cpp - Process technology for the chemical industry 02.2018

These mobile platforms provide the same
rich information that is shown on the operator
console – any parameter or alarm that
has been configured in the DCS. The alarms
update in real-time, exactly as they would
on the DCS operator workstation.
Filtered alerts
A wide variety of roles are incorporated
within manufacturing and process industry
organisations; each one requires access to
different information and with varying degrees
of urgency. Well-designed mobile so -
lutions are more than just remote views of
an existing DCS – they simplify information
which is often scattered across various business
systems and databases in intuitive mobile
screens that are easy to read and navigate,
and that are filtered to meet the user’s
specific needs.
Mobile applications provide customisable
filtering via a configurable series of watch
lists and notifications, which can be used to
cover a broad range of equipment, user
roles and times when the user is active in
plant operations. This can include periods
when they are either physically present in
the plant but away from their workstation,
or when they are away from the plant but
still on-call. A customisable interface provides
data filters such as area, unit, equipment,
module or alarm priority. This resolves
the problem of irrelevant nuisance
alerts and allows personnel to receive only
essential, actionable notifications.
Furthermore, the alarm information
supplies important context, such as trends
of relevant process values or recommended
actions. With this added context, users can
make better decisions regarding operational
events that could affect bottom-line business
results.
Extended collaboration
One advantage of mobile applications over
traditional DCS operator workstations is the
way in which they facilitate information
sharing and collaboration. Mobile solutions
connect plant managers, automation supervisors,
process engineers and subject matter
experts with access to essential real-time
data, contextualised alarms and historical
trends that can be shared easily, thereby extending
secure organisation-wide expertise
beyond the plant.
Screenshots of alarm details, process data
and trends can likewise be shared simply by
e-mail or text, even if the recipient does not
have the mobile application. Sharing a link
with other users via an e-mail or text mes -
sage directly connects recipients to the same
live mobile view, so that the sender and recipient
can view the same synchronised information
which is updating simultaneously
in real-time.
Data security
Transferring critical data from the plant
floor in a secure manner is a top priority for
companies everywhere. Thus, cybersecurity
is traditionally a key consideration in the
design of mobile platforms. Data transfer to
mobile devices utilises several crucial aspects
of secure connectivity, including
multi-level segmented architectures, user
authentication and authorisation or data encryption.
Whether viewing lists on a mobile device or
graphics in a web browser, mobile solutions
for monitoring are strictly read-only, preventing
users from inadvertently executing
operations. Process and diagnostic data is
sent to intermediate, secondary servers that
are located above the DCS or automation
control network and isolated by firewalls.
Mobile platforms access these servers via a
secure VPN or Wi-Fi, creating a built-in
means of transferring plant data securely.
Secure mobile platforms also provide
whitelisting and data encryption as part of
their multi-layered network security features.
In addition, users can connect to
multiple DCSs or other systems using OPC
(the interoperability standard for the secure
and reliable exchange of data in the industrial
automation space). This enables them
to obtain real-time data and trends from a
growing number of sources and translate
them into consolidated views.
Improving business results
DeltaV Mobile is reshaping the status quo
by putting the digital plant in the palm of
operators’ hands, wherever they happen to
be located, thus empowering them to improve
operational performance, safety and
reliability. By making it easier for managers
and engineers to share critical information,
it helps to streamline workflows and improve
business results. DeltaV Mobile provides
a number of key benefits in the digital
plant environment, for example operations
managers can maintain high visibility on
operations, monitor critical process values,
KPIs or alarms for the entire site, receive
notifications of critical alarms and communicate
with the team to resolve issues.
Safety engineers can monitor safety-critical
data and alarms for specific responsibilities,
maintain situational awareness by receiving
notifications and view alarms in real time,
monitor safety instrumented functions (SIF)
The mobile solution connects plant
managers, automation supervisors, process
engineers and subject matter experts with
access to essential real-time data, alarms and
historical trends
such as bypasses or partial stroke tests as
well as critical suppressed alarms. Process
engineers can access and view critical realtime
data, alarms and trends in order to
diagnose issues, evaluate what happened by
seeing alarms in context with process information,
obtain notifications for critical
alarms, quickly communicate issues and
troubleshoot with operators and remote experts.
Operators can maintain situational
awareness while away from the control
room by receiving critical notifications, respond
in the right way by always having access
to vital alarm information that includes
relevant process data and recommended actions,
and collaborate easily and securely by
sharing critical alarms and process data with
SMEs, no matter where they are located.
www.cpp-net.com
Online search: cpp0218emerson
Hall 9.2, Booth D41
AUTHOR:
SANJIN BIŠEVAC
Service Sales Manager
Europe,
Emerson Automation
Solutions
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