Profit Stepper: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where has Profit Stepper been applied? A: Honeywell Project Engineering has applied Profit Stepper in a variety of applications for several years. Q: What is the typical application of Profit Stepper? A: Profit Stepper technology can be applied to base application development (grass roots application) in open-loop mode for existing controller maintenance in closed-loop mode, and for addition of new variables in hybrid mode where a combination of open and closed loop testing/identification is employed. Q: Can Profit Stepper be used with other multivariable controllers? A: Profit Stepper can be used with other control technologies in open-loop mode. In the current version, closed-loop mode requires use of Profit Controller applications due to the intimate integration between Profit Stepper and the Profit Controller calculation engine. Q: How is Profit Stepper licensed? A: Profit Stepper has a flexible licensing structure ranging from unit-based to site-wide options. Leasing, services-based approaches and corporate-wide usage are also offered. Q: What is the typical payback period on these applications? A: Typical payback period for Profit Stepper can vary, but the time/efficiency savings in a single plant test (40-60% time reduction) will often completely pay back the cost of the application. Q: How do process operators interact with Profit Stepper? A: While Profit Stepper is typically “set up” by engineering staff, it has several benefits for use that translate directly to the process operator: Profit Suite Operator station (or Profit Viewer) provides the process operator with information such as current variable status, current signal injection and upcoming variable movement. Additionally, the operator has the ability to change all normal Profit Controller operating parameters, as well as stop all testing. Q: What are the platform requirements for Profit Stepper? A: Due to the computational requirements of the Profit Stepper identification engine it is recommended that the runtime engine execute on a DCS engineering or operator station (GUS, Flex Station or non-Honeywell computers), rather than on the application servers (APP or EAS, etc). Profit Stepper’s user interface is an integrated component of Profit Suite Operator Station or Profit Viewer (R205.2) and therefore it may run on any Windows compatible user interface computer.