Aiming to help reduce the cost of maintaining production equipment distributed over wide areas, Yokogawa has released an enhanced version of its STARDOM network-based control system with upgraded engineering functionality.
For this latest STARDOM version, Yokogawa has optimised its existing engineering tool that is used to configure large-scale SCADA systems based on the FOUNDATION fieldbus protocol. The new tool, FOUNDATION fieldbus Configurator, is said to bring a 60 per cent reduction in engineering man-hours compared to the previous tool. In addition to this new tool, STARDOM's Logic Designer engineering tool for creating control applications has been improved: an enhanced Distributed Network Protocol 3 (DNP3) is also provided.
The FOUNDATION fieldbus Configurator contains a number of features that improve engineering efficiency and enable the deployment of FOUNDATION fieldbus networks in relatively short periods of time. For seamless operations, all screens now have the same look and feel as that of other STARDOM engineering tools. In addition, an enhanced export and import function facilitates repeat engineering, and application downloading time to fieldbus devices has been reduced substantially.
Logic Designer, the new control application creation tool, offers improved functionality, with new 'drag & drop', automatic rearrangement, automatic wiring mode switching, and other functions added that make this software easier to use. The new version of STARDOM also offers enhanced functionality of the DNP3 protocol. DNP3 is a communication protocol used for controlling equipment distributed over a wide area, such as oil and gas field equipment. The protocol has been enhanced to support a wider range of SCADA applications.
"The digital technology used with FOUNDATION fieldbus and other protocols plays a great role in the SCADA market by making it possible to manage field devices distributed over wide areas, such as oil and gas wells and wind power installations," said Teruyoshi Minaki, Director and Executive Vice President of Yokogawa's Industrial Automation Business Headquarters. "Yokogawa has revamped its engineering tools to facilitate high quality engineering."
Major target markets for STARDOM include oil and gas field production equipment in upstream oil and gas processes and new energy markets including,wind power generation equipment and micro-hydroelectric power generation equipment.
