Yokogawa develops field enclosure and virtualisation platform
February 2018, Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Yokogawa has announced that it has developed an N-IO standard field enclosure and a control system virtualisation platform. The enclosure is a weatherproof remote I/O cabinet that stores I/O devices used by the Centum VP integrated production control system and the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system, and the virtualisation platform enables the control of multiple virtual devices on a single server. By reducing the amount of time and effort to engineer a new system, these solutions help to both speed up project execution and reduce total cost of ownership. The N-IO standard field enclosure is scheduled to be released in February and the virtualisation platform in May.
As global competition intensifies and the market environment changes manufacturers want to be able to set up production facilities ever more quickly. Yokogawa is responding to this need using the agile project execution concept. Agile project execution is an innovative approach to utilising standardised technology and flexible project execution processes that keep automation off the critical path during project execution. The result is a lower cost of installation and maintenance, and the lowest TCO, while reducing the risks of project execution and delivery.
For improved agility in project execution, Yokogawa developed the N-IO (Network IO) field I/O device for Centum VP R6.01 and ProSafe-RS R4.01.00. Equipped with a module that can handle multiple I/O signal types, the N-IO device caters for both analog and digital I/O signals, which account for the majority of I/O signal traffic. With this device, the signal type for each I/O point can be configured solely through software settings. This eliminates the need to replace I/O modules and wiring when changing sensor types and wiring layouts during engineering, and when changing sensor types during a plant revamp, which significantly reduces workload and speeds up project implementation.
To realise the agile project execution concept Yokogawa has now developed the N-IO standard field enclosure and a control system virtualisation platform. The enclosure is a remote I/O cabinet that stores the N-IO device, a key component of the Centum VP and ProSafe-RS systems, and the virtualisation platform enables the operation of multiple virtual machines on a single server. Together with its N-IO and Automation Design Suite (AD suite) integrated engineering environment, Yokogawa uses virtualisation technology to reduce plant construction costs and speed up project implementation. This helps to eliminate the risk of project delays and ensure on-time delivery.
Main features
N-IO standard field enclosure
Many conventional cabinets for storing I/O devices are designed to be installed in air conditioned instrumentation rooms. For outdoor use, it is necessary to design special dustproof and water resistant cabinets. The N-IO standard field enclosure is a dustproof and water-resistant remote I/O cabinet that can be installed outdoors. By allowing the configuration of signal types through software settings, this enclosure eliminates the need for further design modifications. As such, it can be delivered directly to customers without further modification, for faster project implementation.
Control system virtualisation platform
Multiple PCs for operation, monitoring, and other purposes are typically used when configuring a control system and the cost of procuring and maintaining these computers is substantial. Yokogawa’s control system virtualisation platform enables a single server to perform the work of multiple virtual PCs, thus reducing the number of computers required to configure a control system. With this platform, both the hardware and software required to build a virtual environment are provided. By means of this virtualised server environment, it is possible to update and make modifications to hardware and software as required.
In preparation for system installation, Yokogawa carries out the engineering and conducts the factory acceptance test (FAT) of the software on a machine different from the one that will actually be used. Yokogawa delivers the hardware directly to the customer, and then installs the completed software. This speeds up implementation and prevents project delays.
For more information contact Christie Cronje, Yokogawa South Africa, +27 (0)11 831 6300, christie.cronje@za.yokogawa.com, www.yokogawa.com/za
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