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Rockwell Automation released an updated version of its PlantPAx modern distributed control system (DCS). New system capabilities include enhancements to the design environment; adoption of new enabling technologies; and enhanced control capabilities.
The latest PlantPAx system includes expanded estimation, design and development guides. The updated documentation and design capabilities reportedly helps to increase automation productivity; decrease the time required to deploy the system; and reduce life-cycle costs. New pre-built control strategies were developed within the Rockwell Automation library of process objects.
The updated system leverages network improvements and built-in mobility, Expanded industrial Ethernet switches support Layer 3 topologies helping to enhance scalability. Smaller control systems can be integrated into larger enterprise networks with a common, supported network infrastructure. The network switches include embedded Cisco technology to integrate and translate operations technology (OT) and information technology (IT).
The latest PlantPAx system also now includes a mobile component that enables users to create displays and interact with process data across any HTML5-compliant mobile platform. The software is responsive to the user's specific devices, allowing operators and plant managers to access and view performance metrics and data analytics in their preferred format.
New built-in enhanced control features have been added to the lastest PlantPAx system, such as integrated PlantPAx model predictive control (MPC), alarm management and batch management, all operating in a common environment. Control-based PlantPAx MPC provides the ability to more predictably manage external and complex process disturbances, and help maximize process performance up to process constraints. This helps to make continuous improvements within the process while reducing waste and variability.
The updated system also leverages the recently introduced batch application toolkit to help reduce the risk, time and cost of implementing batch control systems. Containing documentation, application examples and sample code, the toolkit gives engineers a starting point to build and maintain a more consistent batch control system. It also provides the ability to customize system elements.
Keywords: Automation Productivity, Plantwide Process Control, Network Switches, Alarm Management, Batch Management, ARC Advisory Group.