Siemens process control system

Siemens has released version 7.1 of its Simatic PCS 7 process control system, with additions relating to virtually all function areas.

For engineering, the Advanced Process Library offers several new operating modes and facilitates enhanced interaction between the operator and equipment, including ‘local’ and ‘out of service’ operating modes and faceplate views such as ‘preview’ and ‘note’.

Easy-to-use interlocking modules with first-signal information are also provided. Commissioning can now be simulated in advance directly on the operator station. With the ‘CFC-Forcing’ function, users can manually enter values for interconnected inputs, to simulate functionality.

The user interface in version 7.1 of Simatic PCS 7 has been modified with the aim of achieving greater efficiency and productivity. An optimised colour scheme and improved alarm functions mean that operating personnel can see critical states faster, and freely configurable ‘Alarm Control’ functions enable alarms to be displayed and processed effectively.

New faceplates and trending capabilities create a higher degree of data transparency, allowing operators to react quickly to process changes. Process images for large displays with a 16:9/16:10 wide-screen format allow more space for additional information; new ergonomic icons and task-oriented faceplates provide the user with a coherent control environment and uniform display of status information.

The polling and analysis of historical and current process data has also been simplified. The improved ‘trend control’ function allows access to and visualisation of trends directly at the operator station, while the ‘data monitor’ tool, can provide a direct connection to process data in Excel. MES and MIS software has access to this data via the OpenPCS 7 interface.