Industry Trends in Cyber Security, Analytics, and Product Innovation
September 16 – 19, 2012
Baltimore, Maryland
Tremont Plaza Hotel and Grand Conference Center

NovaTech is pleased to announce the 2012 NovaTech Automation Summit, an expansion of the D/3^® User Conference.  This event is designed to educate automation professionals on topics, strategies and techniques applicable to the latest industry standards and regulations.

This is a perfect opportunity for engineering, management, and IT professionals to learn more about important process industry trends and how they affect enterprise operations and efficiency. Attendees will acquire valuable insight into the latest NovaTech products and services and participate in sessions related to compelling client success stories, tips, and proven project solutions.  The Summit offers many opportunities for networking and exchanging ideas with industry experts, colleagues, and the NovaTech team.

We have scheduled the following technical, application, and Focus Group sessions to address how you can maximize the value of your automation investment:

• Industry Trends
• Cyber Security
• Process Analytics
• HMIs / Visualization
• Energy Management
• Operator Effectiveness
• Control System Migration
• Wireless
• State Based Control

The 2012 Demo Room will feature live product demonstrations from NovaTech and many of our technology partners geared toward helping you improve plant efficiency.

Two complimentary workshops will be offered during the 2012 NovaTech Automation Summit:

• Using ProcessVision Console Software
• Developing Graphics Using New TotalVision® SGOs.

The 2012 NovaTech Automation Summit agenda includes something for everyone – so bring your whole team.

Please save the dates, registration details will be available soon. 

ProcessVision provides a more powerful, intuitive window into plant operations

OWINGS MILLS, MD – (May 1, 2012) NovaTech is pleased to announce the release of the newly developed ProcessVision™ Console software.  ProcessVision is a state-of-the-art console that enhances the ability to easily and securely monitor, analyze, and adjust production processes running on the D/3^® Distributed Control System.  The great, classic features that D/3 users know and love are now available in a sleek, point-and-click HMI. ProcessVision provides operators, engineering staff, and plant managers with more intuitive navigation, superior diagnostics, and the latest security features – all of which lead to more coordinated, efficient, and cost-effective management of plant operations.

Operators can get up to speed quickly with a library of video tutorials and improved search and auto-complete functions. Its browser-like navigation includes tabs, favorites, sessions, and automatic print scheduling capability. ProcessVision automatically creates diagnostic displays such as Single Loop, Loop Maintenance, Recipe, Product/Batch Monitoring, and System Status displays. The System Status display effortlessly drills down from the entire D/3 System to individual I/O channels, allowing users to quickly determine the real-time status of each I/O module, channels within a module, input values of each channel, what tags are assigned to a channel, and which channels are unused.

Engineering staff can take advantage of global synchronization of tag modifications, better diagnostics for event analysis and recovery, and enjoy no-hassle, easy to configure displays.

Plant Managers will appreciate the enhanced cyber security, reduced off-spec product, easier knowledge transfer between senior and junior operators, higher equipment utilization, the ability to run ProcessVision in parallel with previous consoles, and the responsive 24/7 support of NovaTech personnel.

ProcessVision integrates seamlessly with the D/3 TotalVision^® graphics engine and InstAlarm™ alarm management package, providing comprehensive visualization of the process, system, and I/O components.  ProcessVision facilitates 21-CFR-Part-11 compliance and utilizes the Microsoft security and authentication model.  ProcessVision is Windows^® 7-Compatible, works with Windows 2008 server, and can run on any standard PC, server, thin client, tablet and smart phone.

“The ProcessVision Console is the next step in NovaTech’s on-going initiative to provide high-performance process control and visualization products that provide value to our customers,” shared Jean Bandy, Vice President of NovaTech Process Division. “The D/3 has always been known for its power, flexibility, and reliability, and now, it’s even easier to use.”

NovaTech ProcessVision Console software is available for D/3 Version 14.0-1 Systems upon request and will be incorporated into all future releases of D/3. To learn more about this exciting product, please join NovaTech for a complimentary, online demonstration of ProcessVision on May 10, 2012.

For more details on the ProcessVision Console Webinar please visit the Events Section on www.novatechweb.com or REGISTER directly.

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ATPM 2012 is a new conference that will focus on the most pressing issues in applying automation and control technology in process manufacturing. The conference theme, “Focus on the Future”, is targeted to build your company’s global competitive capabilities. As global competition becomes an increased issue for every manufacturer, it becomes critical to understand and apply the latest process manufacturing expertise to remain competitive.

The conference will bring together industry thought leaders to discuss recent developments and best practices in process manufacturing.

This one-day symposium will be a comprehensive training and information workshop. The symposium will run from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm on Thursday, September 20. Continental Breakfast will be available at 7:45, and lunch will be provided. This symposium is free for any attending customer.

Questions, please contact Mark Matassa at  mark.matassa@novatechweb.com or 443.243.0570.

Online registration will be available closer to the date of the event.

This one-day symposium will be a comprehensive training and information workshop. The symposium will run from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm on Thursday, October 4th.  Continental Breakfast will be available at 7:45, and lunch will be provided. This symposium is free for any attending customer.

Questions or to register for the symposium, please contact Mark Matassa at  mark.matassa@novatechweb.com or 443.243.0570.

Online registration will be available closer to the date of the event.

Location Information
PPL – Walbert Training Center
1639 Church Road, Allentown, PA 18104

This one-day symposium will be a comprehensive training and information workshop. The symposium will run from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm on Wednesday, August 29. Continental Breakfast will be available at 7:45, and lunch will be provided. This symposium is free for any attending customer.

Questions, please contact Mark Matassa at  mark.matassa@novatechweb.com or 443.243.0570.

Online registration will be available closer to the date of the event.

Key Elements of the Standard
NERC PRC-002-2 is attempting to standardize the regional reliability requirements concerning DME. The differences are minimal compared to the already approved PRC-002-1 and PRC-018-1.

PRC-002 requires DME on nearly all lines of 200kV and up, as well as generation connected to the grid at 200kV and above. Prior standards generally required DME only on EHV lines (345kV and up) and the nature of the recordings also differed.

PRC-002 describes three recording functions in detail:
• Sequence of Events (SOE) logging
• Fault Recording (FR)
• Dynamic Disturbance Recording (DDR)
While the first two are more widely available, DDR function is comparatively novel, more demanding, and generally only available from newer Digital Fault Recorders (DFRs).

Focusing on DDR, PRC-002 requires utilities to:
• Capture a continuous recording of up to nine measurements per line (per-phase volts and amps, total MW and MVARs, and frequency) with high resolution and make it available in Comtrade (C37.111) format using the “long file naming convention” (C37.232).
• Preserve a continuous record for ten days.
• Archive disturbances identified as being of interest for three years.

While the existing requirements are for 200kV and above, NERC has provided a draft definition of the Bulk Electrical System (BES) under Project 2010-17 that defines applicability and exceptions at the 100kV level and above. So while not a certainty, there exists the possibility that the PRC-002-2 could be extended below 200kV, and in fact Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) for one is looking to apply PRC-002 to BES levels.

Why This Matters Now
Being able to comply with the NERC and various regional reliability council requirements is becoming increasingly important for transmission and generation operators as the time to comply in some areas is already at hand. Because the standards require DME in some cases where no or minimal recording capabilities existed (installations starting as low as 100kV) operators are in need now of cost-effective solutions that meet the current and coming standards.

Bitronics Solution
Bitronics 70 Series IEDs are compliant with existing and impending PRC-002 standards in all three recording areas. With memory option up to 512MB there is more than adequate storage to meet the required number of recordings. They offer the ability to record both the time sync status as well as the time sync error for the DDR. The biggest advantage for a 70 Series recorder is as a one-unit-per-line device, it can be retrofitted into existing substations much more easily and cost effectively than adding a full-size DFR. The addition of a split-core CT option for the 70 Series later this year will make installation even easier.

NovaTech currently provides over 200 pre-engineered SEL® “point pick lists” (or “Default Files”) to simplify the process of selecting points from SEL® relays. When new SEL® relay models are introduced, NovaTech Engineering, or the user, creates a new Default File for that specic new relay model.

OrionLX Relay Helper simplies the Default File creation process by automating the extraction of SEL® relay “ID” and “DNA” from the new relay model. Using these data, Relay Helper automatically creates the new complete and accurate Default File. The entire process only takes a few minutes.

Relay Helper includes four software wizards. Each wizard addresses a different connection scenario for Default File creation:

• Wizards 1 and 2 are used when the user PC is connected to the OrionLX and the OrionLX is connected to the relay. Relay ID and DNA are automatically extracted from the relays. Wizard #1 creates a new NCD file and Default Files with “found” relays; Wizard #2 adds “found” relays and Default Files to an existing NCD file.

• Wizard 3 is used when the user PC is connected directly to the relay. Relay ID and DNA are automatically extracted from the relay and a Default File for the connected relay is created and added to NCD.

• Wizard 4 is used when the PC is oine and has a copy of the relay ID and DNA. A Default File for the relay is created and added to NCD.

Guidelines for Application of Relay Helper
1) The SEL® relay must support Fast Meter and the “ID” command
2) Wizard 1 and 2 are not designed to work with Cascaded OrionLX congurations
3) For a new Default File to be created, a Default File for a relay of that “family” must already exist in NCD

Ordering Relay Helper
Relay Helper is including in the SEL® Master protocol (order code #14).

VIEW  / DOWNLOAD 

Manual and actuated valves in today’s process industry are severely under-monitored due to high total cost of ownership.  This lack of monitoring has significant impact on the productivity, workers and process safety, and overall performance of the plant.  The maintenance strategies of plants are gradually moving from corrective and preventive to predictive maintenance resulting in a more effective strategy to reduce process downtime and increased product quality.  Both of these challenges are effectively addressed with the wireless valve monitoring solution from Eltav.

In this introductory webinar we will review the numerous benefits that can be obtained from Eltav’s Wireless Monitoring solution.  Additionally, we will provide a basic overview of the Eltav technology, its various system components and discuss various technical aspects of the solution, including:

•   Wireless Mesh Architecture
•   Features and capabilities of the sensors and network
•   Mechanical adaptations
•   Comparisons with other alternatives and more

Webinar #2 – Getting Started – Effective Applications for Wireless Valve Monitoring

VIEW  / DOWNLOAD 

In this webinar we discuss some specific areas within a plant environment that will benefit from the Eltav Wireless Valve Monitoring solution.  Additionally, we will present and review a few case studies from customers in different process industry segments and review the business case for wireless monitoring in general.

Examples of applications from a number of industries will include:

•   Specialty Chemical
•   Pharmaceutical
•   Water Treatment
•   Safety Shower Monitoring