Product Spotlight

Emerson Process Management announces the expansion of its Rosemount 8800D Series of Vortex flowmeters to include stainless steel transmitter housings, which are often required for applications in corrosive environments. This new stainless steel housing increases the reliability and longevity of the transmitter in these environments, greatly reducing the overall cost of ownership. The non-clogging, minimal leak point design of the Rosemount flowmeters are valued by industries such as offshore oil and gas and other marine applications.

The corrosive environments caused by saltwater and salt in the air make these industries good candidates for stainless steel transmitter housings. The corrosive environments caused by saltwater and salt in the air make these industries good candidates for stainless steel transmitter housings. In addition, numerous chemical processes and clean-in-place solutions found in food, beverage and life science applications can result in corrosion and premature failure. The stainless steel transmitter housing is available on the broad range of Rosemount Vortex flowmeters, including wafer and flanged meters, dual sensor and Reducer Vortex flowmeters. Rosemount 8800D flowmeters are part of Emerson's broad range of intelligent, digital field devices that power the PlantWeb architecture. Further cost savings, increased plant availability, and enhanced safety and environmental compliance are achieved when the transmitters are integrated into the PlantWeb digital plant architecture.

Dresser Masoneilan announced the availability of the 12400 Series, the first level instrument that integrates level transmitter, controller and switch functions in a single device. Designed for use in the refining, petrochemical and energy industries, the 12400 Series incorporates an industry-leading set of features into a highly reliable and efficient instrument.

A first for any level instrument, the 12400 Series combines level measurement, global level loop control and low- and high-level switch functions into a single instrument, virtually eliminating the need for additional level switches and controllers. With a combination of features, such as smart filtering, HART communication protocol compatibility and an optional 4-20mA analogue output signal, among many others, the 12400 Series offers exceptional process control for a wide range of applications, including severe service. It is easy to install and operate and is engineered for optimum efficiency, upgradeability and reliability. The 12400 Series offers powerful control functionality and delivers optimum efficiency for simplified ownership and operations. Benefits of the 12400 Series include: " Compliance - Meets SIL2 compliance (pending) and is certified in full hazardous areas, including ATEX, IECEx, FM and FMc/CSA. " Severe Service Capable - Withstands high temperature, high pressure and demanding NACE applications. " Flexibility - Meets most installation requirements and accommodates most process structures through top, side or bottom connections and full horizontal plane rotation. " Accuracy - Reduces unwanted oscillations through smart filtering without changing response speeds, and the frictionless sensor offers 0.1 percent measurement resolution. " Stability - Stabilizes surface turbulence and foam inside a chamber so the displacer is not impeded and process fluid agitation does not affect measurement. " Reliable Data - Records and stores recent data continuously in non-volatile memory for dependable access in the event of power failure.

Emerson Process Management today announced the availability of the Rosemount Analytical X-STREAM XE process gas analyzer that combines web-browser-based accessibility with advanced processing capabilities. With expanded data communication, calibration, and event logging capabilities, the X-STREAM XE is an ideal choice for more complex process industry gas analysis requirements.

The X-STREAM XE rounds out the Rosemount Analytical family of X-STREAM process gas analyzers as the ideal choice for process industry applications requiring analytical solutions that go well beyond basic gas analysis.  Although it features an expanded graphical display and more powerful electronics, the X-STREAM XE uses many of the same internal components as other X-STREAM process gas analyzer models. This enables the installation of the multiple X-STREAM product models to fit the unique needs of each process unit, without requiring an expanded spare parts inventory or operator retraining. The X-STREAM XE takes process gas analysis to the next level of ease of use and communication capabilities.  With a unique new web browser, it enables users to securely login to calibrate parameters and manage alarms from any Ethernet connection.  The ability to remotely manage the analyzer greatly simplifies diagnostics, speeds the troubleshooting process, and reduces the number of trips into the field by an estimated 50 percent. With powerful processing capabilities and new built-in engineering tools, the X-STREAM XE offers a programmable logic controller (PLC) that enables automation of the sample handling system and online programming through the web browser.  In addition, an enhanced data logger offers improved data tracking, including a NAMUR status indicator, improved event logging, and a new cal log file. The X-STREAM XE holds ease of use to a higher standard and accommodates new, traditionally difficult gas analysis without compromising performance, reliability, or safety.  As with the entire family of X-STREAM process gas analyzers, the X-STREAM XE comes in a number of different casings, including flameproof, field housing, general purpose, and general purpose compact to meet the unique requirements of each plant environment.

Siemens Industry, Inc. has added the Intel Core 2 Duo processor to its Simatic IPC427C compact Microbox PC and its Simatic HMI IPC477C Panel PC, doubling the computing capacity of previous models while delivering maintenance-free, 24/7 operation in hostile environments.

Designed to operate at ambient temperatures of 0 to 50 degrees Celsius, the space-saving, fanless industrial computers are suitable for communication tasks, measuring and open/closed-loop control and operator control and visualization.

Measuring262 x 134 x 47 millimeters, the Simatic IPC427C fits into small electrical enclosures or directly onto a machine.  It provides several installation options including DIN rail mounting, wall mounting or book-mounting style.

With a depth size of only 60 millimeters, the Simatic HMI IPC477C Panel PC requires 20 percent less depth for mounting than its predecessor.  Equipped with three PCI104 expansion slots, the device is available with 12, 15 and 19 inch touch screens. The 15 inch or 19 inch touch displays are also available for support arm or stand mounting options.

The industrial PC's main memory can be increased up to four gigabytes.  Extended program storage availability is guaranteed with a solid state hard disk drive with 32 gigabytes, or up to two compact flash cards each with eight gigabytes.  The devices feature four USB 2.0 ports and two 10/100/1000 MBs Ethernet ports, as well as optional Profibus interfaces.  The Simatic HMI IPC477C also provides a Profinet protocol support across all three of its Ethernet ports.

Software Technologies Group, Inc. today announced the release of In-Mesh, a WirelessHART field device software protocol for manufacturers of industrial wireless product developers.

In-Mesh is a full implementation of WirelessHART (WiHART), the wireless portion of the HART Field Communications Protocol revision 7.1. WiHART uses the same message and command structures as wired, 4-20 mA HART devices which are widely used in industrial applications. It is specifically designed to leverage wireless standards and provide robust and reliable wireless communications in industrial and process control environments.

The Software Technologies Group (STG) In-Mesh software implements all the features of the WiHART standard including channel hopping, time synchronized communication and fully redundant data paths via mesh networking to every individual device in order to improve the reliability of the wireless network. The HART protocol is the leading communication technology for process measurement and control instrumentation systems with more than 26 million devices installed worldwide.

“Wireless networking in industrial environments requires the most robust and capable software in order to create successful products,” said Chris Herzog, President of STG.”In-Mesh is an effort of nearly ten staff years of design, development and testing and our team has delivered an exceptional product”

In-Mesh uses WiHART software developed by Software Technologies Group (STG) as the developer for the Industrial Technology Konsortium (WiTECK). STG is a founding member of WiTECK and a licensing agent for the Konsortium. As the developer of the software, STG is in a unique position to provide WiHART development services and support for device manufacturers.

In-Mesh is the first in a series of products which will enable the rapid development of WiHART devices. Future offerings will include an 802.15.4 hardware module specifically designed to support the requirements of WiHART and a WiHART development kit.

In-Mesh is available now and runs on the Freescale MC13224 Platform in a Package (which includes an ARM7 processor and an integrated 802.15.4 radio) as well as on the JM series of ColdFire V1 processors. For information on supporting additional hardware, please contact STG: http://www.stg.com.

Discover a big HART in a small package, for a small price with the hand-held DPI 620 Series. This advanced multifunction calibrator and HART communicator incorporates full HART capability, making it the only combined Hart communicator and calibrator currently on the market.  The rugged and compact instrument, which is weather-proofed to IP 65, incorporates the latest application software and contains a complete library of registered HART device descriptions. Up-grades can be simply downloaded, free-of-charge, from the GE website.  Offering so many functions and features within one portable instrument, the DPI 620 will find application in oil and gas, power generation, utilities and throughout the process industries, in the laboratory and workshop as well as on-plant.

Unlike competitive HART communicators which can only be used for configuration, commissioning and maintenance, the new DPI 620 is also recognized as one of the most accurate and versatile calibration systems available. Consequently, plant engineers and technicians can now considerably reduce the inventory of equipment they have to carry to perform maintenance and calibration tasks, as for the first time they can use a communicator which is also a calibrator and PDA. Lighter and smaller than competitive communicators, the new communicator/calibrator, with its full colour, high resolution touch interface, has a large internal memory, allowing it to store additional features such as procedure and datalog files. These can be transferred using USB, WiFi, memory stick or the instrument’s  memory card, which can be up to 4GB, with its integral card reader.  Features which are new to HART communicators generally include an integral 24V loop power supply to energise HART devices and loops and a menu-selectable 250 Ohm loop resistor, rather than a separate physical resistor, for use when a device is not connected or the loop is switched off. The incorporation of a calibrator within the communicator means that there is no need to carry ancillary equipment such as multi-meters to measure mA when trimming sensors and there is naturally no need for secondary calibration equipment during sensor trim and device calibration, as the DPI 620 simultaneously sources and measures the primary variable, whether this be mA, pressure, V, mV ohms, frequency or temperature from RTDs or thermocouples. The DPI 620 also has the capability to automate calibration procedures and document “As Found” and “As Left” results and can analyse device trends to support preventative maintenance programmes. It is available in a Windows CE version with standard Windows applications and file management and the computing power to view pdf files and jpeg images such as loop diagrams, data sheets, safety procedures, spreadsheets and to create text documents. Naturally, the new  communicator retains the world-class pressure generation and measurement capability of the existing DPI 620 calibrator. This means on-board pressure generation from vacuum to 100 bar pneumatic or 0 to 1000 bar hydraulic, at an accuracy of 0.005% FS.

Emerson Process Management announces the new S-series platform featuring “I/O on demand” and Electronic Marshalling.  Resulting from an intense focus on Human Centered Design, the S-series headlines the company’s wide ranging innovative technologies in the v11 release of the DeltaV digital automation system.  The new DeltaV S-series platform sets the industry standard for usability and flexibility.

The new DeltaV release includes major enhancements to all of the systems’ I/O processing, operator displays, asset management, batch capability and system security.  These combined capabilities reduce customer project complexity, eliminate needless work, and speed system commissioning.  They lift Emerson’s PlantWeb digital architecture to new levels of project and operations performance.

Unique project and operations advantages stem from the S-series I/O on demand flexibility which allows users to choose among traditional wired, wireless, bussed and Electronic Marshalling.

With I/O on demand, users decide what type of I/O they want - Wireless, FF, HART, AI, AO, DI, DO, DP, T/C, or RTD.  They decide when they want the I/O, whether for late project changes, during start-up, during operation, or temporary installations; and where they want the I/O, whether in a rack room, remote locations, hazardous areas, safety systems, or harsh environments.  The DeltaV S-series enables this freedom of I/O choice and ease of implementation.

Further advantages are realized with Electronic Marshalling, a powerful new technology that streamlines design and installation for users.  This unique marshalling approach eliminates two-thirds of the wiring and connections needed by today’s conventional marshalling cabinets.  A striking new technology invented with the S-series -- new single channel CHARacterization ModuleS (CHARMS) -- make this possible.  CHARMS relay I/O information to any DeltaV controller via Ethernet backbone.  This unique electronic communications method eliminates the need for users to wire I/O to specific controller I/O cards.  This change can dramatically impact the users’ experience since it provides single channel integrity and flexibility down to the channel (not I/O card) level.  These benefits improve plant uptime, and make projects simpler and easier to engineer and implement.

Beyond making the normal project tasks easier, another significant benefit from Electronic Marshalling is dealing with change.  Whereas traditional project engineering requires major time and cost in changing rack-room I/O wiring and terminations as process design is refined during project execution and construction, the DeltaV S-series hardware with Electronic Marshalling makes changes easy and eliminates re-wiring.  Simply land the field wires, pop in the CHARM and electronically marshal it wherever needed. By adapting to change easily, Electronic Marshalling allows process manufacturers to shorten project schedules, accommodate late project changes, and dramatically simplify the I/O and marshalling design process. This late binding of process changes provides unparalleled adaptability and can help avoid costly, last minute change orders.

The DeltaV S-series makes a major enhancement for WirelessHART networks as well.  In addition to the existing native wireless integration, the new DeltaV S-series now has fully redundant communications, which together with the mesh wireless networks, provide the highest uptime possible.  With these capabilities, users can apply wireless technology to more monitoring and control applications than ever before

ABB Instrumentation has taken its popular SMART VISION and Asset Master products to a new level under the name Asset Vision.  The offering, which is Windows-based, runs on a stand-alone desktop or laptop PC.

Asset Vision Professional, an upgrade to the existing ABB Asset Master, offers full-featured device management and asset optimization.  It was developed to incorporate the following new added functionality:
·         increases the number of connected PROFIBUS and HART multiplexer devices
·         allows users to simultaneously configure and monitor all devices
·         supports asset condition report printouts.

Asset Vision Professional is derived from ABB’s System 800xA control system architecture.  This enables customers to start with Asset Vision Professional as a compact configuration and monitoring tool that can readily upgrade to a full System 800xA.

Existing installations of Asset Master will automatically receive Asset Vision Professional as an upgrade, enabling these users to continue to perform online and offline device configuration, parameter setting functions, online monitoring and tuning, diagnostic alert response, asset monitoring, calibration management, and integral work order processing.

Emerson has announced a unique approach to redundancy for Smart Wireless monitoring and control solutions.  Available with the DeltaV S-series digital automation system, full redundancy protects the wireless network from any single point of failure by allowing primary failover to ensure that data is always delivered even if there is a malfunction.

The enhancements include redundant Wireless I/O, power and communications and a redundant Smart Wireless Remote Link.  The Remote Link can be mounted in class 1/Div 1/zone 0; it easily links the wireless field network into a DeltaV system which makes an optimized PID available for wireless control.  The new full redundancy furthers the strength of Smart Wireless technology as a complement to wired and bus approaches on capital projects.

Smart Wireless is based on the WirelessHART standard which is designed for control and monitoring applications. Smart Wireless devices based on the WirelessHART standard deliver 99.9% reliability because of the self-organizing nature of the network.  This ensures that data is always delivered reliably and is never lost.  This level of reliability is a prerequisite to using wireless technology for any critical monitoring or control application.  Devices that conform to the WirelessHART specification can sense measurements at update rates up to once per second.  WirelessHART also allows exception reporting for network efficiency; devices only communicate a measurement value if it has changed significantly since the last communication or if the time since the last communication has exceeded a required reporting time, optimizing battery life.

Siemens Industry Solutions has developed the Gateway CM104 TSAA − a new migration solution for integrating Triconex fail-safe controllers into Simatic PCS 7-based control systems.  The Gateway enables existing systems to be expanded or modernized inexpensively and step-by-step.

Fail-safe controllers are one of the fundamental requirements for achieving high system availability. They process and monitor critical closed-loop controls and applications to ensure that modern production plants fail safely.  Until now, these types of controllers have often been installed and operated separately from the process control system.  That meant that they were frequently overlooked when it came to modernization.

Siemens has now developed the Gateway CM104 TSAA to bring both the process control system and the safety engineering up to the state-of-the-art at the same time.  It facilitates continuous communication between the Triconex, Trident or Tricon fail-safe controller – depending on the application – and the Siemens automation system.  The Gateway is completely integrated into the PCS 7, and can be laid out as a single or fully redundant link between the systems.  It uses the Triconex TSAA protocol for this purpose. The Gateway is based on standard Industrial Ethernet components, and also contains diagnostic functions with alarms visualized in PCS 7.

The new Siemens Gateway is used in the modernization and migration to PCS 7 to form a link with existing Triconex fail-safe products.  It can also be used in projects requiring communication to PCS 7 controllers.  The engineering is carried out with the aid of a standard PCS 7 or STEP 7, thus enabling existing systems to be expanded or modernized inexpensively, step-by-step with Simatic.

The 475 Field Communicator includes a full-color graphical user interface, Bluetooth® communication, and extended battery life.
Emerson introduces the 475 Field Communicator, the next generation in handheld communicator technology. The new Field Communicator extends beyond device configuration functionality to provide advanced device diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities in the field and on the bench so users can work more efficiently. Quick boot-up and fast operating time mean that jobs can be performed quickly and easily while longer battery life ensures days, not hours, of operation. The intrinsically safe 475 Field Communicator supports HART®, WirelessHART™, and FOUNDATION™ fieldbus devices.
While traditional communicators enable configuration of a subset of devices, the 475 Field Communicator is much more than a configuration tool. With universal support for all HART and FOUNDATION fieldbus devices, the new 475 enables diagnosis and troubleshooting right in the field to streamline daily maintenance activities. The latest version of the Easy Upgrade capability provides an interface for users to quickly and easily update their communicator onsite via the internet. Through Bluetooth communication, users can update their 475 Field Communicator with the latest Device Descriptions for their field devices. A further advance is the full-color LCD display that provides an intuitive graphical interface to support trend charts, gauges, and graphics available in enhanced Device Descriptions. The color display aids troubleshooting through high-contrast images. Users can also store up to 1,000 device configurations in the 475 Field Communicator or transmit them wirelessly between the communicator and a PC for printing and storage. More than doubling the battery life of a typical NiMH battery, the Lithium-Ion power module that comes standard with the 475 Field Communicator ensures that users will have the power they need to get the job done. “The ability to quickly perform configurations and view advanced diagnostics in the field from a handheld reinforces Emerson’s commitment to delivering innovative field communicator technology,” said Craig Llewellyn, president of Emerson’s Asset Optimization division. “The 475 Field Communicator enables significant productivity improvements for maintenance and reliability experts. The tight integration between AMS Suite and the 475 allows users to manage their field device assets consistently and efficiently.”

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, announced its new PAC8000 RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) Controller, a rugged, field-mountable platform.  Combined with the 8000 Process I/OTM, it offers flexible system design and high system availability.  A PAC8000 RTU Control system can utilize any off-the-shelf HMI package, including Proficy HMI/SCADA iFIX and CIMPLICITY.

The PAC8000 RTU Controller is ideal for all types of RTU applications, including Oil & Gas pipelines and wellheads.  It is designed for use in the harshest environments, operating over a temperature range of -40ºC to +70ºC, and is resistant to 30g shock, 5g vibration and G3 corrosive environments. Access to timely and accurate mission-critical information from fixed assets such as oil and gas wells, compressor stations, pipelines, fluid storage tanks and utility meters, can eliminate critical gaps in oil and gas operations, resulting in higher productivity and long-term growth.  The PAC8000 RTU’s relative low power makes it suitable for applications using Solar Power.

The PAC8000 RTU Controller engineering software takes advantage of Microsoft Windows-based object-oriented technology, graphical user interfaces and easy to learn software solutions to reduce engineering time.  It executes control strategies and manages all control activities for the I/O modules providing a tight control loop response, quickly giving a control output in response to input data.  It also incorporates a rigorous redundancy model, HART capability and a fault tol­erant Ethernet implementation to manage communications on the control network and deliver reliable operation.

The PAC8000 RTU supports the industry standard DNP3 Ethernet communication protocol as well as fully supports the five IEC 61131-3 automation languages.  Any combination of Ladder Diagram (LD), Sequential, Function Chart (SFC), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Structured Text (ST), Instruction List (IL), plus Flow Chart can be used to develop, download, simulate, debug, monitor, and edit application programs.

Redundant controllers can be used for critical applications where the redundant controller pair operates in parallel, checking status multiple times through the processing loop and enabling the backup controller to continuously monitor the health of the Master controller.  It ensures a rapid and bumpless transfer to the standby controller.

The PAC8000 RTU is designed to operate in Class I, Division 2 and Zone 2 hazardous areas and can control I/O modules that have field wiring extending into more hazardous Division 1, Zone 1 and Zone 0 areas.

ABB Instrumentation announced the launch of a new range of electromagnetic flowmeters specifically targeted at the water and wastewater markets.

Part of the new FlowMaster portfolio of flowmeters, the WaterMaster magmeter is packed with advanced features and functionality that offer superior measurement capabilities and enable users to operate more efficiently, reduce costs and increase profitably.  WaterMaster flowmeters are available in the most commonly installed sizes for this market—1.5 to 84 inch.

For popular sizes up to 8 inch, the new unit incorporates an innovative octagonal sensor design.  This improves flow profile and reduces up and downstream piping requirements.  Advanced signal filtering for the WaterMaster magmeter also improves measurement accuracy by reducing fluid and electrode noise.

All WaterMaster sensors have a rugged, robust construction to ensure a long, maintenance-free life under the most difficult conditions experienced in the water and waste water industries.  The sensors are inherently submersible (IP68, NEMA 6P) as standard, ensuring suitability for installation in any environment liable to flooding.

A unique feature of the WaterMaster sensor is that all sizes may be buried; installation merely involves excavating to the underground pipe, fitting the sensor, cabling to the transmitter and then backfilling the hole.  In the field, the WaterMaster flowmeter incorporates many operator-focused features.  The backlit, graphical display can be easily rotated through 270 degrees, allowing field teams to customize display orientation to best fits their needs.  ‘Through-the-glass’ control permits operators to quickly input data for all user-specific parameters in the field.

Advanced features built into the new flowmeters include:

• WaterMaster flowmeters incorporate a self-calibrating transmitter (patent pending).  The automatic calibration process enables the meter to calibrate itself every 45 seconds without interruption to the flow measurement.
• The ABB Human Machine Interface (HMI), designed into all new ABB instruments, simplifies operation, maintenance and training. It reduces cost of ownership and provides a common user experience.
• All product versions use a common electronics cartridge to simplify installation and lower spare part costs and inventory.
• The standard HART protocol enables online modification and monitoring of parameters.

In addition, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) gives improved performance and enables real-time measurements for maximum reliability.  DSP allows the transmitter to separate the real signal from the noise, providing high quality outputs—especially in harsh environments involving vibration, hydraulic noise and temperature fluctuations.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. has introduced a new, economical, single-axis AC servo drive that is easily commissioned, highly flexible and may be conveniently connected to higher-level controllers.  The Sinamics S110 single-axis drive is built on the proven Sinamics S120 drives platform.

Designed for simple positioning or indexing applications with synchronous or induction motors, the new drive offers a unique, motor choice flexibility that normally is not offered with simple servo drives.  Operating in the 0.12 to 90 kW power range, the drive features a wide array of positioning functions as well as integrated safety.  Profibus, Profinet (in preparation), CANopen or analog/digital interfaces allow the Sinamics S110 to be integrated into the Siemens Simatic automation system and multiple other higher-level controllers.

The Sinamics S110 servo drive can be used for positioning tasks in the wind and solar industry, and tool positioning in machining stations.  It is also suitable for robotic and handling applications, feeders in printing and paper machines and for ejectors in injection molding machines.  Other applications include simple pick-and-place and feeding tasks, as well as rotary indexing tables.

An integrated basic positioner (EPos), enables a wide range of positioning functions, ranging from relative and absolute traversing with specified velocity and acceleration to more complex functions, such as on-the-fly positioning and referencing.  As a result, it is possible to save up to 16 target positions or traverse paths in the drive, including the relevant motion parameters.  Additionally, individual traversing blocks can be brought together in traversing programs.  Target positions and velocities, as well as additional motion parameters, can be changed on the fly, even during a positioning traverse.  All of the positioning functions are simply and easily configured graphically.

The S110 servo drive has seven on board safety functions which meet the safety requirements of category 3 as defined in EN 954-1 and Safety Integrated Level 2 as defined in EN 61508.  The safety functions are controlled via three safe inputs and one safe output (terminals) on-board the S110. When integrated into a total automation system, it can also be controlled via the Profisafe profile.

Invensys Process Systems (IPS), a global technology, software and consulting firm, has teamed with Pepperl+Fuchs, a leading supplier of intrinsic safety solutions for the process industries, to offer seamless integration of the Pepperl+Fuchs intrinsically safe I/O interface product lines with IPS’ I/A Series distributed control system technology.  With built-in barriers and field connections, the integrated modules are the lowest-cost, smallest footprint and easiest-to-maintain solution for mounting I/O modules in hazardous locations.  Such tight integration provides users with a transparent interface from which they can set up, configure and maintain intrinsic safety using standard I/A Series tools.  The solution is certified for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous environments.
Seamless integration of IPS and Pepperl+Fuchs technology has many benefits for users.  Because the intrinsically safe modules are hot-swappable without a hot work permit, maintenance is easier and safer and with built-in redundancy in communication modules, power supplies and bus interfaces, availability is high.  IPS offers the integrated solution on HART capable modules so I/A series system users can manage intrinsically safe operation of any vendor’s HART field devices.  And because Integration with I/A Series technology also brings compatibility with IPS’s FDT-based Field Device Manager; users can set up, commission and maintain smart devices within a common engineering environment.

Invensys Process Systems (IPS) now offers plug-in I/O modules for migrating ABB Taylor Mod 300 distributed control system (DCS) technology to Foxboro DCS technology without replacing field wiring or terminations. This significantly reduces the cost and downtime associated with migrating aging control systems to the latest generation of IPS' I/A Series distributed control and InFusion enterprise control systems while achieving benefits of the HART communications protocol.

IPS' unique Foxboro migration plug-in I/O modules are manufactured to be a one-for-one form-fit replacement for legacy I/O modules. The cards plug into existing cabinets, racks and termination assemblies without any I/O mapping issues. This eliminates the need for rewiring, requires no extra footprint and completely replaces obsolete technology. In addition, this modular approach eliminates risk, is completely reversible and reduces process impact to a few hours. Users can add new workstations and controllers, enjoying the benefits of a new I/A Series distributed control system without having to rip and replace existing field wiring and terminations. Automatic database conversion tools and in-house experts ensure satisfactory and efficient migration of existing intellectual data.

Honeywell introduced the Experion LS control system, a new product within Honeywell's award-winning Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) line that provides the power and reliability of a distributed control system (DCS) in a small and flexible solution. Experion LS manages all continuous process control applications and optimizes batch and sequence-oriented applications typically found at specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, food and beverage and consumer goods producers. Scalable from a single PC and controller to multiple stations, Experion LS promotes plant reliability and flexibility while lowering lifecycle costs for smaller manufacturing sites.

Experion LS is uniquely suited for smaller plants, because it allows the manufacturer to better respond to market changes while offering robust process and batch control features. Because it requires less engineering effort to configure and is easier to maintain than a PLC or large DCS, Experion LS can help plants save up to $20,000 per year in support per system. The easier configuration also enables faster and more-reliable changeovers, allowing operators to more easily modify batch recipes and increase production.

Experion LS features Honeywell's S88 compliant and scalable solution for batch automation that can be fully redundant. The system minimizes engineering costs with drag-and-drop configuration, pre-built algorithms, a global database, pre-configured displays and out-of-the-box batch functionality. Operational advantages are gained by being able to make automation configuration changes without stopping production and offering operators a run-time view of control strategy and sequence status, truly redundant unit execution and integrated operator instructions.

Emerson announces wireless and predictive maintenance enhancements to its AMS Suite asset management software that helps users optimize critical plant assets. AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager 10.0 features support for WirelessHART devices and networks, alert monitoring capabilities, advanced diagnostics through SNAP-ON applications, and increased ease-of-use.

Common interface for WirelessHART and wired devices.
AMS Device Manager 10.0 delivers a rich set of tools to help users deploy Smart Wireless technology and access predictive diagnostics from all areas of the plant. With AMS Device Manager, users have a common interface to manage all their devices, both wired and wireless. Wireless device configuration is streamlined, and drag-and-drop functionality automates commissioning for increased efficiency and security.

Easy Smart Wireless network management.
With the AMS Wireless SNAP-ON application, users can plan, customize, visualize, and manage Emerson's Smart Wireless networks. Once the wireless network is installed, the AMS Wireless SNAP-ON application also provides a comprehensive view of the network's status, enabling users to maximize reliability of the wireless network.

Enhanced management of and response to alerts.
Advanced alert monitoring functionality in AMS Device Manager 10.0 allows users to better manage their predictive alerts and take targeted action. By augmenting Alert Monitor, users gain better visibility to new and existing alerts and the ability to easily filter them based on severity, location, tag, etc. When installed with DeltaV 10.3, AMS Device Manager enables users to easily access predictive diagnostics from FOUNDATION fieldbus, HART, and WirelessHART devices, bringing real-time information to plant staff for fast decision-making.

Robust diagnostic deployment and display for instruments and valves.
AMS Device Manager 10.0 also delivers advanced diagnostics for instruments and valves with enhanced SNAP-ON application functionality. AMS ValveLink 10.0 displays robust valve diagnostics delivered by Fisher FIELDVUE digital valve controllers, allowing users to quickly identify and troubleshoot any issues. The addition of a Scheduler to the Meter Verification SNAP-ON application allows users to schedule multiple verification tests for Micro Motion Coriolis flow and density meters.

AMS Device Manager 10.0 shows a significant investment by Emerson in improving the ease-of-use for users. The user interface leverages the benefits of enhanced EDDL (Electronic Device Description Language) to provide simple, graphical screens that quickly deliver important information. The new user-centric design delivers unprecedented ease-of-use in asset management software.

Emerson Process Management has unveiled a newly developed adaptive capability for DeltaV InSight which enables the DeltaV control system to automatically learn process dynamics, diagnose control problems, and re-tune control loops for optimal performance.

Further extending the predictive intelligence of PlantWeb architecture, this new capability is embedded in DeltaV's digital control system with automatic configuration to provide increased performance and availability for all DeltaV and FOUNDATION fieldbus-based control loops. DeltaV InSight is uniquely automatic - it provides system-wide performance monitoring and diagnostics with no additional configuration or maintenance effort. InSight performance monitoring is automatically updated for any changes made to the system. DeltaV InSight also accounts for process changes by automatically learning process dynamics from normal day-to-day operations. This process knowledge may be applied to improve plant performance and availability with adaptive loop tuning, non-linear control, loop diagnostics, process simulation, and model based control.

DeltaV InSight has also been enhanced with automatic performance reports that can be scheduled to provide key performance metrics for a user's control system. Based on XML standards and Microsoft Excel templates, these reports are ready to use out of the box, or can be customized with a plant's unique key performance indicators. These reports will also be available through Emerson's highly successful Guardian Web Dashboard, enabling customers to easily distribute reports across their enterprise.