Product highlights 2023

20

Highlights 2023

From the field to the cloud: How connectivity is created Adapters and edge devices make the potential of digital data from field devices accessible in existing plants too

Link to the cloud Edge devices are literally at the boundary between the field and the cloud. They control the transmis sion of field data to the digital services. With the FieldEdge SGC200 edge device, Endress+Hauser offers a cost-effective and compact device that collects data via Bluetooth® and then transmits it to the cloud via the cell phone network. The FieldEdge SGC500 edge device was developed for industrial use. It makes it possible to link the field devices of industrial plants easily to the cloud. At regular intervals, it requests data from the field devices and transmits the data to the digital services via encrypted communication.

In the latest generation of process plants, Industry 4.0 con cepts are relatively easy to implement. In the digitalization of existing or brownfield plants, however, the challenge is to ensure connectivity of data from the field devices. That's because, for the successful digitalization of plants, the con nectivity of the data suppliers – the sensors and actuators – is the key element. The solution: transmission of additional digital data from the field level in parallel to the measured data via a second communication channel. This means even existing plants can be made Industry 4.0-capable with little effort. Simultaneous data transmission Our measuring devices already have numerous digital interfaces, e.g. 4 to 20 mA HART, PROFIBUS and PROFINET. Many sensors are also available with Bluetooth® and WiFi interfaces. With the new FieldPort SWA50 adapter, existing 4 to 20 mA sen sors can be connected in accordance with the "Namur Open Architecture" (NOA) concept without placing any strain on existing communication channels or interfering in the system architecture. Our portfolio is supplemented with edge devices and gateways. Thanks to data transmission via a second com munication channel, there is no longer anything to stand in the way of the digitalization of brownfield plants. Simple adapter solution The new NOA-compliant Field Port SWA50 adapter brings existing metrology equipment in analog networks quickly and cost-effectively into the cloud via gateways and edge devices. The wireless adapter connects existing 4 to 20 mA HART field devices to digital services easily by converting all HART signals into wire less signals. Either via Bluetooth® or WirelessHART, all HART signals from field devices can be transmitted to the cloud in parallel to the measured value – even those from third-party manufacturers. Via the smartphone app, users can gain immediate access to measurement and diagnostic parameters.

© TTstudio_Fotolia

Our range of system components can be found on p. 84 onwards.

More information available at: developer.netilion.endress.com

Quality marks and standards