Software upgrade simplifies field maintenance tasks

Yokogawa has also released an enhanced version of FieldMate Validator, an optional software tool that is used to verify connections between field instruments and control system I/O devices.                  

Digital communications standards are playing an increasingly important role in communications between plant central control systems and field devices.

With a number of digital communication standards in use today, plants often have devices from multiple vendors that use different standards.

Software tools are thus required that have the versatility to configure, adjust, and manage these devices.

Previous FieldMate versions could run on Windows 7 PCs and tablets. FieldMate release 3.02 can now be used on PCs and tablets running Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 10.

This is particularly significant because Windows 7 and 10 tablets are increasingly being used in the field by maintenance personnel.

FieldMate R3.02 also offers one-click (touch) operation for complex procedures. Dedicated buttons have been added to the FieldMate home screen for frequently performed field device maintenance tasks such as zero point adjustments and input loop checks.

This simplifies complex tasks such as the checking of settings for field devices that formerly required users to navigate to data at several different levels. This greatly improves maintenance efficiency. Linked tasks include Zero point adjustment. This procedure is performed to correct for an error in the value displayed by a field device that is often the result of an environmental factor or the device orientation.

Zero point adjustment can be performed for a Yokogawa differential pressure/pressure transmitter by simply connecting the FieldMate R3.02 PC or tablet to the target device and clicking (touching) the ‘Zero Point Adjustment’ button.

Input loop check verifies that device signals are being received by the controllers and the control system.

Previously, depending on the device that was being tested, different procedures needed to be followed to perform this test.

Regardless of device model or make, all it takes with FieldMate R3.02 is to click (touch) the ‘Input Loop Check’ Support button to output a loop check signal from a device.

With FieldMate R3.02, the output signal can also be easily set to the desired level to create a test pattern, which can be saved and retrieved.

Compared to a conventional handheld terminal, this function reduces work time by one third.

FieldMate can save parameters such as field device settings in a database. With FieldMate R3.02, it is possible to compare current values and previous settings for a parameter by just pressing the ‘All Parameters’ button on the home screen.

This function is useful for verifying changes made by field maintenance personnel and for troubleshooting problems.

FieldMate Validator is an optional software tool that is used to verify the connections between newly installed field instruments and control system I/O devices.

This product was first made available for use with the N-IO (Network-I/O) field I/O devices that were introduced for the Yokogawa CENTUM VP R6.01 integrated production control system. With this latest release, it now supports the I/O devices that were developed to facilitate quick upgrades to CENTUM VP R6.03.

Target markets include process industries such as oil, petrochemicals, chemicals, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, foods, and iron and steel.