Two new controllers
January 2004
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Foxboro Automation Systems has introduced two new high-performance, optionally redundant/fault-tolerant controllers for Invensys' flagship automation platform - the I/A Series system. The new I/A Series ZCP270 controller is designed to fit in existing I/A Series mounting structures in rack rooms and can support up to 120 remote-mounted fieldbus (I/O) modules. The rugged FCP270 field-mounted controller is designed to fit in dedicated slots on field-mounted baseplates adjacent to the fieldbus (I/O) modules.
These baseplates can be located in sealed enclosures close to the process. Each FCP270 controller can support up to 32 fieldbus modules. Both controllers connect to the high-availability/high-performance (1 Gbps between switches) I/A Series process control network via standard fibre-optic 100 Mbps Ethernet. Both controllers utilise Foxboro's well-proven integrated (regulatory, logic, sequential) control package.
The new controllers and related system offer GPS time stamping, with 1 ms accuracy, availability for alarm messages, historian values, and new sequence of events (SOE) and transient data analysis (TDA) features. Discrete SOE data are time-stamped and sent to the workstation on a change basis. Analog TDA points are time stamped and sent to the workstation every 10 ms.
Additional features include, on-line software upgrades in both simplex and high-availability, redundant/fault-tolerant configurations, twice the application performance of previous I/A Series controllers to support even more sophisticated unit or plantwide control strategies, and enhanced support for PLCs and other third-party Ethernet- and serial-connected devices that communicate via Modbus, ControlLogix, OPC, or other protocols.
The new ZCP270 rack room controller supports relatively centralised control strategies in a highly secure manner, while the new field-mounted FCP270 controller supports highly distributed field-based control.
For more information contact Keith Guest, Protea Automation Solutions, 011 719 5700, keithg@protea.co.za, www.protea.co.za
Further reading:
Upgrading alarm systems for critical industries
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Omniflex’s OMNI16R alarm annunciator platform provides a direct replacement for legacy CSA systems such as MPAS 90 and SA9100, enabling operators in oil and gas, nuclear and power generation to modernise alarm infrastructure without sacrificing the clarity required for safe operations.
Read more...
How DCS can step off the hardware obsolescence treadmill
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Schneider Electric argues that virtualising DCS environments breaks the cycle of hardware obsolescence, giving plant operators a smarter path to lifecycle modernisation without production disruption.
Read more...
Loop signature Part 2-6
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
The Loop Signature series turns to frequency plot theory, explaining Bode open-loop plots and how dynamic gain, phase lag and crossover frequency can be extracted from test data to inform more accurate control loop tuning.
Read more...
PC-based control in surgery
Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Researchers at the University of Basel are using Beckhoff PC-based control technology to develop a miniature laser robot for minimally invasive bone surgery.
Read more...
IIoT controller for the field and control cabinet
ifm - South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
The IIoT controller from ifm is a powerful, communicative and flexible PLC solution in machine and plant digitalisation.
Read more...
How the DCS can step off the hardware obsolescence treadmill
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Ageing servers and unsupported operating systems are quietly eroding the stability of process plants that rely on distributed control systems. Kobus Vermeulen of Schneider Electric explains how virtualising the DCS environment can break the hardware obsolescence cycle without disrupting operations.
Read more...
Centralised control rooms where growth is elastic, not physical
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised control rooms feature distributed control system architecture consolidated into centralised compute environments. replacing traditional PCs with thin clients.
Read more...
Advanced DCSs preserve what must not change while enabling
Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Next-generation DCSs, such as Schneider Electric’s Foxboro, are preserving the best of the old while introducing the new in a less disruptive manner.
Read more...
Siemens launches new generation of logic controller
Siemens South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Siemens has launched the latest generation of its proven intelligent logic controller, LOGO! 9. This enables simple implementation of small automation projects.
Read more...
DCS for maximum plant efficiency and reliability
ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has introduced SPR2025, the latest Symphony Plus DCS package release to enable modernisation and efficient performance for the process and power industries.
Read more...
printer friendly version