WirelessHART: Real-Time Mesh Network for Industrial Automation

The process control industry has seen generations of technology advancement, from pneumatic communication to electrical communication to electronic c- munication, from centralized control to distributed control. At the center of today’s distributed control systems are operator workstations. These operator wo- stations provide the connection between those overseeing and running plant operations to the process itself. With each new generation of products the operator workstation has become increasingly more intelligent. Newer applications provide advanced alarming, control, and diagnostics. Behind all of these applications are smarter devices. These smart devices provide greater process insight, reduce en- neering costs, and contribute to improving the overall operational performance of the plant. Smart devices include advanced diagnostics that can report the health of the device and in many cases, the health of the process that the device is connected to. It is not uncommon for smart devices to include diagnostics that can detect plugged lines, burner flame instability, agitator loss, wet gas, orifice wear, leaks, and cavitations. These devices tell the user how well they are operating and when they need maintenance. Improvements in sensor technology and diagnostics have lead to a large variety of smart devices. So how do users connect the capabilities of these smart devices to their existing control system infrastructures? The answer is wireless. Wireless technology has matured to the point that it now can be safely applied in industrial control, monitor, and asset management applications.

WirelessHART: Real-Time Mesh Network for Industrial Automation presents the WirelessHART Standard in detail and wireless industrial automation in general. This book strives to facilitate the adoption of wireless technology in industrial automation, and introduces the research potential of the wireless industrial automation to the academics.

This book is designed for practitioners and researchers working in the wireless process industry. Advanced-level students and researchers focusing on engineering and computer science will find this book valuable as a secondary text or reference book.

"This is the first book in the area. I can anticipate a large international market for it that would include any company with process controls operations: Petrochemical, Chemical companies, Food and Beverage, Pulp and Paper, Pharmaceuticals, etc," - Dr. Jose A. Gutierrez of Emerson

About WirelessHART:

WirelessHART™ is a cutting-edge standard for the wireless process industry (such as oil, gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, pulp & paper, power plant, and companies such as ABB, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, MACTek, Pepperl+Fuchs, Siemens and more). This new standard provides a robust wireless mesh network protocol, and assists users with a quicker and smoother experience when operating their wireless technologies.