HART

COMMUNICATIONS
A brief study

Mrs. Tannistha Kapoor

Engr. O&M/C&I
AGENDA

1. WHAT IS HART

2. HOW HART WORKS

3. HART COMMUNICATIONS

4. HART DATA

5. CALIBRATION

6. BENEFITS OF USING HART

7. WIRELESS HART
WHAT IS HART
• Hart is an acronym for Highway addressable remote transducers.
• HART is a bidirectional master-slave field communications protocol developed
in the late 1980's to facilitate communication between intelligent field
instruments and host systems by Rosemount Inc. Later it was developed into
an open protocol
• It makes use of the Bell 202 Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) standard to
superimpose digital communication signals at a low level on top of the 4-20mA.
• It communicates without interrupting the 4-20mA signal and allows a host
application (master) to get two or more digital updates per second from a field
device
WHAT IS HART contd
A TYPICAL HART SETUP
WHAT IS HART contd

POINT TO POINT
CONFIGURATION

MULTIDROP
CONFIGURATION
HOW HART WORKS
CONVENTIONAL PROCESS LOOP

PROCESS LOOP WITH HART ADDED

How Hart Works contd
• HART PROCESS TRANSMITTER:-.

The EEPROM stores fundamental hart parameters

UART is used to convert between serial & parallel data
Network interface is a current regulator which implement the two
current sources.
How hart works contd.
HART COMMUNICATIONS
 The transmitting device begins by turning ON its carrier and
loading the first byte to be transmitted into its UART.
 The UART converts each transmitted byte into a 11 bit serial
character.

The serial character stream is applied to the Modulator of the

sending modem.
The Modulator operates such that a logic 1 applied to the input
produces a 1200 Hz periodic signal at the Modulator output.  A
logic 0 produces 2200 Hz.
After transmission of the first byte , the transmitter loads the
next byte. And so on.
After the last byte is serialized and transmitted the transmitter
turns off the source.
HART COMMUNICATIONS
SIGNAL PATH:-
HART COMMUNICATIONS
PROTOCOL
 Only one HART device can talk at a time.
 A Master typically sends a command and then expects a reply. A Slave
waits for a command and then sends a reply. A Slave accesses the network
as quickly as possible in response to a Master.   The command and
associated reply are called a transaction. 
 There are typically periods of silence (nobody talking) between transactions .
 Network access by Masters requires arbitration which is based on
monitoring of network traffic and implementation of timers.
 If two Masters are present and both are synchronized, then they will use the
network alternately .
HART COMMUNICATIONS

Value (character
Timer Description Symbol
times)

Master Wait Before

Re-Using RT2 8
Network

Primary Master Wait

RT1(0) 33
from Unsynched

Secondary Master
Wait from RT1(1) 41
Unsynched

Slave Max time to

TT0 28
Respond

Slave Time Between

BT 8
Bursts
HART COMMUNICATIONS
 A Slave (normally) has a unique address to distinguish it from other
Slaves. 
 Addresses are either 4 bits or 38 bits.
 The long address consists of the lower (least significant) 38 bits of a
40-bit unique identifier.
 Each command or reply is a message, varying in length from 10 or
12 bytes to typically 20 or 30 bytes
Hart communications
contd
HART MESSAGE STRUCTURE :-

Length in
Part of Message Purpose
Bytes
Preamble 5 to 20 Synchronization & Carrier Detect
Synchronization & Shows Which
Start Delimiter 1
Master
Choose Slave, Indicate Which
Address 1 or 5
Master, and Indicate Burst Mode
Command 1 Tell Slave What to Do
Indicates Number Bytes Between
Number Data Bytes 1
Here and Checksum
0 (if Master) Slave Indicates Its Health and
Status 2 (if Whether it did As Master
Slave) Intended

Argument Associated with Command

Data 0 to 253
(Process Variable, For Example)

Checksum 1 Error Control

Hart Communications contd.
 The preamble is allowed to vary in length, depending on
the Slave's requirements.
 The status field (2 bytes) occurs only in replies by HART
Slave devices.  If a Slave does not execute a command,
the status shows this and usually indicates why.  Several
possible reasons are:
        1.    The Slave received the message in error.  (This can
also result in no reply.)
        2.    The Slave doesn't implement this command.
        3.    The Slave is busy.
        4.    The Slave was told to do something outside of its
capability
                (range number too large or small, for example).
    5.    The Slave is write-protected and was told to change
a protected parameter.
 Commands are one of 3 types:  Universal, Common
Practice, and Device Specific (Proprietary). 
Hart communications contd.
SLAVE REPLY ALGORITHM
HART DATA OVERVIEW
DIGITAL DATA: 35-40 valuable data items
standard in every HART device
DEVICE IDENTIFICATION: device tag, supplier,
device type and revision, device serial number
CALIBRATION DATA: upper and lower range
values, upper and lower sensor limits, PV damping,
last calibration date
PROCESS VARIABLES: primary variable plus
secondary measurements and multivariable
parameters
STATUS/DIAGNOSTIC ALERTS: device
malfunction, configuration change, power fail
restart, loop current fixed or saturated, primary or
secondary variable out of limits, communication
error, plus more
HART DATA OVERVIEW CONTD

PROCESS VARIABLE VALUES

Primary Process Variable (analog) - 4-20 ma current
signal continuously transmitted to host
Primary Process Variable (digital) - Digital value in
engineering units, IEEE floating point, up to 24 bit
resolution
Percent Range - Primary Process Variable expressed
as percent of calibrated range
Loop Current - Loop current value in milliamps
Secondary Process Variable 1 - Digital value in
engineering units available from multivariable devices
Secondary Process Variable 2 - Digital value in
engineering units available from multivariable devices
Secondary Process Variable 3 - Digital value in
engineering units available from multivariable devices
HART DATA OVERVIEW CONTD
COMMANDS FROM HOST TO DEVICE
 Set Primary Variable Units
 Set Upper Range
 Set Lower Range
 Set Damping Value
 Set Message
 Set Tag
 Set Date
 Set Descriptor
 Perform Loop Test - Force loop current to specific value
 Initiate Self Test - Start device self test
 Get More Status Available Information
 Codes vary by manufacturer/device
HART DATA OVERVIEW CONTD
STATUS AND DIAGNOSTIC ALERTS:-
Device Malfunction - Indicates device self-diagnostic has
detected a problem in device operation
Configuration Changed - Indicates device configuration has
been changed
Cold Start - Indicates device has gone through power cycle
More Status Available- Indicates additional devices status data
available
Primary Variable Analog Output Fixed - Indicates device in
fixed current mode
Primary Variable Analog Output Saturated - Indicates 4-20mA
signal is saturated
Secondary Variable Out of Limits - Indicates secondary variable
value outside the sensor limits
Primary Variable Out of Limits - Indicates primary variable value
outside the sensor limits
HART DATA OVERVIEW CONTD

DEVICE IDENTIFICATION:-
 Instrument Tag - User defined, up to 8 characters
 Descriptor - User defined, up to 16 characters
 Manufacturer Name (Code) - Code established by
HCF and set by manufacturer
 Device Type and Revision - Set by manufacturer
 Device Serial Number - Set by manufacturer
 Sensor Serial Number - Set by manufacturer
HART DATA OVERVIEW CONTD

CALIBRATION INFORMATION FOR 4-20MA TRANSMISSION

OF PRIMARY PROCESS VARIABLE
 Date - Date of last calibration, set by user
 Upper Range Value - Primary Variable Value in engineering units for
20mA point, set by user
 Lower Range Value - Primary Variable Value in engineering units for
4mA point, set by user
 Upper Sensor Limit - Set by manufacturer
 Lower Sensor Limit - Set by manufacturer
 Sensor Minimum Span - Set by manufacturer
 PV Damping - Primary Process Variable Damping Factor, set by user
 Message - Scratch pad message area (32 characters), set by user
 Loop Current Transfer Function - Relationship between Primary
Variable digital value and 4-20mA current signal
 Loop Current Alarm Action - Loop current action on device failure
(upscale/downscale)
 Write Protect Status - Device write-protect indicator
HART ADVANTAGES

Key benefits of this unique open standard

communication technology are:
-4-20mA compatibility with simultaneous digital
information available
- Easy to use and understand
-Low risk
- highly accurate and robust
-Cost-effective implementation for both users and
suppliers
-Available in a wide variety of device types
- Supported by most industry device and systems
suppliers
-Fully interoperable and reliable
CALIBRATION

• TRANSDUCER BLOCK:- Generates the actual digital signal

representation of the process parameter.
• ZERO & SPANNING BLOCK:- The upper and lower range
values are used to produce the transducer value from above to
correspond to a 4mA signal for the lower range and a 20mA
signal for the upper range in the % form. In addition an
appropriate transfer function (e.g., linear, square root, quadratic,
cubic spline, etc.) may be applied .
• DAQ BLOCK:- Produces the 4-20ma signal, insuring that 0%
equals exactly 4 ma and 100% equals 20ma.
WIRELESS HART
Wireless HART contd
• Wireless HART Networks consists of WirelessHART field devices, at
least one WirelessHART gateway, and a WirelessHART network
manager.
• These components are connected into a wireless mesh network
supporting bi-directional communication from HART host to field device
and back.
Wireless HART contd
• Network Manager
The Network Manager is an application that manages the mesh network
and Network Devices. The Network Manager performs the following
functions:
- Forms the mesh network
- Allows new devices to connect to the network
- Sets the communication schedule of the devices
- Establishes the redundant data paths for all communications
- Monitors the network
• Gateway
The Gateway Device connects the mesh network with a plant
automation network, allowing data to flow between the two. The
Gateway Device provides access to the WirelessHART devices by a
system or other host application.

• Field Devices
The Field Device may be a process connected instrument, a router or
Hand Held device. The WirelessHART network connects these devices
together.
-Router Device:A device to improve network coverage (to extend a
network) capable of forwarding messages from other Network Devices.
- Process Connected Instrument:Typically a measuring or
positioning device used for process monitoring and control. It is also
capable of forwarding messages from other Network Devices.
- WirelessHART Adapter:A device that allows a HART instrument
without wireless capability to be connected to a WirelessHART network.
Wireless HART contd
• TECHNOLOGY BASICS:-
- Time Synchronized Communication:-
WirelessHART devices communicate using Time Division Multiple Access. All device-
to-device communication is done in a pre-scheduled time window which enables very
reliable (collision-free), power-efficient, and scalable communication
- Self-Organizing and Self-Healing:-
It means every device has the intelligence to discover neighbors, measure RF signal
strength, acquire synchronization and frequency hopping information, and then
establish paths and links with neighboring devices. This enables very simple and
robust network installation, reliable long-term performance, and simple network
expansion.
- Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum:-
It uses the unlicensed part of the radio spectrum in the 2.4GHz ISM band.
- Secure Communications
There are three pillars of secure communication: encryption, authentication and
integrity. Encryption keeps the information carried by the message from being read by
other parties; authentication ensures that the sender is actually the sender; and
integrity ensures that the message was delivered unaltered.
-Redundant Mesh Routing
WirelessHART implements a “full-mesh” topology in which every device has multiple
redundant communication paths.
HART SYSTEM