Take control in a time of fast-changing technology

There was a time when the highlight of any visit to a C&I show would be hearing the latest from the leading distributed control systems (DCS) vendors. Then, not so very long ago, the DCS ruled the control system roost and plant managers, locked into whichever proprietary system ran their plant, needed constant reassurance that their DCS at least remained at the forefront of technology. How times change.

Conspicuous by their absence from this year's show, the major DCS vendors have had to open up their doors and systems to industry's growing demand for non-proprietary control systems, even if that means letting Microsoft and all its works in through the open door.

And as the DCS defends itself against the new NTkids on the block, so the humble PLC has to fight for its survival against the attractions of soft logic and PC-based control. Never has the process control industry been in such a state of flux.

All credit then to this year's exhibitors who are prepared to stand up and be counted with technologies that address the current concerns of the process control community.

With its NT-based APACS ProcessSuite on stand E50, Moore Products (enter 306 on enquiry card) is offering the benefits of a bundled approach to the thorny issue of DCS versus PLCversus PC-based control. The software suite is said to unify system configuration, operator interface, Internet-based viewing and data management for the APACS control system.

This concept, says Moore, unifies the capabilities of a DCS and PLC to simplify process automation projects. Similarly, the QUADLOG Safety PLC APACS extensions combine the safety and reliability of expensive triple modular redundant (TMR) systems in the price range of conventional PLCs to meet the needs of critical applications cost-effectively. Moore has united its 'best in practice' control technology with 'best in class' process visualisation technology from Wonderware (InTouch and InBatch software).

Now well established, APACS combines the capabilities of a DCS and PLCs to simplify plant automation. There are now expanded versions for specific industries. For example, ProcessSuite Batch adds to the base package Wonderware's InBatch batch manager, Crystal Reports for custom report building, and batch function blocks for use in the IEC 1131-based 4-mation controller configuration software.

Also new is the APACS 354 Universal control station. This is a new, mini DCS in the APACS FieldNet family. Designed to handle unit control applications, APACS 354 can provide up to 25 process control loops, and extensive sequence control configured by an intuitive integrated suite of function block and ladder logic programming tools.

Visitors interested in power plants can see a working model of Cegelec Power Instrumentation and Control's (302) Alspa 8000 P320 distribution control system (DCS) as part of the company's display, stand C70, at the show.

The DCS, which constantly diagnoses and monitors the state of the power plant, is in the centre of each plant, and keeps the operator informed of every variable as it occurs.

Suitable for small CHP (combined heat and power) installations through to nuclear, hydro, combined cycle or thermal power plants, the system is said to contain a high degree of deterministic protocols and an architectural flexibility that allows expansion to suit increased project complexity.

The exhibition also serves as a launchpad for Control Technology International's (303) PCVUE 32 SCADA/HMI software, on stand B140.

PCVUE 32 has been developed especially for Windows 95 and Windows NT and combines the latest leading edge software standards, such as ActiveX, OPC and MFC.

This software is said to be the first SCADA software to include CAD-like layer technology mimics. The layers can be used to display information selectively, depending on the process conditions and/or operator access rights. This is further enhanced by the ability to lock mimic drawings to a zoom level. At run-time, information is automatically revealed and hidden as the operator zooms the view in and out.

Also new is the OPC version of the Applicom Communication Server. The OPC server combined with the wide range of intelligent Applicom interface cards, provides a common interface between a diverse range of industrial networks (Profibus, Industrial Ethernet, FIP and Modbus) and any OPC client running under Windows 95 or Windows NT, says the company.

Wonderware products distributor, Pantek (304), stand E110, is showing SST direct-Link simulation software for PLC testing/training, as well as Wonderware products. These include the FactorySuite 2000, a set of software components for the automation industry. The suite incorporates InTouch, InTrack, InBatch, InControl and Scout for Internet visualisation. Also included is Industrial SQL Server.

Visitors to Omron (305) on stand F150 can explore the application benefits of leading issues such as open networking standards, including advances in temperature and process monitoring and control techniques in the context of typical applications scenarios.

Using these scenarios, Omron is illustrating the collection, analysis and distribution of information over open networks and also discussing the advantages of integrating Omron PC modules within PLC control systems.

Other significant new product areas include networkable, multizone temperature controllers with associated colour graphics interfaces for effective operator interaction with the process variables from centralised or distributed locations.

On its stand G30 National Instruments (306) has Bridge-VIEW 2.0, the latest version of the company's graphical progamming software. Combining popular software technolgies, such as the powerful G language of NI's LabVIEW, together with an efficient, event-driven data engine, BridgeVIEW is said to give engineers and systems integrators the power to develop automation solutions quickly and easily.

Now being exclusively marketed in the UK by CKS, Computer Keyboard Systems (307) is the Aaeon range of signal board computers, on display on stand C120. The Aaeon SBC-554V-555 has a PISA bus, which is said to be a new bus standard for compact Pentium/PCI systems. The Aaeon range includes highly integrated boards, solid state disc, flat panel VGA controllers and LAN interfaces on half-length PCI/ISA cpu cards.

On display for the first time will be a range of CKS customised, integrated industrial computers, with industrial chassis and operator interfaces. High-power PCI/ISA systems can be built into a chassis measuring 2160 x 1940 x 1470mm, with expansion slots for system-specific cards. There will also be the complete range of standard CKS, industrially-sealed keyboards, and TraCKSballs on show. These are sealed to IP65 standard, and have operator-friendly, embossed key and front faces, which resist alcohol, dilute acids and alkalis, esters, hydrocarbons and ketones.

Execution times of local tasking programs, and time stamping of internal data logging, have been boosted with the addition of a Hitachi 80C320 microprocessor into the range of compact outstations, supplied by Brodersen Control Systems (308), stand D230.

Brodersen will exhibit the RTU8, along with its Innoscan PC15000 range of industrial PCs, now available with 14in TFT XGA colour screens. The company is also introducing its UCS-58 power supply/battery charger.

The RTU8 compact outstation can work with PSTN, radio or GSM communications, and has a basic I/O fit of up to 32 digital/analogue channels, said to be easily expandable to over 450. The unit has up to 512K of non-volatile, datalogging memory, and a built-in battery charger for a standby battery. The full suite of PC software, including DDE and DLL interfaces, is said to allow the RTU8 to work with virtually any Windows software, from a simple spreadsheet to SCADA package.

Torch Computers, (309), stand P64, which operates computer services to industrial and commercial OEMs, has recently obtained ISO9000 approval. The company specialises in working with customers who have non-standard requirements, or for whom supply of consistent computer products is an important issue.

New from Torch is a 'system healthy' card, which combines a watchdog function with temperature sensing from an almost unlimited number of probes. The system healthy card can be fitted to any PC, with an available ISA-bus expansion slot, and can be accessed remotely via Ethernet, says the company.

On display on the Synelec (310), stand A90, is the modular Litemaster wall display system, which uses digital light processing (DLP) technology, and is suitable for process control.

The Litemaster system is claimed to be more compact than previous rear projector models. Unit depth is 670mm, and weight is 54kg. DLP is said to eliminate the process of convergence adjustment during installation and setting up. Each display has a 50in diagonal imaging size, with a full 160 viewing angle. Picture resolution is 800 x 600, and brightness is rated at 450 ANSI lumen.

Visitors to stand G170 can find out more about SPG ac induction motors, supplied by OEM Automation (311). Typical applications are conveyor systems, air conditioning/ventilation, printing/packing machine manufacturers and revolving sign manufacturers.

The range spans from 60mm frame 6W to 90mm frame 90W with output speeds from 0.8 500rpm with torques to 19.6NM.

The gear boxes are grease-filled (not oil) which means the motors and gears can be stocked separately and assembled when required by either the customer or by OEM Automatic.

The motor range includes induction, reversible, electromagnetic brake motors and speed control motors. The motors come with either flying leads to IP44 or terminal boxes giving IP54 protection. Single piece list prices for motor and gearbox start from £87.50 with discounts available for larger quantities. SPG motors will be available from distributor RS Components.

Neural Computer Sciences (NCS) (312) is exhibiting its suite of intelligent technologies as ActiveX components on stand A225. ActiveX containers provide a platform- and language-dependent vehicle for the seamless integration of diverse objects to form interactive applications that are said to combine all aspects of visualisation, analysis and reporting.

Integrating intelligent technologies opens up significant opportunities for advanced search engine or database access techniques that learn from the user, and adapt accordingly.

Until recently, the integration of data acquisition, analysis and reporting would involve shuffling data files back and forth between several applications, a process that can be tedious and prone to error.

The advent of Microsoft's ActiveX technology, including object linking and embedding (OLE), allows a host document to control embedded objects from various application packages, extending the capabilities of the host application. Any ActiveX-enabled application can exploit the increased flexibility available through the NCS library of components, such as Visual Basic, Dephi, C++, Excel, SQL Windows, and web browsers, such as Internet Explorer.

Based on the same technology as used in the HNL Instruments & Controls (313),stand C30, SMARTSTAT electronic pressure switch range, the microprocessor-controlled series 800 pressure switch offers many of the advantages of a pressure transmitter, but at prices which are said to be comparable to mechanical pressure switches, says the company.

Being electronic, the series 800 has no moving parts. Accuracy is therefore much higher than with traditional mechanical switches, says HNL, and users can expect repeatability of around 0.1 per cent.

Switching points are totally variable throughout the range, with resolution to 0.5 per cent.

Pressure ranges are from -1 to 1000bar, with a wide choice of process wetted parts and connections, and switching points are said to be easily adjusted by means of a potentiomter, housed within the switch enclosure.

The DARAD system, from Radamec Control Systems (314) can be seen on stand P22 at the show. Designed to provide a solution to data logging, alarm generation and remote control needs, the system is a Windows-based software package, which provides an event detector, data logger, screen graphics, remote communications and control loops, combined with remote hardware modules for inputs and outputs.

Small systems, or large complex ones, can be built by adding modules to perform the required functions.

The latest addition to the Ametek range of portable pressure calibrators, the PPC-VP precision calibrator, will be one of the main attractions on the Hawco (315), stand, P16.

Other newcomers include additions to the Rense humidity sensors range and the ERO controllers and the EPC 2000, hand-held pressure calibrator.

Alarm, event and data management from Omniflex (UK) (316), part of the Pantek Group, will also be on display on the stand. Launches include the Omniterm loop-powered isolator and Switchmode Power Supplies, with ranges from 80 to 264Vac and 110 and 220 Vdc.