Data acquisition
process and diagnostic data collected by instrumentation and control systems. However, achieving seamless integration across the entirety of a chemical plant's operations has been hindered by the proliferation of different technical standards and communication protocols that have obstructed the collection and processing of data, leaving valuable insights locked away within sensors, controllers, and subsystems. With recent advances in technology, including cloud computing, edge computing, and data networking, these challenges are being steadily addressed, opening new possibilities for unlocking the full potential of end-to-end instrumentation integration to enable enhanced operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in chemical plants.
E
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF INDUSTRIAL DATA
The advent of recent ICT industry trends, such as edge computing and cloud solutions, has revolutionised the approaches to collecting, storing, processing, and exchanging process control and automation data. The NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA) represents a significant stride in this direction by decoupling process control from other plant functions to enable disparate devices to seamlessly connect to a unified network, regardless of their geographical location. This departure from the conventional automation hierarchy allows for real-time access to a wealth of data beyond mere measured values to encompass diagnostics, calibration schedules, and other derived information. This enhanced visibility empowers plant operators to optimise processes for maximum efficiency while proactively identifying and addressing potential issues
fficiency, safety, and
sustainability are paramount concerns for chemical plant owners in today’s industrial landscape. These objectives rely on extracting actionable insights from the vast array of
UNLOCKING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEAMLESS INSTRUMENT INTEGRATION IN CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS
before they escalate. Additionally, the ready availability of data facilitates compliance with the reporting requirements set down by stringent safety and environmental legislation, ensuring regulatory adherence.
TACKLING COMMUNICATION BARRIERS As the enabler for data exchange between devices and controllers, communication protocols play a key role in achieving seamless integration between instruments and process control systems. Ethernet, with its superior speed
and flexibility, provides instrumentation and process control vendors with unprecedented freedom in selecting real-time communication protocols. The preeminent choice for this task in industrial environments is PROFINET, which simplifies interfacing and data retrieval from devices by utilising an application profile defining standardised data parameters for different devices.
Offering compatibility with network-centric architectures
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May 2024 Instrumentation Monthly
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