Sparks Electrical News November 2017

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

8

NATURAL GAS: POWERING A REVOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S INDUSTRY

IN-CIRCUIT DEBUGGER KIT WITH FASTER PROCESSOR AND INCREASED RAM T he MPLAB ICD 4 in-circuit debugger from Microchip is an in-circuit programming and debugging (ICD) development tool for PIC® microcontrollers, including the latest PIC32C MCUs, and Microchip’s portfolio of dsPIC® digital signal controllers, via the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE). This latest version of the MPLAB ICD includes not only all the features of the ICD 3 debugger, including support for all the head- ers of the ICD 3, but also delivers enhanced capabilities such as higher speed via a faster processor and increased RAM. The MPLAB ICD 4’s significant improvement in speed is accom- plished through a 32-bit MCU running at 300 MHz. Faster pro- cessing, together with an increased buffer memory of 2 MB, results in a product that is up to twice as fast as its predecessor. The MPLAB ICD 4 is housed in a durable black case that is shaped like an ice-hockey-puck. The case has a brushed alumini- um top that includes an LED light strip to show the device’s debug- ging status. Major features of the new ICD 4 include: a wide target voltage range, from 1.2 to 5.5 V; an optional 1 A external power sup- ply; a selectable pull up/pull down option to the target interface; data-integrity check; programmable adjustment of debugging speed for optimised programming; and JTAG debugging capability. In addition to the MPLAB ICD 4 in-circuit debugger module, the kit includes a USB cable, a 6-inch RJ-11 modular cable and an interface test module. The MPLAB ICD is connected to a PC via a high-speed USB 3.0-compatible interface and to the target via the RJ-11 connector, which is also compatible with the MPLAB ICD 3 and the MPLAB REAL ICE™ systems. Supporting Windows, OSX and Linux operating systems, the MPLAB X IDE has a power- ful and easy-to-use graphical user interface, simplifying designs for customers when they migrate from one PIC microcontroller to another. The Microchip MPLAB ICD 4 in-circuit debugger is available from RS Components.

THE increasing availability of natural gas in South Africa rep- resents a significant opportunity for industry to lower energy costs and improve profitability, while also moving towards cleaner emissions targets. This is being made possible through the development of a rapidly expanding gas distribution net- work by Virtual Gas Network (a division of CNG Holdings): the first commercial-scale supply of natural gas in South Africa, now available to businesses anywhere in a 300-km radius of Johannesburg. With limited historical access, natural gas in South Africa has been used primarily as feedstock for the production of synthetic fuels, but the discovery and development of extensive regional off-shore methane-rich gas fields (especially in Mozambique) means it can now be expanded to meet a much greater indus- trial demand. This will radically change the country’s energy dy- namic in the coming years as more and more companies seek to optimise their operational performance and reduce their reli- ance on coal-based power. Natural gas provides about one fifth of the world’s total en- ergy requirements, with industry accounting for around 40% of total gas consumption, concentrated mainly in food and bev- erage, pulp and paper, metals, chemicals, petroleum refining, glass, plastics and power generation (co- and tri-generation) industries. Boilers, furnaces, dehumidifiers, heaters and coolers, ovens, kilns and turbines can all be fired more efficiently via natural gas, which offers a consistent, high energy content of +/- 39.22 MJ (10.89 kWh) per m 3 that is significantly more cost-effective than coal-based fuels. Apart from lowering energy costs as a cheaper fuel, the cleaner combustion of natural gas also im- proves equipment and plant performance and reduces main- tenance by minimising the build-up of carbon residues and stench within components, which leads to increased production time. In the near future, the reduced emissions of natural gas – with up to 27% less CO 2 , NOX, HC and PM emitted than other fossil fuels – will become increasingly more critical as compa- nies look to avoid carbon tax penalties. Virtual Gas Network, together with fellow CNG Holdings divi- sion NGV Gas, has already converted a number of canneries,

manufacturing and assembly plants across a range of indus- tries in South Africa, in addition to fleets of warehouse forklifts in various storage and intralogistical applications, to gas. It does so through turnkey gas solutions that cover the supply and installation of all necessary conversion equipment, includ- ing a pressure regulating plant and all associated hoses, con- nectors, valves and civil work requirements, through to manag- ing the delivery of a constant supply of natural gas as required. Any industrial company within a 300-km radius of CNG Holdings’ main compression station in Langlaagte, Johannes- burg, can be supplied with gas. This includes businesses without direct access to the gas pipeline connecting Johannesburg and Pretoria, which can be serviced by Virtual Gas Network. This ‘virtual’ distribution network is an innovative road-based delivery system of compressed gas tube trailer modules each storing compressed gas for distribution to customers. CNG Holdings, through Virtual Gas Network, manages the continu- ous delivery and collection of gas tube trailers as required, en- suring a guaranteed energy supply on a pay-as-you-use basis. CNG Holdings, in partnership with the Industrial Develop- ment Corporation, is actively expanding this network to service a much wider geographic area, with Durban and Richards Bay soon to receive their first natural gas depots that will supply gas to the cities’ industries. CNG Holdings is a partner of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

Enquiries: za.rs-online.com

Enquiries: www.cngholdings.co.za

ABSOLUTE ACCURACY WITH Hengstler ACURO ENCODER

ABSOLUTE ENCODERS are considered ideal for applications where a power outage requires ma- chinery to reorient without having to reconfigure any of its settings. This, according to Gerry Bryant, managing di- rector of sensor solutions specialist Countapulse Controls, is because an absolute encoder is suited to applications where positional information is re-

scenario described this is not sufficient. The en- coder cannot simply collect feedback data. It needs to be sent somewhere in a language that can be interpreted by the system. Bryant explains that ab- solute encoders use binary coding which can be translated into many different protocols. Countapulse Controls is the official southern African distributor for the Hengstler ACURO range

quired periodically and not continuously. “When power is restored, the system master or controller will identify the position as soon as the encoder starts relaying information again,” he ex- plains. Generally, absolute rotary encoders are used as these offer absolute accuracy in determining the position of an object, but as can be seen from the

of absolute encoders. These quality sen- sors have found fa- vour in applications where both speed and position are required, and where there is no room for error. Using a static ref- erence point, the Hengstler absolute encoder will deter- mine the speed or position of an object and can be configured to measure, monitor and control the linear movement and/or ac- celeration. Innovative engineering has re- sulted in an absolute

encoder that has optimised functionality while be- ing easy to operate. Designed as a modular system, the absolute encoder can be configured to allow the correct variant for an application taking fac- tors such as motor feedback and automation into account. The Hengstler ACURO is equipped with an open BiSS sensor interface allowing for optimal integration into any system. Johannesburg-based Countapulse Controls has an in-depth understanding of the application of absolute rotary encoders and is able to assist the market in selection of the best fit solution for a given application.

Enquiries +27 (0)11 615 7556

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

NOVEMBER 2017