PROFINEWS

 
 

PROFINEWS 81 AUGUST 2011

AN UNFOLDING STORY

"Now, a further chapter in this exciting story is unfolding as GE Intelligent Platforms announces plans for a series of technology seminars based on their PROFINET applications." Bryant

In recent years it has been a pleasure to watch GE Intelligent Platforms join PI North America and participate in PI Working Groups at an international level helping develop the PROFINET specifications. Recently we welcomed Bernie Anger of GE Control and Communication Systems to our Board of Directors. Now, a further chapter in this exciting story is unfolding as GE Intelligent Platforms announces plans for a series of technology seminars based on their PROFINET applications. These plans are truly global and in this issue you can read (above right) about the North American venues decided so far (there are 60!).  China dates have been added too, and European and Australian events are to be announced shortly. I am truly delighted that GE Intelligent Platforms is demonstrating its commitment to PROFINET like this. It's further proof that PROFINET is on the way to achieving the same status in automation as PROFIBUS did before it. Why not call your favored supplier, or your local Regional PI Association (there are 27 around the world - see left) to find out what PROFINET can do for you?

Michael J Bryant, PI Deputy Chairman

PI NEWS

Common WirelessHART Gateway specified

Fieldbus Foundation, the HART Communication Foundation (HCF) and PI have joined forces to create a common architecture for a WirelessHART gateway device. Cooperation on this architecture is an extension of the three organizations' successful collaboration on Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) and is another step towards delivering open systems to process industry end users.  The specification enables anyone to design and build gateway products.

The gateway allows a WirelessHART mesh network to communicate with a host via the Fieldbus Foundation's HSE protocol, PROFIBUS and PROFINET. I/O mapping and the use of DD files are consistent among these protocols. The diagram shows how data from a wireless mesh sensor network could be integrated into a host automation system. The collection of sensors is configured as a mesh, so devices can communicate directly, or route messages through another sensor if the primary path becomes blocked. www.eddl.org

APPLICATIONS

Untangling Crossed Wires

There was no doubt that PROFIBUS was the perfect choice of fieldbus technology for these applications, but non-standard installation and faulty design led to the problems. Fortunately the PICC was able to fix all issues quickly using readily available tools and expertise.

A PI Competence Center in Sydney, Australia, has come to the rescue of Rio Tinto’s Clermont Mine in North Queensland, using well-proven PROFIBUS diagnostic tools to identify and fix a range of installation issues that badly hindered production.

The surface coal mining operation involves a continuous mining and transportation system.  Excavated coal is loaded onto dump trucks, transported to a nearby sizer where it is crushed, then dumped into a tipper and discharged onto another conveyor belt linked to a mobile spreader. This system uses three PROFIBUS DP networks, the first operating the sizer, the second operating the tipper car and the third the spreader itself.  

Australian MiningSix months after operations began, communication issues arose resulting in significant downtime and frequent breakdowns in the dispersing operation.  Rio Tinto contacted the PI Competence Center (PICC) in Sydney. PICC engineers visited the site and used PROFIBUS diagnostic tools such as ProfiTrace and ProfiCore to identify the causes. They uncovered these issues:

⇒ PROFIBUS cable was coiled up tightly inside the ducting, creating spurious inductive signals.

⇒ Non-certified PROFIBUS cabling was used inside the lube system.

⇒ Cable shielding and screening was not adequate, resulting in interference.

⇒ Cables were not properly terminated and repeaters were not correctly installed.

⇒ Cables lying parallel to high voltage lines caused distortion and interruption to signals.

⇒ Cables were often bent and pushed into cabinets, rather than installed as straight runs.  

There was no doubt that PROFIBUS was the perfect choice of fieldbus technology for these applications, but non-standard installation and faulty design led to the problems. Fortunately the PICC was able to fix all issues quickly using readily available tools and expertise.  PI AUSTRALIA

Refining Vegetable Oils

An investment of almost 12 million pesos was recovered within just nine months through greater product consistency and less downtime. The company is now starting to think of implementing a manufacturing execution system.

Manual control systems at a Southeast Asia fats and oil producer are being re-vamped with automation systems based on PROFIBUS and PROFINET, leading to ROIs measured in months.

Oleo Fats, the number one supplier of specialty fats and oils to the Philippines’ food industry has an annual growth rate around 10 percent. Production is a continuous refining of crude coconut oil and other vegetable oils, involving steps such as degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization. Straight oil can then be sold as a frying product, or undergo further processing such as blending or hydrogenating to realize other products such as ice cream and soft candy, hamburger buns and other baked products

PROFIBUS AT OLEO FATS IN THE PHILLIPINNESThree years ago the company took a serious look at automation as a means of overcoming issues related to their manual operations, notably data analysis, alarm responses and diagnostics. There was also a growing need to connect production to the company’s information system.

The first phase saw refining plants PRP 3 and PRP 5 converted. A SCADA plus PLC system now uses AS-i bus for field level connections with a link device to PROFINET, on which the PLCs and Operator Stations are connected. An investment of almost 12 million pesos was recovered within just nine months through greater product consistency and less downtime. The company is now starting to think of implementing a manufacturing execution system.

PROFIBUS AT OLEO FATS IN THE PHILLIPINNESA second automation phase, involving refining plants PRP 1 and PRP 6, uses PROFIBUS PA to network the process instruments, while keeping AS-i bus for motors, on/off valves and level switches. A DP/PA coupler is used for interfacing the PROFIBUS PA network to a backbone PROFIBUS DP network.

This use of PROFIBUS PA for mass flowmeters, radar level transmitters, pressure transmitters, and modulating valves makes this site one of the most significant PROFIBUS implementations in Southeast Asia. Oleo Fats say they are now able to troubleshoot operations just by looking at the Operator screen. There’s no need to climb on top of a tank or go around collecting lots of data, potentially wasting tons of oil while diagnosing and rectifying problems.

“Having that information right before you has really been the number one benefit,” they say. Automating the plant has also enabled a much smoother and predictable production output, with quality and consistency gains.

PI WORLD: news from the Regional PI Associations

MIDDLE EAST

PI MIDDLE EAST In June 2011, PI Middle East welcomed Dr. Hassan Kaghazchi, Chairman of PI Ireland, who certified three new Competence Centers in UAE, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Each Competence Center is already a strong player in their local automation market.  Paula Doyle, PI Middle East Chairman  said: "We are delighted to enhance our regional network with three PICCs whose focus is firmly on the end-user. I want to commend all three for their hard work and preparation. I also thank our vendor members for supporting the centers with donated equipment. A Water & Wastewater Technical Seminar has been scheduled for October in Abu Dhabi and the first Metals Technical Seminar is scheduled for November, also in Abu Dhabi. middle.east@profibus.com

JAPAN

JAPAN PROFIBUS AND PROFINET DAYWith the cooperation of 30 vendors and 2 Associations, Japanese PROFIBUS Organization (JPO) held two 'PROFIBUS & PROFINET Day 2011' in Osaka and Tokyo in July. About 300 participants listened to ten seminar sessions covering the latest news about PROFIBUS and PROFINET, with emphasis on how to develop devices easily. This year, visitors were particularly interested in an engineering demonstration of PROFIBUS and PROFINET systems in which five controllers from different vendors were shown being connected to five devices from different device makers. The engineering was completed very smoothly and quickly and visitors realized that with PROFIBUS and PROFINET they do not need to worry about vendor selection because most active vendors have PROFIBUS and PROFINET controllers and devices in their product line. JAPAN

BRAZIL

BRAZIL PICC TRAINING CLASSESIn June, the (PITC) PI Training Center Brazil organized the third of its 2011 training classes, entitled "Introduction to Configuration and Installation of PROFIBUS Networks." Ten professionals participated, coming from end users, integrators and PROFIBUS suppliers. The photo right shows participants at the end of a successful day's work. BRAZIL

SOUTH AFRICA

PI SOUTH AFRICA LECTURESIt’s been a busy few months for the South African Regional PROFIBUS Association (SARPA) chaired by Rob Mackenzie from Endress+Hauser. First, it hosted a booth at the biennial Process Expo in May - an opportunity for both seasoned and unseasoned users to join the PROFI User Forum (www.profibus.co.za) and learn how to troubleshoot PROFIBUS Networks. Brendan Gunn, from The PROFIBUS Competence Center of South Africa (PCC), presented one hour lectures and demonstrated ProfiTrace from PROCENTEC, NetTEST II from COMSOFT and the BC-600-PB from Softing using the PCC’s mobile training rigs featuring a new addition to the PROFIBUS product family: PROCENTEC’s COMbricks which is a permanent monitoring system for PROFIBUS networks. Elsewhere, certified PROFIBUS training courses are being filled to capacity and in September the PCC will welcome Dennis van Booma to validate the center for certified PROFINET training. The PCC’s website has also had a revamp. SOUTH AFRICA

NORTH AMERICA

GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING FOR MEMBERS IN NORTH AMERICAThe 2011 Members General Assembly Meeting has been scheduled for October 4th-6th in Scottsdale, AZ, when members of PI North America will gather for two days of presentations, strategy sessions and southwestern hospitality all designed to enhance PROFIBUS and PROFINET activities in North America! This annual event brings together vendors and users to provide a fuller appreciation of the PROFIBUS and PROFINET marketplaces and is also an opportunity for members to shape PI North America's marketing focus. An online Registration Form is here.   NORTH AMERICA

PROFINEWS is published by PI, a global community supporting technological excellence in industrial automation. It represents PROFIBUS, PROFINET and IO-Link and actively collaborates with other leading automation groups such as ECT, HART, FDI, FF, OPC and WCT.

www.profibus.com or www.profinet.com

MEMBER NEWS

GE unveils Global Seminars

GE INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS

New Board Member in PI North America, GE Intelligent Platforms, has announced a global series of seminars supporting the use of PROFINET in its automation systems. Entitled 'Simplifying Distributed I/O & Installed Base Modernization' the seminars aim to show how users can save time, reduce hardware cost and improve automation system performance through the use of the integrated PROFINET network on the PACSystems RX3i controller, VersaMax distributed I/O, and a wide range of third-party devices. USA venues are here. Recently announced Chinese venues are here. Australian and European venues will be published shortly.

PI NEWS

New PROFINET and PROFIdrive Systems Descriptions

A brand new PROFINET System Description has been published. This 28 page document covers all functional aspects of PROFINET in an easy-to-understand format, and is an ideal way to understand what PROFINET can do for modern plant automation.  The second publication - a PROFIdrive System Description - explains the choices available with this powerful profile for drives. Find the PROFINET System Description here.  Find the PROFIdrive System Description here.

Social Media ... and PROFI-TV

PI is now producing videos based on educational, news and technology topics. Branded as PROFI-TV (see logo above) the collection is aimed at helping viewers access the PI organization and its technologies more easily. Current titles include 'The Benefits of PROFINET' and 'How to Implement PROFINET'. Watch the videos here. Members can download these films by logging in. The videos are also available on Youtube where you can subscribe to keep up to date as new ones are added.

There are many other ways in which you can access PROFIBUS and PROFINET over the internet. Here are some:

⇒ profiblogger (another PI TV channel)

⇒ PROFINET LinkedIn Group

⇒ PROFIblog from Carl Henning in North America.

⇒ Carl Tweets too; follow him @CHenning

⇒ Webinars Find them here.

NEW PRODUCTS

PACSystems has PROFINET

GE Intelligent Platforms has launched PACSystems with integrated real-time PROFINET. A high speed network with the ability to drop large amounts of I/O without compromising performance, PACSystems with PROFINET can operate in high-noise areas and cover large distances in real time with an elegant redundancy capability to maximize uptime. "The new PACSystems with PROFINET helps our customers increase production uptime, increase asset performance and improve their reliability,” says the company. GE INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS

Autoscan for Quantum PROFIBUS

PROSOFT NEW QUANTUM AUTOSCAN MODULEProSoft Technology’s PROFIBUS DP-V1 Master module for Schneider Electric Quantum PLCs and all PROFIBUS DP-V1 Master gateways now supports the Autoscan feature. Autoscan reduces start up times and simplifies troubleshooting. For users migrating from the Schneider Electric PROFIBUS Scanner, Autoscan can help reduce engineering and implementation costs. For critical applications, the in-chassis PROFIBUS DP-V1 Master module also offers hot standby, with switchover under 300 milliseconds. PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY

IO-Link Tester

MESCO IO-LINK TESTERThe new IO-Link test specification (Revision 1.1) is now available from MESCO Systems in its IO-Link Master Tester, which may be customized for use with different field bus interfaces. PROFIBUS DP is the first supported fieldbus version.  The device simulates the IO-Link Device and allows the Master to be analyzed. A monitoring function for trouble-shooting is incorporated.  MESCO is an approved IO-Link Competence Center and also offers fully-tested IO-Link Stacks. MESCO SYSTEMS.

PC PROFINET Controller

RT PC CONTROL FROM PHOENIX CONTACTThanks to new PC Worx RT Basic, this industrial PC is now a fully fledged control unit. When used separately the processor kernels for control, and the Windows environment, enable real-time implementation of control tasks. The device supports PROFINET I/O controller and PROFINET I/O device functions. A further board supports Interbus. HTTP, SNTP, SNMP, SMTP, SQL, and MySQL services are built-in. PC Worx RT Basic is characterized by a significantly lower wiring requirement and a smaller control cabinet volume. PHOENIX CONTACT

PCIE PROFIBUS

FC3121 and FC3122 PROFIBUS PC Fieldbus Cards now have a PCI Express interface enabling up to 30 kB of PROFIBUS I/O data to be transmitted per channel. The cards can be used as single-channel (FC3131) or dual-channel (FC3122) PROFIBUS masters or slaves. Both can be equipped with NOVRAM cards, in which case secured data can be transmitted to another fieldbus card within this module, thus ensuring high availability of the machine or plant controller. BECKHOFF

More Products

Visit our online PRODUCT GUIDE for more PROFIBUS and PROFINET products.

PICC NEWS

Italy joins up with WirelessHART

WIRELESSHART SEMINAR AT PICC BRESCIA

A vendor-neutral seminar called “Using WirelessHART Communication in Process Industries” was organized in June courtesy of CSMT Gestione - the PI Competence Center at Brescia, together with the HART Communications Foundation. Since 2007 the Wireless Cooperation Team - PI is one of the three member organizations - has been working to harmonize interaction between WirelessHART and the PROFIBUS/PROFINET technologies. More than 50 participants attended. Technical sessions were managed by experts Pepperl+Fuchs, Emerson Process Management and Endress and Hauser. Topics included the basics of the HART protocol, an overview of WirelessHART and a brief introduction on implementation. The scalability and ease of integration with existing PROFIBUS and PROFINET installations together with the security mechanisms were stressed. Interoperability between different vendors' devices was proved through live demonstrations. One attendee commented that he was skeptical about the performance of wireless in industrial applications. "However," he said, “looking at devices from different providers exchanging data after very few configuration steps was impressive!”. ITALY

PI WEB NEWS

All Things PROFINET now has lots more Device Developer material, including a table showing which company can best help with your kind of PROFINET implementation.

www.profibus.com now has a completely revised technology section.

Enhanced Product Guide

The continuing growth of PROFINET and PROFIBUS is underlined by the large number of products on the market. There are now more than 2,100 PROFIBUS and about 500 PROFINET devices and services available for online search in our Product Guide.