Scalable remote terminal unit

Integrates easily with SCADA systems for complex environments such as oil and gas production.

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Honeywell Process Solutions has introduced its RC500 RTU (remote terminal unit) family, a modular and scalable controller designed to integrate with SCADA technology to give industrial manufacturers tighter control of remote operations. The company says the RC500 models are designed to withstand harsh environments and are ideal for remote automation needs such as those found in oil and gas applications. They also operate with minimal electrical consumption, making them suitable to run on solar power and for providing continuous monitoring of remote, fixed assets.

RC500’s open communication platform integrates with a variety larger control platforms, including Honeywell’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS). Honeywell explains that this RTU can help facilities manage complex remote automation and control applications more effectively, such as gas flow metering, data concentrator and communications integration, well-head control, pump and compressor control, block-valve automation, and gas stations, leading to a lower total cost of ownership.

With its embedded Linux platform, the RC500 RTU line features models with flexible communication ports and protocol options to enable facilities to expand the system easily. It also supports industry standard protocols such as Modbus and DNP3. Additionally, RC500 is capable of peer-to-peer I/O transfers, allowing it to transfer and share information between devices in a large network.

Other key features include data-logging capabilities with the option to record I/O values and log them into data files. This means critical data from the field is not missed and is available for analysis. Facilities can easily retrieve the data files and then display them using many applications.

The RC500 also features self-resetting fuses, an independent watchdog function for health monitoring, and an Ethernet I/O-2 module that Honeywell says can deliver the best price per output across all common control applications.

“Knowing what is happening upstream enables refiners to respond quickly to market conditions and adjust product output, and the best way to achieve that visibility is by integrating remote systems into a single automated platform,” says Scott Hillman, global solutions director for Honeywell Process Solutions. “The RC500 RTU makes it easier for manufacturers to achieve this integration thanks to greater control, increased system utilization and lower management costs.”  

Edited by Peter Welander, pwelander(at)cfemedia.com
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