PROFINET is often used in process plants as the main network backbone, but PROFIBUS PA is still used where no Industrial Ethernet can go – into hazardous areas. Not a limitation of PROFINET, but a limitation of Ethernet, since Ethernet was never designed as a hazardous area network.
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PROFINET provides a high-speed, high-bandwidth, backbone for PROFIBUS PA (and other fieldbus networks) similar to the way that PROFIBUS DP does! It differs slightly however by using a ‘proxy’ interface – a module that sits between PROFINET and the underlying bus. The data path via the proxy is fully transparent, instruments on the fieldbus appear directly connected to the PROFINET controller as remote IO. This makes configuration, maintenance, and management of an automation system very simple from any part of the enterprise. Proxies exist for PROFIBUS PA and for many other bus technologies including Foundation Fieldbus and WirelessHART. The great advantage of the proxy approach is that existing field networks do not have to be replaced when upgrading a plant to PROFINET, investments in skills and inventory are protected as the migration to Industrial Ethernet architectures occurs.
Moreover, the PROFINET backbone can be used to connect other field devices typically found in process applications – for example, drives and discrete IO. Since most process plants are ‘hybrid’ (they include both process and discrete automation elements) only one network – PROFINET – is needed to cover the entire plant.
Three key additional needs of process automation are also supported by PROFINET:
- Configuration in Run (CiR): The ability to make changes to an application program without stopping the controller.
- Time Sync / Time Stamping: The ability to record the actions, alarms and status messages to a sequence of events.
- Fieldbus integration: Investment protection through the integration of plant units using proxies.
- Scalable Redundancy: PROFINET already has media redundancy but needs to support system redundancy as well for process applications.
Read all about PROFINET in Process:
PROFINET – The Solution Platform for Process Automation
