ABB Announces New Products, Partnerships, and Software Upgrades

ABB is a global supplier of high-voltage electrical components as well as automation devices like sensors, flowmeters, and robots.

Recently, ABB has announced a non-invasive sensor product line that includes temperature sensors for the process automation industry. ABB has also upgraded its existing ProcessMaster with a highly accurate, rugged, and efficient flowmeter designed for low-flow applications.

ABB’s robot line GoFa is also getting a helping hand with the Psyonic Ability Hand, a dexterity-enhanced gripping tool. Lastly, ABB is adding expansion packs to its flagship distributed control system (DCS), including a web-based approach to monitoring, controlling, and analyzing processes.

The NINVA product line of temperature sensors now includes the NINVA Integrated, NINVA Remote, and NINVA Compact. Video used courtesy of ABB

Non-Invasive Temperature Measurement

Monitoring the temperature of a process is often critical to ensuring quality results, but adding temperature sensors after the pipework is installed can cause costly downtime. ABB’s NINVA non-invasive temperature sensing portfolio expansion includes three new types of temperature sensors that do not require a thermowell to be installed in the process piping. Instead, these sensors simply clamp onto the outside of the process piping.

The NINVA Integrated is designed for the oil and gas and chemical industries and can be mounted on pipes ranging in size from 1/2" to 100” (DN15 - DN2500).

The NINVA Remote is designed for high-temperature applications. The sensor can withstand operating temperatures up to 400 °C and vibrations up to 2 g, making it an excellent candidate for steam applications or power generation plants.

For applications that require a compact non-invasive temperature sensor, the NINVA Compact might be the best fit. Marine-certified, the Compact is designed for use with small piping and mobile applications and withstands vibrations up to 4 g.

All NINVA temperature sensors are SIL2 certified, making them suitable for use in hazardous applications where high temperatures could result in injuries.

The FER620 low-flow flowmeter has a fully sealed housing. Image used courtesy of ABB

Accurate Low-Flow Measurements

The ProcessMaster FER620 is the latest addition to ABB’s ProcessMaster flowmeter product line, designed specifically for water and wastewater treatment plants. The FER620 has a fully welded body and is hermetically sealed. Combined with an IP68 rating, this fully welded design allows the sensor to function even when completely submerged.

Processing plants will often try to reduce energy consumption during off-peak hours by reducing pump speed. The FER620 remains highly accurate even in low-flow scenarios, thanks to its reduced-bore sensor with a high turndown range.

The FER620 uses the industry-standard HART for communication and also includes self-diagnostic features, such as sensor coil and electrode diagnostics, built-in noise and ground checks, and automatic configuration. These features help reduce downtime by ensuring the flowmeter is working at optimal efficiency from day one.

Psyonic’s Ability Hand mounted on ABB’s GoFa robot performing human-like tasks. Image used courtesy of ABB

Advanced Robotic Dexterity

Humans have dexterity in their hands, which helps perform delicate tasks that might require skill and coordination; robots, on the other hand, do as they are programmed. ABB has partnered with PSYONIC, a California bionics company, to use real-world data from human prosthetics to give robots an advantage in developing human-like dexterity. The PSYONIC Ability Hand will interface with ABB’s collaborative robot, the GoFa, and provide motion data to enable the robot to perform delicate and complex tasks without complex robot programming.

ABB’s Ability System 800xA DCS now features web browser-based operations. Image used courtesy of ABB

Web-Based Process Control and Analysis

The automation world has been shifting to web browsers rather than standalone HMI PCs for quite some time now, and the process automation industry is following suit. ABB’s flagship DCS, the ABB Ability System 800xA, has already begun the process with its extension pack upgrade, which allows for the monitoring, analysis, and control of industrial processes from a secure web browser.

By upgrading software via an extension pack, ABB can push features and upgrades without requiring customers to download and install new software. These extension packs reduce large-scale upgrade events and lifecycle costs, enabling customers to adopt new digital features at their own pace.