Times Have Changed for Wireless Process Control

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To monitor the quality of the wireless network, the controller software also forwards the number of neighboring participants; this is because Wireless Hart can only perform its self-healing function if the Hart devices have more than one neighbor (Fig. 2).

Wireless Network and Older Control Systems

In terms of user data, the Wireless Hart gateway maps all four variables of every connected participant, including units — when available — in Profibus.

Users who want to set up the gateway per notebook have an Ethernet port with a web server for the mandatory parameterization of the Wireless Hart network. The name and key of the network can also be specified by the Profibus protocol. Once the Wireless Hart participants have successively connected with the gateway, their data exists in the Profibus system. The Ethernet connection to the notebook is not necessary for operations and can therefore be disconnected.

Profibus Communication Enables Easy Integration

Because Profibus communications are based exclusively on the DP/V0 standard so that a cyclical data exchange takes place, even older or functionally simpler control systems can fully leverage the advantages of a wireless network. It is also possible to create visualizations directly on-site when used with Phoenix Contact’s robust touch panel devices.

The user can view values, trends, or states, and even operator entries are conceivable. Controllers from Phoenix Contact’s Inline product family also offer flexible interface converters for several additional protocols, such as Modbus RTU, TCP, Profibus, and Profinet (Fig. 3).

A Solution for Devices Without Bus Connection

If the control system does not have a bus connection yet Wireless Hart device data should be integrated, then the Phoenix Contact solution enables the programming of outputs of any Hart parameters as analog values or digital outputs. This makes it possible to easily map the four variables of a Hart device to a 4–20 mA output and thereby read in data to any controller via analog input.

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