Resp

Req

System Architecture:

Overview diagram Indicate the inter-connection of the various system components

Integrated central system database for all tags and automation tasks Y/N

Client / Server architecture Y/N Explain

Single point(s) of failure Y/N Explain failure modes. Show data transfer paths

Redundancy: Expalin whether hot-standby and seamless redundancy or whether

- I/O Y/N manual intervention is required to get redundancy

- Controllers Y/N

- Power supplies Y/N

- Control network Y/N

- Workstations Y/N

System maxima: Explain whether maximum figures apply to a single integrated

- Controllers system on one control network or whether numerous networks need

- Workstations to be combined in order to achieve the stated maxima

- I/O

Can multiple engineering workstations be placed in different locations, on the same network Y/N

On-line addition of workstations Y/N

and controllers

Shutdown of any node on the network should not affect the operation of the remaining nodes Y/N

Scalability, upgradability and expandability of the system Provide exact details

Remote user access for plant control and system configuration via office LAN/WAN Y/N Provide details

Control Network:

Type

Speed

Typical distances

Report by Exception Y/N Does HMI poll all data every scan or are updates based on change of data.

This aspect has a major influence on network loading and hence update speeds

Hardware:

Multi-function controller module - is same basic hardware used for all applications Y/N Does one controller module type, handle all functionality or are different

controller modules required for different functions

Auto-addressing of controllers Y/N Does the system recognise new controllers on the network or is manual

configuration required

Modules replaceable under power Y/N Is "Hot-swap" supported

Auto-sense of I/O modules Y/N

Resolution of A/I modules 16-bit is considered minimum requirement

Resolution of A/O modules 12-bit is considered minimum requirement

Accuracy of A/I modules % of scale

Accuracy of A/O modules % of scale

Direct-connect RTD and Thermocouple modules Y/N State types and ranges

Direct-connect I.S. modules Y/N

Two-wire and four-wire operation in same I/O module Y/N Important if a plant makes use of a mixed bag of instrumentation. Not all devices

are two-wire, for example mag flow meters, coriolis flow meters usually require

power to the instrument

Mix-and-Match all types of I/O modules on same backplane without restriction Y/N

Hardware keying of modules to prevent wrong insertion Y/N

Do outputs fail to user-defined known state Y/N Important from a safety and orderly shut down perspective

Environmental:

General Provide details of operating temperature range and other relevant environmental

parameters

Environmental protection classification of modules Eg. G2, G3, etc

Conformal coating of modules Y/N

State maximum power "Brown-out" capabilities

Auto power-fail recovery Y/N Provide details

Typical footprint sizes Provide details

System Configuration:

Configure entire system from a single engineering workstation Y/N

Configure by tag name I.e. not by means of physical I/O address, which means that configuration cannot

start until all I/O addresses are exactly known. Configuration by tag name implies that

configuration can start any time once the tag names have been identified on the

P&ID drawings

Global tag search / browse function Y/N

External tag bulk edit functionality Y/N For example, generate and edit tags in a spreadsheet - import tags into the control

system

Modular software configuration Y/N Provide details

Method of configuration Provide details of configuration methods. eg. Drag-and-Drop, SFC, Ladder, etc

Library of pre-engineered control strategies Y/N Provide list of function blocks and other relevant details.

User-defined control strategies saved for future re-use Y/N Explain how this is done

Variable function block execution intervals, under user control Y/N Give details

Does the system support on-line configuration changes and upgrades Y/N

Does the system support real-time monitoring of control parameters at function block level Y/N Provide details

Reporting of controller loading and indication when limits are being reached Y/N

Embedded advanced control functionality as integral part of the system Provide details eg. Auto-tune, Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, etc

Embedded S88 Batch capabilities Y/N Explain recipe-handling facilities and execution of Batch-type applications

Embedded program and process simulation software Y/N Provide details. Useful for testing control stategies and seeing how a plant behaves,

without the physical connection of I/O

Operator Interface:

General Describe features of operator station eg. navigation, alarm handling, event displays,

graphics, faceplates, user-defined objects, background script language capabilities, etc

Can operational comments be logged in real time Y/N Explain how

Can instructions from supervisory staff to operational staff be logged in real time Y/N Explain how

Does the system support automatic bi-directional data transfer between Excel spreadsheets and the operator interface, with real time updating of such dataY/N

Is asset management information and diagnostic data from field instruments seamlessly available in the operator workstationY/N Provide details

Security:

Password and other access control methods for engineering changes, user access, etc Y/N Provide details

Is operator prevented from accessing the NT level and are normal Windows keyboard functions disabled eg. Ctrl-Alt-DeleteY/N Explain how

Are database and configuration back-up facilities provided Y/N Provide details

Diagnostics:

Auto-diagnostics Provide details of typical diagnostic facilities at the system, process and equipment

levels eg. event logging, performance analysis, loop optimisation facilities, asset

management information, etc

Is a Sequence-of-Events facility available - state best resolution time Y/N Essential for logging trip sequences and other high speed digital events

Comments ResponseItem

Fieldbus Capabilities:

Types of protocols supported Provide details

Direct connection of fieldbus segments to dedicated interface modules Y/N This aspect is important, as it determines whether fieldbus data is automatically made

available in the system database or whether external coupling hardware and

manual mapping of tags is necessary to read the fieldbus data

Fieldbus redundancy options Provide details

Does Host system support control in the field Y/N

Does host system support on-line configuration and addressing of fieldbus devices Y/N

How is I.S. fieldbus operation accomplished Provide exact details

Fieldbus diagnostic toolkit(s) Provide details

Information Integration:

General This is a complex and extensive subject and cannot easily be addressed by "Yes/No"

answers. Vendors should rather supply comprehensive details of how they achieve the

integration of plant with MIS-level applications. The questions outlined below serve

as a guideline

What is the method used to link the control network to the LAN network Eg. Firewall PC, Router, etc

Which open standards are supported Provide details eg. OPC, etc

Which third-party packages can be addressed Eg. InTouch, SAP, OSI Systems, G2, LIMS, etc

Does the system support write facilities from external applicatiions eg. data entry from lab analysers, spreadsheets, etcY/N

Historical trending Describe options eg. Minimum trend sample interval, data compression techniques,

typical data storage period, deadband operation, etc

System Availability:

General Vendors should be able to provide details of their system's availability in terms of

% uptime, MTBF, MTTR and other parameters. However, such information can only be

realistically supplied, once a particular system configuration has been agreed upon

General Issues:

Roadmap Provide details of planned future enhancements and technological developments

to the system

Local support Describe all local support facilities eg. training, maintenance service, engineering

support, spares holding philiosophy, etc

Bundled solutions Details, where applicable, of a tightly coupled solution from one supplier, including

control system, field transmitters, control valves, other