【Weekly Question 200906029】Please discuss how the hardware status of DCS systems from various manufacturers is displayed on the monitoring screens

The screens of Zhejiang Zhongkong are relatively simple and not 3D. The trend customization feature of the XP system is quite good; it allows test points to be combined according to process requirements, enabling comparisons of the resulting records and thus facilitating fault analysis. However, it does not combine SOE functions; relying solely on the “Alarm List” function, it may be possible to find most of the alarm interlock records, but due to the long recording interval (about 1 second), some records will go unnoticed. The Hilscher MACS system uses software introduced from Australia, and the display is quite impressive. There are rich libraries of diagrams related to its flowcharts. The TRICONEX system interface is simple, giving it a robust feel.

The TPS system has a fairly comprehensive fault detection function, but it is also quite complicated; aspects such as noise and system resource utilization are not displayed on the monitoring screen； The monitoring interface of the DeltaV system is user-friendly; the pop-up panels can be modified by engineers as needed. Each operation station and control card is also displayed on the monitoring screen. Although the details are not extensive, the diagnostic tools available in EXPLORER help to identify the main issues. It is easy to update the data sources and various operation stations ； The system monitoring screen of Zhejiang University Zhongkong shows fault indicators, including issues with network communication and various cards ； The additional diagnostic software can also achieve precision to the point, but it is necessary to turn off the monitoring software; otherwise, there will be conflicts. The panels on the central control are embedded and cannot be modified, and a maximum of 5 panels can be displayed at once. Without a unified data source, it is not possible to update all the operation stations at once; updates must be made one by one, which is an area that needs improvement.

1. The CS-3000 system features a dedicated system status monitoring screen that allows easy viewing of the FCS status (including nodes and cards) as well as the HIS operation status; in addition, the main operating parameters of the FCS are also displayed on this screen. But if the system fails, it is still mainly necessary to rely on the information in the system alarms and consult the manual for analysis. 2. In the TRICON system, a dedicated system hardware structure diagram is usually configured in the HMI; the operating status of the cards is indicated through connected system variables. Fault analysis still relies primarily on the diagnostic functions of the TRISTATION 1131. 3. The system status displayed on the monitoring screen of the Zhejiang University Zhongkong ECS-100 system is comprehensive and intuitive; however, the monitoring software and diagnostic software cannot run simultaneously. Additionally, the use of some of the diagnostic tools is not clearly explained in the accompanying technical documents, and further improvements are desired. 4. The TPS and PKS systems offer comprehensive functions for monitoring their status, along with numerous diagnostic tools. Information on fault issues can generally be found in KNOWLEDGE BUILDER or technical documentation.

Additional information on DeltaV: DeltaV boasts a strong diagnostic capability for field devices. This applies to each individual device, each channel, each controller, as well as the network, with numerous parameters available. On the control interface, an alarm is generated for each hardware failure, and after an alarm is triggered, engineers can directly access the diagnostic program on the screen to view detailed information about the fault. In particular, since many parameters can be seen in the diagnostic program, it is possible to add all the information that should be displayed directly on the screen during the configuration of the interface. This allows for an intuitive display of the status of each controller and the network. However, channel information is generally not included in such displays, as it isn’t useful; detailed information on this is available in the diagnostic program.

This post was last edited by zzcqiang on 2009-6-30 at 14:16. The MACS system from Schneider Electric offers flexible screen configuration, but it lacks a three-dimensional effect and provides insufficient information; for example, the start and stop of pumps can only be indicated by colors, with no alerts in the information bar or via voice prompts. The hardware status of Hollyland’s DCS is accurately and promptly reflected in the monitoring interface, showing its composition, alarm, and fault conditions; as well as information regarding network connectivity, whether the controllers are in primary/backup mode, the proper functioning of IO modules, the status of switches in primary/backup mode, and the operation of servers.

I’ve basically worked with all the DCS interfaces, and in my opinion Fox Pine is the best, but its setup is too complicated and difficult to implement； Honey’s option is good too; it offers a wealth of templates and image libraries for the chemical industry. The CS3000 option is similar to Honey’s in terms of quality. Domestic DCS systems have a rather simple image quality and functionality, and are essentially imitations. But in terms of 2D effects, it mainly depends on the group’s capabilities; the 3D effects are not good. A few visual elements are fine, but too many and it becomes chaotic!

The SOE function is available both domestically and internationally; however, systems such as TRICON, CS3000, and ECS-100 come as separate software packages that need to be ordered.

I’m a bit off-topic; the display of any device can show its hardware status! But TRICON and Zhejiang University’s hollow type systems require engineers to monitor them online; operators cannot see them

I have been working with DCS systems for over three years now; I have worked with more than a dozen different DCS and PLC systems, and I am very familiar with control systems used in the coal chemical industry. I specialize in advanced configuration tasks, and if your company needs my services, please get in touch with me! !

The last edit to this post was made by qiaopeng1231 on 2009-7-1 at 13:21. The hardware status of the ABB AC800F can also be viewed through the operator interface, for example, to determine which controller is the master and which one is the slave； That IO station is broken; the IO module on that station is faulty. The faulty IO modules are those channels that are damaged. Note that DI and DO are grouped in sets of 8; in other words, when checking for faults in DI and DO, it is only possible to determine which group of 8 to examine. It’s impossible to locate every single point. Similarly, it is also possible to display whether that operator station is now turned on or not, even if it isn’t powered on. As for the AC800M, it depends on how the various higher-level HMI software is implemented; at present, most of these software applications are not capable of monitoring the hardware’s status. The 800XA is much more powerful, not only in terms of the CPU but also in terms of the IO stations. IO module, IO channel group. This even includes all third-party devices that have received ABB IIT certification, such as Moxa switches. Hesman’s photoelectric converters can have their status monitored and diagnosed through the operator interface. The devices of these partners even include HP and IBM servers; it is possible to monitor which network card number is used in each workstation and server, as well as which network cards are faulty. If your UPS is a model that has received ABB IIT Industrial IT certification, it is even possible to monitor its status.