by Gary Mintchell | Jun 25, 2024 | Automation, News, Organizations, Process Control
This news holds relevance for those hoping for “open” process control technology.
The co-owners of Process Automation Device Information Model (PA-DIM), including FieldComm Group, ISA 100 WCI, NAMUR, ODVA, OPC Foundation, PROFIBUS and PROFINET International, VDMA, and ZVEI, today announced the release of the PA-DIM Version 1.1 specification. This release, a testament to collective efforts, includes expanded device type support for process analyzers and an enhanced basic hierarchy structure with new extensions, benefiting the industrial user and vendor manufacturing community.
The PA-DIM specification aims to improve information standardization for process automation applications. All co-owners work together to support a unified information model that seamlessly integrates OT data exchange with IT systems and other higher-level applications. This model includes core parameters, capabilities, status, and diagnostic data based on the NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA) initiative. It allows users to access and interpret device information consistently, regardless of the fieldbus protocol, device type, or manufacturer, enhancing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architectures.
Key highlights of the PA-DIM Version 1.1 specification include:
- Expanded device-type support for process analyzers, including Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Continuous Gas, and pH. This extension broadens the scope of the standard, enabling seamless integration and management of analytical instruments within process automation systems.
- Enhancement of the basic hierarchy structure to include new extensions such as device condition sets, signal condition sets, and signal calibration. These extensions give users greater flexibility and functionality in representing device information, including attributes such as type, timestamp, and calibrated values.
PA-DIM facilitates various applications, such as:
- Providing/receiving information to/from HMIs, information apps, and reporting apps.
- Supporting inventory management and remote monitoring applications.
- Enabling real-time control applications, such as reading process values and setting parameters.
- Device configuration and parameterization.
- Configuring device security and monitoring its current hardening status.
- Providing information for device dashboards.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 20, 2024 | Automation, Manufacturing IT, Process Control, Software
I did not attend Honeywell User Group in Madrid this month. Searching for news from the event, I found a couple of press releases—one regarding Batch Processing, one regarding battery manufacturing, and also news that there will be an Americas HUG in Dallas October 1-3.
Brief information for the new products follows.
Batch Historian
Honeywell Batch Historian comprises a software digitalization solution designed to provide manufacturers with contextualized data history for reporting and analytics, leading to more efficient and cost-effective operations.
Manufacturers often encounter complications analyzing data with a lack of batch visualization, which makes it difficult to expand data usage to advanced applications. With Honeywell Batch Historian, manufacturers can now directly capture data with context from batch engines without complex configuration. The new solution leverages simple drag-and-drop tile configuration, eliminating the need for advanced programming skillsets or detailed historian database knowledge to develop reports.
The software is a standalone application that can be delivered as a module on the Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP), or made available as a standard part of every Experion Batch system.
Battery Manufacturing
Honeywell Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (Battery MXP) comprises an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software solution designed to optimize the operation of gigafactories from day one by improving battery cell yields and expediting facility startups for manufacturers.
Battery MXP incorporates AI techniques in the manufacturing process, which enables the detection and remediation of quality issues before they result in scrapped material. The solution then utilizes machine learning to identify conditions that lead to quality issues and turns this data into action-oriented insights that manufacturers can use to improve efficiency and productivity.
by Gary Mintchell | May 31, 2024 | Automation, Process Control
While on the smaller, more flexible Process Control theme, let’s take a look at ABB. That company brought a new editor who came from industry up to the Cleveland suburbs to learn all about their newly designed process control system, the 800xA.
ABB says that as plants keep growing in complexity, the number of tags, and the diversity of field devices and instrumentation. The latest update, version 6.2, is said to reduce the complexity and cost of automation projects.
The design is said to enhance connectivity through improvements in OPC UA support, native Ethernet APL device integration, and the increased quantity of supported PROFINET devices to meet the growing number of network centric I/O and field devices.
Further, native, direct connectivity to PROFIsafe devices increases safety while reducing engineering, installation, and maintenance costs for SIS (Safety Instrumented System) installations.
The new Ethernet I/O marshalling tool makes it easier to distribute individual channels and modules between controllers for projects utilizing network I/O solutions such as Select I/O and S800 on Ethernet.
System 800xA 6.2 now supports the use of Microsoft Defender Antivirus to enhance cyber security while reducing the cost of automation system ownership.
by Gary Mintchell | May 31, 2024 | Automation, Process Control
We often imagine the customers of the large process control systems suppliers we probably think of large corporations who can (and sometimes do) acquire large and complex control systems. A vast part of the market consists of small to mid-sized companies. Sometimes it’s a large corporation but the various plants are small. A few of those were customers of mine back in the day.
Good to see Emerson addressing that market. They’ve introduced the DeltaV Flex System, a subscription service that combines the DeltaV PK Flex Controller, term-based software licensing, and product support in a packaged solution. The new solution provides more flexibility for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and process manufacturers who create small standalone systems, such as research and development labs, pilot programs, or skids. Subscription features reduce up-front costs and engineering complexity, which helps teams get projects started more quickly.
The DeltaV Flex System leverages Emerson’s DeltaV PK Flex Controller, with base packages starting at 50, 100 or 250 Flex device signal tags (DST). Users can also add DeltaV functionality as needed at any time to customize the DeltaV Flex System to meet their unique application and operational needs.
The DeltaV Flex System provides access to all the functionality of the DeltaV Distributed Control System, including support for PROFINET, DeltaV Live, multiple operation stations, version control and audit trail, full batch functionality, safety and more.
Because DeltaV Flex is a subscription solution, it also includes product support through Emerson’s Guardian digital experience, which offers a secure portal for connecting to technical assistance, managing subscriptions, and interacting with additional software and services tailored to meet users’ specific operational needs.
by Gary Mintchell | May 6, 2024 | Automation, Edge, Process Control, Standards
I wrote a couple of times when some press releases noted support for a new PICMG InterEdge interface for open process automation applications. They’ve announced a formal agreement with OPAF to provide an “official” OPAF edge controller connectivity.
Highlights:
- Partnership seeks to reduce technology integration, maintenance, and upgrade costs in the process automation industry.
- Work supports the Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS), a standard of The Open Group, that defines resilient and scalable process automation system architectures.
- Collaboration establishes a multi-vendor ecosystem for interoperable, interchangeable edge hardware via specifications like InterEdge.
An explanation from the press release explains, “The partnership fills a gap in edge controller hardware that exists in the O-PAS Standard—an open architectural framework for developing industrial process automation systems, currently being defined by OPAF initiatives.”
To complete and standardize work on an edge controller performed by OPAF member Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), The Open Group Forum evaluated several hardware standards development organizations. The OPAF Members selected PICMG to develop a new open edge hardware technology specification that defines electromechanical interoperability, interchangeability, hot plug capabilities, and compatibility with existing standards such as IEC 61499 and IEC 61131.
The result was the recently ratified InterEdge specification.
I should mention that I saw a similar PICMG computer put forward as a solution for a previous open controller standard. Unfortunately, the vendor selected made a few tweaks in its use of the standard such that its “open” controller actually would not accept cards from competitors. I am certain that OPAF and PICMG will vet suppliers more carefully.
The InterEdge specification introduces a modular open architecture that delivers state-of-the-art I/O abstraction and flexibility and in a common physical form factor. It supports the OPAF and O-PAS goals of reducing integration, maintenance, and upgrade costs in the highly fragmented and largely proprietary process control technology market.
The OPAF and PICMG relationship is ongoing, with work on new versions of the InterEdge specification already underway. Meanwhile, the Open Process Automation Forum has introduced InterEdge to its physical platform subcommittee, who plan to include the specification in an upcoming revision of the O-PAS Standard and devise a set of tests that evaluate conformance to the InterEdge specification.
The InterEdge specification is available now and can be purchased from the PICMG website for $750.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 15, 2024 | Automation, Business, Manufacturing IT, Process Control, Software, Technology
Emerson has gone through a process of divesting companies and adding others, such as NI (nee National Instruments) becoming overall more of an automation company. Much like years ago when Rockwell shed aerospace and trucks and other industries becoming Rockwell Automation.
Its tagline in press releases for some time has included software as an emphasis. Now, they’ve announced the new DeltaV Automation Platform adds SCADA, MES and operations management software technologies. The idea is to promote smarter, safer, optimized and more sustainable operations.
One of my more popular podcasts asked the question why industrial technology vendors are moving to software.
As part of its Boundless Automation vision for helping organizations deliver more seamless operations, global automation technology and software leader Emerson is evolving its DeltaV brand into the DeltaV Automation Platform. The newly expanded automation platform will include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, manufacturing execution systems (MES) and operations management software alongside the distributed control (DCS) and safety systems (SIS) and other technologies that have been part of the brand for decades. The evolution builds a more comprehensive automation platform to make it easier for users to deliver smarter, safer, more optimized and more sustainable operations.
Organizations across nearly every industry including life sciences, specialty chemical, mining and extraction, food and beverage, energy and more are experiencing new complexities as they face the modern challenge of improving throughput, performance and quality while simultaneously increasing sustainability of operations. Navigating this increased complexity requires seamless mobility of data, reliable performance and advanced control strategies from the plant floor to the corporate boardroom. The comprehensive nature of the new DeltaV Automation Platform will empower users to move away from “plant-by-plant” strategies to “site-by-site” or even enterprise automation solutions—the more advanced, integrated automation strategies that are increasingly necessary to compete in a complex global marketplace.
This, of course, is an ideal way to perpetuate, and indeed increase, vendor lock-in of its customers. Why go anywhere else for all your hardware and software needs?
“In an era of increased demand and higher sustainability targets, today’s organizations are looking for ways to manage and contextualize data across the many software solutions they use to help unlock easier, faster and safer decisions,” said Nathan Pettus, president of Emerson’s process systems and solutions business. “The DeltaV Automation Platform will combine a flexible, fit-for-purpose portfolio of DCS, SIS, SCADA, MES and operations management software with unmatched application and cross-industry expertise to help cross-functional teams across the enterprise more easily achieve their goals.”
With an extensive portfolio unified under one brand, users will have access to a comprehensive technology ecosystem that provides a broader suite of solutions. Organizations will more quickly and easily find the right solutions to meet their specific needs and will gain easier access to service, training and support.
All solutions in the DeltaV Automation Platform will be seamlessly supported through the Guardian digital customer experience.
