Software
Versatile Control System Meets Bioprocessing Needs
Designed for the bioprocessing market, the i-ControlXL platform offers industrial power, reliability and expandability using standard programmable logic controllers (PLC) and distributed control systems (DCS). The platform addresses critical issues, such as high-throughput screening, scaling up and down, and the requirements of the FDA’s process analytical technology (PAT) initiative. Key features of the i-ControlXL include: intuitive navigation; a color touch-screen interface; optional bioreactor controls; optional pumps and sensors; the ability to use the same system to control autoclavable vessels; and single-use bioreactors or SIP/CIP systems. Users can choose among Siemens, Allen Bradley and Delta V controllers for their applications. Additionally, i-ControlXL uses fieldbus technology, adheres to S88 guidelines and features open system architecture.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
Applikon Biotechnology B.V.
www.applikon.com
Transfer Measurements and Calibrations to Your PC
Designed to provide users with easy result and calibration data transfer to a PC, LabX direct Density and Refractometry gives operators a choice of parameters to transfer. Featuring simple installation and setup, its method of operations are intuitive and its performance is fast. This software interface supports the downloading of both the entire results data memory and partial downloads from Refracto and Densito portable meters. This way, the user can customize the output or choose a whole day’s worth of field data work to be downloaded when returned to home base. Using this software, the data can be transferred directly and automatically into Microsoft Excel or any other Windows-based PC application.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
Mettler Toledo
www.mt.com
Solve Fluid Flow Problems with Non-Linear Free Surface Dynamics Using These CFD Codes
Designed to simulate unsteady incompressible fluid flows in the presence of free surfaces, such as those encountered in multiphase flows, the 2DynaFS/3DynaFS is a suite of boundary-element-method based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. They are capable of handling the dynamics of single or multiple bubbles near solid boundaries or free surfaces. The codes can also process bubble dynamics near a submerged object and deformation in a non-union fluid flow, the dynamics of free surface waves, and the generation of surface waves by a floating or submerged body motion. 2DynaFS is an axisymmetric version of 3DynaFS with an easy-to-use graphical user interface.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
Dynaflow, Inc.
www.dynaflow-inc.com
Streamline Inventory Tracking and Lab Operations for Biological and Radiological Materials
Updates to CISPro Global and CISPro Live enhance the user’s ability to track biological and radiological materials in inventory. A new function permits sorting by user-defined properties. For biological materials, such as bacteria and purified plasma, six attributes are built into the new tracking function. These include reference number, user-defined type, species variety, genes of interest, transgenic filing and research notes. The software enables users to flag biological materials with hazards information and handling requirements, such as biosafety level, vector and personal protected equipment (PPE). For radiological materials, the new functionality now enables users to track these materials as they would any other material in inventory. Furthermore, the software can identify if a specific isotope is in a container. Both types of materials can be dispensed by weight or volume, while tracking by activity unit.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
ChemSW Inc.
www.chemsw.com
Save Time and Money with This Database
The Intergraph Standard Database (SDB) for SmartPlant Reference Data is a centralized means of efficient managing of catalogs and specifications for multiple design systems and materials management. Its initial release is configured to support 90 metallic piping component definitions according to various U.S. standards, such as ASME/ANSI and API. The content for metallic piping includes more than 10,000 commodity codes and more than 1 million individual parts with full dimensional data for 3D modeling and weights. The SDB for Smart Plant Reference Data can reduce project implementation time by 3–12 months, and cut operating costs by minimizing training and eliminating the need for clients to re-enter the same standard reference data. It can also provide a common collaboration platform for all joint venture partners in a project supply chain spanning the entire project lifecycle.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
Intergraph Corp.
www.intergraph.com
Convert Concepts into Interactive Applications
Mathematica 6 is said to take computing to a new level thanks primarily to its “instant interactivity” feature, which takes models, simulations, computations and many other concepts, and turns them into fully interactive applications. Demonstrations of the quick transformation of ideas to results are available at demonstrations.wolfram.com. Mathematica 6 also features the integrated development environment (IDE). Together with the software’s advanced programming language, the IDE makes Mathematica 6 ideal for infrastructure development. Some additional key new features of the software include: high-impact adaptive visualization for the automated creation of high-fidelity function and data graphics; language for data integration, including automatic integration of hundreds of standard data formats; load-on-demand curated data for math, physics, chemistry, finance, geography, linguistics, and more; symbolic interface construction for the immediate creation of arbitrary interfaces from simple programs; automated computational aesthetics, with algorithmic optimization for visual presentation; and unification of active graphics and controls into flowing text and input.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
Wolfram Research, Inc.
www.wolframresearch.com/mathematica
Make MATLAB More Powerful with This Control Toolbox
The Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) Control Toolbox for MATLAB solves very complex control problems in process-control, building-control and equipment-control applications. It enables users to simulate, test and evaluate MFA controllers on sophisticated process models built in the MATLAB/ Simulink environment. The MFA Control Toolbox includes a set of embedded MFA controller S-functions that work as control function blocks in the Simulink environment. The standard edition includes the following controllers: SISO MFA to replace PID, and control simple to complex processes; nonlinear MFA to control extremely nonlinear processes; anti-delay MFA to control processes with large time delays; robust MFA to force the process variable to stay within defined bounds; feedforward MFA to deal with measurable disturbances; and MFA pH controller to control pH processes. The professional edition of the software includes the six standard controllers plus the following seven: MIMO MFA controllers to control multivariable processes; MFA Sharp controller to achieve tight control for both step and varying setpoint changes; flex-phase MFA controller to control open-loop oscillating processes; anti-inverse MFA controller to control processes with large process time constant and delay time changes; anti-delay MFA pH controller to control pH processes with large time delays; and MFA XRT controller to control exothermalreaction runaway process with large time delays.
Appeared In Issue: August 2007
CyboSoft, General Cybernation Group, Inc.
www.cybosoft.com