A powerful, yet scalable system, with superior reliability and flexibility, the ECS-1200 distributed control system is the result of more than five decades of innovation and manufacturing of control systems in hundreds of installations around the world. With scalable architecture to match any size control requirement, each system provides complete, fully integrated network and system control solutions in any application or industrial setting.

Encompassing an extensive selection of I/O cards for the simplest to the most complex operations, the ECS-1200 control system is fully redundant for confident operation during critical control conditions. Linked through a high-speed, open architecture network, the advanced microprocessor-based control system can perform all sequential and modulating control functions including plantwide data acquisition, monitoring, and display functions with superior integrity and maximum data throughput. With the open architecture network, connection of foreign devices and third-party software applications is easily achieved. Reduced integration time and hardware costs eliminate communications cables and dramatically improve configuration flexibility and maintenance facility.

HFC provides a full complement of system engineering and programming services. In addition to the advanced control and monitoring software packages, HFC applications engineers can uniquely configure each control system to significantly improve plant efficiency and profitability. The system can provide a diversity of field interfaces ranging from 4-20ma analog input modules to remote fieldbus devices. With modular design to allow easy system expansion plus the downward compatibility of features to legacy systems, the end user's investment is protected as the system evolves to meet the changing needs of the process.

The ECS-1200 distributed control system consists of five major components: Multifunction Controllers, Input/Output (I/O) modules, Applications Software, Industry Standard Communication Networks, and the Advanced Operator Interface Workstations. These components combine to deliver an exceptional process automation solution that not only optimizes plant performance and efficiency, but also is an extension of management's daily decision making tools.

Controllers
Because scalability is necessary for both small and large systems, HFC offers a variety of controllers that can be intermixed throughout the system to optimize system configuration. With advanced, powerful digital and analog central algorithms, the multifunction controllers can be configured online or offline using a programming utility incorporating simple function blocks for control applications.

I/O Modules
The control system I/O modules are comprised of a complete family of digital and analog input and output boards. The I/O modules provide a host of advanced technological features offering a secure and dependable interface to field devices. The intelligent I/O supports a multitude of features such as built-in continuity monitoring, motive power, and status feedback for complete plant control and monitoring functions. Other significant features include separate power monitoring, independent manual reset switches, jumper-selectable I/O link addresses, and a self-configuring baud rate. Sophisticated diagnostics provide operators with a virtual extension of their senses into the heart of the operation.

In addition to the vast array of standard analog and digital I/O modules, specific functions such as thermocouple and sequence of events monitoring, HSIM's (High-Speed Interface Modules), and pulse input-output are available for specialized control and monitoring functions.

Control Room
Three workstation configurations make up the components of the control room. Efficient plant operation is easily achieved through Microsoft® Windows® 2000 based workstations: the operator workstation, the engineering workstation, and the historical archiving system. With the Windows® 2000 environment, all workstations support interactive color displays, multi-window displays, and a standard library of symbols to allow complete customization. To provide a real-time interactive environment, the control room workstation displays are updated with current values at a rate of once per second. Workstations are connected to the system through industry-standard communication protocols, allowing access to any database point in the system. Each system can be connected to other computers and control systems on the network through the use of a standard Ethernet™ LAN and TCP/IP link.

Applications Software
HFC incorporates an innovative approach to software design and integration services that allow information obtained from local and remote I/O, data links to other devices, or output variables from controls strategies to be shared by other software applications and devices. Implementing changes to the system logic as well as customizing logic for a specific application is simple and does not require specific programming knowledge or software training. A built-in programmable feature also allows construction of the control system before operational logic is completed, minimizing the cost of field logic changes. These design tools along with the industry standard hardware and open architecture communications result in a high-speed, reliable, and fully integrated system that is capable of meeting any process control requirements.

Communications Network
The HFC communications network is the most flexible network available today. The network accepts all systems and devices including PLC and CEMS, and can support commercial software in addition to HFC software. The redundant communications links between the controllers provide exceptional data integrity and stability. The redundant 10Mb/sec C-link allows the connection of multiple controller units and distributed control is supported through high-speed fiber optic links to form an extremely well designed and reliable communications network. For interface with our advanced CRT operator and engineering workstations, high-speed, open architecture technology provides a 100Mb/sec TCP/IP local area network (LAN). Communications gateways and hubs enable easy connection to multiple workstations as well as allow access to plant control operation from offsite locations.