Industrial Factory Automation

TDK-Lambda has compiled a custom power solutions brochure, profiling the company's custom-power-supply capabilities across the EMEA region. Martin Southam, director of marketing for TDK-Lambda Europe, said: 'TDK-Lambda's custom power solutions range from full bespoke designs, modified standards and brick-on-board products covering 0.6V to 50kV, 1W to 50kW, AC-DC and DC-DC. TDK-Lambda uses a stage-gate design-review process to manage the development of custom power solutions, with full customer involvement throughout.

Linear Technology has introduced the LTC2978 power supply monitor and controller for digital management of up to eight 0-6V power supplies. Configuring multiple DC/DC converters in an already complex system can be a complicated design task when using passive components. Values defined by external trim resistors and capacitors such as start-up time, set point value or switching frequency make a system inflexible. To alleviate these issues, digital control over analogue power suppliers has allowed for quick adjustment of output voltages and precise protection, monitoring and diagnostic mechanisms. The LTC2978's PMBus-compliant interface provides easy access to an on-board EEPROM, giving users supply configuration, fault response and logging capabilities. In addition, an array of supervising, margining and sequencing functions make the LTC2978 an all-in-one digital power management solution, simplifying the design challenges and reducing the component count typical of traditional ana...

Nexans is to supply a high-voltage underground cable link that will power an Australian seawater desalination plant, which is currently under construction in the state of Victoria. The contract covers the supply of around 260km of 220kV XLPE cable, made and tested as a 275kV cable, to Thiess Degremont, which is contracted to design and construct the EUR2.2bn (GBP2bn) Victorian Desalination Project to deliver up to 150 billion litres of water a year to Melbourne and regional communities. The Victorian Desalination Project includes an 84km underground pipeline to connect the reverse-osmosis plant to a transfer main and then back to the reservoir. The electric power required by the new plant will be supplied by the 87km-long underground cables co-located with the pipeline, creating the world's longest high-voltage AC underground link operating at this power level. An underground link was the preferred option for the project since it is both more energy efficient and secure than overh...

Globtek has introduced its GT-91114 series of PCB-mount power supplies with double-enforced insulation mechanical configurations. Regulated outputs voltage range from 5V to 48V DC in 0.1V increments, up to 6W of continuous output power. The enclosed power supplies are potted in a 55.4mm x 52mm x 23.5mm impact resistant polycarbonate case with thermal conduction cooling. The range features: regulated output with very low ripple; built-in protection features; universal input from 90-264V AC; safety agency requirements such as UL/cUL 1950/60601.1, TUV EN60950/60601.1; and EMI/RFI regulations compliance. It also complies with EMC Directives/CE and FCC Class B for ITE/medical applications. The power supplies are available with I/P and O/P lead wire options and Globtek said it can provide modified and custom designs. The GT-91114 series is offered with a five-year warranty.

The Airsaver control unit developed by Beckair is a compressed air control device designed to switch off the air supply when it is not needed. Any waste of compressed air is eliminated, which lowers energy consumption and cost. It has timed functions that combine to give 'supply on demand' operation. The air supply stops when a gap occurs in the containers on a conveyor or when a container stops in front of the sensor. The stop signal can be delayed to allow the last container to pass through a machine by means of an adjustable timer. The Airsaver can be used with a variety of sensors. Startup is instantaneous once a moving object is sensed again. One Airsaver unit can operate up to three valves. The sensor unit operates from a 24V DC supply and a power supply can be provided with options for both 110V and 230V AC. Payback time is typically within two to three months of use. It can be mounted onto existing installations and is protected to IP65, so it can be used in most envir...

Mean Well has introduced the HRP-75 series, a 75W miniature high-reliability AC/DC enclosed power supply that is now available from Ecopac Power. The HRP-75 series, along with the existing range of products HRPG-150, HRPG-300 and HRPG-600, allows Mean Well to offer various wattage options from 75W to 600W all with PFC function and energy-saving functions. Featuring low no-load power consumption and an operating efficiency of 89 per cent, the Mean Well HRP-75 series reduces the size and increases the working efficiency in comparison to the existing range of 75W power supplies.  With a five-year warranty, the HRP-75 series complies with Energy Star and operates at -30C to +70C. In addition, as the units comply with the 'no load power consumption of less than 0.5W', it allows designers to conform with the requirements of Energy Star and EuP for end-user systems and applications. The HRP-75 series has a profile of less than 1U (41mm) with overall dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 38mm...

Wago Corporation has added a UPS controller (and batteries), as well as buffer and redundancy modules to the 787 Series advanced power supply line. The 787 Series modules are designed to minimise downtime by shielding complex automation systems and components from common disturbances (for example, voltage fluctuations, harmonic distortion and outages). Encapsulated in a robust, DIN rail mount metal housing, every module includes three LEDs and at least one signal output status LED (varies per model). To ensure reliability, the modules utilise Cage Clamp spring pressure connection technology for fast, easy and maintenance-free terminations. Wago provides free configuration and monitoring software with the 787 Series UPS controller for custom configuration, diagnostics and monitoring. The 787 Series UPS also has an LCD/keypad and an RS-232 interface. Under normal operation, the UPS controller charges the 787 Series battery. During an outage, the UPS controller engages the battery, ...

Saft has been awarded a contract by EADS Astrium Space Transportation to provide the in-flight battery systems for the next 35 Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicles. This latest order builds on the success of a previous contract awarded in 2005, under which Saft has already developed, manufactured and supplied batteries for 30 Ariane 5 launch vehicles. For each Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle, Saft will provide a total of 17 battery systems to power key elements including: main cryogenic stage (EPC), boosters (EAP), Vehicle Equipment Bay (VEB). The battery technologies supplied by Saft will include silver oxide-zinc (AgOZn) primary batteries and rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. The Ariane 5 ECA batteries will be designed and manufactured at Saft plants in Poitiers, France, with the first delivery scheduled for June 2010.

Dome-loaded 797 LE-HD gas-controlled pressure regulators from Witt can provide an economic and safe solution to ensure gas cutting systems receive a constant gas supply, according to the manufacturer. The company said this system of gas regulation is more economical than using a full electronic control system. In one application the three inlet lines for oxygen and propane are supplied via Witt pressure regulators to optimise the automatic gas supply. The gas control was regulated using proportional valves with changes in the gas pressure being adjusted by pressure changes, thereby controlling the cutting process. Witt pressure regulators can be used for numerous applications with a range of flow rates and gases. They are used as a primary pressure regulator, which can be installed in any orientation, in gas supply pipeline systems to ensure a consistent stable pressure up to a flow of 2300m3/h and are independent of any inlet pressure fluctuations in the gas supplies, including gas w...

With the increasing demand for machine device control and communication over industrial Ethernet, DeviceNet, and other networks, OEMs have found that installing traditional power supplies in distributed and remote locations has become prohibitively complex and costly because of the need for protective enclosures, fans, and excess wiring. In addition, enclosures introduce another potential point of failure into the production line. To reduce cost and complications, SolaHD has launched its new IP67 SCP-X self-sealed power supplies. They mount directly on machines or as freestanding components on a production line, removing the constraints imposed by power supplies that must be housed in enclosures. Compared to power supplies housed in a separate enclosure, the IP67 SCP-X reduces total cost of ownership by as much as 54 percent. Because the IP67 SCP-X is available in 100 watt and dual 100 watt models, it has the versatility to power from one to four loads. The 100 watt model has a s...