Tag Archives: hmi

Benefits of Signals

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Nowadays, information is necessary in improving productivity. Data collection from devices is one consideration point which Phoenix Contact specializes in. As many of you may know, several of our products have been integrated with signal indicators, such as power supply, Ethernet switch, surge protection etc.

A case in point for the benefits of signals would be for redundancy power supply units

Question: Why are signals so important in this particular system?

Answer: Because of dual PSU redundancy system, we always have spare power source in the event that we face problems from one of two power supply units. The purpose of the other device, which remains fully functional, is to provide a backup supply of energy to the system when the other unit fails. So the signal that indicates the non-functioning status of the failed unit can be sent to other systems which are integrated with this system via dry contact or analogue signals.

Case Study

Imagine systems such as QUINT and ORING [Fig – I], under normal circumstances, if the voltage between two PSU is the same level, the ACB function should be activated to balance supplied current to load.

Fig. 1: System diagram when PSU 2 AC power fails

Fig. 1: System diagram when PSU 2 AC power fails

The signals are meant to display that the redundancy and ACB are functioning normally, and it should be indicated via terminal 13/14 and 23/24 to ORING device, connected via wiring. The indicators also show activity from the PSU side. They include terminal 13/14 and the QUINT V4 model not only includes 13/14, but also includes OUT 1 and OUT 2, indicating the current which they supply to load. All signals have been integrated to DCS or SCADA system.

Fig. 2: HMI indication when PSU 2 AC power failed

Fig. 2: HMI indication when PSU 2 AC power failed

Every time when the system detect a fault, all system indicators would be displayed through the monitoring system in the user monitoring screen, triggering SMSes or emails to let operators know and respond to that alarm without any need to send someone to go on site and open the cabinet to investigate what the problem is. Moreover, we can use the data logging and monitoring systems to record any incoming signals in an archive; in case that we need to how frequently and when faults happen.

In this scenario, the verification step is eliminated because the root cause will be indicated instantly via the monitoring system. To collect all the data from this system we only need 6 digital inputs and 4 analogue inputs. It is not too much IO in case we have to compare the benefit against the investment cost.

“Prevention is better than cure”

If you have any queries, feel free to contact us!

Safety Valve Interlocking System

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The Problem:

In a chemical process plant, emergency situations can be extremely costly, both in terms of equipment and human life. However, under such extreme circumstances, it is rare that operators are able to effectively shut down all of the valves and pumps in the process line.

The Task:

We were given two weeks to install an upgrade to their existing system, along with the programming. The idea was simple – interlock the whole system so that no matter which part of the line the operator was, he/she would be able to shut down the entire system from his/her location.

The Solution:

Human-Machine Interface (HMI)

Human-Machine Interface (HMI)

We integrated Phoenix Contact’s Smart PLC Logic Relay and Human Machine Interface (HMI) into their system, splitting all of their valves and pumps in the process line into three zones. In the event of an emergency situation, the operator need only trigger the relay in one zone to shut down the whole process line.

Why it’s awesome:

Instead of having to run to separate parts of the process line to shut them down individually (and quite possibly realising how much more they need to train their running stamina and cardio over the weekends), all the operators have to do is to trigger the nearest zone. This not only saves time and effort, but more importantly equipment repair costs and human lives. This one-touch-kill-switch also reduces the risk of the operator forgetting to shut down some of the more remote areas of the process line in the heat of the moment, which would undoubtedly lead to higher repair costs.

In addition, our solution boasts the following features:

  • Easy troubleshooting on HMI with clear indication of which zone the emergency button was activated.
  • Easy maintenance work with interchangeable plug-in elements.
  • Reduced risk of system failure.
  • Allows greater flexibility for future system modifications.
  • Traceable data logging of system information.

Interested to find out more? Feel free to contact us!

Marine-Certified TPM3000 – Built for the High Seas

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Marine-certified HMI

Marine-certified HMI

Marine-certified

Salt and water are the natural enemies of most man-made product and in any marine environment, you will find these in abundance. Saltwater will corrode all manners of metal over time. Therefore, to qualify for marine certification, any product has to pass stringent test.

Consequently, for any insurance to be arranged or licenses to be issued, it is necessary for ships and off-shore platforms to be surveyed and certified to international and/or national regulations by one of the marine classification boards.

To fulfill such exacting requirements, Phoenix Contact offers the TPM 3000 series Touch Panels. Designed for maritime applications, these Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) were specially tested and approved for shipbuilding.

Available in a range of sizes (4.3″, 5.7″, 7″, 10.4″, 12.1″ and 15″), each model features two buttons for dimming the display brightness, an external horn, and on the rear, a floating output for connecting external signal generators.

TPM 3000 Series Touch Panel

TPM 3000 Series Touch Panel

Summary of Benefits

  • Tested quality: certified according to GL, LR, BV, DNV, ABS, and EN 60945
  • Dimmable backlight
  • Acoustic warning from integrated buzzer
  • Flexible communication, even with third-party systems
  • Floating output for connecting external signal generators.
  • Readable in direct sunlight, thanks to GFG touch technology with anti-reflection coating

With wide choices of display sizes and range of functions, the TPM 3000 series will provide you with user-friendly and reliable operation, monitoring and alerting while at sea. The robust TPM 3000 series are designed for demanding applications on board ships.
>> Read more about the TPM 3000

Web Panels for Extreme Conditions

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Phoenix Contact has added several new outdoor web panels to its HMI product range. The panels feature front surfaces protected against dust and splash water (protection class IP 67) and an anti-glare display that can be read in full sunlight.

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Compact, Energy-Saving Embedded Box PC for the DIN Rail

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Phoenix Contact is launching the new VL BPC 1000 industrial PC product line of embedded box PCs for especially harsh industrial environments.

These devices are suited for simple control and communication tasks and for data collection in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, building automation, traffic engineering, and energy data transmission applications.

The IPCs are designed to meet high temperature, vibration, shock, and EMC requirements and thus ensure maintenance-free 24/7 operation.

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Industrial-Grade Operator Panels for Basic Applications

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Phoenix Contact rounds out its range of web-based operator panels with 10- and 15-inch versions. This means that more display area is available for visualizing basic applications.

The larger display area has the advantage that fewer process diagrams have to be configured to display all operating data. For operator panels with small displays, information is distributed across various process diagrams.

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