Manufacturing, reduced to its simplest form, involves the sequencing of product forms through a number of different processes. Each individual step, known as an unit manufacturing process, can be viewed as the fundamental building block of a nation's manufacturing capability. A committee of the National Research Council has prepared a report to help define national priorities for research in unit processes. It contains an organizing framework for unit process families, criteria for determining the criticality of a process or manufacturing technology, examples of research opportunities, and a prioritized list of enabling technologies that can lead to the manufacture of products of superior quality at competitive costs. The study was performed under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and the Defense Department's Manufacturing Technology Program.

Advances in materials science and engineering have paved the way for the development of new and more capable sensors. Drawing upon case studies from manufacturing and structural monitoring and involving chemical and long wave-length infrared sensors, this book suggests an approach that frames the relevant technical issues in such a way as to expedite the consideration of new and novel sensor materials. It enables a multidisciplinary approach for identifying opportunities and making realistic assessments of technical risk and could be used to guide relevant research and development in sensor technologies.

This clear, easy-to-comprehend resource offers a state-of-art treatment of the instrumentation, sensors and process control used in modern manufacturing. The book covers a wide range of technologies and techniques, fully explaining important related terminology. You learn how to use microprocessors for both analog and digital process control, as well as signal conditioning. Additionally, you gain a thorough understanding of the various types of valves and actuators used for flow control.

B> Covers PLCs, process control, sensors, robotics, fluid power, CNC, Lockout/Tagout and safety, and more. Offers such a wide array of topics that readers can use this book as a reference for many different issues in industrial automation. Featuring the greatest breadth and depth of coverage available on the subject, this practical book explores the main topics in industrial automation; and provides a much-needed, understandable discussion of process control. A comprehensive reference for professionals in industrial automation.

Understand, Select, and Design Sensors for Hydrogen-Based Applications The use of hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources is expected to become an essential component of a low-carbon, environmentally friendly energy supply, spurring the worldwide development of hydrogen technologies. Sensors for Safety and Process Control in Hydrogen Technologies provides practical, expert-driven information on modern sensors for hydrogen and other gases as well as physical parameters essential for safety and process control in hydrogen technologies. It illustrates how sensing technologies can ensure the safe and efficient implementation of the emerging global hydrogen market. The book explains the various facets of sensor technologies, including practical aspects relevant in hydrogen technologies. It presents a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the theory (physical and chemical principles), design, and implementations of sensors in hydrogen technologies. The authors also offer guidance on the development of new sensors based on the analysis of the capabilities and limitations of existing sensors with respect to current performance requirements. Suitable for both technical and non-technical personnel, the book provides a balance between detailed descriptions and simple explanations. It gives invaluable insight into the role sensors play as key enabling devices for both control and safety in established and emerging hydrogen technologies.

Condition modelling and control is a technique used to enable decision-making in manufacturing processes of interest to researchers and practising engineering. Condition Monitoring and Control for Intelligent Manufacturing will be bought by researchers and graduate students in manufacturing and control and engineering, as well as practising engineers in industries such as automotive and packaging manufacturing.

Manufacturing process controls include all systems and software that exert control over production processes. Control systems include process sensors, data processing equipment, actuators, networks to connect equipment, and algorithms to relate process variables to product attributes. Since 1995, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technology 's (OIT) program management strategy has reflected its commitment to increasing and documenting the commercial impact of OIT programs. OIT's management strategy for research and development has been in transition from a "technology push" strategy to a "market pull" strategy based on the needs of seven energy-and waste-intensive industries-steel, forest products, glass, metal casting, aluminum, chemicals, and petroleum refining. These industries, designated as Industries of the Future (IOF), are the focus of OIT programs. In 1997, agriculture, specifically renewable bioproducts, was added to the IOF group. The National Research Council Panel on Manufacturing Process Controls is part of the Committee on Industrial Technology Assessments (CITA), which was established to evaluate the OIT program strategy, to provide guidance during the transition to the new IOF strategy, and to assess the effects of the change in program strategy on cross-cutting technology programs, that is, technologies applicable to several of the IOF industries. The panel was established to identify key processes and needs for improved manufacturing control technology, especially the needs common to several IOF industries; identify specific research opportunities for addressing these common industry needs; suggest criteria for identifying and prioritizing research and development (R&D) to improve manufacturing controls technologies; and recommend means for implementing advances in control technologies.

This book reviews current design paths for soft sensors, and guides readers in evaluating different choices. The book presents case studies resulting from collaborations between the authors and industrial partners. The solutions presented, some of which are implemented on-line in industrial plants, are designed to cope with a wide range of applications from measuring system backup and what-if analysis through real-time prediction for plant control to sensor diagnosis and validation.