Control system with intelligent marshalling

The Foxboro I/A Series control system received new upgrades including intelligent marshalling as well as control and simulation software

December 2, 2011

Invensys Operations Management introduced the next evolution of its Foxboro I/A Series distributed control system. As the core DCS component of the company’s InFusion Enterprise Control System, the latest I/A Series system includes an innovative Intelligent Marshalling solution and high-performance Foxboro Control Software and Simulation software, which reduce total cost of ownership and expand traditional DCS functionality for superior collaboration, execution and visibility across the enterprise.

With traditional control systems, field wiring must be sorted out in a marshalling cabinet before it is connected to the main I/O module terminal strips of the DCS panel. It’s an inflexible approach that often leads to expensive indirect costs. But because the I/A Series Intelligent Marshalling solution features the Universal Fieldbus Module, a per-channel, configurable I/O module that supports a variety of analog and digital signal types, it eliminates the need for marshalling entirely. 

Designed to simplify engineering efforts and improve the user experience, Foxboro Control Software 3.0 embeds the company’s ArchestrA System Platform and Wonderware InTouch HMI within the Foxboro I/A Series system, applying common object technology from process control up to the business system level and out to any third-party system. This allows users to integrate all of their plant devices, systems, databases and software applications. Additionally, enhanced integration with the latest advanced software applications from Invensys, including its mobile workforce management and workflow offerings, provide more systems flexibility, adaptability and responsiveness, helping to drive lower total cost of ownership. By enabling real-time access to critical plant and business data, users are better able to balance competing strategic objectives related to controls, assets, environment & safety and people to optimize their overall business and achieve operational excellence.

The Foxboro Control Software Simulation 3.0 offering simulates Foxboro Control Software 3.0 applications for rapid, high-quality systems checkout without the need for control hardware. Simulation capabilities include dynamic control of time, alarms and trends using the same configuration files that are used in a live I/A Series DCS. The software also provides an instant interface to the company’s SimSci-Esscor DYNSIM, Foxboro FSIM and Triconex TRISIM dynamic simulation engines, which are used to simulate plant operations, behavior and responses in conjunction with the DCS or simulated DCS.

Invensys Operations Management

www.iom.invensys.com 

– Edited by Chris Vavra, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com