Field device tool (FDT) technology standardises the communication interface between field devices and systems. The key feature is its independence from the communication protocol and the software environment of either the device or the host system. FDT allows any device to be accessed from any host through any protocol.

After struggling for years to find a pH sensor that could handle aggressive process conditions, a chemical manufacturer has found a solution. Based on a patent pending pH glass formulation, the technology improves process stability, accuracy and performance. Sean Ottewell reports. Temperature is one of the best indicators of a fault or malfunction in virtually all electrical or mechanical equipment. A frequent task in an analytical laboratory is the comparison of two samples. Process instruments such as gas analysers are data sources, which feed a multitude of users. In general, the instruments provide these data analog or digitised through an RS232 interface. Master Bond Inc has introduced a new one component, UV curable urethane elastomer called UV15X-5 for bonding and sealing applications. Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNH ), the nine-plant complex at Tatarstan in western Russia, manufactures 60percent of all the styrene and resins that are basic components of materials for thousands of every day products in Russia. With new sensors being launched all the time, it can be difficult for chemical companies to be sure that they have made the best choice for a particular application. However, as Sean Ottewell reports, a new internet service aims to keep engineers right up to date with the latest in industry developments. Tanks and pressure tanks from LBF Industrietechnik GmbH can be used for various technical fields in plants. According to customer demands the company processes the materials 1.4301 and 1.4571 as well as all other stainless steel materials up to a wall thickness of 12mm and about 2500mm tank diameter. Dr J E Juvet examines the advantages of the advanced buss loop reactor (Advanced BLR) which, he says, is the ideal reactor for continuous operation in which to perform very fast reactions, as it allows full conversion in one pass through the reaction mixer. Measuring physical properties such as density or sound velocity is a tried and tested method of monitoring the concentration of liquids and is used in a wide range of processes. Cramers P H M R , Dierendonck van L Land Beenackers A A C M (1992), Chem. Eng. Sci., Vol. 47, No. 9-11, pp. 2251-2256.