On May 31, 2024, Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announced the release of CENTUM™ VP R6.11.10. This latest upgrade aims to strengthen support for industrial networks, thereby contributing to improved plant reliability and operational efficiencies. It also offers a number of key enhancements designed to bolster network support and enhance overall system performance, including:
PROFINET IO Card Redundancy for Greater Reliability and Increased Uptime
PROFINET, a renowned Ethernet-based industrial communications protocol valued for its real-time performance, prompted Yokogawa’s development of an IO card in 2019. This card enabled CENTUM VP to monitor PROFINET-compatible devices.
To fortify reliability and uptime, Yokogawa has now introduced a new PROFINET IO card with an S2 redundancy function, ensuring continuous uninterrupted operations even in case of component failure. Certified for Conformance Class B (CC-B) by a third-party agency, it meets stringent reliability and uptime requirements that are essential for process control. The card also supports NAMUR NE107-compliant self-diagnostics and PA Profile 4.0 devices, enabling advanced monitoring and control capabilities over a broader range of industrial processes and enhancing the overall reliability and performance of plant operations.
Improved Plant Operational Efficiency with Alarm Management
The Unified Alarms and Conditions Server (UACS) now supports NAMUR NA102-compliant alarm management, enhancing plant operational efficiency. This improvement enables operators to view the suppression status of specific alarms directly in the Human Interface Station (HIS) graphics, providing operators with clearer insights into real-time alarm conditions, facilitating quicker responses, and reducing the potential for unnecessary interventions and improving overall plant efficiency. This enhancement helps streamline operations and ensures more effective alarm management ,reducing unnecessary interventions, streamlining operations, and enhancing plant reliability and safety.
Seamless Integration of Process and Compressor Control Systems
The latest CENTUM VP release facilitates seamless integration of process and compressor control systems using a single project database. This integration streamlines system management, reducing complexity and errors. Additionally, both systems can now connect to a Vnet/IP control network within the same domain, enabling seamless and cost-effective systems integration for reduced maintenance costs. By allowing both systems to operate within a unified network environment, plants can achieve more streamlined operations and improved cost efficiency, enhancing overall productivity and performance.
Typical applications for the CENTUM VP R6.11.10 include plant operational monitoring and automatic control applications across a variety of industries. It finds extensive usage in oil refining, petrochemicals, chemicals, electric power, pulp and paper, gas, pharmaceuticals, food processing, iron and steel, water supply and wastewater treatment, non-ferrous metals, and cement manufacturing.
For more information about the new CENTUM VP R6.11.10 release, or other offerings from Yokogawa, please click here.
Product Release Definitions:
- S2 Redundancy: A duplexing method in PROFINET for a single device, establishing primary and backup application relations (AR)
- Conformance Classes: Define PROFINET device functions, with CC-A, CC-B, and CC-C being incremental classes.
- NAMUR: A German process automation user organization.
- PA Profile 4.0: An application profile for PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices.
- Vnet/IP*: Yokogawa’s control network offering high reliability and responsiveness, conforming to IEC61784-2 standards.
About OpreX
OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa’s industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa’s IA products, services, and solutions. This brand comprises the following five categories: OpreX Transformation, OpreX Control, OpreX Measurement, OpreX Execution, and OpreX Lifecycle. One of the product groups that make up the OpreX Control category is the OpreX Control and Safety System family, which includes the CENTUM VP DCS. With its various OpreX Control solutions, Yokogawa is able to quickly effect changes for its customers that lead to a transformation in such areas as management and operations and provides highly reliable control technology that ensures high efficiency, high quality, and safe and stable plant operations.
About Yokogawa
Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations. Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 129 companies spanning 60 countries. CENTUM is a trademark of Yokogawa. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
(Editor’s Note: All trademarks mentioned in this article, including company names, product names, and logos, are the property of their respective owners. Use of these trademarks is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement.)
