ASSET PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS
dual-mode devices employing powerful field-diagnostics capabilities. Translation: Instrumentation manufacturers can bring new safety products to market without having to design two entirely different devices. Developers can implement H1 devices with SIF features activated or de-activated. More important, end-user operations will only need to stock one type of product for use as either a process device or a safety device. MT&AP
A Matter of Opinion: HART in Safety Networks? HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol is a global standard for bi-directional communication of digital information between intelligent field instruments and host systems via analog signals or wireless. A host can be any software application from a technician's handheld device or laptop, to a plant's process-control, asset-management, safety or other system, using any control platform. As the technology’s owner, standards-setting body and central authority, the HART Communication Foundation supports the protocol worldwide and ensures that both the original and WirelessHART versions of it remain open and free for use by the industry. According to the Foundation, most automation networks in operation around the world today are based on traditional 4-20mA analog wiring. Given that fact, it’s easy to see why the analog-based HART protocol has such a massive footprint in industry. Assessing its penetration in industrial safety networks is more complex. Chuck Micallef, the Foundation’s Director of Marketing, says its members report the majority of instrumentation shipped in the past 5-10 years as being HART-enabled. “We’ve also been told,” he says, “that the majority of safety systems sold over the past 5-10 years have offered HART capability and that many customers have selected it and are using it.” As for why all customers don’t opt to use HART diagnostics with their safety systems, Micallef suggests that host or control/safety systems might be the limiting factor (in light of the large installed populations of those systems that aren’t HART-enabled). Still, he notes, several suppliers offer alarm monitors and converters that allow leveraging of HART diagnostics while connected to a “non-smart” host. Micallef says the Foundation is in the early states of investigating how intelligent-device information delivered to a safety system through HART protocol can add more value to the Safety Application, device SIL rating or other certifications or validations. “It’s possible,” he concludes, “that the information from the smart instruments currently attached to a safety system can indeed help with the safety requirements.” If you have an opinion on the matter, email Micallef at: chuck@cjmconsulting.com. 30 | MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY & ASSET PERFORMANCE
Safety-Network Resources PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI) is responsible for PROFIBUS and PROFINET, two important enabling technologies in automation. Its global network of more than 1400 member companies includes vendors, developers, system integrators and end-users with a common interest in promoting, supporting and using PROFIBUS and PROFINET. For more details, visit www.profibus.com or www.us.profinet.com. (While you’re there, consider downloading the PROFINEWS App for iPhones, iPads and Android devices.) And if you enjoy learning about technologies via video presentations, check out the following: http://us.profinet.com/safety-the-movie-is-online/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3tbB9-8X4Y The Open DeviceNet Vendors Association (ODVA) is made up of members from the world’s automation companies. Its focus is on advancing open, interoperable information and communication technologies in industrial automation and contributing to sustainability and prosperity of the global community by transforming the model for information and communication technology in the industrial ecosystem. ODVA embraces adoption, wherever possible, of commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) and standard, unmodified Internet and Ethernet technologies. According to the association, that’s a principle exemplified by EtherNet/IP. For more information, visit www.odva.org. The Fieldbus Foundation is a global not-for-profit corporation supported by leading process end-users and automation companies. Within the Foundation, members work together to develop an automation infrastructure that provides process integrity, business intelligence and open scalable integration in a managed environment. According to the organization, its technology provides end-users with the "Freedom to Choose" best-in-class, interoperable control products from their suppliers of choice and the "Power to Integrate" control systems, subsystems and devices across the plant enterprise.” For more information, visit www.fieldbus.org. The HART Communication Foundation is the technology owner and standards-setting body for the HART Communication Protocol. Celebrating 20 years of serving the process industry and its 300+ member companies, the Foundation, instrumentation manufacturers and users around the globe continue to use this technology, making it the world’s most used field communication protocol in the industry. Membership is open to suppliers and users who are interested in the use of HART technology. For more information, visit www.hartcomm.org. FEBRUARY 2014