Comparison of FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Traditional Systems

Both HART (2 wire) and FOUNDATION fieldbus (FF) are good.

HART is good for configuration, calibration, diagnostics, and viewing internal variables
what is usually referred to as intelligent device management (IDM).

However, FF is used for both IDM and for real-time closed loop control which HART
does not do. This is THE major difference between these two. FF provides both the IDM
and real-time control functions digitally

Since FF is digital, it has several benefits over loops using hardwired 4-20 mA and on/off
signals.

The highlights include:

Real-time closed loop control completely digital end-to-end, from sensor to actuator
More current for more powerful two-wire loop powered devices like radar level
transmitters, multi-channel temperature transmitters, and more diagnostics etc.
Balanced (non-grounded) signal with high amplitude for noise immunity
Intelligent discrete devices like two-wire on/off valves
Multiple devices on the same pair of wires reducing cable, tray, junction boxes and
associated labor
Multiple signals (per device) on the same pair of wires dramatically reducing cable,
tray, junction boxes and associated labor
Dramatic reduction of I/O cards reducing system footprint and weight
Elimination of I/O card selection simplifying engineering
Elimination of safety barrier selection simplifying engineering
Elimination of signal marshalling simplifying engineering
Easy addition of devices
Easy addition of signals in devices
Easy to change design to other device type: e.g. on/off valve to control valve or MOV
Time synchronized control
Fast control response period
No 4-20 mA range mismatch
No 4-20 mA current calibration skew
Signal distortion detected
Measurement over full sensor limit (no 4-20 mA range)
No 4-20 mA five point loop test
Real-time PV validity indication
Position feedback on every valve
Multi-channel temperature transmitters
Advanced device diagnostics
Centralized firmware upgrade
We can learn more about intelligent device management (IDM) here:
www.eddl.org/DeviceManagement
Background
FOUNDATION Fieldbus (FF) is a Local Area Network (LAN) for process control sensors,
actuators, and control devices. It is a digital, two-way, multi-drop network positioned to
replace proprietary networks that connect Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) of
many big companies. In traditional systems, a computer or expensive controller unit
provides control for the network of devices. In recent years, some companies have
developed instrument systems with more intelligence built into the devices. The main
drawback of these systems is that they are proprietary and thus not interoperable. There
are other open instrumentation standards, such as PROFIBUS and HART, but these
protocols do not implement control -- a separate controller is still required. FF is an open
standard that allows the field devices to run both the input/output and the control.

Traditional systems in this market are known as 4-20 mA systems, so named for the signal
levels that control the devices. These devices take input measurements and send the
information to a control unit for processing. The computer then performs the necessary
calculations and tells devices what their outputs should be. To get a device's serial number
or to calibrate or test a device in the field, a person would have to walk (or drive) to the
physical device.
With FF, these types of things can be done directly from the control room.
What if the computer that is running the control goes down? In a traditional
system, the devices would go into some pre-defined fail-safe mode, leaving
the pumps, valves, and other equipment without any interactive control until
communication with the computer resumes. With FF, control is brought
down to the device level. After downloading the configuration, your control
loop (a PID loop, for example) continues operating even if the monitoring
computer is disconnected.

4-20 mA System FOUNDATION

Fieldbus

Interoperability & OPEN, OPEN,

Interchangeability interoperable, interoperable,
interchangeable. interchangeable.

Variety & Wide variety. Actual FF devices

Availability of Multiple suppliers. are limited but
Equipment growing. There are,
however, many ways
of incorporating
standard 4-20 mA
devices into an FF
network.

Communication One variable. One Multiple variables.

direction. Two-way.
 Wiring Point-to-point. Multi-drop.

Comparison of FOUNDATION Fieldbus and traditional systems.

Differences
FF communication is digital; 4-20 mA communication is analog
FF connects field devices in parallel; 4-20 mA connects field devices in series
FF requires a terminator at each end (resistor and capacitor)
FF requires an impedance-matched power supply.
The ability to use existing 4-20 mA wiring.
Drastically reduced wiring costs. You only need one twisted wire pair that will carry
multiple signals AND power, and you can drop devices off the network at any point.
Since FF requires only a single set of wires to connect multiple devices, this
dramatically reduces wiring costs from 4-20 mA systems, which required one pair of
wires per device. Note that most, but not all devices have the option of being bus
powered.
Reduced need for controllers and other hardware.

The following figure illustrates the reduced wiring and hardware requirements. Notice
that the traditional implementation requires one IS barrier and a set of wires for each
device for a total of 3 barriers and 3 sets of wires. The FOUNDATION Fieldbus
implementation requires only one IS barrier and one set of wires for multiple devices.
(IS barrier is intended for hazardous/ highly inflammable environment)

Wiring comparison of FOUNDATION Fieldbus and traditional systems.