Page 6 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 21st June 2021

Devices with NAMUR NE 107 diagnostics built device has drifted away from the parameters set at
in allow users to turn off diagnostics that are not the factory or during commissioning.
required or configure how the diagnostics are Manual verification, performed by hand using
reported. All ABB’s measurement devices conform multimeters and similar devices, has a number of
to NE 107 and the company has used the standard drawbacks. As well as requiring longer downtimes,
alarm codes to build an online diagnostic app it also needs technicians to be specially trained, as
known as My Measurement Assistant. With many well as risking further, unplanned downtime if not
users expecting to have information at their performed properly. Software verification is faster,
fingertips, tools such as My Measurement Assistant but this often entails using different software
offer the self-service support features that meet this packages for different types of devices. There is also
need. the problem that one type of verification software
For example, users may have a CoriolisMaster does not work with all communications protocols.
flow meter. If this is displaying an error code on the The best modern verification software packages
device’s HMI, users simply choose the flow meter can be used for many device types, comparing their
on the app then select the displayed error code from settings to when they were first commissioned or
a drop-down menu and enter ‘Search’ - entering the calibrated and determining if their performance has
error code F080.030 returns the information that degraded since that time. These software packages
the ‘the resonant frequency of the measuring tube is perform a deep analysis of the device’s condition,
outside the permissible limits’, providing a possible with no need for any specially trained technicians.
reason ‘Damage to the measuring tube due to A report is produced on the calibration variables,
abrasion or deposit formation’ and suggestions to assessing the limits and determining if the device
remedy the situation. has passed or failed on that parameter.
Another option is instruments that encrypt An example of the benefits possible from
device maintenance and operating conditions within automated versus manual verification is an
dynamic QR codes. This feature, a unique offering organization that used the technique to achieve an
from ABB, makes it easier for less experienced annual reduction in costs of over $1
personnel to streamline troubleshooting processes, million.Operating 75 measurement devices, the
as they can simply take a picture of the QR code organization originally spent $150,000 annually on
with their smartphone. Using an app called My verification for regulatory purposes, while annual
Installed Base, users can then forward the data maintenance and repair on the devices came to
securely to ABB to receive remote support. $100,000. It also lost five percent of its production
Meanwhile, more proficient plant personnel can still due to poor quality. By moving to automated
get the details they desire to exercise their years of verification, the company reduced total
troubleshooting expertise. maintenance by a minimum of $162,000 and
increased throughput by $130,000.
Maintaining accuracy To aid these economic considerations, ABB has
One of the most important aspects of maintaining a an online tool that allows a user to enter the number
device’s accuracy is field verification. Although of devices and calculate the cost of verifying them
much condition information is available through the manually versus using their new ABB Ability PC
HART connections, this does not provide enough based software tool. This tool helped Selwood
detailed diagnostic information to determine if the Pumps to reduce the verification testing time for its

June 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p6