Keeping Control Systems Simple
Everyone knows that technology exists to build highly integrated control systems but the real challenge is to have a range of solutions, which will allow all customers to extract value from new technology whilst maintaining familiar operating methods and keeping to a low budget.
It all starts in the R&D environment at the point where careful product definition specifications and innovative design are thought out to bring real benefits to target applications.
Once you have the industry basics right, that is high accuracy products with well developed control structures, it is time to concentrate on benefits for the individual user. This is a continuing theme for Eurotherm with a range of inherently compliant products, which are confidently applied to heat treatment applications in the aerospace and automotive industries across the world.
The use of modern digital communications and innovative features allow the control system designer to use familiar products to build high capability systems without the need for radical changes to shop floor or maintenance department working practices.
The solution illustrated below shows a typical furnace control scheme using standard discrete panel mounted products. Where the architecture varies from a conventional system is that by using a range of communications options all the products and hence the furnace components operate within a single control environment.
Using standard Eurotherm control items, linked to a 6180A digital chart recorder, specially configured to operate as the user interface, the operator can drive all aspects of the process from a single familiar screen.
This brings immediately benefits by reducing programming and operation complexity and providing features, which include on-line charge documentation reports and simple low cost remote system supervision.
Since the products integrate so seamlessly it is a simple matter to add other business benefits such as power management reports, furnace diagnostics and plant utilization records.
Eurotherm has been careful to design other parts of their product range to integrate easily in to this type of architecture. Where the control system is necessarily more complex or where the user wishes to add high intelligence process improvements, it is a simple matter to replace or add other components to the networked system as the requirements of the application increase.
Long may the forward thinking demands of our industry draw on the innovative research and development of our designers to maintain this cycle of continuing improvements.
