[FUN] Foundation Fieldbus Control Systems - FAT

[Stephen Mitschke]

I am currently on a project that is close to the point of making a purchaseof a Foundation Fieldbus (FF) control system with most of the fieldmeasurement and all of the control outputs using FF.The client is in a, errm, shall we say, unenlightened part of the globe andwill insist I'm sure on a 100% Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) using realworld devices and probably won't accept a purely software checking approach.My question is this, are there any software or hardware simulators that canemulate a FF segment ? I have searched the internet but have come up blankon this. What I'm looking for can be thought of as a similar thing to aModbus software emulator. What I want to avoid is the need to hook up (andconfigure) a set of instruments to each segment for the FAT as it will takeforever.Regards,Mike DawsonDon't forget Jumping Aboard 2001 in Perth June 10-12. More information athttp://www.iceweb.com.au

[Stephen Mitschke]

> Mike,> > MIMIC has just released version 2.4 which simulates FF and AS-i. Call> Rick> Story, Martin Berutti or Nobin Williams at 800-474-6869 and they can get> you> the particulars.> > Hope this helps.> > Ferrill Ford

[Stephen Mitschke]

> Fieldbus Inc. offers a Universal Control Resource. The device can be used> to test host systems using a variety of configurations. You can find out> more on the UCR by checking http://www.fieldbusinc.com/UCRProductSpec.pdf> or contacting Fieldbus Inc. at 1 (512) 794-1011> > Best Regards,> Sean Vincent> Fieldbus Inc.> Don't forget Jumping Aboard 2001 in Perth June 10-12. More information athttp://www.iceweb.com.au

[Stephen Mitschke]

> Ian,> > I don't know how to contact Mike Dawson so I am responding to you.> We > are about to release v2.4 of our mimic Process Simulation Software > which includes support and emulation of FF devices connected to a > DeltaV H1 card. This software runs on WinNT and connects to the IO > connection on DeltaV, completely simulating the IO subsystem and > process without having any IO attached. Accurate simulations of the > process are developed in an intuitive dialog box environment using > simulation objects in a dynamic spreadsheet interface.> > I am currently updating the product data sheet for this product. If > you would like, I will email it to you as soon as it is available.> > Please email or contact me if you have any questions.> > Regards,> > Martin Berutti> Munger Company> martin.berutti@frco.com> office: 314-683-2247> fax: 314-961-7927> > > Don't forget Jumping Aboard 2001 in Perth June 10-12. More information at > http://www.iceweb.com.au

[Stephen Mitschke]

> Mike,> > We have provide support on FAT/SAT procedures for several FF projects. On> basis of the experience we have the following remarks:> > - For systems smaller than some 20 segments we ask for a full FAT (i.e.> including all the FF devices). This saves time at the SAT where there is> also less opportunity to implement corrections.> - For large system one should select a representative set of segments and> consequently perform more testing during the SAT.> - In all cases the 'simulate' option of the FF devices can be used to> emulate (mimic) the process variables. The values can be used to test> HI/LO> alarming, faceplate, trending, etc.> - The MIMIC package of FR is one of the first to fill in the gap, but we> have not been able to apply it yet to a DeltaV system (I assume it will> not> work for other systems) and we still need to test if it will be an> adequate> tool.> - We apply NI software tools during the FAT and SAT to assess the system> performance against the specifications. Unfortunately these tools require> some expert FF knowledge to interpret the obtained results.> _________________________________________> With kind regards, Met vriendelijke groeten, > Bindert Douma, OGES> Don't forget Jumping Aboard 2001 in Perth June 10-12. More information athttp://www.iceweb.com.au