Electricity + Control March 2021

CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Managing plant operations from a distance

Restrictions relating to the pandemic are affecting many economic sectors. But one thing is certain: production processes must continue, or restart, and interrupted new projects must be resumed as soon as possible. Plants have to be maintained regularly, commissioned, optimised or quickly converted to the production of alternative products, even though technicians cannot be on site in person. In addition, employees need to go through thorough training to be able to carry out and maintain processes and workflows safely. Current travel and contact restrictions require efficient and secure solutions for engineering, commissioning, operations, service and maintenance from a distance – in short: individually adapted home-office solutions for everyday industrial production tasks. Secure remote access The ‘new normal’ affects both service personnel and programmers. Travel restrictions continue to have a negative impact on the commissioning of new plants as well as the maintenance and adaptation of existing ones. One solution for these restrictions is offered, for example, by the Siemens management platform Sinema Remote Connect, in combination with Scalance industrial routers. This allows simple, secure remote access to machines and plants and can be set up and managed from almost anywhere in the world. Virtual cooperation on a secure platform The common Remote Service platform (cRSP) from Siemens goes a step further. Via this platform, remote access can be set up to meet the most complex requirements. Challenging engineering, commissioning and maintenance tasks can be carried out conveniently on automation systems from a distance. For example, Sipix SD (Siemens Process Industry Expert Service Devices) for remote-assisted collaboration can be used to instruct and guide on-site service technicians via video. Virtual cooperation via the web For years, Siemens has been pursuing a secure web-based approach to the central remote control and monitoring of globally distributed plants with the established Simatic PCS 7 process control system, which provides secured access to local HMI functions as well as to current production data. This approach is also well suited to managing and optimising unmanned plants remotely. Global cooperation between various project teams working on the same engineering project via the web is an integral part of the architecture of the fully web- based Simatic PCS neo process control system. The system provides for the necessary transparency and consistency of engineering data, ensuring conflicts can be avoided automatically. Plant operators and

maintenance teams have device-independent access to the complete plant information anywhere in the world. Installed on a tablet or laptop, it enables them to bring the control system with them to the plant. Virtual commissioning and operator training The simulation and virtual commissioning of automation systems are also playing an increasingly important role. For this purpose, Siemens Digital Industries offers scalable solutions that can overcome impending project delaysdue tocontact restrictions. Basedon thedigital twin of a real automation system, the Simit simulation platform allows the simulation, testing and optimisation of a plant’s behaviour on a PC, and the virtual commissioning of more complex software if required. Projects can thus be developed in the home office, so delays and the number of contacts in real-life commissioning can be minimised. The digital twin can also be used for location- independent, low-contact training outside the plants. Comos, the software solution for holistic plant project management, also plays a major role: Comos Walkinside enables the 3D Virtual Reality visualisation of plants still under construction. It is ideal for providing the future maintenance and operations teams with realistic training on the virtual model – much like a computer game. With these digital remote applications, Siemens supports manufacturers and operators in various ways to maintain the availability and productivity of their machines and plants at the highest level. This capability will continue to be of prime importance for industrial production under the new normal conditions. For more information contact Siemens Digital Industries. Visit: www.siemens.com

Sipix uses the cRSP platform to provide on-site service technicians with remote audio-visual support from experts.

Electricity + Control MARCH 2021

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