Technical data
Fundamentals
2.4 Time synchronization in distributed PCS 7 plants
Time synchronization (V7.1)
Function Manual, 03/2009, A5E01216578-01
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2.4 Time synchronization in distributed PCS 7 plants
Introduction
PCS 7 supports system configurations where subcomponents are installed at different
locations, or even in different time zones. An example would be the installation of an
automation system and an operator station at different locations. The time must be
synchronized for the entire PCS 7 plant in order to optimize the sequence of all the
processes.
In PCS 7, the times of subcomponents are directly synchronized within a time zone. PCS 7
uses the "time synchronization" function to synchronize different time zones.
Time response in distributed PCS 7 plants
The following figure shows that time jumps may occur in process control systems (for
example, in the alarm lists) if there is no time synchronization. The processes do not run
synchronously:
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