Profibus-PA expands its user base

Jan 2000 Fieldbus & Industrial Networking

United Distillers and Vintners Canada is one of the latest plants to install a Profibus-PA fieldbus system. This brings the total number of plants to more than 90 worldwide to have adopted Profibus-PA as its communications protocol.

The client has deployed two multi-vendor Profibus PA networks as part of its re-instrumentation project for a 19 storage tank application at its Valleyfield, Quebec, distillery with the aim to improve system reliability, increase monitoring accuracy and enhance its overall inventory management. The distillery, which processes more than 230 t of grain per day, sought to reduce production costs while increasing product quality. Says a spokesperson for Endress+Hauser, the instrument supplier for the contract, "The decision to use Profibus PA was made based on cutting the overall project cost for reinstrumen-ting the tanks, including cabling, hardware and software by about 40%."

The Profibus system helps manage the inventory of final products stored in the 19 tanks which are fitted with level transmitters connected via Profibus PA and two Pepperl+Fuchs segment couplers over Profibus DP to a Modicon PLC through an X-Link. A Profibus DP-to-Modbus gateway was provided by a separate supplier while Endress+Hauser's Commuwin II engineering and configuration software, installed on a PC, is utilised for configuring instruments.

Profibus PA is the intrinsically safe IEC 61158-2 compliant version of the Profibus fieldbus protocol, designed to provide power and data over the bus in hazardous areas. At present there are more than two million installed Profibus compliant devices in 200 000 applications throughout the world, worth an estimated $4,5 billion. It has been deployed in a broad spectrum of industries from mining, chemicals, food and brewing to water, wastewater treatment, paper and more. In South Africa, it has already seen its deployment in three major projects.

Endress+Hauser

(011) 444 1386

Further reading:

Introduction to Part 2 loop signatures and process transfer functions
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The previous series of loop signature articles dealt with the basics of control loop optimisation, and concentrated on troubleshooting and ‘SWAG’ tuning of simple processes. In this new series, consideration will be given to dealing practically with more difficult issues like interactive processes, and with processes with much more complex dynamics.

Read more...

---

Siemens sets new standards in drive technology
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Siemens is setting new standards in industrial drive technology with the launch of its new high-performance drive system, Sinamics S220. This offers a seamless and innovative drive system with comprehensive simulation and analysis capabilities and advanced connectivity features that enable full integration into digital work processes.

Read more...

---

PC-based control in the plastics industry
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Nissei Plastic, an injection moulding machine manufacturer based in Japan is implementing a worldwide tend towards open automation systems from experienced specialists using PC and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.

Read more...

---

Loop Signature 31: Non-linearity in control loops (Part 2)
Michael Brown Control Engineering Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
This article is a continuation of Loop Signature 30 published in the last issue in this series, exploring reasons for non-linearities which may be encountered in feedback control loops

Read more...

---

PC-based control optimises robotic parts handling on plastics machinery
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
NEO is a cartesian robot developed by INAUTOM Robótica in Portugal for parts removal on plastics machinery. Its aim is to increase system productivity. NAUTOM Robótica has entered into a strategic partnership with Bresimar Automação to increase the working speed of the cartesian robots using advanced control and motion solutions from Beckhoff. The result is a comprehensive, future-proof automation solution for its entire family of cartesian robots.

Read more...

---

PC-based control for flat wire motors for electric vehicles
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Special machine manufacturer, ruhlamat Huarui Automation Technologies unveiled the second generation of its mass production line for flexible stators with bar winding. This enables extremely short production cycle and line changeover times, supported by PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.

Read more...

---

Case History 200: The final case history – desuperheater control problem.
Michael Brown Control Engineering Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
For this final article I have chosen to relate a problem that existed in a desuperheater temperature control on a boiler in a petrochemical refinery.

Read more...

---

PC-based control technology in additive manufacturing
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
As an open control platform, PC-based control supports different engineering approaches, including low-code programming. The machine builder, Additive Industries uses this to create the code for the TwinCAT runtime of its 3D printers.

Read more...

---

Suppression and safety solutions for fire and gas in mission-critical industries
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
By representing world-leading brands and focusing on fully integrated, certified systems, HMA South Africa is positioning itself as a trusted partner in fire detection, suppression and explosion-proof safety solutions across the continent.

Read more...

---

Integrating fire alarm systems into building management systems
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Fire alarm systems work independently of the building automation system. Schrack Seconet has developed a flexible gateway using ultra-compact industrial PCs and TwinCAT from Beckhoff, which can be used to flexibly convert a customer-specific communication protocol to a wide range of transmission standards.

Read more...

---