OPsCon™
OPsCon extends Intellution FIX™ to provide a full-function replacement for ageing operators' consoles on Bailey® Infi 90® and Net 90® DCS's. In addition to providing a full DCS console when used with Intellution FIX, the OPsCon OPC (OLE for Process Control) server can be used as a stand-alone product to access process data via a Bailey Infi-Net to Computer Interface (ICI).
Key Product Features:
- Supports up to 30,000 Bailey Tags
- Easy to load thousands of tags from an existing Bailey console database (“.dbf” file)
- Easy conversion of Bailey ".dt" graphic files into iFIX “.grf” displays
- DCS control module Configuration Loading Utility
- High resolution, intuitive and easy to use object-based operator displays
- Full-featured Alarm Management System (utilises the DCS's alarm generating capabilities)
- True client/server architecture
- Powerful Visual Basic scripting enables almost any custom functionality to be added
- Supports OPEN systems’ connectivity (DDE, ODBC, OPC & OLE Automation interfaces)
- Runs on standard PC hardware running Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems
Added Benefits
A primary benefit to any OPsCon user stems from its open systems architecture. The following examples illustrate how OPsCon can be extended to meet other process management needs:
- Integrated Performance Monitoring & Tuning - is possible because all Bailey DCS process data is available over the LAN
- Supervisory Control - can be implemented by using the FIX Process Database Block Language and/or Scheduler to automate system responses
- Up to 7 Additional Drivers - can be added to the most convenient OPsCon console to access process data from virtually any PLC
- Intellution's WebServer - can be used with standard Web Browsers to view "live" operator displays anywhere on the LAN, WAN, or even over the internet
- Data Monitoring and Storage - can be easily set up for "Problem-of-the-Day Analysis"
- Mobile Pagers - can be "beeped" to alert staff to process deviations
Year 2000 Issues
Although for most DCS users the Year 2000 Issue is now a thing of the past, there are 2 classes of Bailey users who could still benefit from the OPsCon Y2K Solution:
- Users who simply "set the DCS clock back"
- Users who challenged Bailey’s advise, and survived the transition to 01/01/2000 without spending Ł000's on PCU module firmware upgrades
These users will need to seek alternatives to Bailey when the time comes to replace their DCS consoles. The Bailey option will almost certainly necessitate PCU Y2K module upgrades. On the other hand, OPsCon eliminates the need for PCU module upgrades by providing a date translation facility. This enables the lower level Bailey hardware to remain within the 1987-1999 time-frame, whilst the OPsCon consoles display the correct time and date.