In any reputable alarm management strategy, operators need control and safety systems with high speed and availability in order to maintain a working and secure environment. That is why TiPS now integrates with RTP NetSuite.
RTP NetSuite
RTP Corporation’s NetSuite is a fully integrated set of software applications designed to develop, deploy, commission and maintain critical control and safety systems. It follows OPC (Open Platform Communications) standards, which simplifies integration with other platforms. In addition, it complies with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards.
Key to NetSuite’s value is its NetArrays, an easy-to-use object-oriented programming tool that simplifies design, development and implementation of large-scale process control and safety systems. And, importantly, it has a high degree of built-in redundancy.
Other advantages RTP offers include:
- Lower capital outlay versus other control systems
- Lower operating costs
- Increased speed
- Flexible software licenses
- Ten-year warranty on the RTP 3000 TAS series product
- High (99.999%) availability
- Strong security features
For alarm management, RTP NetSuite features RTPADA, an alarm and data archival application with a redundant alarm configuration. Alarms are resident inside multiple nodes and annunciate in RTPView, a graphic human-machine interface. Alarms activate associated icons with alarm messages.
RTP Corporation has been in business since 1968 and has millions of I/O channels in place globally. Its history is a long record of innovation in control and safety systems technology.
RTP NetSuite is truly a powerful tool to build and operate your safety or control systems. But to achieve world-class alarm management, you need a comprehensive alarm management tool that is easy to implement and install. That is where TiPS LogMate integration with RTP NetSuite comes in.
Keys to world-class alarm management
Consolidation, simplification and ongoing updating of alarm parameters and events are crucial for Alarm Management. Operators are sometimes flooded with alarms from various places and must respond under stress. Alarms need to be current, with up-to-date instructions, and must go where they need to go (collectively, alarm rationalization).
RTP, while a powerful process control/safety system, introduces a stream of alarms that may need to go not only to production operators but also to other functional areas and cover a wider scope of alarms. For example, safety, automation, security and environmental functions may each need to see alarms and be able to react in preset, specific and perhaps different ways.
For this, customers need an easy-to-use and simple-to-implement alarm management tool. Key tasks are:
- Building an accurate alarm database, with definitions and clear responses
- Clear and accurate routing of alarms to the correct operators
- Regular updating and auditing of the database
Without technology enablers, these are time-consuming tasks prone to errors.
TiPS LogMate simplifies building and managing alarm systems
TiPS LogMate is a full-featured alarm management and event historian solution that makes managing alarms easy. Its Capture module imports the alarm data stream from a host system to build an alarm database in LogMate. Another module, KB Agent, vastly streamlines the importation of updated alarm configuration data from control systems.
Features of the TIPS LogMate integration with RTP NetSuite implementation
TiPS has made this implementation a simple process. Let’s see how it works.
Easy access to real-time RTP data and events
RTP NetSuite writes alarm and event data into SQLite (SQL database engine) alarm log files. TiPS RTP Service translates these files into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files readable by Capture.
The technical issue here is that the RTP ADA (Alarm and Data Archive application) is limited by the number of lines it can store. When it reaches that limit, ADA begins to overwrite any new alarm data lines into the archive, creating gaps in the data. When this data is collected by TiPS RTP Service, the Service can go back to where it last read the files, unscramble them and put them in the correct order, all without user intervention!
Access to multiple sources for alarm configuration
Most control systems typically store alarm configuration data in a single location to be queried and imported into a Master Alarm Database (Alarm KB in the case of TiPS). However, RTP NetSuite stores alarm configuration data in two locations rather than one.
The first is in the RTP ADA and is initially accessed as described above similar to the ADA event information. The KB Agent reads and processes this ADA configuration data.
The second source of data is the PLC (Program Logic Controller) that runs the control system. For ongoing updates, this data is easily accessed by TiPS OPC Client for KB. Both the KB Agent and OPC Client for KB tools import all the required RTP alarm configuration into the Alarm KB database.
Configuration of OPC Client for KB simplified
Another feature provided by TiPS LogMate integration with RTP NetSuite is simplifying the laborious task of configuring potentially thousands of alarm parameters to be read. TiPS RTP Service solves this problem by creating a list of OPC alarm parameters that need to be updated in the OPC Client for KB.
Ongoing benefits
Whenever the customer adds a new alarm point in RTP, TiPS RTP Service will update the parameters, once again without user intervention, saving valuable time and resources. In addition, Alarm KB allows them to keep track of such changes with an audit process that contains a Management of Change process to keep things orderly and documented.
Plus, we are always available to help our customers implement these features through our LogMate integration with RTP NetSuite commissioning services.
In summary, RTP NetSuite provides a powerful toolbox to design, implement and manage control or safety systems, combining speed, redundancy, cost-effectiveness and flexibility.
By adding TiPS LogMate’s equally powerful and complementary capabilities for alarm management, you can achieve excellence in both control systems and alarm management.
For a free demonstration, contact us today!