SPONSORED FEATURE Cover story
cables could not be used at the field level in factories that have potentially hazardous conditions. To overcome this obstacle, ABB, in cooperation with a group of leading process industry suppliers and international standards organisations, has developed a solution in which intrinsic safety is fully integrated, including a profile that limits supply voltage and current, thus eliminating the risk of sparking. Known as Ethernet Advanced Physical Layer (APL), the solution offers enhanced data rates of up to 10Mbps, a shielded two-wire connection for carrying power and data safely over the same cable, and cable lengths of up to 1,000 meters. The technology thus opens new possibilities for digital collection and analysis of data in chemical, oil and gas, and hydrogen industry processes.
E
Ethernet for Industry Ethernet and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the dominant communication standard in the world today. The basic idea behind this standard is that multiple computers have access to it and can send data at any time. Widely used in domestic and commercial settings, Ethernet is now finding growing use in industrial measurement applications, connecting the worlds of information and operation technology. As a ‘plug and play’ technology, Ethernet is easy to set up. Compared to other protocols, it allows the use of more common, commercially available, IT components, thus helping to future proof systems and keep costs down by providing access to many sources of supply. It also offers several other benefits. Multiple protocols and applications share the same infrastructure. Eliminating gateways and protocol converters enables seamless communication, thus lowering cost and complexity of getting data from where it is generated to where it is needed, while at the same time providing high reliability, low signal loss and high-speed functionality.
Ethernet-APL’s innovative communication technology can help manufacturing companies improve their operational efficiency by providing a high-speed channel for process data as well as configuration and diagnostic information. It furthermore offers a readily scalable solution for connecting devices in the field to a control system and enables simplified networking with all instruments in a plant, as well as opening new opportunities for process optimisation by utilising valuable data that was previously locked away. With these advantages in mind, ABB has added this innovation to its well-known FSS4x0 Swirl and FSV4x0 Vortex flowmeters, giving them Ethernet-APL connectivity and allowing all the benefits of high-speed field data transmission with none of the safety drawbacks. The technology also saves on costs and complexity since it simplifies the infrastructure, which made it difficult to establish communication networks across large industrial facilities. ABB’s Swirl and Vortex flow meters are the first instruments to
8
thernet cables are familiar to just about everyone who uses a computer. They provide high- speed wired connectivity to local area networks, metropolitan area networks and wide area networks. However, until recently, such
TAPPING DATA PIPELINES
New possibilities for digital collection and analysis of data in the chemical, oil and gas, and hydrogen processing industries are now on the horizon thanks to the introduction of Ethernet-APL to ABB’s industry- leading Swirl and Vortex flowmeters. An innovative communications technology, Ethernet-APL brings all advantages of Ethernet to hazardous area now. Not only connecting vast numbers of field devices to controller, but also connectivity to edge and cloud.
have received Ethernet-APL Certification from the FieldComm Group. This certification assures superior product quality for process instrumentation, and reliable interoperability throughout industrial communication networks. Swirl and Vortex flowmeters, which are among the industry’s most widely used flowmeters, measure both volume flow and temperature, as well as mass flow and energy flow by tracking key inputs such as pressure. In addition, the devices make it possible for industrial companies to easily and remotely access device health status and maintenance data, thus obtaining valuable diagnostic information. ABB’s unique Swirl technology also offers the benefits of minimal installation requirements and superior measurement precision. In addition to
A wide range of benefits Similar to Power over Ethernet (PoE), Ethernet-APL offers several benefits. At a basic level it omits the need for a separate DC power infrastructure, providing power and communications via the same cable. And thanks to its use of standard fieldbus cables, no special tools are required. Installation reliability is also increased as centralised power enables back-up solutions with uninterruptible power supply systems. In addition, devices can be remotely powered down via the APL switch during periods of low usage or for security and safety reasons. There is also no need for additional electrical outlets or for running different cables.
supporting the widely adopted FDI standard for configuration, the devices are also easily configurable with the integrated web interface - no tools, drivers, or specialised software are required. The screen layout is responsive, adapting automatically to computer screens, tablets, and smart phones. With the ability to measure volumetric, mass and energy flow, as well as process temperature, the Swirl and Vortex flowmeters with Ethernet-APL open new possibilities for operators to make operational decisions and carry out predictive maintenance based on real-time data, thus significantly reducing potential errors and downtime.
By enabling fast access to an expanded array of process and device data, Ethernet-APL also offers benefits for plant operators facing the challenge of gathering data from potentially hundreds or even thousands of devices when combined with ABB’s Ability SmartMaster suite. SmartMaster is an asset performance management platform that enables fast troubleshooting, remote diagnostics, non-invasive process analytics, and many other possibilities by combining operational data, engineering data, and IT services. ABB plans to integrate Ethernet-APL technology into all its instruments and is already in the process of doing so.
ABB
abb.com/measurement October 2024 Instrumentation Monthly
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
