Enhanced communication between field devices and automation systems in hazardous locations

Distributed control systems available today offer advantages that were not available during the 1990psilas. distributed I/O and distributed controllers with various data highways to interconnect afforded very attractive options. The desired advantage of any DCS is to minimize the length of cable runs, and the number of cable runs that must be installed, without sacrificing speed and power of the system. Plus additional functionality for diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The advent of Fieldbus technologies and industrial Ethernet has provided some confusion to those who must select a control system. Where once only a single proprietary selection could be made, the open architectures that now exist with the available supporting technologies allow one to select a variety of capability within the same system. Some think that the fieldbus technology will replace the remote I/O technology, or that the industrial Ethernet will replace both approaches. Each manufacturer fully promotes their particular application of their selected technology with little apparent support for the other technologies. The available publications are of little help in making such selections in todaypsilas environment. Diligent comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of remote I/O, fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet makes the choice clear. The real practical and most economical solution only can be found in the clever combination of all the technologies.