Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced the release of version R4.03 of the company’s flagship product, the Centum VP integrated production control system.
Centum VP is a core platform of the VigilantPlant concept of realising the ideal plant. This new version includes enhanced security functions, a new batch management package, and improved HART communication support. The company says these changes will enable its customers to achieve a higher level of safety, reliability, and productivity.
Development background
In recent years, Yokogawa’s customers have had to adjust and optimise their plant operations in response to market changes and innovations in production technologies. In the knowledge that safety, reliability, and productivity are the key factors in plant operations, the company has been providing the requisite products, solutions, and services. The Centum VP integrated production control system is at the core of this product offering that realises the VigilantPlant vision of the ideal plant.
With this new version, Yokogawa has focused on strengthening Centum VP’s security functions to protect against cyber threats and on enhancing support of the HART communication protocol. A batch management package with reconfigured operation screens is also provided to improve the productivity of batch processes.
Security enhancements
Since an increasing number of general-purpose PCs and network devices are being incorporated in production control systems, it has become more important to have cyber-security measures in place that will protect these systems against computer viruses and the like. For Centum VP, which makes use of PCs and network devices in its human machine interface (HMI) and other components, changes to its security setting function and other measures that enhance security have been taken.
A new function has also been added that coordinates modifications to user accounts with an IT management system. This makes it easier to modify and delete a user account when an operator is transferred or retired, thereby reducing the risk of access from an unauthorised account.
Enhancements to the batch management package
The batch management package for Centum systems has been updated and released as VP Batch. The operation screens have been reconfigured to improve ease of use.
HART communication support for legacy Centum systems
New I/O modules and signal conditioner cards that support the HART communication protocol have been added, and are compatible with legacy Centum systems. When a user migrates to Centum VP, HART devices can be introduced at minimum cost by utilising existing wiring.
Markets and applications
Process control and monitoring of plants and production equipment in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, electric power, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, foods and beverages, iron and steel, and water supply and sewage treatment.
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