Field-based systems and advanced diagnostics

Detection and characterisation of anomalies in an industrial plant provide improved plant availability and plant efficiency thus yielding increased economic efficiency. Conventional centralised approaches suffer from their dependence on detailed mathematical models of the processes. Smart field devices have the advantage of providing the necessary information directly to the control system as anomalies develop during operation of the processes enabling operators to take necessary steps to either prevent an unnecessary shut down before the problem becomes serious or schedule maintenance on the problematic loop. Emerson Process Management\´s PlantWeb^TM architecture addresses "Enhanced Measurement, Advanced Diagnostics and Control in the Field." PlantWeb^TM builds open process management systems by networking intelligent field devices, scalable control and systems platforms, and integrated modular software. A description of PlantWeb^TM and how it improves various process conditions and reduces operating cost of a plant will be provided in this paper.