processing | Temperature control
possible to reduce energy con- sumption for the whole cell by as much as 30-40%. Engel presented the new
temperature control solution for the first time at K 2016. The e-temp temperature control units with speed- regulated pump were
integrated, via OPC UA (open
platform communication unified architecture), in the CC 300 control unit of a machine equipped with e-flomo. OPC UA is increasingly used for commu-
nication between networked injection moulding machines, ancillar-
Above: Moretto’s X Max TE-KO temperature control units “look to the future”, says the company
ies, sensors and applications. Engel, along with HB-Therm, has defined a
communication model for the integration of
temperature control units based on OPC UA. In the run-up to K 2016, Engel said it would like to offer this model to other temperature control manufacturers in future. “Many temperature control unit people came to us at the show to say they want to be part of this,” says Paul Kapeller, product manager for digital solutions. A standardised communication model for temperature control units is likely to form part of a new Euromap standard, 82, covering the interface between injection moulding machines and peripheral devices.
More flow monitoring Murali Rajendran, software architect at Danish company Mouldflo, is of a similar mind. His company offers the Mouldflo Flow Monitoring System, which helps to reduce the cycle time by monitoring the flow, temperature and pressure inside the mould. “There is increased need for collaboration between the injection moulding machines and auxiliary equipment such as ours though protocols such as OPC-UA,” he says. “We believe that accurate measurement technologies combined with increased means of collaboration will drive this industry going forward. We recognise this and are ready to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he says.
The Mouldflo system digitally monitors all the flow
circuits within the mould recording data, both flow and temperature for every circuit. “Often overlooked by many moulders, the efficiency of the mould cooling circuits is critical to a stable process and the manufac- ture of high quality, dimensionally stable parts,” Rajendran says. “Mouldflo can protect moulds and improve quality by quickly identifying cooling problems
20 INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2017
and alerting the user to various common cooling circuit problems such as: no water flow from the mould heater; blocked waterways; scale/rust build-up; and even incorrect piping.” The Mouldflo Flow Monitoring System can now measure very low flows accurately using ultrasonic sensors.
Heat transfer efficiency Tim Miller, in heat transfer sales at Conair Group, says efficiency (or rather improved efficiency) remains the watchword for heat transfer equipment in 2017. “While the impact of improved heat transfer efficiencies starts with energy cost savings, the latest advances extend well beyond energy savings and into the realm of resource savings, process improvements, and better production quality,” he says. According to Miller, Conair’s new TW line of tem-
perature control units (TCUs) are a good example, with a redesigned pump and impeller helping deliver energy savings and improving process efficiency and product quality. They can sustain higher flow volumes, helping to ensure more precise temperature control and at the same time deliver higher maximum temperatures – up to 150°C at the exit. Miller says annual savings of up to $750 are possible, compared to older units. When equipped with a high-temperature option that includes larger heaters, the new TCUs can sustain mould temperatures of up to 150°C using water instead of oil as the heat-transfer medium. The new TCUs come in three models – Value,
Standard, and Premium – with pump capacities ranging from 189 to 568 litres/min. All have an upgraded microprocessor-based control, a feature previously available only on Premium models. The Value models are preconfigured in two pump sizes, while Standard and Premium models offer a greater pump size range and more optional features. Options include remote communications and control via Modbus, solid-state relay heater controls, modulating flow control valves, additional control settings, closed-circuit cooling capability, and expanded heat exchangers.
More modularity Moretto is concentrating on modularity and connectiv- ity. “A processing operation is a dynamic entity,” says Renato Moretto, CEO of Moretto. “If the company has success, and grows up, it needs to extend its potential, and its production capacity. The modularity concept is a must to follow different situations, and to be flexible with so many applications. “Moretto embraced this concept many years ago and
it is working hard in this direction also for the cooling and thermo-regulation division. It is necessary to
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