Technical data

2 System Overview
The performance of control systems is no longer simply determined by the
programmable controllers but also to a great extent by the accessory
equipment. Apart from plant visualization, operating and monitoring this also
means a high-performance communications system.
Distributed automation systems are being used increasingly in production
and process automation. This means that a complex control task is divided
into smaller "handier" subtasks with distributed control systems. As a result,
efficient communication between the distributed systems is an absolute
necessity.
Such distributed structures have, for example, the following advantages:
➣ Independent and simultaneous start-up of individual sections of plant
➣ Smaller, clearer programs.
➣ Parallel processing by distributed automation systems
with the following results:
- shorter reaction times
- reduced load on the individual processing units
➣ Supervisory controllers can handle additional diagnostic and logging
functions
➣ Increased plant availability since the failure of a substation does not
stop the whole plant
A comprehensive, high-performance communications system is a must for a
distributed plant structure.
With SINEC, Siemens provides an open heterogeneous communications
system with various local area networks (LANs) for industrial environments.
The SINEC communications system is based on national and international
standards according to the ISO/OSI reference model.
B8976060/02 System Overview
2 - 1 Volume 1