New Fieldbus Valves for Shanghai SECCO

Shanghai SECCO, which is one of the larger FOUNDATION fieldbus installations on the planet, has ordered even more FOUNDATION fieldbus control valves, according to a recent press release by Emerson Process Management. From the press release:

"SECCO is the largest integrated chemical facility in China. The complex includes a naptha-fed ethylene cracker and ten downstream derivative plants with thousands of control valves of different brands, types and sizes. Temperature fluctuations in the process caused high variability in the end product which, combined with vibration of the pipeline, often led to damage and replacement of the positioners on these valves.  After SECCO engineers and Fisher valve specialists from Emerson discussed ways to address this problem, SECCO decided to replace the facility’s positioners with Emerson’s Fisher FIELDVUE DVC6200f digital valve positioner."

You can read the entire press release here.  SECCO predicts the new valve order will save them $40,000 a year in maintenance costs, in addition to what they are saving already with their many fieldbus devices.

Quick Video of ROM Display at Jemima

Here's a quick video I shot with my Flip recorder at the Jemima show, which shows the FOUNDATION for ROM display unit.  There are some interesting devices included here, including wireless devices on both the ISA100.11a and WirelessHART protocols, wired HART, and of course H1 FOUNDATION fieldbus.  The demo also highlights our wireless backhaul network technology, which we are doing in concert with ISA100.15.  Devices come from a variety of suppliers, and include remote I/O from Pepperl+Fuchs and Stahl, an azbil linking device, wireless Ethernet hardware from MTL, and devices from companies like azbil, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Fuji Electric, and more.

YouTube: Jemima FOUNDATION for ROM Display

New Series of YouTube Videos

Thanks to the cooperation of CFE Media and Control Engineering we have a series of new YouTube videos on various fieldbus topics.  Shot at our certified training center at Lee College in Baytown Texas, these videos feature Lee College Chief Instructor Chuck Carter and our own Talon Petty discussing various fieldbus topics, including control in the field, signing up tags in the host and troubleshooting device addressing, and out of scale readings (overpressure) with FOUNDATION fieldbus.  You also get a really nice look at the Lee College Fieldbus Center lab, which has a lot of nice equipment and resources!

FOUNDATION Fieldbus Videos at Control Engineering Web Site

YouTube: Control in the Field Demo Part I

YouTube: Control in the Field Demo Part II

YouTube: Signing up Tags in the Host and Troubleshooting Device Addressing

YouTube: Out of Scale Readings (Overpressure) With FOUNDATION Fieldbus

New Emerson FOUNDATION Fieldbus FPSO Project Win

Emerson Process Management recently announced a new project win with BP for an offshore Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which will form part of BP's North Sea Quad project.  From the press release:

"On the heels of being named BP’s automation contractor of choice for offshore oil and gas operations in the North Sea, Emerson Process Management has been awarded a $21 million contract to provide integrated control and safety systems for a new BP floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The new vessel, which will replace the existing Schiehallion FPSO, forms part of the North Sea Quad 204 project that will access the remaining hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Schiehallion and Loyal fields, located approximately 130 kilometers west of Shetland, UK."

The integrated Emerson solution will use Emerson’s PlantWeb™ digital plant architecture, including its DeltaV™ digital automation system and DeltaV SIS™ process safety system, and AMS Suite predictive maintenance software. The DeltaV system will control and monitor platform operations using FOUNDATION fieldbus and HART® communication technologies. Advanced process control software functionality within DeltaV will optimize facility performance, production and yield. The DeltaV SIS system will perform process and emergency shutdown functions, if needed, plus control fire and gas detection systems to enable secure control of oil production on the platform."

FPSOs area great application for fieldbus because of extremely restrictive space requirements, and there are many success stories related to fieldbus and FPSOs.  You can access a previous BP presentation on FOUNDATION fieldbus in FPSO applications here.

Press Release: Emerson awarded multimillion-dollar contract to provide automation technologies, services for new BP FPSO

Presentation: Owner's Perspective of Fieldbus on FPSO

Fieldbus Foundation End User Roadshow Comes To Brno, Czech Republic

The Fieldbus Foundation Central and Eastern European Marketing Committee (FFCEEMC) is pleased to announce the venue for its next end user FOUNDATION™ technology seminar.

The event will take place on Wednesday 14 November, 2012, at Hotel Myslivna, Brno, Czech Republic, from 10.00am – 14.00 hours.

With its theme ‘FOUNDATION Fieldbus Live – Best in Class Instrumentation’, the roadshow is open to all parties interested in the implementation of FOUNDATION fieldbus technology including end users, systems integrators, contractors and designers. The agenda for the day includes a comprehensive programme of presentations in Czech or Slovakian language.

In addition to the presentation program and demonstration, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss applications and suitable FOUNDATION solutions with representatives from several member companies at a table top display throughout the event. Complimentary refreshments and seminar materials will also be provided.

FOUNDATION fieldbus is the technology of choice in process automation applications across the CEE region. End users are realising the benefits of FOUNDATION fieldbus in terms of reduced commissioning times, reduced maintenance, wide availability of registered devices and host systems and the CAPEX and OPEX savings achievable. The FOUNDATION solution delivers open, scalable integration, process integrity and business intelligence across the plant enterprise.

The FFCEEMC is committed to promoting FOUNDATION technology to end users and EPCs through end user focused training seminars and is actively supporting users and prospective users in the local languages of the region. A network of “partners” is being established to ensure that support is available to all users or potential users – whether it’s a need for basic training, the sharing of installation experiences, project definition, commissioning or maintenance.

The FFCEEMC includes representatives from major suppliers of control systems and instrumentation including Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, MTL, Pepperl+Fuchs, R.Stahl, Turck and Yokogawa.

To register for the Brno roadshow contact Ing. Jozef Schulcz, email: jozef.schulcz@at.yokogawa.com or telephone +421 905 391 247.  For more information about the function and activities of the FFCEEMC, please visit the Central & Eastern Europe section of the Fieldbus Foundation website www.fieldbus.org or email: cee_info@fieldbus.org.

Rockwell Automation PlantPAx Process Automation System Registered as FOUNDATION Fieldbus Host

In conjunction with Rockwell Process Solution User Group meeting and Automation Fair, we are happy to announce that the company is the latest process automation system supplier to announce that its PlantPAx process automation system is now registered as a FOUNDATION Fieldbus integrated host system. The PlantPAx system passed tests for the “61b” integrated host profile, the Fieldbus Foundation’s latest and most demanding host profile.

“This distinction further solidifies the status of Rockwell Automation as a leader in FOUNDATION Fieldbus technology,” said Steve Pulsifer, director of Process Market Development, Rockwell Automation. “Meeting the Fieldbus Foundation’s interoperability standards demonstrates the ability of the PlantPAx process automation system to help manufacturers address production issues with real-time, plantwide intelligence.”

Within the Fieldbus Foundation's automation infrastructure, interoperability is possible because devices and software must all conform to the same standard and they are tested and registered to that standard. Products bearing the FOUNDATION Product Registration symbol have undergone a series of common tests administered by the Fieldbus Foundation. End users can select the best device for a specific measurement or control task, regardless of the manufacturer.  

The 61b hosts also support advanced diagnostic functions, such as NAMUR NE 107 recommendations for presenting diagnostic data in a standard format. Using the NE 107 recommendations for field diagnostics, the Fieldbus Foundation developed a profile specification enhancing the organization, integration and presentation of device diagnostics within fieldbus systems. The diagnostic profile includes a standard and open interface for reporting all device alarm conditions, and provides a means of categorizing alert conditions by severity. 

News Release: Rockwell Automation PlantPAx Process Automation System Registered as FOUNDATION Fieldbus Host

Fieldbus Foundation at Rockwell Automation PSUG Meeting

The Fieldbus Foundation will be at Rockwell Automation's Process Solutions User Group meeting (PSUG) this week.  PSUG has grown considerably over the past several years as Rockwell Automation has grown its process automation business.  With Rockwell's commitment to FOUNDATION fieldbus and its recent registration of its DCS host under the latest 61b profiles, it only makes sense for us to be there at the show.

Fieldbus Foundation Booth at PSUG

One thing that also distinguishes Rockwell Automation from other fieldbus suppliers is its relationship with leading field device supplier Endress+Hauser.  The two companies formed a special relationship in 2004 to provide a premier level of integration between the PlantPAX process automation system from Rockwell Automation and Endress+Hauser field devices.  The two companies have also collaborated in the Plant Asset Management system space.

Rockwell Automation also offers many other FOUNDATION fieldbus products through its network of ENCOMPASS partners, which you can see here.  Partner companies include names like Pepperl+Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, GE Energy, Metso Automation, many others.

So if you are in Philadelphia this week come stop by and see us at Rockwell Automation PSUG!

FOUNDATION Fieldbus at Jemima 2012 Osaka

We just spent three days at the Jemima Measurement and Control show in Osaka Japan, which is the biggest process automation trade show in Japan.  Thanks to the efforts of our Japanese marketing committee, Fieldbus Foundation had quite a large booth at the show this year, which consisted of FOUNDATION for ROM technology and overall FOUNDATION fieldbus technology, including a wide range of products from all the leading suppliers.  Automation trade shows may be a thing of the past in North America, but in places like Japan they are still thriving.  Jemima had an estimated 10,000 attendees this year and booth traffic was quite brisk all the way through Friday afternoon.

Jemima 2012 Fieldbus Foundation Booth

Fieldbus Foundation also held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to officially announce FOUNDATION for ROM technology to the Japanese market.  Jemima also held a technical seminar where we provided an additional update on FOUNDATION for ROM technology, FDI, and an update of the overall fieldbus market.  

Our thanks go out to the many people that made our presence at the show possible, including our many supplier sponsors.  Sponsoring companies included ABB, azbil, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Fuji Electric, MooreHawke, MTL, Pepperl+Fuchs, Stahl, Turck, and Yokogawa.  Representatives from our Japanese FOUNDATION Certified Training Program partner Waseda University were also on hand.