New Foundation Fieldbus specification
January 2009
News
The Fieldbus Foundation has released the final Foundation Fieldbus Diagnostic Profiles Specification. Based on guidelines established by the NAMUR Working Group 2.6, this specification builds upon the robust diagnostic features already provided by Foundation Fieldbus devices. At the same time, it allows end users to harness enhanced electronic device description language (EDDL) technology to achieve true, actionable diagnostics.
According to the NAMUR NE107 recommendation, 'Self Monitoring and Diagnosis of Field Devices', fieldbus diagnostic results should be reliable and viewed in the context of a given application. The document recommends categorising internal diagnostics into four standard status signals. It also stipulates configuration should be free, as reactions to a fault in the device may be very different depending on the user’s requirements. According to NE107, plant operators should only see status signals, with detailed information viewable by device specialists.
Using the power of Foundation Fieldbus, and considering the NAMUR NE107 recommendations, the Fieldbus Foundation developed a profiles specification enhancing organisation and integration of device diagnostics within Foundation Fieldbus systems. The specification will also help ensure future fieldbus devices are consistent with NAMUR guidelines.
Stephen Mitschke, Fieldbus Foundation manager - fieldbus products, commented, “Cooperation between the Fieldbus Foundation and NAMUR enabled all parties to develop a greater understanding of end user requirements during this period of rapid fieldbus adoption. Users will benefit from our collaboration thanks to easier diagnostic configuration, greater application flexibility, and fewer spurious alarms.”
The Foundation Fieldbus Diagnostic Profiles Specification identifies 'role-based diagnostics' for fieldbus equipment and defines a consistent set of parameters for diagnostic alarming. This approach supports categorisation of diagnostics according to NE107, thus ensuring the right diagnostic information is available to the right person – at the right time. In addition, it allows diagnostics to be applied, as most appropriate, for a particular plant application, such as: process control engineering or asset management.
For more information contact Vinesh Nundkishore, +27 (0)83 232 7398, vineshn@alpret.co.za, or Gary Friend, +27 (0)83 309 8200, garyf@tempcon.co.za
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