Technology
Ethernet-APL: the future of process automation connectivity SOURCE: ODVA
Competition and cost pressures combined with Industry 4.0 have made device health status, operations analytics and predictive maintenance via the device, edge and cloud more important than ever. The process industries are poised for a major shift, with Ethernet connecting directly to field devices via Ethernet-APL.
EtherNet/IP Network Portion of ACHEMA Pulse Ethernet-APL Multivendor Demonstration. THE RELIABILITY, SECURITY, AND SAFETY requirements of process industries that are driven by their critical infrastructure role along with high fixed plant costs have led to usage of dependable and proven control technologies such as 4-20ma for far longer than most other industrial sectors. Some of the downsides to this approach are that field device commissioning takes minutes instead of seconds and there is a limited amount of process and diagnostic information available beyond critical process variables. Process fieldbus solutions offered potential device status and remote commissioning possibilities, but were not adopted on a mass scale due to concerns about training, maintenance, reliability, and interoperability resulting in a very limited overall industry change and benefit to end users. Ever-mounting competitive and cost pressures combined with technology advances via Industry 4.0 have made device health status, operations analytics and predictive maintenance via the device, edge, and cloud more important than ever. Process industries are poised for a major shift, and the time has come for Ethernet to connect directly to field devices with the launch of Ethernet-APL.
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Ethernet-APL Overview
Ethernet-APL is a combination of Single Pair Ethernet (IEEE 802.3cg-2019, 10BASET1L), engineered power, Intrinsic Safety (IEC 60079, 2-WISE), and Type A fieldbus cable (IEC 61158-2, for intrinsic safety). As a result, Ethernet-APL satisfies the process industry needs for long reach cabling of up to 1,000 meters per trunk length, powered infrastructure and intrinsic safety protection for all Class 1 hazardous Zones and Divisions. The use of 2-WISE to define intrinsic safety protection enables simple steps for verification of intrinsic safety without calculations, and 10BASE-T1L allows for dramatically increased speed at 10 Mbit/s. As it is just a physical layer, Ethernet-APL allows end users to access standard safety and security services built on IEC 61508 and ISA/IEC 62443 from the leading industrial automation standards bodies. Additionally, Ethernet-APL will be able to support EtherNet/IP TM, HART-IP, OPC UA, PROFINET, or any other higher-level network protocol. In summary, Ethernet-APL allows Ethernet to seamlessly extend from the field instrumentation to the plant process automation system to higher level enterprise
resource planning systems and cloud environments, thereby reducing gateways.
Ethernet-APL technology launch
“The APL Project” is made up of standards development organizations FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), and 12 major industrial project members. After three years of successful cooperation, the APL Project launched the Ethernet-APL technology at the ACHEMA Pulse digital fair on June 15th, 2021. The technology launch included the release of specifications, engineering guidelines and conformance test plans. The launch also includes defined port profiles that create the Ethernet-APL concept for multiple power levels with and without explosion hazardous area protection and standardized product marking. Next steps include release of field devices from companies with initial products now available from select vendors. Ethernet-APL value was demonstrated during ACHEMA via a multivendor demonstration showing participation across different product vendors and industrial protocols, highlighting the options and interoperability Ethernet-APL offers end users.
in d u s t r ial et h er ne t b o o k
07.2021
