Visual Supervisor – multi-function control product

Citation

(2000), "Visual Supervisor – multi-function control product", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 29 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2000.12929fad.017

Visual Supervisor – multi-function control product

Visual Supervisor – multi-function control product

Keywords Eurotherm, Control systems

Eurotherm Limited have announced an innovative multi-fuction control and display product called Visual Supervisor (Plate 10). This powerful addition to the company's range is a process controller, data logger, setpoint programmer and interactive touch screen display in one unit. The product is said to combine the expertise which Eurotherm has in control, data acquisition and process automation.

Plate 10 Visual Supervisor from Eurotherm

Visual Supervisor is described as capable of performing both continuous and sequential control. It claims comprehensive alarm and event management, powerful trending, setpoint programming and local data logging facilities. It can be used either as a stand-alone system, or as a building block within a larger system.

Truly open I/O networks are thought to be possible with Visual Supervisor, as it provides support for both PROFIBUS and MODBUS. It can also reportedly be connected to Eurotherm's proprietary ALIN local network, allowing both peer-to-peer and system communications. The graphical setpoint programme claims between one and 16’analogue setpoint profiles, and between one and 32 digital output profiles from a single time base.

Because of its open network architecture, Visual Supervisor may be connected to a wide range of process interface I/O modules, including those from Eurotherm's 2500 System and other third party devices. Separating the processing from the I/O has also allowed physical distribution of the modules, which saves on wiring costs.

The operator interacts with Visual Supervisor using the touch-screen, which is available in both a standard 1/4 VGA size, or an exceptionally large SVGA format. Either offers a simple configurable "pop-up" navigation menu, which enables users to access its wide range of functionality. The system can be configured to show a hierarchical view of plant using area/group/point displays.

Up to 99 user-screens can be configured by utilising the User-Screen Editor provided with Project Studio, part of the EurothermSuite® family of integrated hardware and software solutions. The User-Screen Editor has a library of pre-defined graphical objects, and any user-screen or other page may be selected as the "home" screen. A built-in trending capability allows trending of digital and analogue values, allowing process trends to be accessed via group displays. The Trend functionality offers both online and historical trends. Programmes are configured from a PC using the Setpoint Programme editor provided with Project Studio.

Eurotherm have created a special Web site page which provides full details of this new product. Visitors should go to: http://www.eurotherm.co.uk/process/T800.htm for further information.

Details available from: Eurotherm Limited. Tel: +44 (0) 1903 268500; Fax: +44 (0) 1903 695666; e-mail: info@controls.eurotherm.co.uk; Web site: www.eurotherm.co.uk