Advanced wireless technology improves plant performance
The launch of in-plant Smart Wireless solutions that enable manufacturers to boost mainstream applications to the next level of reliability and operational performance is the latest offering from Emerson Process Management.
These new solutions extend the company's PlantWeb digital plant architecture andit saysdeliver actionable information from assets previously out of physical or economic reachexpanding predictive process and asset management in existing and new facilities.
Smart Wireless combines innovative self-organising wireless network technology and gateways with wireless-enabled Rosemount measurement transmitters and wireless AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager predictive maintenance software. These are seamlessly integrated with DeltaV and Ovation automation systemsor legacy hosts.
The design of the new solutions is based on customer input at all levels of the development cycle and they have been field proven using extensive user trials.
The company's SmartStart wireless service experts help customers with first start-upincluding full network health assessment to ensure robust communications plus verification of device functionality through the chosen outputincluding ModbusOPC and Ethernet.
According to Emersonincremental information gained from use of Smart Wireless solutions can enhance customer understanding of their processesand identify opportunities for improvement. It can improve response time to safety incidentsminimise emissionsand help protect the environment while at the same time expanding proactive maintenance and extending the life of assets.
“Wireless measurement technology will help users see and control more of what happens in their plants. Besides huge savings in installation coststhis will drive fundamental process and automation improvements that are not possible with wired measurements. That is what makes this the most fundamental improvement in process automation in decades” commented industry analyst Harry Forbes of ARC Advisory Group.
“ARC believes there is pent-up demand for wireless in both new and existing applications. That demand will be realised quickly once end users are confident that new products meet their application requirements. Emerson has collaborated extensively with end users during their development process and has engaged end users for extensive field trials” he added.
“Manufacturers hate surprises in their facilitiesand have long wanted to have eyes and ears on every asset to know what is really going on in their operation” said John Berrapresident of Emerson Process Management. “Until nowthere was no easyreliable and economical way to reach all of the assets that needed monitoring. Smart Wireless technology for in-plant mainstream applications changes that paradigm. Inspired by customer inputwe began R&D of this new technology in 1998and have completed three years of customer field trials. In those trialswe’ve seen customers quickly discover and remedy problems that would have gone undetected.”
OverallEmerson wireless trial customers have experienced 99.9 per cent network reliabilityextremely easy deploymentindustrial strength securitylong battery lifeand as much as 90 per cent less installed cost.
Starter kit
To make it even easier for customers to reach the next level of business improvementthe company is introducing the Wireless SmartPack starter kitconsisting of: SmartStart services; from 5-100 wireless Rosemount flowpressurelevelor temperature transmitters; wireless gateway; and a 25-tag AMS Intelligent Device Manager software application for predictive information access with a native wireless gateway. Completely pre-engineeredchecked out and configuredthe network will form right out of the boxwith no additional user input or set-up.
A complete set of technical documentationonline tools and information about the newest additions to the Smart Wireless portfolio is available at www.emersonprocess.com/SmartWireless
Alsowithin the next few monthsEmerson will start an in-plant Smart Wireless design contest aimed at inspiring process engineers to unleash their imaginations and creative engineering spirit by submitting innovative applications they have found where wireless technology delivered new insight and business benefits. Their experiencesinsightsand tips will form a foundation to speed wireless usage and benefits in the new age of wireless.
In-plant Smart Wireless solutions for 900 MHz applications can be ordered now in North Americaand will be available in Latin America in early 2007. The 2.4 GHz solutions will launch in Europe and Asia in early 2007and will also be available then in Latin America.Meanwhileto encourage users of Foxboro or other vendors’ control systems to take advantage of innovative performance services designed to help improve plant performance and safetyInvensys Process Systems has announced three different
- Control performance analysis provided at no charge for the first 50 plants that submit appropriate data by 30th November 2006 (no purchase required).
- One industrial WiFi wireless hot spot provided at no charge for customers who sign up for a paid wireless site assessment study by the same dateor.
- Elimination of up to 20 nuisance alarms at no charge for customers who sign up for a paid alarm management studyagain by the same date.
The first is a free study analysis and the data does not have to be from an Invensys platform.
After receiving the informationone of the company’s performance services experts will run its diagnostic service against the process. The results will include the following: identification of process constraints by identifying valves at limithigh or low; identification of control loop cycling behaviourincluding the cause from tuningprocess loador faulty valves; within the scope of the number of loopsan interaction analysis of interacting loopsand if possible a recommendation on the root cause of the source of interaction. If the data has some setpoint changes in itInvensys can also develop process models and recommend tuning changes. These results will then be presented in a 30–45 minute web demo session.
The wireless site assessment study provides a comprehensive plan for implementing a fully scalable wireless infrastructure to support multiple applications for various customer business units within an enterprisefor example securityhuman resourcesoperationsmaintenanceprocessIT asset management and material flow. This study lays the groundwork for enabling highly secure wireless technologies at a facility. The result is a comprehensive plan to enable current and future applications required to decrease costs and improve operational efficiencies within the facility.
For its partthe alarm management assessment study provides a comprehensive plan for improving effectiveness of your plant operators. This study lays the groundwork for reducing operator loading and decreasing the risk of excursionsreleases and shutdowns. The result is a comprehensive plan to enable alarms which will permit a decrease in costs and an improvement in operational efficiencies within the plant. Included in the study are: a baseline report of alarm system performance; performance target based on best practicesas outlined by EEMUA; recommended methodology on alarm system improvement; and the elimination of 20 nuisance alarms for free as part of this limited time offer.
For more informationvisit www.foxboro.com/LTO
"