Planning for Automation System Upgrades: Total Replacement versus Phased Migration

摘要

In the water and wastewater industries, most facilities are designed with a 20-25 year life cycle and the installed equipment is expected to last the duration. Yet, in the field of integrated circuitry the obsolescence rate is less then five years. This has an impact on the computers, SCADA hardware and programmable automation controller (PAC) hardware found in water and wastewater facilities. Most automation vendors have done an excellent job of recognizing this challenge and continue to manufacture parts long after a product line has become obsolete. However, an aging automation system's obsolete components translate to indefinite costs, unpredictable maintenance requirements and increased potential for downtime. When municipalities think about retrofitting their existing automation system and software, often their thoughts turn to the immense burden, risk and cost associated with an upgrade. Upgrading automation systems shouldn't be considered from merely a short-term perspective, though. When properly analyzed, the increased reliability, enhanced processing power and other long-term benefits often outweigh the time and cost invested today.