Experion now includes embedded batch and simulation capabilities.
The enhanced version of Experion process knowledge system (PKS) from Honeywell allows plant operators to carefully coordinate process control, safety shutdown and fire and gas mitigation steps. In addition to the unique safety instrumented system (SIS) integration, Experion helps improve plant operations through embedded simulation capabilities used for comprehensive operator training and control, display and procedure validation. The system also introduces new integrated batch functionality that can significantly increase production as well as reliability for chemical and life sciences companies.
Enhanced functionality
The Experion process automation and control system is used to provide operators greater insight into plant operations. The system feeds data from critical plant subsystems directly to operators to help improve decision making in the control room.
“Experion was originally designed to streamline overall operations, and this latest version expands upon that principle by eliminating the need for intermediate devices to relay important information to the nerve centre of the plant,” said Harsh Chitale, vice president of strategy and global marketing for Honeywell Process Solutions. “This release is the most efficient system of its kind, and that efficiency translates to safer, more reliable and more profitable plants.”
Safety features
Through integration with the company’s newest safety manager platform, Experion provides crucial safety and fire and gas information, such as pre-shutdown alerts, directly to operators using a common display. This allows Experion to provide operators with plant-wide SIS point data, diagnostics and system information, as well as alarms and events, operator displays and sequence-of-event information. It also reduces overall system and maintenance costs by reducing the amount of installed field sensor equipment.
Another key capability of Experion is a unique alarm shelving utility that allows operators to better manage and prioritise alarms on their displays. This capability is based on several years of collaboration between Honeywell and the Abnormal Situation Management consortium in the interest of improving operator effectiveness during abnormal situations that can lead to process upsets.
Batch management and simulation
Experion can also help increase production capacity through the new Experion Batch Manager. The system’s embedded batch functionality allows chemical and life sciences customers to execute batches at the control level, versus using a separate server. This makes the system more reliable, less complex and easier to maintain. One beta customer calculated it would earn several million dollars in additional revenue by moving to a controller-based batch execution system.
Additionally, Experion features embedded integration capability with Honeywell’s UniSim simulation tool and can be used to train operators on processes before they are implemented in a plant. This approach can help prepare operators for normal and abnormal operations and improves plant reliability by reducing operator errors. Experion’s comprehensive simulation capability also provides significant engineering efficiency by testing control strategies, displays, and procedures before applying them on live processes.
The system provides a reliable interface with third-party subsystems to reduce overall cost of ownership. The process control data interface uses universally accepted MODBUS TCP protocol to control devices such as remote terminal units, terminal servers, analysers and scales.
For more information contact Debbie Rae, Honeywell Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 695 8000, [email protected], www.honeywell.co.za
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