The clever combination of combining control and I/O technology into an expandable base plate or chassis could be a winning formula for Eurotherm's new T2550 Programmable Automation Controller (PAC), which, like a PLC, can be deployed independently, or as part of a centrally controlled network.
The new T2550 controller allows low-cost, multi-loop process control capability to be deployed right at a process unit and can be easily configured using Eurotherm's LIN tools, said Karen Rigby, Marketing Manager of Eurotherm, which is part of Invensys.
While the T2550 can be easily integrated into a control or plant network, it will continue to control the process even if a network link is lost. Combined with optional controller redundancy, this provides a high degree of fault-tolerance at a very low cost.
The T2550 controller is the first Eurotherm product to bundle full, configurable, process control and I/O functionality in a compact, field-mountable base plate and termination assembly. Each unit can have up to two process controllers, which can operate in a simplex mode or in an optional redundant mode.
No additional engineering is required to make the system redundant. The standard T2550 control and I/O base plate can also house up to 16 I/O cards. These can be hot swapped without disturbing field wiring or other I/O which maximises process uptime. The T2550 controller supports high-density packaging of a broad range of analog and digital I/O types.
System controllers can be mixed and matched as needed to meet specific control and price requirements using the highly flexible licensing strategy. Users pay only for currently needed functionality and can upgrade at any time without cost penalty.
Redundant processors with automatic, bumpless switchover, redundant power supplies, and redundant network connections can be specified on a controller-by-controller basis. LIN tools is used to graphically configure the T2550 including function block, sequential function charts, structured text, PID and advanced regulatory control.
Once configuration is complete, the code is uploaded to the controller/s, however, configuration changes can still be made online later if necessary. Customers also have the optional of using additional tools within EurothermSuite to configure the plant as a whole in addition to individual instruments.