The Smart Box Project

Draft Project Outline

01/21/00

To simplify the integration of multi-instrument analytical systems and allow more flexible use of installed systems.

Develop smart box (based on IEEE 1451 standards) that can be installed as an add-on to existing instrumentation or designed in to new instrumentation. This box would extract all available data (analyzer output and instrument diagnostics) from the analyzer and make it available via existing browser technology. Each instrument would be it’s own web server, no stand alone PC required. Each instrument would be plug and play (i.e. self identifying and configuring). This technology could be sold or leased to end users and/or instrument vendors. Simple trending and data analysis supplied via Java applets supplied pre-installed on each instrument. Data output spreadsheet compatible.

Software support for more extensive data analysis, reporting, diagnostics, and neural net optimization (?) would be supplied at a central location (CleanAir). No need for on-site software or computers.

Industrial facilities around the world are increasingly asked for more frequent and detailed information on air emissions from their facilities. In the US, Title V of the Clean Air Act requires proof of continuous compliance with air emission standards. To meet this demand for continuous information, may facilities have installed Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS). These systems consist of one or more gas analyzers, sample transport and conditioning system, and a control and data acquisition system.

Today, these typically exist as stand-alone systems–disconnected from process control and other information systems. Data storage and reporting functions are typically carried out by a dedicated local PC. The systems are usually not networked but may have a modem for a dial-up connect for data downloading and rudimentary diagnostics.

Several technological pieces have been developed in recent years leading to a market opportunity for someone with the foresight and experience to bring these pieces together into an integrated whole. First, the explosive and ubiquitous development of the internet has brought network access and standards to every desktop. Second, the new IEEE 1451 standard streamlines

Develop Project Outline

Develop Instrument I/O Specification

Select development partner(s) with instrument interface and IEEE 1451 experience

Develop single instrument demo (June 10)

Develop multi-instrument demo

Finalize product/service concept

Prepare marketing materials and train sales staff

Some digital communication standard (RS-232). This allows for much additional information such as diagnostics, calibration coefficients, cumulative zero and span drift values, internal sensor alarms, etc.

Data formats for digital communication are non-standardized or in some cases proprietary. You can’t connect an analyzer from Company Y to a network and have it communicate without custom programming. We will develop data conversion algorithms to convert data from these formats to IEEE 1451.2 standards allow plug and play connectivity.

An IEEE1451.2 transducer carries with it information including manufacturer, date code, serial number, limits of use, uncertainty, and calibration coefficients. When power is applied to the transducer, this information is available for use locally and for dissemination to the rest of the system as needed. Other 1451.2 devices know how fast to communicate with the each other, how many channels are available, and the data format of each channel’s transducer [for example whether readings are from a 12- or 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC)]. They also know what physical units are being measured and how to convert the raw readings into corrected SI units.

Once information and control communication is standardized, it becomes possible to quickly design and fabricate multi-instrument analytical systems that may be controlled and monitored remotely. This includes remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, calibration, and operating parameter modifications.

IEEE 1451 devices can be freely mixed in a given system. Users can focus on the analytical quality of the instruments and not worry about compatibility or communication. This eliminates much of the "integration" cost of designing and deploying multi-instrument systems.

By using embedded web server technology, each instrument becomes an independent web server. Analytical data can be accessed and instrument control can be achieved without the need for specialized software. Anyone with the proper security clearance and a standard web browser can access the instrument and its data provided the instrument has been placed on-line.

The demonstration project will apply this technology to a California Analytical heated FID monitor model 300M HFID. The IEEE Smart Transducer Interface Module (STIM) will be the Analog Devices Microconverter ADuC812 with an eye to future migration to the ADuC824. The IEEE Network Capable Application Processor will be the Hewlett-Packard BFOOT —66501 (BFOOT-11501?).

The signals and control points available on the California Analytical instrument are as follows.