Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2021 - 70

Valves, Pumps and Turbomachinery
ed at the actuator level. Only two fieldbus cables are needed
per skid to connect the actuators' Modbus loop to the master
station. At the customer site, only the master station then needs
to be connected to the DCS.
Benefits during commissioning. Commissioning of the

actuators took place in the skids manufacturer's factory using the master station, without requiring a connection to a
DCS. The master station's large, integral, multi-touch screen
allowed the actuators to be intuitively controlled and tested,

FIG. 5. The master station operation is intuitive and convenient
with either the integral, multi-touch screen or an external web
browser. Image courtesy of AUMA.

and the communication parameters set (FIG. 5). The actuator
networks for each of the three metering skids also could be
preconfigured using the master station. Commissioning was
accomplished with the master station's automatic loop configuration feature, which facilitates actuator address assignment
within the network.
Central diagnostic hub. During normal plant operation, the
use of a master station reduces host communication to a minimum, thereby reducing the workload on the DCS. The master
station distributes the individual operation commands to each
actuator, receives status updates from all of the actuators at
cyclic intervals, and transmits to the DCS only the concentrated data required for regular plant operation. In addition,
the master station offers a multitude of diagnostic functions.
Status and availability are clearly visible at all levels, from the
overall system down to each individual actuator. This speeds
up fault localization and repair (FIG. 6).
Additional customer requirements that evolved during the
course of the project were quickly accommodated. For example, a new software feature to enable additional configurable
feedback signals was implemented. This feature is used to
monitor the external 24-V power supply to the actuators. The
master station also incorporates integral Ethernet interfaces,
opening new possibilities for enhanced data exchange, including Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.
Takeaway. The master station has provided added value for
metering skids due to easy commissioning, centralized control of all actuators, and a multitude of diagnostic functions.
Efficient, high-speed Modbus communication and integral
redundancy at all levels ensure reliable plant operation and
optimized processes.
a

NOTES
AUMA's SIMA2 master station, used for metering skids built by KROHNE
Oil & Gas

SASCHA LOTH is SIMA2 Product Manager at AUMA Riester GmbH & Co. KG.
He has 20 yr of experience in designing and implementing automation solutions.
Mr. Loth holds an MSc degree in electrical engineering.

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FIG. 6. Acting as a central diagnostic hub, the master station
facilitates fault detection at all levels, from the overall system down
to the individual actuator. Detailed configuration and status
information facilitates diagnostics and accelerates troubleshooting.
Image courtesy of AUMA.

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Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2021

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