Version 16.3 D3 Distributed Control System Improves Process Reliability, Performance
Following its acquisition of NovaTech Automation last year, Valmet’s D3 Distributed Control System (DCS) automation platform now lets industrial processors integrate many reliability and performance enhancements.
Serving customers since 1982 as D/3, the D3 DCS provides a comprehensive automation solution for process industries. This includes system-wide redundancy, I/O modules, advanced process controllers, Ethernet connectivity, HMI tools, and customizable application programming for batch and continuous processes.
To maintain a secure and reliable automation environment, it is necessary to update to the newest server and desktop operating systems. The latest D3 version 16.3 is among the first versions to support Windows Server 2022. Windows Server 2019 is also supported for the system servers. Operator consoles and small display servers use Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 or LTSC 2019.
Valmet D3’s core HMI system, the ProcessVision Console (PVC), has also been upgraded with additional features. Operators can use PVC to control industrial processes, view and troubleshoot detailed system and IO information, and monitor trend data.
In D3 v16.3, PVC supports Display Edit functionality for Faceplate, Current Trend, and Historical Trend groups, and changes can be converted to D3 Architect configuration input files.
The company has integrated its PID Loop Optimizer into D3, offering accurate PID tuning numbers. The optional layered product supports tuning PID and PRF loops and can be launched from Valmet ProcessVision. With the PID loop tuning software embedded in the D3, engineers can run the software directly from their workstation to analyze the performance of the loop and make recommendations for tuning that can be copied or downloaded directly back to the controller. The software recognizes the controller, its algorithms, and all the unit conversions, so loop-tuning activities are expedited. Operators have total control over the tuning selection and can even tune specialized loops like cascade, pH control, and level controllers.
“The big advantage for D3 customers is they can now upgrade a 20-plus-year-old Robo CPU to new hardware without losing any I/O slots in a redundant controller configuration. This is all part of the effort to help customers maintain long-lived systems at their plants.” — Mike Davis, Senior Manager of Product Management for Valmet Automation Systems North America.
In addition to the PID Loop optimizer, two new prompts have been added to the digital input (DIN) block type to support an alarm delay when the alarm is triggered and upon a return to normal. Alarm delays can be placed on the change from normal and change of state (CFN and COS) alarms.
D3 v16.3 also supports the newest controller in its PCM4 line, the PCM4100A.
The PCM4100A has a 5-slot backplane rather than the 4-slot backplane of the PCM4100, providing room for an additional I/O card. The additional PCI slot allows up to four I/O cards to be installed in a non-redundant controller or up to three I/O cards in a redundant controller configuration. Otherwise, the PCM4100A has the same dimensions, power requirements, and I/O type support as the PCM4100 [first introduced in 2002], allowing it to replace any existing Valmet PCM4100 in the same chassis.
Features:
- Connects to and integrates data from any plant system through Ethernet protocols and OPC, and an extensive library of I/O interfaces for legacy equipment
- Designed in alignment with the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) guidelines
- Agile Sequence and Batch Language (SABL) programming environment is built around S88 and S106 standards
- Scale from 2 to 160 nodes, handle up to 50,000 I/O points, and manage hundreds of simultaneous batches and product recipes
- Provide secure boot and firewall, whitelisting, and other security features
- Intuitive loop configuration software virtualizes a complete system on your laptop and a collaboration-first development environment
Price: Contact the company for a quote
