Distributed system breaks the mould of conventional industrial process control

Assembly Automation

ISSN: 0144-5154

Article publication date: 1 March 1998

63

Citation

(1998), "Distributed system breaks the mould of conventional industrial process control", Assembly Automation, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.1998.03318aaf.009

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited


Distributed system breaks the mould of conventional industrial process control

Distributed system breaks the mould of conventional industrial process control

A major new system from Jumo Instruments breaks with conventional industrial process control, providing a flexible, cost effective, easily maintained and upgraded means of controlling a whole range of processes from a central point.

Jumo's new mTRON (modular TRON) system is believed to be the world's first commercially available peer-to-peer industrial process control system. It offers the same functionality as conventional PLC systems, yet costs 30 per cent less to control and maintain. In addition, because the central control point can be completely isolated, the safety, security and integrity of the processes are assured.

The mTRON system is effectively an intelligent control network, sometimes hundreds of metres long, based on low cost, easily installed communications technology. It can be used in virtually any conditions, and the intelligent sense and control devices that plug into it ­ mTRONs ­ are programmed remotely from a PC located, for example, in an office and/or via a display module on the shop floor. The system is therefore ideal for operation on the shop floor, in quarries or in other dirty, hazardous environments.

The communications network at the heart of the mTRON system is Echelon LONworks' local operating network (LON). This is a reliable control network that operates as both sensor bus and fieldbus. It is based on an isolated, screened, single twisted pair cable loop, to which spurs can be connected. This is significantly less expensive than point-to-point wiring, and much easier to install and maintain.

The real advantage of a peer-to-peer system is that any device linked to it can communicate directly in real time. The process control and monitoring functions of the mTRON system are performed by mTRON units. These are individual modules which plug directly into the LON. At the heart of each mTRON is a neuron microprocessor, which provides the unit with its own embedded intelligence. This allows it to be programmed remotely across the network and to communicate its identity to the other devices on the network. It also optimizes, switches and controls the process conditions and system parameters/setpoints for the module so that it can perform its designated functions. New mTRONs can be added to the network at any time to meet changing requirements.

The first mTRON units are now available at a typical cost of £200 each. They include display, controller, universal relay, analogue input and output, communications and logic modules; development is currently under way on others.

The combination of the LON system and Jumo's mTRONs results in a system that can be assembled, configured and adapted for each application, yet which requires far less custom development of hardware and software than alternative process control environments. This contrasts with PLC systems, which require expensive, time-consuming programming, and often suffer from incompatibility problems. System start-up is simpler, and it is also far quicker and easier to increase the capabilities of the initial network simply by adding extra modules. Maintenance is also easy: modules can either be switched out for repair or upgrade, or diagnostics and reprogramming can be done long distance by telephone. Because each unit on the network has its own integral intelligence, system vulnerability is spread over a wide area instead of being confined to a central point.

The mTRON system is aimed particularly at the builders of physically large systems, production lines and chemical plants, and applications such as tunnel ovens which require distributed processing. Because it is so easy to install and expand, the system is also well suited to use with complex or multiple control loops where communications are required. Where required, Jumo Instruments or the OEM can provide full technical support, including diagnostics and maintenance, via modem.

In the case of larger end users, Jumo will be supplying and configuring the mTRON system direct. The company is also seeking OEMs who will supply it to users in their specialist market areas.

Operation of Jumo instruments'mTRON system, which is believed to be the first commercially available, peer to peer, distributed industrial process control system in the world

Related articles