Emerson has acquired Clifton Park, N.Y.-based Innovative Control Systems Inc., a leader in turbine control upgrades for the power generation industry. The acquisition expands Emerson Process Management’s capabilities in the growing combustion turbine controls market, further securing the company’s leadership position in this industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Innovative Control Systems specializes in upgrading control systems on gas turbines such as those used in combined-cycle power plants. Such turbines offer high efficiency, low capital costs, and limited emissions compared to many other power generation technologies. Control retrofits have become an increasingly attractive way for power generators to cost-effectively boost the performance and reliability of existing generating assets.

Innovative Control Systems provides turnkey solutions – including planning, engineering, configuration, installation, and commissioning – for control system retrofits of combustion and steam turbines. This complements Emerson’s expertise in turbine condition monitoring and protection systems, instrumentation, analyzers, and valves.... (+)

SIPOS Aktorik, supplier of specialist variable speed and standard actuator solutions, reports the success of its Middle East agent. Torento Energy Systems, a member of the Al Dhafra group, was appointed as the exclusive representative for SIPOS for the region in 2008. The technology specialist incorporates SIPOS’ actuation products into its turnkey solutions across a range of sectors including major utilities, district cooling and construction in the UAE.

Commenting on the synergies of SIPOS’ actuation technology with Torento’s product portfolio, Mr Ahmed Sobhi, a director of Torento Energy Systems, said:

“SIPOS, with its focus on high level service and bespoke solutions, is a perfect match for our business and our customers’ requirements.”

Emerson Process Management has upgraded the Micro Motion® 9739 transmitter to include multivariable-digital (MVD™) technology for faster performance and improved measurement accuracy. Existing users are supported with an easy-to-install retrofit kit that provides a convenient and cost-effective upgrade path.
MVD technology is high-speed signal processing, embedded in electronics, to deliver measurement accuracy in the toughest conditions. The front-end digital processing MVD technology offers dramatically reduced signal noise while delivering a faster response time to improve the overall measurement quality.

The RFT9739 transmitter is a popular and well established product with over 100,000 installed worldwide with various Micro Motion Coriolis sensors. The retrofit kit brings the many benefits of MVD technology to existing 9-wire Micro Motion Coriolis flow and density meters. The kit is easily installed in minutes, using the existing housing and without the need for any piping or wiring changes. ... (+)

FMC Technologies, Inc. announced that it has signed a four-year subsea manifold frame agreement with Petrobras (NYSE: PBR, PBRA), Brazil's national oil company. The award is expected to result in approximately $300 million in revenue to FMC Technologies if all of the subsea equipment included in the agreement is ordered. The agreement provides assurance that a minimum of 75 percent of the contracted equipment will be ordered during the contract's four-year call-off period.

FMC's scope of supply includes the manufacture of up to eight subsea manifolds with subsea multiplex control systems. All equipment will be engineered and manufactured at FMC's facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2012.

"In February, Petrobras awarded FMC a long-term subsea tree frame agreement," said John Gremp, FMC's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Today's four-year manifold agreement further strengthens our ability to support their ongoing and future activities, including deepwater and pre-salt developments."

In autumn 2004, České Dráhy (Czech Railways) signed a contract with fellow Czech company, Pars Nova, for the supply of 130 railcars. Operating on regional routes, the railcars have a preassembled vacuum toilet module, with a built-in pressurised water system – and Danfoss solenoid valves were chosen to control the water system. Designed specifically for use in closed circuits with low differential pressure, the EV250B empties the railcars’ water tanks and makes sure the toilets will keep flushing for years to come, even in freezing conditions.

Protection from drops in pressure and temperature:
Each toilet module has a self-supporting framework, with a built-in, electronically-controlled water supply system. And three Danfoss EV250B solenoid valves help control the water in the system. Selected for their quality, reliability and durability, the valves keep the system working during rail journeys. But, just as importantly, they also help empty the system of water 30 minutes after the carriages have completed their journey. ... (+)