Honeywell is reshaping control technology with Experion R300, introducing a reshaped and enhanced version of the field-proven automation and control platform and hardware of the Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS). This latest release is another example of Honeywell’s ongoing commitment to continuously innovate and provide best-in-class solutions that protect customers’ existing investments.

The Experion® R300 platform release offers several products that improve business performance and peace of mind including:

• Designed-vertical Series C I/O,  delivering a smaller footprint and reducing installation and maintenance costs
• A new Control Firewall protects the control level from unwanted Ethernet messages
• Unique automated Experion Backup and Restore feature protects PC system data to quickly restore after a PC failure
• Procedural Operations integrates best practices for system startup and shutdown to improve operator performance

The Series C I/O is vertically designed and slanted at a 18-degree angle to minimize the control room footprint and deliver optimum performance. This new design directs heat flow evenly through the cabinet, improving product lifecycle and reducing energy costs. An easily accessible integrated two-tier terminal block provides easy access for wiring installation and maintenance. 

New modules in the Series C family include:

• Embedding Honeywell’s proven and deterministic Control Execution Environment (CEE) software, the C300 controller provides powerful and robust control for the Experion platform.  This controller runs the same CEE software as the C200, shares information with the current C200 Controller, and is configured with the same configuration tool, delivering on Honeywell’s commitment to protecting customer investments.
• A new Control Firewall ensures system availability by protecting the control layer against Ethernet message flooding and denial-of-service attacks. Only messages dedicated to control are passed down to the controller, preventing it from either slowing down or shutting down completely. And, no configuration or expert domain knowledge is required to start realizing these security benefits. 
• An updated Fieldbus Interface Module (FIM) continues Honeywell’s tradition of delivering a scalable and cost-effective Fieldbus integration solution.  The Series C FIM provides four H1 link interfaces, doubling the link channels and reducing the number of FIMs required. Modules are available in redundant configurations and the networked modules reside on Honeywell’s patented Fault Tolerant Ethernet network. 

Unique to the marketplace, Experion R300 includes a new automated PC back-up and restore feature that provides better disaster recovery.  

Supporting backups continuously while online, this feature allows customers to continue operating while protecting their data.  Most PCs can be down for days; this new process allows restoration in approximately less than an hour.  It requires minimal user intervention for backup creation, backs up everything (operating system, applications, configuration information) and can be scheduled or can spontaneously perform an online backup with minimal performance impact.  

R300 delivers enhancements to Honeywell’s Procedural Operations solution by delivering best practices for start ups and shut downs.  Designed with members of the Abnormal Situation Management® (ASM) Consortium, Procedural Operations software and services solutions prevent downtime by capturing knowledge gained by operators over years of performing cyclic procedures.  In many cases, this knowledge is lost in a transitioning workforce.  Without an automated step procedure, operators are left to flip through manuals or pull from their memories, leaving opportunity for human error and process upsets.  Results from an ASM Study concluded that 14% of all incidents had improper execution of operating procedures as a contributing factor; one site even reported a $12M loss over five years. 

Now, engineering departments can design a best practice for start-up and shutdown of each equipment unit in the plant.  These best practices are implemented into the control system and can be accessed in the field where needed.   Best practices are captured and executed through the following steps:

• Engineering configures operator best practices into the control system,
• Control system tells the operator what to do and in what order through the standard Station HMI,
• Control system checks the operator’s work to ensure the operator can safely move to the next step,
• And, if something does go wrong, the control system invokes an exception handler to alert the operator.