News Release
Emerson unveils full redundancy for Smart Wireless monitoring and control applications, furthers wireless adoption on all capital projects 
Wireless control proven in installations using 1-second updates, enhanced PID, battery management, and WirelessHART™ network

AUSTIN, TEXAS (October 1, 2009)  -- Responding to end-user requirements, Emerson has announced a unique approach to redundancy for Smart Wireless monitoring and control solutions. Available with the DeltaV™ S-series digital automation system, full redundancy protects the wireless network from any single point of failure by allowing primary failover to ensure that data is always delivered even if there is a malfunction.

The enhancements include redundant Wireless I/O, power and communications and a redundant Smart Wireless Remote Link.  The Remote Link can be mounted in class 1/Div 1/zone 0; it easily links the wireless field network into a DeltaV system which makes an optimized PID available for wireless control. The new full redundancy furthers the strength of Smart Wireless technology as a complement to wired and bus approaches on capital projects. 

“As plant studies have shown, reliable robust wireless technology should be a key component of all capital projects,” said Bob Karschnia, vice president Wireless for Emerson Process Management.  “Plants using wireless realize savings and become smarter through simpler engineering and construction, flexible start-up, faster deployment and project completion, and changing automation needs. Today wireless is readily deployed for monitoring, and customers have asked for redundancy for control as well as for critical monitoring points.  

“Further, customers need proof that control with wireless is viable,” continued Karschnia.  “We’ve responded with real-world Smart Wireless installations using 1-second updates, enhanced PID, battery management, and WirelessHART™.  We’re excited about the expansion of benefits these new user-driven solutions offer.”

Thousands of Smart Wireless installations are successfully operating globally in demanding environments industry-wide.  The new wireless network redundancy and robustness enable confidence for customers to now extend use to critical monitoring and control applications with the same flexibility and ease of use of the entire Smart Wireless platform. 

Smart Wireless is based on the WirelessHART™ standard which is designed for control and monitoring applications. Smart Wireless devices based on the WirelessHART standard deliver 99.9% reliability because of the self-organizing nature of the network. This ensures that data is always delivered reliably and is never lost. This level of reliability is a prerequisite to using wireless technology for any critical monitoring or control application. Devices that conform to the WirelessHART specification can sense measurements at update rates up to once per second. WirelessHART also allows exception reporting for network efficiency; devices only communicate a measurement value if it has changed significantly since the last communication or if the time since the last communication has exceeded a required reporting time, optimizing battery life.

Two recent installations have demonstrated the effectiveness of Smart Wireless for control over WirelessHART networks.  At bioprocess technologies supplier Broadley James, WirelessHART pH and temperature transmitters control a single-use disposable bioreactor. “We conducted batch runs using mammalian cell culture,” said Scott Broadley, president of Broadley James. “The observed pH and temperature control using wireless measurements was equivalent to that achieved using wired transmitters.” 

Similar results were seen at another installation at University of Texas where Stripper and Absorber Control is done using WirelessHART transmitters. Column pressure control and heater stream flow control using WirelessHART transmitters provided the same dynamic response and comparable performance to that achieved using wired transmitters.

Both installations use an enhanced PID algorithm available with the DeltaV S-series. This PID algorithm for wireless devices delivers high accuracy control in an exception reporting environment. It is a perfect complement to maximize control performance with wireless technology

In addition to the new redundancy capability, Emerson offers a wide range of wireless field instrumentation and plant operations equipment, including Emerson Smart Wireless Gateways with redundancy, THUM™ adapter, Fisher® position monitors,  Rosemount® transmitters, Rosemount Analytical and Machinery Health™ Management devices, and native wireless interfaces to AMS Suite® predictive maintenance software, DeltaV™ and Ovation® digital automation systems, and wireless SmartStart™ Services.  SmartWireless is an extension of Emerson’s PlantWeb® digital plant architecture.

For more information about Smart Wireless, visit www.EmersonProcess.com/SmartWireless, and for videos go to www.EmersonSmartWireless.com/Videos.

About Emerson Process Management

Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb®, Syncade™, DeltaV™, Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Daniel®, Ovation®, and AMS® Suite.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2008 were $24.8 billion and Emerson is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

PlantWeb, Syncade, DeltaV, Fisher, Micro Motion, Rosemount, Daniel, Ovation, and AMS Suite are marks of one of the Emerson Process Management family of companies.  Other marks are property of their respective owners.

 ...

High resolution image

The Smart Wireless Remote Link with the DeltaV S-series digital automatino system offers network redundancy and robustness, allowing users to now extend wireless use to critical monitoring and control applications.

Emerson Process Management grants accredited media full permission to reproduce these images according to the following guidelines:  Images cannot be used to promote or sell any product or technology, nor can they be used in advertising or brochures or other sales materials.  We understand that you will give our company a credit line as follows: "Courtesy of Emerson Process Management."