Of Operation 2

Operational Flexibility

The HART protocol allows two masters (primary and secondary) to communicate with slave devices and provide additional operational flexibility. A permanently connected host system can be used simultaneously, while a handheld terminal or PC controller is communicating with a field device (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Multimaster System

HART extends the capability of field devices beyond the single-variable limitations of 4-20mA in hosts with HART capability.

The HART protocol ensures interoperablility among devices through universal commands that enable hosts to easily access and communicate the most common parameters used in field devices. The HART DDL extends interoperability to include information that may be specific to a particular device. DDL enables a single handheld configurator or PC host application to configure and maintain HART-communicating devices from any manufacturer. The use of common tools for products of different vendors minimizes the amount of equipment and training needed to maintain a plant.

Instrumentation Investment Protection

Existing plants and processes have considerable investments in wiring, analog controllers, junction boxes, barriers, marshalling panels, and analog or smart instrumentation. The people, procedures, and equipment already exist for the support and maintenance of the installed equipment. HART field instruments protect this investment by providing compatible products with enhanced digital capabilities. These enhanced capabilities can be used incrementally.

COMPATIBILITY OF

HART REVISIONS
At the basic level, HART devices communicate with a handheld terminal for setup and maintenance. As needs grow, more sophisticated, on-line, PC-based systems can provide continuous monitoring of device status and configuration parameters. Advanced installations can also use control systems with HART I/O capability. The status information can be used directly by control schemes to trigger remedial actions and allow on-line reranging based on operating conditions and direct reading of multivariable instrument data.

As HART field devices are upgraded, new functions may be added. A basic premise of the HART Protocol is that new HART instruments must behave in precisely the same manner as older versions when interfaced with an earlier revision host system.