In this section of the lab, you will be using FactoryTalk AssetCentre Process Device Configuration to add an Endress+Hauser Cerabar pressure transmitter to FactoryTalk AssetCentre, and then configure and monitor the device.
Introduction to FTD-DTM
FactoryTalk AssetCentre leverages FDT/ DTM technology for its Process Device Management.
The following sections describe this open technology. Refer to www.fdtgroup.org for additional information.
What is Field Device Tool (FDT)?
FDT (Field Device Tool) technology standardizes the communication interface between field devices and systems. The key feature is its independence from the communication protocol and the software environment of either the device or the host system. FDT allows any device to be accessed from FactoryTalk AssetCentre through any protocol.
Here’s how it works
Suppliers (e.g., Rockwell Automation, Endress+Hauser, Metso Automation, etc.) develop a Device Type Manager (DTM) for each of its devices or group of devices.
The DTM encapsulates all the device-specific data, functions and business rules such as the device structure, its communication capabilities, internal dependencies, and the Human Machine Interface (HMI) structure. The DTMs provide functions for
accessing device parameters, configuring and operating the devices, and diagnosing problems. DTMs can range from a simple Graphical User Interface (GUI) for setting device parameters to a highly sophisticated application capable of performing complex real-time calculations for diagnosis and maintenance purposes.
The DTM is managed and launched in FactoryTalk AssetCentre. FactoryTalk AssetCentre contains the communication component to interface the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client with the specific fieldbus communication (e.g., HART, PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION fieldbus, etc.). FactoryTalk AssetCentre initiates the DTM and enables the device to interoperate with the system engineering and operating environment.
The FDT interface is open to all kinds of field busses and thus will allow FactoryTalk AssetCentre to provide integration for many different kinds of devices.
DTM’s and Network Topology
The first step to configuring a device is to create a communication path to the device from the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client. This is accomplished by nesting DTMs that represent various levels of the network topology.
For example, let’s look at the basic network setup shown below:
To configure the E+H Cerabar (pressure) device from the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client, the network topology would be represented as follows:
Each level of the topology representation corresponds to a DTM. DTMs are nested in an assembly to create an appropriate communication path from FactoryTalk AssetCentre client to device.
The first DTM, RSLinx 1756 Bus, routes communications from the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client to the backplane of the ControlLogix 1756 Chassis. The second DTM, 1756-IF8H, routes communication from the backplane of the ControlLogix 1756 Chassis to the HART protocol. Lastly, the Cerabar DTM talks HART and is capable of configuring the Cerabar instrument.
Thus, DTMs have two properties of interest:
Required Protocol - Upstream Protocol
Supported Protocol - Downstream Protocol In the DTM assembly above:
RSLinx 1756 Bus DTM
Has no Required (Upstream) Protocol and
Has a Supported (Downstream) Protocol of 1756 bus 1756-IF8H DTM
Has a required protocol of 1756 bus and a
Supported protocol of HART Cerabar DTM
Has a required protocol of HART and
No supported protocol
Launching FactoryTalk AssetCentre
In this section you will launch the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client, if it’s not already open.
1. From the Start menu select Programs → Rockwell Software → FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client → FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client. You can also double-click the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client icon on the desktop:
After a few seconds, you should see a software interface that looks similar to this:
DTM Catalog
The DTM catalog is used to view and manage the DTMs that are available in FactoryTalk AssetCentre. The DTM Catalog is stored on a FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.
1. Click the Tools → DTM Catalog from the file menu.
2. The DTM Catalog is displayed.
The DTM Catalog is where you can:
Scan for additional installed DTMs that have been loaded on the machine
Enable or Disable particular DTM for usage via the Modify Catalog button
View all DTMs that are available via FactoryTalk AssetCentre. You can apply predefined or custom filters for easy navigation.
3. When finished, press the Close button.
Scan DTMs that apply a filter to those specific DTMs
Customized filters allow you to filter the DTM Catalog base on one or more criteria i.e.
Cerabar
DTM View
In this section of the lab, you will be using FactoryTalk AssetCentre Process Device Configuration Field Edition to verify an Endress+Hauser Cerabar pressure transmitter configuration.
1. Navigate to the PT10.PDC file in the asset tree: under AssetCentre → Plant Layout → Packaging Area → Washer → PT10 → PT10.PDC, right mouse click and select Open.
2.
Click Check Out3. The Check Out dialog is displayed; click OK to check it out to the default working folder on your machine. PDC Field Edition will launch, and the PT10.PDC file will opened. The Field Edition Home page will now be displayed:
The following items are available from the Home page:
Field Description
Open Opens the device configuration data. Depending on
Current Status (see below) the open command will either go to an Online or Offline state
Upload Will upload from the device and save to offline
configuration data
Download Will download offline configuration to the device
Online / Offline (with Current Status)
Determines when the device is open to either go to an Online or Offline state. The current selection is shown Device / Network diagnostics Used primarily to determine the quality of the DTM
selected, DTM Network configuration; including connectivity to the device itself
Note: The file has been checked out to the C:\Documents and Settings\Labuser\Desktop\PDC Files\PT10 folder. If the archive tab is open, the State field will display this information for you and a check mark will appear next to the file’s icon, indicating that the file is currently checked out:
4. Click the Open button to open the valve positioner device:
When you are offline with the device, all changes and settings are stored locally in the DTM and are not sent to the device. When you later go online with the device you can transfer the parameter changes to the device by performing a parameter download. If online parameterization is performed when you are online with the device, all changes are transferred directly to the device.
Offline Parameterization
In this portion of the lab, the valve positioner’s upper limit will be adjusted from 100% to 90%.
1. Scroll down to Position Upper Limit Current Status:
Disconnected / Offline
2. Change the value from 100 to 90.
Note that a pencil icon appears next to the value, indicating that something has been changed.
3.
To save your changes, click File from the menu and then Save.
4.
Close PDC Field Edition application Click Yes if prompted to save again.
Note: If the Archive Auto Check-In appendix has been completed, then the auto check-in dialog will appear at this point and step 5 can be skipped.