MTP benefits for process automation equipment

MTP for process automation insights

• OPC UA is a versatile technology that supports both horizontal and vertical integration in industries such as process control and factory automation.
• Profibus & Profinet International (PI) is implementing module type package (MTP) technology, which uses OPC UA information models for standardized descriptions of process automation equipment, enabling modularization and easier integration with reduced time-to-market and engineering effort.

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OPC UA is good at supporting the use cases for horizontal integration, like machine-to-machine, and vertical integration, like device-to-cloud. Most recently, OPC UA has been applied to those industries considered process control or hybrid industries with factory automation. Profibus & Profinet International (PI) is leading the way with module type package (MTP) technology. For its runtime, MTP applies OPC UA information models to create standardized, non-proprietary, application-level descriptions for process automation equipment; OPC UA client/server technology is used for communication. Offline engineering utilizes the AutomationML markup language.

Rather than have every single I/O point controlled by one extensive distributed control system (DCS), MTP seeks to modularize the process into more manageable pieces. The point is to construct a plant with modular equipment to ease integration and allow for better flexibility should changes be required. With the help of a process orchestration layer (POL), MTP-enabled equipment can “plug & operate,” which reduces the time to commission a process or make changes to that process.

The POL is the superordinate software into which an MTP file is imported. When an MTP file imports into the POL, offline service engineering (orchestration) and communication configuration (OPC UA) is performed. Note: if recipe/batch engineering is applicable, MTP utilizes the ISA 88 standard here. The next step is an Orchestration Test (plug) and then to begin (operate).

Why should you care?

MTP文件描述设备组件。这些automated units provide the functionality to realize a step in a process. They have their own mechanical equipment, sensors, actuators, and controller. A great example would be skid integration. Here, an end-user can quickly integrate skids into their plant DCS to reduce engineering effort. The MTP file describing the skid is employed to shorten the time-to-market. According to ZVEI the benefits from the first pilot projects can be summarized as follows:

• -50% on reducing time-to-market

• -70%减少引擎ering effort

• +80% on increasing flexibility.

–PI North Americais a CFE Media and Technology content partner.

Original content can be found atPI North America.

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