Analytical Data Systems: Technology versus Tradition; Where is the Middle Ground?

摘要

Implementation of emerging network technologies in process plants has its setbacks. The fast-paced data communications industry is providing options for solutions faster than standards committees can react and adopt them.Fieldbus technologies have proven this point, as the IEC has rejected the 61158 proposal. By the time the politics have been straightened out, technology will have made this implementation obsolete.For process analyzers, the IEC draft does not include a nodal definition for analyzers. This situation precludes solutions available to the analysis community. What standards are appropriate? Which are inappropriate?Office networks are the backbone of the OPC technology. However, implementation of this technology using installed cabling is difficult using current technology. It will be the challenge of analyzer producers to provide modern, up-to-date capabilities within the boundaries of the installed cabling and allowable network topologies.The purpose of this paper is to present thought-provoking insight into the paradox between the pursuit of technology and the difficulties posed by tradition in such facilities.