FEATURE PLCs, HMIs & Industrial PCs
Providing UL-certifi ed VELA rack computers for the nuclear industry
By Matt Lundberg, Technical Lead, Industrial IoT, Impulse Embedded
A
customer in the nuclear sector wished to replace the rack computers at the heart of its control system, since critical
components were no longer supported. The control system is an essential cog in the nuclear supply chain and is used in numerous locations around the world.
The customer challenge Due to the nature of its installed asset base and ongoing project roadmap, a globally-certifi ed system was required along with various features to ensure backward compatibility with existing control systems. Sites with older versions of the control system would need updating with new computing equipment to extend the assets’ operational life, whilst new installations needed to make use of the very latest technology to ensure maximum longevity in the fi eld.
Impulse 360 assessment Impulse carried out a “360 assessment” and recognised the need to ensure site integration was made simple for its client’s end customers, as connections to each installed PC may diff er depending on the age of the control system. Impulse design engineers also took into consideraton the requirement for a system
UL certifi cation, which would aff ect component choice at the design stage. While not identifi ed in the initial brief, it also became apparent that the system needed a fl exible approach to expansion as some ageing systems use older expansion bus technologies.
System design To facilitate UL certifi cation requirement, Impulse design engineers recommended the Impulse VELA range of Industrial Rack PCs, which are powered by market-leading, long-life, UL-certifi ed components from Advantech. Its project engineers then engaged with the product managers at Advantech HQ Taiwan, a UL-certifi ed facility, to create a controlled UL technical fi le containing the entire computer bill of materials and a range of I/O and communication expansion
cards required by the customer. This approach ensured that multiple expansion confi gurations could be certifi ed along with the core computer build specifi cation.
Build and testing Working with Advantech, Impulse production engineers specifi ed the base build for each retrofi t project. Systems were then fi tted with the required I/O and communication cards, along with the necessary fi bre-optic terminations. A full system schematic label was attached to each rack chassis, with very clear I/O connection instructions tailored to each individual end customer site. A thorough stress and soak test was performed before despatch.
Post sales and service support Because of the varied nature of the systems, a comprehensive spares package was arranged with the customer to facilitate the needs of individual projects. Global service support is available via Advantech’s presence in 26 countries, and fi rstline technical support is provided by Impulse Embedded, free of charge for the entire life of the project.
CONTACT:
Impulse Embedded
www.impulse-embedded.co.uk
22 September 2021 | Automation
automationmagazine.co.uk
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