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Fieldbus hosts must satisfy new field diagnostics

By Fieldbus Foundation on

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The Fieldbus Foundation has registered the first two Foundation fieldbus hosts, from Emerson Process Management and GE Energy, incorporating new mandatory host profile 61b.

The DeltaV Digital Automation System with AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager, from Emerson, and GE ControlST, from General Electric, passed tests verifying their support for NAMUR NE107 field diagnostics, which is now required as part of the second phase of host testing and registration.

In the Foundation fieldbus automation infrastructure, hosts can include configuration tools, recording devices, alarm display panels, human-machine interfaces (HMIs) or a combination of functionality.

Host profiles are key to fieldbus system interoperability, defining required features for different classes of tested and registered hosts.

These include: Class 61 – Integrated Host; Class 62 – Visitor Host; Class 63 – Bench Host Non-Commissioned Device; and Class 64 – Bench Host Commissioned Off-Line Device.

The following host features have gone from optional to mandatory, with the new host profile 61b: Block Instantiation – Allows full utilisation of fieldbus devices supporting function blocks and is primarily intended for control in the field (CIF).

Multiple Capability Levels – For devices where certain blocks/features are optional (licenced), the standard or higher capability level can be set in the tag placeholder during system configuration to prevent unsupported blocks from being used in the control strategy.

This prevents surprises during commissioning and also makes device-replacement easier.

Enhanced Function Blocks – Allows full utilisation of enhanced blocks, which are standard blocks with additional parameters.

Profiled Custom Function Blocks – Allows full utilisation of non-standard blocks.

Configuration of Scheduled Control Function Blocks – Allows developers to build CIF control strategies.

DD V5.1 Device-Level Access (enhanced Electronic Device Description Language with cross-block) – Makes fieldbus devices easier to use by enabling a dashboard with all diagnostics on the same page, and all setup on one page, regardless of which block it is in.

Using the power of Foundation fieldbus, and considering the NE107 recommendations for field diagnostics, the Fieldbus Foundation developed a profile specification enhancing the organisation, integration and presentation of device diagnostics within fieldbus systems.

The Foundation fieldbus diagnostic profile includes a standard and open interface for reporting all device alarm conditions, and provides a means of categorising alert conditions by severity.

The technology facilitates routing of alerts to appropriate consoles based on user-selectable severity categories.

In other words, it sends the right information to the right person at the right time without flooding the operator with alarms that are irrelevant to his duties.

Furthermore, it provides recommended corrective actions and detailed help, as well as an indication of the overall health of the device.

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