A practical guide to the selection, installation and maintenance of equipment complying with the Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe COncept (FISCO) for fieldbus systems in Zone 2 and Division 2 hazardous areas. The document begins with a discussion of the origins of FISCO and follows with a review of the main elements to be considered when assembling FISCO systems. Further sections develop each subject in more detail. The intention is to provide clear guidance to new and experienced fieldbus users.

Click to download the Application Note by MTL

Lantech IWP-1000b/g is a reliable 802.11b/g WLAN with 2 ports LAN Access Point. It can be configured to operate in AP/Bridge/Repeater/AP-Client mode. Users are able to configure IWP-1000b/g by WEB interface via LAN port or WLAN interface. IWP-1000b/g provides dual Ethernet ports in switch mode, so that users can use Daisy Chain to reduce the usage of Ethernet switch ports.

With IEEE802.11b/g dual mode capability, IWP-1000b/g is able to operate with a maximum link speed of 54Mbps to maximize the capacity of communication channel. The security standards include WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK (TKIP, AES), WPA2, WPA2-PSK (TKIP, AES), 802.1X and Radius. These various kinds of security standards for WLAN are also configurable to ensure the security of data transmission.

Lantech IWP-1000b/g supports HTTPs protocol over LAN or WLAN to assure the data security when users make configuration remotely. IWP-1000b/g also support switch mode. Users are able to use the Daisy Chain to reduce usage of Ethernet switch port. The redundant DC power inputs help to guarantee a non-stop operation. The backup power input will take over immediately when the primary DC power input fails.

Features:

• High Speed Air Connectivity: WLAN interface support up to 54Mbps link speed
• Highly Security Capability: WEP/ WPA/ WPA-PSK (TKIP,AES)/ WPA2/ WPA2-PSK (TKIP,AES)/ 802.1X Authentication supported
• Support X-Roaming < 100 ms
• Support wireless load balance
• Support AP/Bridge/Repeater/AP-Client Mode
• Switch Mode Supported: Daisy Chain support to reduce usage of switch ports
• Dual redundant Ethernet port support redundant mode (Recovery time < 10ms)
• Secured Management by HTTPs
• Event Warning by Syslog, Email, SNMP Trap, Relay and Beeper
• Rigid IP30 housing for industrial environment
• DIN-Rail and Wall-mount enabled

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University of Miskolc becomes first certified FOUNDATION fieldbus training center in Central & Eastern Europe region

The Fieldbus Foundation, conducting a press conference at the University of Miskolc, Hungary, today announced that the university has been successful in the rigorous certification process required to become a training site that offers fieldbus training courses certified under the FOUNDATION Certified Training Program (FCTP). This program establishes uniform standards for fieldbus educational curriculum around the globe, and defines acceptable levels of learning for students of the technology.

The University of Miskolc is now the preferred site for certified FOUNDATION fieldbus training in the Central & Eastern Europe region.

There are rigorous procedures that educational institutions must follow in order to gain certified training site status, and for certifying course instructors and curriculum. Certified training centers are required to maintain multiple hosts and devices onsite in order to demonstrate competence with fieldbus technology. They are also audited to ensure their course material adheres to set instructional standards covering fieldbus segment limits; device replacements; commands, icons, menus and screen designs of different software packages; and communication, scheduling and function block assignments enabling configuration.

In addition, certified instructors are audited to see if they have achieved specified Fieldbus Foundation training goals. Instructors must demonstrate expertise in areas such as Human-Machine Interface (HMI) tools, fieldbus troubleshooting, simple device configuration, and device deployment and functionality across a fieldbus network.

FCTP is intended to raise the visibility and prestige of institutions offering certified FOUNDATION fieldbus training and ensure that the instructors delivering the courses are skilled, knowledgeable and technically competent. Through certification, the program demonstrates to prospective end user students that fieldbus training centers, and their instructors, have been thoroughly evaluated based on strict criteria, and have the necessary qualifications to provide the very best training available. Only certified institutions are permitted to use the official FCTP logo.

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the release of an updated version of its FOUNDATION™ for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) technical specifications. The specifications now include support for FOUNDATION fieldbus H1 (31.25 bit/s) dual-mode devices employing powerful field diagnostics capabilities, which greatly simplifies the process of developing field instrumentation employing the SIF protocol.

FOUNDATION technology enables process end users to reduce both capital and operational costs significantly, and FOUNDATION for SIF has the potential to greatly improve plant and process safety through superior advanced diagnostics at both the device and network level.

The FOUNDATION for Safety Instrumented Functions protocol was approved by TÜV Anlagentechnik GmbH to meet the requirements of IEC 61508 up to, and including, Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3. Process automation end users have clearly stated their desire for FOUNDATION for SIF technology because of its reduced footprint, reduced installed cost, and advanced diagnostics capabilities. Most of the failures related to safety systems do not happen within the logic solver, but can be traced to failures at the field device or control valve. FOUNDATION for SIF provides the most sophisticated diagnostics for safety devices and a truly digital path for safety devices.

With the dual-mode H1 device capability, instrumentation manufacturers can bring new safety products to market without having to design two entirely different devices. Developers can implement H1 devices with SIF features activated or de-activated. More importantly, this means that plants will only have to stock one type of device that can be used as either a process device or a safety device.

When SIF mode is selected, the device will behave as specified by the SIF specifications; otherwise, it will function as a normal H1 instrument. To ensure conformance to safety standards, the two modes cannot run concurrently in the same device.

The latest FOUNDATION for SIF specifications release includes a number of updates to the System Architecture, Application Model, Protocol, Function Block and Device ITK Profile specifications to make this all possible. It also includes a new application note on macro cycle calculation.

Multiple FOUNDATION for SIF pilot projects are taking place at locations around the world with different end users. These companies, along with other major end users, are encouraging the automation equipment industry to develop safety-approved products for their initial installations.