Requirements for PROFINET in Process Automation Defined

The working group “DCS Requirements” of PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) has defined the requirement profile for PROFINET in process automation, reflecting the manifold needs of users of a plantwide communication system. As part of the procedure, a catalogue with about 100 requirements was drawn up. It has already been subject to a review by the relevant marketing working groups (WG) of PI and has been adopted by them. NAMUR (International User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries) was also incorporated into the review.

Already successfully implemented as a communication standard in factory automation, In order that the strengths of PROFINET could also be utilised in process automation, it is necessary to check if and which extensions of today’s standards are required. The basis for this has been com-piled by the DCS Requirements working group. Central issues are device integration, mainte-nance and diagnosis, fieldbus integration, data flow, time stamping, time synchronisation and redundancy.

The specification tasks for the various issues have now been started in the PI technical working groups. The specification drafts are expected to be ready in spring 2008 and will be available for the development of future products and systems for PROFINET in the process automation after the usual review. The complete system functionality is expected to be available by the beginning of 2009.