Measurement and Testing
53 Realizing the benefi ts of Ethernet APL
The fi rst fi eld devices incorporating Ethernet-APL connectivity are already coming to market, offering petrochemical plant operators the benefi ts of simplifi ed connectivity together with high-speed collection and analysis of process and diagnostic data. ABB’s latest-generation VortexMaster and SwirlMaster fl owmeters, for example, bring robust, reliable cost-effective industrial Ethernet communications to extremely precise liquid, gas, and steam fl ow measurement.
The full benefi ts of Ethernet-APL connectivity can be realized with tools like ABB’s SmartMaster Asset Performance Management platform. Powerful but easy-to-use, SmartMaster enables rapid troubleshooting, remote diagnostics, non- invasive process analytics, and more by combining operational data, engineering data, and IT services.
Refl ecting its intended use in hazardous environments typical to petrochemical production, a Ethernet-APL has been developed with the consideration of intrinsic safety as a key requirement. A range of defi ned power classes includes a port profi le that limits maximum supply voltage and current. This prevents levels of electrical energy capable of causing sparking from reaching the physical connector in fl ammable or explosive atmospheres.
A further barrier to wider adoption of regular Ethernet in fi eld- level applications has been a maximum point-to-point cabling length rated at 100 meters. Beyond this distance, progressive degradation in data transmission speed and reliability makes the standard unsuited to large process plants. Ethernet-APL, by comparison, stretches point-to-point connection distances by an order of magnitude. It also accommodates trunk and spur network topologies that are commonly encountered in the process industries, with a maximum trunk length of up to 1,000 meters carrying signals and high power. Meanwhile shorter spurs can carry lower power with optional intrinsic safety for lengths up to 200 meters.
Further must-haves in the specifi cation include fl exible installation options to suit the needs of modern plant operations. Devices are typically connected through a point- to-point link with the Ethernet-APL switch that can be part of a network ring of many devices. This provides media redundancy when increased availability is important.
Reinforcing its appeal in a wide range of process control and automation environments, Ethernet-APL naturally plays nicely
with various industrial communication protocols. PROFINET, Open Platform Communication Unifi ed Architecture (OPC UA), Ethernet/IP and ModbusTCP are all supported. What’s more, migrating to Ethernet-APL from conventional Fieldbus or analogue 4-20 mA HART solutions eliminates the need for gateways or other protocol conversions. From a plant operator’s perspective this realizes the benefi ts of reduced system complexity as well as lower ownership costs.
The ease with which Ethernet-APL allows different fi eld instrumentation technologies and communication protocols to be combined is highlighted when it’s teamed with Field Device Integration (FDI) technologies. Offering native support for PROFIBUS, PROFINET, WirelessHART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and other communication protocols, FDI standardizes the software tools needed to integrate FDI-compliant devices with an FDI-enabled DCS or other host system.
This fl exibility offered by Ethernet-APL and FDI also opens the door to streamlined confi guration and commissioning of large fl eets of fi eld devices. Fieldbus device management tools such as ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager (FIM) support new and legacy communication protocols alike, with the capability to integrate Ethernet-APL devices via either FDI packages or the current PA Profi le 4.02 device package also allows Ethernet-APL fi eld switches to be integrated, facilitating both confi guration and diagnostic checking using the same workfl ow and tooling. Furthermore, FIM offers an OPC UA interface that opens up integration with higher-level asset management, performance management and diagnostic applications.
As the scale and complexity of industrial process operations increase, petrochemical plant operators are seeking new opportunities to optimize production effi ciency through better visibility, control and management of their instrumentation assets.
Addressing many of the practical obstacles that have limited the utility of Ethernet communications in challenging industrial environments, the recently ratifi ed Ethernet-APL physical layer standard simplifi es the collection and exchange of high- speed digital data from the latest generation of connected fi eld devices. Building on the foundations of the world’s most widely used wired networking technology, Ethernet-APL supports plant owners’ progressive digitalization strategies by simplifying the combination of different fi eld instrumentation technologies and communication protocols – especially when it’s teamed with Field Device Integration (FDI) technologies.
Transforming possibilities –
both today and tomorrow By breaking down the barriers that have historically limited Ethernet’s reach in hazardous and complex industrial environments, Ethernet-APL opens exciting possibilities for real-time data utilization and smarter process management in petrochemical applications. With its open standards, seamless compatibility with existing and emerging communication protocols, Ethernet-APL not only addresses today’s challenges but also paves the way for future innovations.
Author Contact Details David Bowers, ABB Measurement & Analytics • Howard Road, Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EU • Tel: +44 1480 475 321 • Email.
david.bowers@
gb.abb.com • Web:
www.abb.com/measurement
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