Many factory automation applications benefit from using industrial Ethernet, including those in the food and beverage, cement, paper and packaging, petrochemical and materials handling industries. What previously had to be manually checked and configured, can now be done from the control room with improved efficiency and accuracy.
However, not all applications for industrial Ethernet switches have the same selection criteria. Some require water proof or water resistant devices, some need extended temperature models, and others demand units certified to withstand possibly hazardous conditions. Industrial Ethernet switches with specific features have therefore evolved to meet all these different requirements.
IP67 rated switches are ideal for food, beverage or dairy applications, where devices might come into contact with water or liquid. Models with extended temperature ranges are needed for outdoor environments to cope with varying climatic conditions. While industrial control devices certified by UL 508 are good choices for operation in hazardous environments.
Project overview
Cleaning in place (CIP) is a system designed for automatic cleaning and disinfecting of process equipment in industries such as food, beverages and pharmaceuticals. In the project under discussion, the automated CIP system is used in the dairy industry. For larger production and bulk facilities like this project, the centralised CIP system needed to clean and disinfect the production equipment is considered a critical utility.
A well-designed CIP system can not only be fully automated, but also allow the rest of the plant to continue operating while cleaning takes place. In order to achieve the right balance between hygiene, capacity and efficiency, the CIP system must be tailored to meet unique production requirements.
To achieve the necessary level of automation, accurate control is the key. CIP parameters, such as temperature, chemical concentration and time of exposure, need to be configured as required. The equipment cleaning schedules must also be planned in advance. Then, onsite data and control information must be able to flow between the automated systems and the central control room in order for things to happen.
A stable and fast industrial Ethernet solution is ideal for this type of project. The system integrator for this project chose switches from Ethernet Direct due to its reputation in the food, dairy and beverage industries. HMG-448G, an 8-port industrial managed Ethernet switch, was selected for its gigabit capability and other advanced functions like X-ring redundancy that allow the network to recover in the event of a power failure or port break.
HMG-448G also has VLAN feature that allow different groups of devices on the same network to be segmented for different configurations and tasks. VLAN’s provide the flexibility to adapt to changes in network requirements and allow for simplified administration.
Benefits derived from the Ethernet Direct solution
* Ring redundant design with less than 10 ms recovery time ensures network integrity in the event of disconnection.
* Full gigabit Ethernet connections ensure fast and reliable data transmission.
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