RSEnergyMetrix Scalability, Connectivity, Configuration

Scalability

RSEnergyMetrix has the scalability to add additional software features at the same time maintaining our initial investments.

Connectivity

RSEnergyMetrix makes connectivity to devices simple by using RSLinx or OPC. It Supports connectivity to Allen-Bradley Power monitors, EEMs, and PLCs via RSLinx RS232, RS-485, Ethernet, DeviceNet, RIO pass-thru, optical, and modem whereas connectivity to third-party devices is supported via OPC.

Configuration

RSEnergyMetrix provides easy and flexible configuration from our Web browser. It can configure

• Allen-Bradley Power monitors
• Water, air, gas, electric, steam, or other energy meters
• Manual meters for manual data entry (useful for entering in production data)
• Groups and tree structure to simulate organization or department schema

Besides, it allocates meters to groups for cost allocation and creates rate schedules to reproduce energy bills

RSEnergyMetrix Uses

FactoryTalk Metrics Benefits

FactoryTalk Metrics assist us refine, streamline, and prioritize our process improvement initiatives, resulting in reduced downtime, decreased cycle time, and increased overall production. FactoryTalk Metrics endows with following benefits:

1. Increase capacity: More product, revenue, and profit in the same amount of time
2. Decrease manufacturing costs: Less overtime, reduced labor costs, lower per-unit costs
3. Defer capital expenditures: Make your current equipment produce more
4. Decrease overhead costs: Save time in collecting data and preparing reports
5. Empower continuous improvement: Automatic data collection more focused on improvement 

Emonitor Condition Monitoring Capabilities

Emonitor includes the widest range of data harvesting tools available today. Via these tools, Emonitor can easily fulfill following requirements:

• Inspection Data Logging
• Process Data Logging
• Vibration Data Collectors
• Oil Analysis Instrumentation
• Oil Analysis Laboratories File Import
• Calculated Measurements

Emonitor Asset Data Integration Functions

Emonitor Main features I

Emonitor supports the latest generation of the Enpac Windows CE-based data collectors. It also supports the Datapac family of collectors, along with previous generation Entek products and many data collectors from other suppliers.

Emonitor can also support streams of data coming in from a variety of permanently installed sensors or systems, including Surveillance Vibration Data Collection, Protection Data Collection, Process Historian Gateways and OPC (OLE for Process Control).

Besides these data sources, Emonitor can manage images and ActiveX data objects which is mainly valuable for infrared thermography data, magnified images of oil samples, or other condition indicating technologies.  

Emonitor Main features II

EIA-485 Applications

EIA-485 is used:

1. In an extensive range of computer and automation systems. In a computer system, SCSI-2 and SCSI-3 may use this specification to implement the physical layer for data transmission between a controller and a disk drive.
   
2. For low-speed data communications in commercial aircraft cabins vehicle bus where it requires minimal wiring, and can share the wiring among several seats, resulting in reduced weight.
   
3. As the physical layer underlying many standard and proprietary automation protocols used to implement Industrial Control Systems, including the most common versions of Modbus and Profibus.
   
4. In programmable logic controllers and on factory floors. Since it is differential, it resists electromagnetic interference from motors and welding equipment.
   
5. In theatre and performance venues to control sound systems and lighting. The EIA-485 link is typically implemented over standard XLR cables more commonly used for microphones, and so can be run between stage and control desk without laying special cables. Theatrical and disco lighting is controlled with the DMX protocol.
   
6. EIA-485 is also used in building automation as the simple bus wiring and long cable length is ideal for joining remote devices.
   
7. It may be used to control video surveillance systems or to interconnect security control panels and devices such as access control card readers. 

PLC Input & Output Module

PLC Programming

Input Module

The input module has two functions:

1. Reception of an external signal
2. Status display of that input point

It receives the peripheral sensing unit's signal and provides signal conditioning, termination, isolation and/or indication for that signal's state. The input to an input module is in either a discrete or analog form.

Output Module

The output module serves following functions:

1. Transmits discrete or analog signals to activate various devices like hydraulic actuators, solenoids, motor starters
2. Displays the status (through the use of LEDs) of the connected output points
3. Signal conditioning
4. Termination
5. Isolation

The output module is treated in the same way as the input module by the processor.

PLC Main Features

PLC Various Definitions

• The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) defines a PLC as a "digitally operating electronic apparatus which uses a programmable memory for the internal storage of instructions by implementing specific functions, such as logic, sequencing, timing, counting, and arithmetic to control through digital or analog I/O modules various types of machines or processes."
• One PLC manufacturer defines it as a "solid-state industrial control device which receives signals from user supplied controlled devices, such as sensors and switches, implements them in a precise pattern determined by ladder-diagram-based application progress stored in user memory, and provides outputs for control of processes or user-supplied devices, such as relays or motor starters."
• Basically, it's a solid-state, programmable electrical/electronic interface that can manipulate, execute, and/or monitor, at a very fast rate, the state of a process or communication system. It operates on the basis of programmable data contained in an integral microprocessor-based system. 

EIA Problems

EIA232 interfacing may include at least one of the following problems:

1. Absence or misconnection of flow control i.e. handshaking signals, resulting in buffer overflow or communications lock-up.
2. Incorrect communications function (DTE versus DCE) for the cable in use, resulting in the reversal of the Transmit and Receive data lines as well as one or more handshaking lines.
3. Incorrect connector gender or pin configuration, preventing cable connectors from mating properly.

Fortunately, EIA232 driver circuitry is extremely tolerant of misconnections, and will usually survive a drive signal being connected to ground, or two drive signals connected to each other. In any case, if the serial interface between two devices is not operating correctly, disconnect the cable joining this equipment until the problem is isolated.

EIA-232 Scope of the standard

The Electronics Industries Association (EIA) standard RS-232-C defines following elements:

1. Electrical signal characteristics such as voltage levels, signaling rate, timing and slew-rate of signals, voltage withstand level; short-circuit behavior, and maximum load capacitance.
   
2. Interface mechanical characteristics, pluggable connectors and pin identification.
   
3. Functions of each circuit in the interface connector.
   
4. Standard subsets of interface circuits for selected telecom applications.
   

However below mentioned elements are not defined by EIA-232 standard:

1. Character encoding like ASCII, Baudot code or EBCDIC
   
2. Framing of characters in the data stream, for example, bits per character, start/stop bits, parity
   
3. protocols for error detection or algorithms for data compression
   
4. Bit rates for transmission, although the standard says it is intended for bit rates lower than 20,000 bits per second. Many modern devices support speeds of 115,200 bit/s and above
   
5. Power supply to external devices. 

Ethernet/IP

EtherNet/IP i.e. Ethernet Industrial Protocol is an open communications protocol which was developed by Rockwell Automation and managed by ODVA. It is designed for use in process control and other industrial automation applications. This industrial application layer protocol operates over the Ethernet medium and employed for communication between industrial control systems and their components, such as a programmable automation controller, programmable logic controller or an I/O system. It is based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) standard used in DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet. EtherNet/IP is now an open technology which classifies Ethernet nodes as predefined device types with specific behaviors. This allows:

• Transfer of basic I/O data via UDP-based implicit messaging
• Uploading and downloading of parameters, setpoints, programs and recipes via TCP (i.e., explicit messaging.)
• Polled, cyclic and change-of-state monitoring via UDP, such as RPI and COS in Allen Bradley's ControlLogix control systems.
• One-to-one (unicast), one-to-many (multicast), and one-to-all (broadcast) communication via TCP. 

FactoryTalk Batch Capabilities

FactoryTalk Batch can be employed to

1. Create and manage recipes and execute them automatically
2. Cut down the hours needed for validating and commissioning
3. Configure physical and procedural models
4. Integrate with an extensive variety of complementary software applications
5. Collect detailed electronic batch data about your process to generate detailed reports
6. Integrate and exchange batch and recipe information with corporate information systems
7. Simulate our entire batch process