The Minitab 16.2 statistical software update incorporates diagnostic tools and Laney P' and U' control charts to minimize false alarms due to too much or too little fluctuation in processes with natural variation. P and U charts are used to monitor defectives and defects, respectively. Unlike traditional P and U charts, Laney P' and U'?charts assume that no process exhibits a constant defective or defect rate. As a result, these charts distinguish between common-cause and special-cause variation, thereby indicating whether a process is truly in or out of control.

Many chromatographers are considering moving their current high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods to new column geometries with different particle sizes to improve speed, resolution, and/or sensitivity. The HPLC Method Development Calculator reduces the time needed to experimentally determine the most favorable analysis conditions by providing users with quick and simple access to the knowledge of the company’s chromatography experts. The interactive collection of online tools allows the user to calculate initial conditions for both gradient and isocratic methods.

For many manufacturers, the process control environment requires separate servers to support different applications. Virtualization resolves this issue by allowing a single server to simultaneously run multiple operating systems and applications. This improves reliability by insulating these operating systems from hardware changes. This company now offers virtualization support for its core product line (Experion Process Knowledge System), for both DCS and SCADA applications.

A companion to the FlowCAM particle-analysis instrumentation, which automatically detects, images, and identifies particles and microorganisms, VisualSpreadsheet V3.0 enables custom graphing and lets users evaluate and display the data from numerous different perspectives. For instance, users can create custom scattergrams and histograms, without re-running the sample, simply by choosing the variables to be plotted on the x and y axes from a menu of 32 different measurement parameters.

MiMiC v3.4 simulation software includes many advances designed to reduce the engineering time and effort required to build simulation models. For instance, three new base modeling blocks (Generator, Turbine, and Conveyor) and an Advanced Modeling Furnace Object have been added. The Advanced Models Dynamic Pressure/Flow Solver provides realistic pressure and flow coordination across an entire flowsheet and avoids many instability issues seen in other flow solvers. The system can be used for operator training and automation system testing, and it is scalable for small to large projects.

Part of the CADWorx and Analysis Solutions family of products, the PV Elite 2012 pressure-vessel and exchanger design and analysis software has been updated to reflect recent revisions to ASME Codes. This release incorporates updates to ASME Section VIII Division 1 and Division 2 2011a; the material databases in Tables 1A/1B and 5A/5B; the ASME pure-metric yield stress database; PD 5500:2009; and several wind/seismic codes.

The Pressure-Reducing Valve (PRV) Sizing Software Module, Phase 1, is designed to help process engineers specify and size PRVs. It includes a variety of useful features based on user feedback. For instance, its visual product range selection option allows full product descriptions and code numbers to be viewed, which makes sizing charts unnecessary. Additional features include velocity and noise predictions, automatic pipe sizing, and more.

Improvements to the FieldView 13 family of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) post-processing and visualization programs aim to help practitioners carry out high-fidelity CFD. The recently released FieldView 13.1 provides a new direct reader that allows FieldView to be used seamlessly with the OpenFOAM CFD solver. OpenFOAM users can rely on FieldView to create transient animations with a single click, perform simultaneous post-processing tasks while generating new solutions, numerically compare solutions with those from other solvers or experimental data, and more.

TraceCalc Pro Version 2.5 provides a step-by-step process to design an effective and efficient heat-tracing system for pipes and vessels. Users input system design parameters, such as pipe size and material, insulation type and thickness, service voltage, maximum exposure temperature, pipe length, and the number and sizes of valves.

This program calculates the potential energy savings that may be realized using variable frequency drives (VFDs) to power pumps and fans. It allows users to compare the costs of conventional methods, such as valves for pump control and dampers for fan control, to those of VFDs. Energy use can be calculated based on built-in sample data, or by entering the minimum pump or flow percentages, annual operating hours, cost per kilowatt, and other site-specific information. The tool is available as an online calculator or a mobile application for an iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, or Android system.