June 2006

Fieldbus Facts Online is brought to you by the Fieldbus Foundation, an international, not-for-profit corporation consisting of more than 350 automation industry leaders dedicated to providing the "Freedom to Choose" and the "Power to Integrate."

Featured This Month...

In This Issue...

Fieldbus Foundation shows strengths, capabilities at ACHEMA 2006

Engineering contractor event in Italy labeled 'success'

May educational seminars attract record attendance

End-user fieldbus seminar scheduled for St. Louis

Fieldbus training workshops in June/July help attendees sharpen their skills

Asia to hold end-user EPC seminars

Fieldbus Center hosts instrumentation education conference

Middle-East end-user event attracts 150 delegates

Route-Master delivers high segment current to IS areas

Emerson automates Brunei Shell Petroleum platform

Emerson provides digital automation for LNG expansion project

Fieldbus network design software free from P+F

Yokogawa's VigilantPlant tools maximize asset availability

Fieldbus Foundation shows strengths, capabilities at ACHEMA 2006

"Freedom to Choose, Power to Integrate" was the theme of Fieldbus Foundation's technology exhibit at the ACHEMA 2006 International Trade Fair, held May 15-19 in Frankfurt, Germany. The display demonstrated Fieldbus Foundation strengths and capabilities in chemical and petrochemical processing applications.

Coordinated by the Fieldbus Foundation German Marketing Committee, the ACHEMA booth featured purpose-built kiosks demonstrating registered FOUNDATION fieldbus devices, compliant host systems, tools, and services available from automation equipment suppliers. Experts gave visiting end users, integrators, contractors, and engineers a broad range of information and exchanged insights with fieldbus users.

In addition, the EDDL Cooperation Team hosted a seminar. "EDDL-the Key to Interoperability" was put together by senior representatives from the four organizations that make up the EDDL Cooperation Team (Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V., and OPC Foundation). They reported on IEC standard harmonization and future developments of EDDL. Multi-vendor and multi-communication technology demonstrations showed how EDDL can be used in different host systems.

Participating members in the Fieldbus Foundation booth at ACHEMA 2006 included: ABB, Bürkert, CEAG, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Hans Turck, Honeywell, Invensys, Krohne, Masoneilan Dresser, Metso, Mettler Toledo, MTL Instruments, Pepperl+Fuchs, R&M Industrie Höchst, Rockwell Automation, Samson, Siemens, Softing, Wika, Yamatake, and Yokogawa.

Click here for more information on upcoming events.

Engineering contractor event in Italy labeled 'success'

Fieldbus Foundation's engineering contractor event, held in Milan, Italy, Apr. 6, met with success. Coordinated by the Fieldbus Foundation Italian Marketing Committee, the gathering was the second in this year's series aimed at supporting engineering contractors and end users adopting FOUNDATION technology in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. More than 40 senior engineers from leading Italian-based engineering contractor groups and end users attended.

As adoption of FOUNDATION fieldbus-based projects continues to grow rapidly, contractors are faced with different approaches for realizing these projects. Fieldbus Foundation seeks to work with the contractors to help them understand varying ways to handle control and instrumentation projects, the technology; and the financial benefits to contractor and end user alike.

The program included information and applications, with speakers representing both contractor and end user perspectives. The presentations provided insight into why end users select FOUNDATION fieldbus technology and the role of the engineering contractor in the context of the trends and influences affecting technology decisions in industry today.

Speakers included Dr. Bindert Douma of Shell Global Solutions; Mr. Tangorra of Snamprogetti; Mr. Catino of Technip, and Richard Willems, former vice-chairman of the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Steering Committee.

A roundtable led by a panel of eight FOUNDATION fieldbus end users was also held during the afternoon session. It gave participants the opportunity to discuss the different phases of fieldbus implementation projects and identify issues in need of clarification.

Sponsoring suppliers included: ABB, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, Invensys, MTL Instruments, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell, Softing, and Yokogawa.

Click here for more training information.

May educational seminars attract record attendance

East Coast end users and engineers helped boost attendance at the Fieldbus Educational Seminars in May to record levels. The Fieldbus Foundation held three seminars in key process automation industry locations: Wilmington, DE; Charlotte, NC; and Atlanta, GA.

Fieldbus Educational Seminars are designed for those who need an overview of FOUNDATION fieldbus or are planning a fieldbus installation. They explain the basics of the technology, bring attendees up-to-date on the latest developments, review new products, and provide opportunities to network with other fieldbus professionals.

Topics covered at the seminars include: Top Ten Fieldbus Myths, Why Use Fieldbus, Fieldbus Economics, Physical Layer, User Layer, High Speed Ethernet (HSE), Host Interoperability, and EDDL. Don't miss out-sign up today to attend one of the FREE Fieldbus Educational Seminars.

Upcoming seminar dates and locations:

• June 27-St. Louis, MO
• Sept. 14-Vancouver, BC, Canada
  
• Sept. 19-Philadelphia, PA
  
• Nov. 14-Puerto Rico

Click here to register.

End-user fieldbus seminar scheduled for St. Louis

Fieldbus Foundation will hold a FREE Fieldbus Educational Seminar on June 27^th at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. Attendees will learn what FOUNDATION fieldbus has to offer. Topics include:

• Economic justification of Fieldbus
• Comparing Fieldbus and conventional technology
  
• FOUNDATION fieldbus technology overview
  
• Fieldbus physical layer installation practices
  
• High Speed Ethernet (HSE)
  
• Practical application examples

The event will include a hands-on fieldbus interoperability demonstration that connects user-selected devices from the tabletop exhibits to a pre-selected host. Each seminar location will feature a different host. Participants will build a fieldbus network designed in conjunction with the seminar exercise.

Registration is FREE and includes lunch. Manufacturers will display their latest FOUNDATION fieldbus equipment. All attendees will receive a CD containing technical guides, the Fieldbus Report supplement, and more.

Click here to register for the St. Louis Fieldbus Educational Seminar.

Fieldbus training workshops in June/July help attendees sharpen their skills

Get on the "Fast Track to Fieldbus" by attending a hands-on FOUNDATION fieldbus Technology Workshop. Training topics include: Fieldbus Overview, Advanced Technical, DD Workshop, and Project Management Workshop.

Workshops meet the growing requirements of automation professionals for comprehensive fieldbus training. Whether you need to learn the basics of the technology or stay abreast of the latest developments, training is essential.

Instrumentation manufacturers must be comfortable with fieldbus specifications before they can meet customer expectations. Plant personnel must be able to identify fieldbus applications and understand how to install digital devices and host systems in their facilities.

Here is a schedule of upcoming Fieldbus Technology Workshops:

Click here for a pdf of workshop agendas and to register.

Asia to hold end-user EPC seminars

Fieldbus Foundation Asia-Pacific Marketing Committee will hold two Engineering Procurement Contractor (EPC) seminars in June, one in Seoul, Korea and the other in Beijing, China. The seminars are the first in a series planned for 2006 in this region. Other sites are Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Fieldbus Foundation President and CEO Rich Timoney will give the welcoming address and update attendees on FOUNDATION fieldbus technology and news. The seminars will review FOUNDATION fieldbus, compare FOUNDATION fieldbus and conventional control technology, and present end-user case studies.

Don't miss out! Click here to watch the Fieldbus Foundation Website for more details about these events.

Fieldbus Center hosts instrumentation education conference

The Fieldbus Center at Lee College will host the first Instrumentation Education and Training Development Conference (IETDC) August 17 and 18 in League City, TX (near Houston). The conference will answer questions about the future of education and training in the instrumentation discipline.

Attendees will have an opportunity to:

• Share common insights with educators and industry peers;
  
• Compare successful technical learning methods and strategies;
  
• Discuss college and industry recruitment;
  
• Identify re-training opportunities;
  
• Learn how instrumentation technology is affecting the training of technical workers;
  
• Gain insights on how educational technology can help teach instrumentation technology;
  
• Determine the value of using packaged programs, tools, and training aids; and
  
• Establish relationships for sharing curricula, course materials, and lab exercises.

Register early! The Fieldbus Center is offering a FREE one-day workshop, "Troubleshooting tips for FOUNDATION fieldbus users," August 16, 2006, for the first 50 registrants. The workshop will be held at Lee College in nearby Baytown, TX.

Click here to register for the Instrumentation Education and Training Development Conference.

Direct questions about the IETDC to Marsha Swimmer at 832-556-4450.

Middle-East end-user event attracts 150 delegates

"FOUNDATION Fieldbus—Engineering the Future" is a success! The Fieldbus Foundation Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Steering Committee was delighted with the response to its recent end-user event, held at the Intercontinental Citistars Hotel in Cairo on May 29, 2006.

Fieldbus Foundation's Middle East Marketing Committee coordinated the meeting, one in a series of 2006 end-user events aimed at supporting engineering contractors and end users in the adoption of FOUNDATION technology in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. A follow-up event is scheduled for Bahrain in December.

During the event, senior engineers of key engineering contractors and end users in the Middle East region examined the significant capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) savings achievable through the adoption of FOUNDATION fieldbus Some 150 delegates, including end users, contractors, and system integrators attended the free, daylong event.

The program included keynote applications presentations, technology updates from the Fieldbus Foundation, and the opportunity for attendees to discuss the practical experiences of implementing FOUNDATION fieldbus. Speakers included Ted Mallinson, Chairman—Fieldbus Foundation Middle East Marketing Committee; Thomas Steiner, Emerson Process Management; Mohamed Saad, Assistant Chairman—ENNPI Engineering House; S.K. Ganguly, Vice Chairman (Tech)-ACBC Egypt; and Ahmed Sami—Burulus Gas Plant.

Expressing satisfaction with the event, Marc Van Pelt, chairman of the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Steering Committee, said, "It is very satisfying to see so many end users within the Middle East region actively discussing their experiences of implementing FOUNDATION fieldbus in a variety of applications. We are in an active and buoyant period here in the Middle East region and are committed to supporting current and perspective users of FOUNDATION technology."

Additional information will be available on the Fieldbus Foundation Website shortly.

Route-Master delivers high segment current to IS areas

The patented split-architecture design of MooreHawke's Route-Master Series 100 Fieldbus System delivers what is reported to be the highest segment current of any intrinsically safe (IS) fieldbus system.

Route-Master's IS split-architecture design provides 350 mA per segment—enough power for 16 fieldbus devices (20 mA each) at 500 m (1500 ft)—and is still intrinsically safe for hydrogen-risk areas at the individual spur connection. A rack-mount fieldbus power supply delivers intrinsically safe, fully isolated, conditioned segment power for up to eight fieldbus segments.

Route-Master device couplers, available in configurations that handle 4 to 20 spurs, provide fully automatic segment termination, preventing the most common fieldbus installation errors of under- or over-termination. They provide electronic and full auto-resetting spur short-circuit protection to prevent communication errors caused by single device faults. Any spur that attempts to draw more than approximately 48 mA with an impedance of less than 300 ohms is automatically switched off and not permitted any current flow until the fault is removed. This feature offers a significant advantage to "current-limiting" designs that hold a fault permanently on the segment at a higher-than-normal current level, often causing other devices to drop off the segment.

Route-Master is certified by FM (US) and SIRA (ATEX).

Click here for more information.

Emerson automates Brunei Shell Petroleum platform

Emerson Process Management's PlantWeb® digital automation architecture and system integration services helped Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. Sdn Bhd (BSP) start up its unmanned Phase III Champion West oil and gas field platform.

PlantWeb uses a FOUNDATION fieldbus network of intelligent devices and Emerson's DeltaV digital system to provide an operational overview of the Phase III platform, which is located off the coast of Brunei. The installation is monitored by engineers and operators from the main complex 10 km away on the Champion West Drilling Platform-1 (CWDP-1). The platform may also be controlled and monitored remotely from the Onshore Control Centre in Brunei.

Emerson supplied smart digital devices, including Rosemount™ pressure, level, and temperature transmitters; Micro Motion™ Coriolis flow meters; and Fisher™ valves with Fieldvue™ digital valve controllers. The instrumentation and equipment on the platform interfaces with those of other vendors using open, standards-based FOUNDATION fieldbus and OPC technology. The DeltaV system connects to third-party shutdown systems, multiphase meters, and a DCS on another platform.

The Champion West project is one of several Emerson has completed for Shell. Most are unmanned and use PlantWeb digital architecture.

Click here to visit the Emerson Process Management Website for more information about PlantWeb.

Emerson provides digital automation for LNG expansion project

Emerson Process Management has completed digital automation engineering and design for the facilities expansion of one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. The company is the main instrumentation and controls contractor (MICC) for the $12 billion Qatargas II expansion—a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil, and Total S.A. The project adds onto the existing Qatargas site at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, which has three operational LNG units—or trains—that produce 8 million tons of liquefied gas annually.

Emerson also has begun integration and testing of the digital automation system. When this activity is complete, the company will install its PlantWeb® digital architecture, assist with commissioning and startup, and train operators. The PlantWeb digital plant automation architecture will help Qatargas achieve the joint venture's goal of producing 45 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually by 2010. PlantWeb integrates plant-wide operations for optimum process control, operational excellence, and management information, and uses a FOUNDATION fieldbus-based network of intelligent field devices to deliver continuous process and equipment health information.

Post-startup services from Emerson will include a multi-year commitment to furnish and manage hardware and software for plant automation systems; safety instrumented systems, training simulation, a plant-wide data historian, transmitters, valve positioners, and advanced control solutions.

Click here for information about PlantWeb.

Click here to visit the Emerson Process Management Website.

Fieldbus network design software free from P+F

The latest version of Segment Checker from Pepperl+Fuchs makes designing a fieldbus network "drag and drop" easy. Version 1.14 also includes new power supplies and devices for FOUNDATION fieldbus and Profibus PA applications.

This powerful software design tool makes is easy to design FOUNDATION fieldbus and Profibus PA networks, check operational parameters to validate fieldbus segment architectures, and evaluate potential problems with a fieldbus segment configuration. It also allows users to display, archive, and print an entire design, import field devices from a library, or create new devices with the "device editor."

Click here to view a demonstration of the program or download the software tool.

Pepperl+Fuchs is a leader in the design, manufacture, and application of process automation products and services. The company reports it is the number one provider of hazardous area technology, from intrinsic safety to purge and pressurization, on-line corrosion monitoring, and fieldbus.

Contact Pepperl+Fuchs at 1600 Enterprise Parkway, Twinsburg, OH 44087; 330-486-0002; fax: 330-425-4607; sales@us.pepperl-fuchs.com; www.am.pepperl-fuchs.com

Yokogawa's VigilantPlant tools maximize asset availability

Yokogawa's approach to asset excellence combines the four factors—asset reliability, asset availability, asset predictability, and asset performance—essential for getting the most out of plant assets in the long term. VigilantPlant Asset Excellence delivers innovative solutions that help secure these key factors. The Asset Excellence portfolio includes the Plant Resource Manager (PRM), FieldMate, and fieldbus solutions.

• Asset Reliability—setting the foundation. The Centum CS 3000 R3 control system secures asset reliability for mission critical applications by using reliable technology such as Pair & Spare CPUs and the Vnet/IP open and secure control network to maintain an unmatched 99.99999% (seven 9's) availability track record.
• Asset Availability—enhancing maintainability. The FieldMate™ Versatile Device Management Wizard is a new Field Device Tool FieldMate that speeds up device configuration and problem solving, and automatically stores a work log for a traceable field maintenance database that consolidates the maintenance workflow and facilitates the sharing of maintenance know-how.
• Asset Predictability—adding foresight. PRM™ Plant Resource Manager integrated asset management solution enables centralized online monitoring of automation assets. Its new PRM Advanced Diagnostics Application (PAA) environment facilitates diagnostics application development at the control loop and process unit levels, going beyond device health and device/process interface diagnostics.
• Asset Performance—ensuring sustainability. InsightSuite™ AE Asset Excellence Services is a suite of consultancy, diagnosis, and optimization services delivered over the plant lifecycle to maximize asset performance.

Click here to learn more.