ABB Freelance 800F distributed control system System description

As hardware constitutes less of the price of an auto

mation system, the costs for creating user software

become more important, accounting for an average

of more than 50% of the total cost of an automation

project. This makes it clear that the mechanism, by

which cost structures can be changed to the user’s

advantage, must begin with engineering.

That‘s essentially why we‘ve developed Freelance

800F: to enhance cost efficiency by reducing engi

neering costs, while keeping hardware prices con

sistent with those of programmable logic controllers.

How can engineering costs be reduced?

• Use of only one engineering tool (Control Builder F)

to configure the entire system, consisting of  auto-

mation functions and the operator interface- with

displays and logs, as well as to configure fieldbus

lines (PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART,

etc. ) and to parameterize field devices

• Automatic generation of the entire communication

between controllers and operator stations

• Lower cost and time investment for data input

due to a system-wide uniform database for field

devices, process stations and operator stations,

leading to data consistency within the entire system

• Uniform, system-wide plausibility check of user

programs via all process and operator stations up

to intelligent field devices, including formal check

for completeness and consistency of the user programs

• Graphical configuration with high-performance

editors in programming languages according to IEC 61131-3

- Function block diagram (FBD)

- Ladder diagram (LD)

- Instruction list (IL)

- Sequential function chart (SFC)

- Structured text (ST)

• Extensive function block library, to which user-

defined function blocks can be added; macro

library and graphics symbols to create graphics

and faceplates for user-defined function blocks

• Integration of any PROFIBUS-DP or PA slave

using the concept of the generic slave (using a

GSD-file) with the possibility of configuring these

components in user-defined dialogs

• Integration of PROFIBUS devices using FDT/DTM

The same user-friendly configuration and support

features also apply to operation and observation. The

operator is supported by a mechanism providing not

only information from the plant but also operating

hints. For this purpose, for example, an intuitive

operator interface, logs, and sophisticated alarm and

message management function is available.

The quality of Freelance 800F is also reflected in the

robust hardware, which is immune to electromag

netic interference and bears the CE Mark as a quality

symbol for all its components.

In cases where demands on availability are particu

larly high, it is possible to configure the process

station including the modules redundantly. Fieldbus

lines, the system bus, and the operator stations can

also be configured redundantly.

The Freelance 800F control system provides power

ful automation that is cost-effective and easy to use.

Freelance 800F is ideally suited to applications re

quiring simple handling and attractively-priced hard

ware and software in power, process or environmental 

industry.

It is a sound investment in the future, with a simple

and clearly designed system based on the motto:

Minimum engineering – maximum automation