily laden with bacteria into close contact with sewage. It is pumped into an aeration tank, where it is
mixed with air and sludge loaded with bacteria and allowed to remain for several hours breaking down the
organic matter into harmless by-products (primary effluent, sludge basin, air compressor, clarifier, recycle
pump, return sludge, back to clarifier, then secondary effluent, discharge to river or land application)
Applications Pumping Systems, Settling Tanks, Aeration Tank, Final Clarifiers, Chlorine Disinfection,
Ultraviolet Disinfection, Filtration, Water reuse, Solids Thickening, Digesters, Solids, Dewatering (Belt
Presses), Biosolids Recycling, Wastewater Quality Monitoring, Chemical Testing, Chemical Feed
Systems, Wastewater Evaporators, Biofiltration Systems, Bioreactor Systems, Skimming Collection
Systems.

Low-tech solutions:
– Aerobic ponds – Shallow, light penetrates to bottom, active algal photosynthesis, Organic matter
converted to CO2, NO3, HSO4, HPO4
– Facultative ponds – Pond 1 – 2.5m deep – not easily subject to upsets due to fluctuations in Q, loading
– Anaerobic ponds – Primarily used as a pretreatment process for high strength, high temperature wastes.
Can handle much higher loadings…Stage 1 – Acid fermentation (Organics – Organic acids). Stage 2
– Methane fermentation Organic Acids to CH4 and CO2.

Municipal Water

5/10/2021

 
Storing Water
  • Man-made lakes, rivers, canals, dams, aqueducts, aquifers
  • Application – Level Control, seepage control, pump control, gate control
  • Moving Water
  • Rivers (Real), Man-made river (aqueducts), or pipelines with flow valves
  • Application – Level Control, seepage control, pump control, gate control
  • Municipal Water Districts
  • Underground drainage systems
  • Water storage reservoir
  • Water distribution towers
  • Canal Check Gates
  • Farm drainage
  • Irrigation Systems
  • Stormwater protection
  • Water Reclamation

Applications
  • SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) or IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things)
  • Cellular, WiFi, LoRaWAN, Radio Modems
  • Metering, Flow Valves, Level Sensors, Pump Control with VFD’s (see QRTU)
  • Chlorine Dioxide Generating Systems
  • Liners and Leak Detection Systems
  • Reservoir Management Systems

Cleaning Water
  • ​Desalination Systems
  • Membrane Filtration Systems – Ion Exchange Systems – Ozone Sterilization Systems
  • Golf Courses
  • Well Control
  • Pump Control for Lakes
  • Pump Control for Irrigation

Resources

Fact Sheet-Lift Station
File Size: 378 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Fact Sheet-Storm Water Management
File Size: 375 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Food Industry (Dry)

1/2/2021

 
Grain Plants & Solos
  • Weigh Feeders and Load Cells, Bulk Loading Racks, Bagging
  • Farm Harvesting Machines – Hay Steaming Machines
  • Sugar Plants – Sugar Cane, Beets
Applications – IIoT, GPS, Cellular Communications, Smart Farming

Cereal & Oatmeal
  • Baking, Mixing, Sorting
  • Applications – Paper Boxes, Plastic, or Aluminum Foil Liners & Sealers
  • Bakeries
  • Bread Making, Slicing Machines, Buns, Tortillas, Cookie Plants
Applications – Plastic Wrapping Machines, Conveyors, Packaging, Boxers, Sealers, Palletizers, Proofers,
Press, Ovens, Refrigeration

Meat, Poultry, Fish
  • Meat Packing Plants
  • Fisheries
Applications – Canning, Plastic Wrapping, Labeling, Inspection

Fruits, Nuts, Vegetables
  • Pickers, Sorters, Cleaners, Peanut Butter Plants, Jelly Plants
  • Refrigeration Units in the field and large Storage Facilities – Quick Cool for transporting
Applications – Canning & Lid Sealing, Labeling, Metal, Glass, or Plastic Containers

Pasta & Rice
  • Pasta Making Machines, Ovens/Kilns
Applications – Plastic Wrapping, Boxing, Kiln Control, Pasta Extrusion

Candy & Chocolates
  • Blending, Mixing, Ovens, Coolers
Applications – Wrapping, Boxing & Sealers, Coin/Dollar Dispensing Machines

Salad Dressing
  • - Mixing & Blending
Applications – Plastic or Glass Bottles with Plastic or Metal Cap, Labeling Machines

Food Industry (Wet)

1/1/2021

 
Dairy
  • Blending – Flow Valves, VFD Motor/Pumps, Temperature Control, Clean in Place
  • Refrigeration - Temperature Control – Control & Monitor Milk Storage, Pipeline Washing
  • Filling, Labeling, Conveyor Control, Boxing, Sealing, Palletizers
Soft Drinks
  • Blending Syrup and Carbonated Water
  • Can and Can Filling Machines
  • Bottles and Bottle Filling Machines
  • Plastic Bottle Blow Molding and Filling Machines
  • Dispensing Machines
Beer
  • See QCraftBrew for Semi Automation Control Systems
  • Keg Filling, Compression, & Sealing
  • Keg Washers
Fine Spirits – Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, Tequila
  • Distillation Process
  • Storage Facilities – Stainless Steel Tanks or Oak Barrels – Temperature & Humidity Control
  • Bottle Filling and Labeling Machines
Wine
  • Fermentation Process
  • Storage Tanks – Refrigeration Temperature & Humidity Control
  • Bottle Filling and Labeling Machines
Oils
  • Olive, Corn, Vegetable Oil Plants
  • Plastic or Glass Bottling, Capping, and Labeling
Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayonnaise
  • Blending
  • Filling, Pouches, Sealers
  • Plastic Filling, Capping, and Labeling

​Food & Beverage

12/31/2020

 
Picture

Powerful PAC Upgrades Tortilla Machine

Advanced automation helps Casa Herrera produce tortillas reliably, quickly and precisely.
Casa Herrera builds tortilla preparation equipment for the corn and flour tortilla industry, provides equipment for the bakery and snack food industries, and is the preferred supplier to several national brands. We build several varieties of our machines to meet customer specifications, and we install and service all of the equipment we manufacture.
Read more
Picture

Meheen Manufacturing Testimonial ​

Meheen bottling was born in the early days of craft beer when the founder decided to build a bottling system for his own microbrewery. His mission was to protect the quality, taste and integrity of his own craft beer.
​Read  more

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