Instrumentation
Wireless field devices benefit from technology standards
Wireless field devices have many advantages over wired solutions and the advent of more wireless technology standards is widening their appeal. Eugene McCarthy reports.
Drahtlose Feldgeräte haben viele Vorteile gegenüber kabelgebundenen Lösungen und die Einführung weiterer Standards für drahtlose Technik steigert ihren Reiz. Eugene McCarthy berichtet.
Les dispositifs de terrain sans fil disposent d’avantages plus conséquents par rapport aux solutions filaires, et l’avènement de nombreuses normes en matière de technologie sans fil augmente leur intérêt. Selon Eugene McCarthy.
F
ield wireless systems enable field devices and other control and monitoring systems around the process plant to communicate wirelessly with each other. As
such, they have numerous advantages over traditional wired devices, including allowing field instruments or sensors to be placed in difficult to access or hazardous locations. They also cost less to install and maintain than wired solutions. Many such systems adhere to the ISA100
wireless technology standard, which is designed to assure interoperability within a flexible framework, support new protocols, and future-proof users’ wireless network investments.
Enhanced natural workflow Yokogawa has just come out as a strong advocate of the standard with the launch of a multi-protocol wireless adaptor that enables wired field instruments to function as ISA100 wireless devices. In May and July the company will launch
models that support communications systems based on the HART and RS485 Modbus standards. To facilitate the introduction of field wireless systems in plants, Yokogawa plans to release additional models that will cover other standards, too.
The launch is part of Yokogawa’s Wireless Anywhere concept which seeks to promote the plant-wide use of field wireless systems by developing ISA100 wireless devices such as this multi-protocol wireless adaptor.
Analytical sensor When the multi-protocol wireless adaptor is mounted on a wired field instrument or analytical sensor, the instrument or sensor is able to function as an ISA100 wireless device. It may be used with any type of wired field instrument or analytical sensor commonly used in plants, including those used to monitor temperature, pressure, liquid level, or vibration, or to detect gas. It is compatible with both Yokogawa devices and devices from other vendors. By giving customers a greater range of
field instruments and analytical sensors to choose from, Yokogawa expects that this multi- protocol wireless adaptor will greatly facilitate the introduction of field wireless systems. The battery in the multi-protocol wireless
adaptor can also power the field instrument or analytical sensor, eliminating the need for wiring. As with other Yokogawa field wireless
devices, the multi-protocol wireless adaptor uses a large-capacity lithium-ion battery, and this is able to power both the multi-protocol wireless adaptor and the field instrument or analytical sensor for a long time. An indicator on the host system shows
the estimated remaining days of battery life.
An all-weather model type that is
waterproof and dustproof performance and an explosion-protection type that can be used in the presence of inflammable gases are scheduled to be released. Yokogawa has also started providing
sensor manufacturers a new wireless communications module with a built-in antenna.
Fig. 1. The multi-protocol wireless adaptor enables wired field instruments to function as ISA100 wireless devices.
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