InVMA Ltd announces its new technology solution for accessing remote equipment assets.

InVMA Ltd has launched its new InVMA Asset Minder M2M (machine to machine) service. InVMA Asset Minder uses a connection device to access data within equipment controllers and then transmits the data over industrial grade 2/3/4G data telephony to a cloud based server. The cloud system handles data aggregation and information processing, with secure user access to information through any web browser, anywhere, and equipment alarms pushed by SMS, email or telephone.

InVMA Asset Minder technology solves the problem of monitoring remote and often unmanned assets which are away from a plant or facility network. Applications include monitoring of industrial compressors, generators, power distribution, building automation, tank farms, energy monitoring, bore hole abstraction, effluent discharge and anything that may be considered as requiring 'remote PLC access'.

InVMA Asset Minder is cost effective to acquire and to operate as it is provided as SaaS (Software as a Service), with no initial large capital outlay. InVMA undertakes installation and integration of their InVMA Asset Minder intelligent connector, which non-intrusively accesses data from the equipment's controller (usually a PLC) and prepares it for onward transmission to the cloud based host via 2/3/4G secure data connectivity. Access to the resulting data is by a user's browser, with alerting by email and SMS. The available information is a rich set of live data, trends, history, alarms and status – available in real time – anywhere.

Patrick Nash, InVMA MD, 'InVMA Asset Minder was developed to meet actual and predictable remote equipment access requirements for our customers. We have a mixture of end users and OEM customers and each sees the benefit of the InVMA Asset Minder system; this always involves decreased unplanned downtime and the resulting increase in customer satisfaction. OEM service managers can readily obtain information about their remote assets and anticipate out-of-schedule servicing, become aware of critical trends and can remotely diagnose equipment stoppages. End Users receive operational KPI benefits from improved supplier insight and, where they undertake their own system support, they can now access off-site and remote assets for continuous monitoring.'

‘InVMA Asset Minder technology was thoroughly researched and field tested with several key equipment suppliers and operators, acording to Jan Hemper, InVMA technical director.

"[This] is a complete system from data acquisition to user interface. We can interface to all PLC’s and many other controllers, gateways and intelligent devices," he said. "We have taken a modular approach at all levels; this allows InVMA to deliver solutions in a standard and supportable format and to do so quickly."

InVMA Asset Minder is a system that uses the latest technology to bring substantial business benefits to its users at reduced cost when compared with traditional SCADA / Historian / Alarming solutions.

More information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and at www.invma.co.uk

FieldQ™ diagnostics help simplify work practices and improve efficiency

Emerson Process Management has released cost-saving new diagnostic capabilities in its FieldQ rack & pinion, fully integrated valve actuator and controls. The updated capabilities greatly simplify daily work practices with the release of FieldQ Foundation fieldbus Version 3, with device diagnostic alarm management in a flexible modular package.

The enhanced diagnostic alarm tools enable users to categorise and prioritise device alarms based on the criticality of the device and the severity of the problem detected by the diagnostics. Alarm settings can be configured to alert appropriate plant personnel so they can take action without being distracted by irrelevant alarms.

"Our device diagnostics can be tailored for maintenance and matched to predictive routines. Users will see efficiency improvements in their daily maintenance and turnaround planning, which help to maximise uptime and reduce costs," said Sue Ooi, Vice President, valve automation rack & pinion products, Emerson Process Management.

The FieldQ product modularity further extends efficiency by offering plug-and-play modules for many requirements, including explosion-proof and intrinsically safe capabilities, as well as bus communication options. In addition, control modules are available for diagnostics such as travel time, cycle counts, time in position, and module temperature. This capability enhances field services capabilities and makes user interface more cost effective.

For additional information about the new diagnostic power and modularity of FieldQ, please visit www.emersonprocess.com/fieldq

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) has chosen Shell to participate in a 30-year JV to develop the major Bab sour gas reservoirs in Abu Dhabi.

Shell beat off competition from Total for the contract, reportedly worth up to £6.5 billion. It will hold a 40% stake in the JV, with ADNOC holding 60%.

The two companies will now enter a period of commercial and technical work leading to the development of the challenging sour gas reservoirs, 150km south-west of the city of Abu Dhabi. The JV is to be the operator, and that the gas will supply the local market in the UAE.

“We have more than 60 years’ experience of safe and successful sour gas field development globally and we will apply this experience, along with our leading research and development, and technology expertise, to the development of the Bab resource," said Peter Voser, Shell’s CEO.

"We will also work closely with ADNOC to enhance the technical expertise of its workforce through effective knowledge transfer," added Voser.

HRS Heat Exchangers has won two significant orders involving sludge and waste food applications for an unnamed environmental company in the UK.

One order involves the use of HRS' double-tube heat exchangers for the cooling of sewage sludge after a thermal hydrolysis process.

Thermal hydrolysis is a process for heating sludge under high pressure and high temperature usually 140-170C which increases the gas load, producing more biogas which can be used to create power and heat.

During the process the sludge is stabilised and disinfected providing an easier to dewater product at the end of the process.

The double-tube design was chosen for this application as the tube in tube concentric geometry makes it easier to work with fluids that contain particles without having to worry about blocking the product flow.

For the other order, HRS is to supply a complete turnkey package to continuously pasteurise mixed food waste to Animal By-Products Regulation (ABPR) standards.

Controlled by the EU, the main aim of the Animal By-products Regulation 2009 is to prevent animal by-products from presenting a risk to animal or public health through the transmission of disease.

HRS is installing a turnkey system utilising corrugated Double Tube heat exchangers in a thermal regeneration loop to heat incoming raw waste with hot pasteurised sludge to reduce running energy costs. The product is further heated to its pasteurisation temperature before being held for an hour to comply with the ABPR regulations.

As part of a thermal regeneration loop, HRS corrugated DTR heat exchangers will heat incoming raw waste with hot pasteurised sludge. The food waste goes through three sequenced tanks as part of the continuous batch process. The product then passes through the thermal regeneration heat exchanger, where it is cooled by the incoming raw waste before going to the digesters.

Diageo has just completed a £105m investment program at its Cameronbridge distillery, the largest grain distillery in Scotland.

The improvement plan has included the installation of a £65m bio-energy plant – a project in which Veolia and BCI Process were responsible for the manufacture and installation of the mechanical services and support structures.

The whole project incorporates several different processes including anaerobic digestion, biomass conversion, reverse osmosis and ultra-filtration, all of which are contributing to a greatly improved environmental impact.

Veolia designed the plant with BCI being responsible for the stainless steel pipework linking the process plant packages and vessels, as well as providing the design and construction of the support structures and gangways etc.

The goal was to deliver a neat and functional installation which met the requirements for overall access and maintenance. Part of this contract, worth over £2 million, was to provide on-site commissioning and then support following the completion of the project.

Using its new Solidworks facility, BCI produced a detailed 3D layout of the stainless steel pipework, which was up to 1000mm in diameter, as well as the galvanized supports, to ensure that the design provided sufficient support and the most efficient layout.

The distillery produces approximately 90,000 tonnes of waste products per year which will be used to generate 5.5 megawatts of electricity.

Efluent from the distillery – a mixture of wheat, malted barley, yeast and water – is processed through a belt press to remove the biomass, which will be burned to generate heat and energy for the distillery.

The extracted aqueous liquid will then be treated in an anaerobic digester, which will produce biogas to provide a second fuel for the boilers.

The boilers use the renewable fuel to produce superheated steam at approximately 60bar pressure, which drives the first stage of the steam turbine to produce electricity. The steam, now at a reduced pressure of 16bar, goes on to drive the second stage of the steam turbine but is also tapped off and sent into the main plant, where it is used in the distillation process.

The project is expected to generate approximately 80% of the electricity and 98% of the steam needed to run the distillery as well as clean up the effluent discharge from the production process. In addition, by re-using the waste products rather than having them transported away from site by lorry, the overall CO2 levels are also reduced.

The company has said the use of the biomass plant to generate energy could reduce CO2 emissions at the distillery by 56,000 tonnes a year.

Scotland's distilleries claim to have been leading the way recently with investment in renewable energy and using their by-products to produce heat and electricity both for their own use as well as for local communities.

In addition, a pilot scheme is under way which converts the waste products into an advanced biofuel which could be used in petrol or diesel vehicles.

All of these enterprises are supporting the Scottish Government's target of reducing carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 as well as contributing to the EU mandated biofuel target of 10% by 2020.

The North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) has been appointed to manage a €2-million EU-wide project aimed at identifying new approached to developing sustainable industrial parks.

For the Low Carbon Industrial Manufacturing Parks (LOCIMAP) project, NEPIC will seek to advance the structure of industry parks, using best practice benchmarks from leading parks.

The EU-funded project will seek opportunities to improve energy and resource efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions. This includes integrating manufacturing complexes to allow them to operate at increased efficiency of energy and material use.

The project team, led by Mark Lewis, technical manager of NEPIC will review of a range of industrial processes representing a wide spectrum of energy sources and demands.

The multinational LOCIMAP project team will identify carbon targets for future manufacturing by studying areas of manufacturing integration and symbiosis.

By taking an holistic view of the dynamics of site and park operation the team hopes to identify new supply chain links needed to optimise performance.

NEPIC has already identified situations within its own Cluster of industries where such thinking could be beneficial to both the industries concerned and to the climate change agenda.

“Clustering of businesses in industrial parks is nothing new, but in most instances not enough thought has been put into maximising the efficiency of all the operations on a particular park," said Stan Higgins CEO of NEPIC.

“For example it is most usual that a park with 20 industrial units may have 20 steam raising boilers, 20 heating systems 20 electrical sub stations, 20 warehouses, 20 security systems and so on, Higgins explained.

“When you see it written down like this the opportunities for improved efficiency and symbiosis become obvious. Like most good ideas this is not rocket science, the best results often come from simple rational thinking and shared best practice rather than from new inventions.

“This EU funded project should result in simple practical advice that will enable the establishment of more sustainable industries in the future.”

Colchester Borough Council has approved Wilkin and Sons' planned construction of a new Tiptree jam factory in the village of Tiptree.

"Trying to balance the needs of a growing business with the best interests of a village has not been easy but the support and advice we've had at every stage has been invaluable to us," said a family-owned company statement.

Wilkin and Sons have been producing Tiptree preserves since 1885. Since production began in Tiptree the factory has been continually added to and refurbished.

Today parts of it are over 100 years old and the company has found it increasingly challenging to make jam efficiently and to maintain the buildings to meet ever-more demanding food standards.

A new factory is critical to enable the company to maintain its market position and to grow. The company currently provides 270 full-time and 125 part-time jobs in the area. Under the new plans the labour force is expected to grow to 500 by 2030.

To part-fund the construction of the new factory, Wilkins and Sons are to develop new housing on the existing factory site and on land nearby.

Doha, Qatar – Qatar Petroleum (QP) has signed a joint venture agreement with Total, Idemitsu, Cosmo, Marubeni and Mitsui for the new Laffan Refinery 2 (LR2) Project.

The new LR2 condensate refinery is similar to the first Laffan Refinery (LR1), which started operations in 2009, with a similar processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day. Construction of the new $1.5 billion project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2016.

The site will be operated by Qatargas Operating Co. Ltd (Qatargas) and will have a daily production capacity of 60,000 barrels of naphtha, 53,000 barrels of jet fuel, 24,000 barrels of gasoil, and 9,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Under the JV agreement, the LR2 ownership structure will be composed of QP (84%), Total (10%), Idemitsu (2%), Cosmo (2%), Marubeni (1%) and Mitsui (1%).

The project is part of Qatar’s plans to better exploit its hydrocarbon resources and expand its industrial base, including by expanding and developing the country's condensate processing, refining and export capacities.

The new refinery will give Ras Laffan a total installed condensate refining capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day, making it one of the largest single site facilities of its kind in the world.

A currently under construction diesel hydrotreater (DHT) expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2014, will have enough capacity to process all the light gasoil from both LR1 and LR2 into ultra-low-sulphur diesel.

SITA Sembcorp UK – a consortium led by SITA UK, part of SUEZ Environnement – has been selected as preferred bidder for a resource recovery contract worth £1.18 billion over 30 years with the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

The contract is to manage over 430,000 tonnes of residual household waste each year from Merseyside and Halton. The other consortium members are Sembcorp Utilities UK and I-Environment, part of Itochu Corp.

The deal includes the design, build, finance and operation of two facilities which both have planning permission in place: a rail loading waste transfer station in Merseyside and a new purpose-built energy-from-waste facility in Teesside. Both units are expected to be operational by 2016

Total capital investment for the two facilities will be around £250 million. Around 75 permanent new jobs are to be created by the contract with hundreds more temporary jobs during the construction of the two new facilities.

The rail loading waste transfer station will be developed at an existing rail-linked warehouse in Knowsley Industrial Estate.

From where, waste will be transported by rail to the new 450,000 tonnes per year energy-from-waste facility, which will be developed on a rail linked site at Wilton International – a 2,000 acre industrial estate managed by Sembcorp Utilities UK near Redcar on Teesside.

The energy-from-waste facility will generate electricity for the equivalent of 63,000 homes and has the potential to provide steam directly to adjacent business customers, which would further improve its efficiency.

In total, over 90% of the contract waste managed by the SITA Sembcorp UK consortium will be diverted from landfill and used to produce energy.

"The two new facilities that we will develop will enable all of Merseyside’s household waste to be put to good use. We will create over 70 new full time jobs in Merseyside and Teeside and several hundred more during the construction of our new resource recovery facilities," said David Palmer-Jones, CEO of SITA UK.

Cllr Joe DeAsha, chairperson of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority added: “The appointment of SITA Sembcorp UK as our preferred bidder marks the beginning of an important chapter in the way Merseyside and Halton deals with its resources. I believe that the solution we have chosen is the best for the environment - saving natural resources, generating green electricity and providing value for money for taxpayers.”

SITA UK has developed a number of PPP (public private partnership) contracts across the UK including: Surrey, South Gloucestershire, Kirklees, Cornwall, Northumberland, Aberdeen, the Isle of Man and Teesside.

In September 2010, SITA UK signed a PFI (private finance initiative) contract with Suffolk County Council worth €1.2 billion over 25 years. In April 2011, it signed a PFI contract with the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership worth over €850 million including third party waste and sale of electricity).

Also in April, SITA UK and Cornwall Council agreed a PFI contract variation worth €1.3 billion of revenue.

Houston, Texas – KBR has been awarded a contract by Incitec Pivot Ltd’s US business, Dyno Nobel, to provide engineering, procurement and construction services, as well as technology licensing and equipment for an ammonia plant to be built in Waggaman, La.

The contract award, which is valued at approximately $600 million, positions KBR to capitalize on the rapidly increasing shale gas market in North America, the engineering company said.

The 800ktpa ammonia facility will be designed using KBR’s Purifier technology, which, it says, has a documented track record of safe and reliable operations and offers the lowest energy consumption in the industry.