Take Your Ethernet to the Field

Remote I/O connects all kinds of intrinsically safe inputs and outputs to process control systems in the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries as well as the oil and gas sector. Industrial Ethernet adds a new dimension to Remote I/O interfaces. It replaces existing communication paths, which are based on field-proven RS485 hardware using PROFIBUS or Modbus protocols. These communication paths are extensively used for Remote I/O at green field sites and legacy plants. Industrial Ethernet offers the following benefits:

• Plant-wide use of proven Ethernet technology
• Simplicity when the slaves are integrated into DCS and PLC environments

Ethernet Remote I/O is regarded as any other Ethernet device. It uses Ex-e bus connections in Zone 1 or “Ex-nA” in Zone 2 for explosion protection in the same way as the traditional RS485 PROFIBUS.

The field loops are completely isolated and segregated from the Ethernet. Any work carried out on the field loops will not have any adverse effect on neighboring devices or the bus.

The integration of the Ethernet Remote I/O into suitable host decentralized control systems (DCS) is accomplished by using well-established FDT technology (field device tool) and certified DTMs (device type manager). The DTM provides an easy to use configuration tool, which is viewed in the DCS environment just as any other device. It also extends to HART communications.

Industrial Ethernet is widely used in process automation industries and is now finding its way into process instrumentation. Pepperl+Fuchs’ Ethernet Remote I/O is an ideal choice for communication with process instruments.