DATAC RealFlex 4

RealFlex 4 is a true realtime, multiprocessing, PC-based software package for SCADA and process control applications.

Information

Today's process monitoring and control system users demand a powerful, yet inexpensive solution to their SCADA application needs. RealFlex 4, a true realtime preemptive multitasking, multiuser, PC-based SCADA and process monitoring / control software package, fits those requirements.

RealFlex 4 derives its realtime performance from the powerful POSIX certified 32-bit QNX operating system. QNX is powered by a pre-emptive, priority-driven microkernel, which makes RealFlex 4 ideal for realtime applications such as process monitoring & control. In addition, QNX provides RealFlex with built-in peer-to-peer networking, protected memory mode operation, and a file system that resists power loss corruptions. RealFlex 4 supports multiple networks (Ethernet, Arcnet, Serial, and Token Ring) running simultaneously, providing more than a single path for communication as well as load balancing on the networks. If a cable or network card fails in a way that prevents any communication across that network, the system will automatically re-route data through another network. This happens on-line giving the user automatic network redundancy and increased communication speed over the network.

An OpenLook graphical user interface (GUI) makes RealFlex 4 easy to learn and use. Since QNX is multitasking, a RealFlex user can have multiple windows open, each executing a different task and updating simultaneously. For instance, the user can have a runtime display, such as a process graphic, in one window, while using the database editor to perform on-line database changes in another window. The process graphic will continue to update and receive alarms, and the changes made to the database will also be updated. I/O scanners are able to run continuously in the background without being interrupted by the man machine interface.

The RealFlex 4 package comes with all the features users need to develop and run an operable process monitoring and control system including:

- On-line configuration utilities
- Realtime data and alarm processors
- Historical data archiving
- Calculation processing
- Digital and analog processors
- Full graphic display
- Realtime and historical trending
- Report generation

Configuration

Features

Database Builder and Editor

- On-line, fill-in-the-blank screens with editable help windows
- Data point types: analog, status, meter and tanks
- Data accessed by tag name
- Copy features for easy duplication of PCUs

Graphics Builder

- Choice of either object-based or pixel-based graphic editors

Symbol Editor

- Build custom symbols or edit predefined symbols
- Symbol gallery available in both graphics builders and dynamics mode

Automatic Realtime Tabular Summaries

After building a database, RealFlex automatically generates and updates these tabular displays:

- System Summaries
- Communication Summary
- Data Summary by data type
- Alarm Summary
- Historical Alarm/Event Summary

Windows Interface

- Conforms to OpenLook (GUI) standards
- Concurrent updating of multiple windows
- Size and initial opening location of windows can be defined

Real-time Data Processors

- Analog inputs with engineering unit (EU) conversion
- Status inputs
- Meters with adjustments of factor, units-per-pulse and internal totalization for hourly, daily, monthly   and yearly intervals
- Tanks with strapping tables, volume calculation and correction
- Analog outputs
- Digital outputs

Calculation Processor

Supports these predefined calculations using designated database point values:

- Flow rate based on volume
- Volume based on flow rate
- Unit runtime
- Device change of state counter
- Average value over time
- Over/short based on meter in/out

Historical Data Collection

- Life cycle (day, week, month, year) may be determined for each point
- Deadband filter on a point-by-point basis

Alarming

- Monitors data acquired from field I/O devices and internally calculated points and provides realtime   alarm and event management
- Five (5) digital alarm/event priority levels: no alarm, event, alarm, urgent, and critical
- Five (5) analog alarm options: high, high-high, low, low-low and rate-of-change
- Alarm filtering for analog alarms
- Manual overwrite - User may force a state, condition or value or overwrite erroneously reported data   (realtime I/O is inhibited until manual overwrite is removed)
- Generates current active alarm summary and historical alarm/event summary
- Poke point menu allows alarms to be sorted by process control unit or by point type
- Supports multiple alarm printers for alarm/event messages (printed on detection, demand or by   schedule)
- May automatically send predefined control outputs to device drivers upon changes in state of digital   points or changes in value of analog points

Realtime and Historical Trending

- Realtime and historical data presented on one trend window (realtime trends are panned to display   historical data)
- Pan and zoom features
- Up to 8 pens per trend
- Auto-scale adjust
- Sample bar allows examination of specific realtime or historical values
- X-Y Plot

Report Generation

- On-line creation and printing of customized or defined reports

Defined report formats include:

- Communications summary report
- Meter summary report
- Active alarm summary report
- Historical alarm/event summary report
- System/PCU summary report
- Selective alarm/event report
- Information and control tags report
- Reports can be created in report generator and exported to relational databases, printed on   demand, scheduled or automatically triggered by an event or time of day.

Control Capability

- Controls may be issued to field devices by:
- Operator demand
- User-defined control sequence based on an event or schedule (requires action processor or Control   Sequence Language option)
- Superkey procedures
- Action processor

Poke Points

- Point and click access to realtime monitoring and control tasks for any database point, including:
- Alarm acknowledgment
- Manual overwrite
- Display alarm/event
- Database editing
- Information tagging
- Control tagging
- Dynamic point display (trend, dial, gauge)
- User defined functions
- Alarm enable/disable
  (Access to some of these functions may be controlled through passwording)

Superkeys

- On-screen macro buttons allowing point and click initiation of user-defined processes

Control and Information Tagging

- Control tagging - allows controls to a specific I/O point to be disabled and the creation of a message   associated with a specific database point (status, analogs, meters)
- Information tagging - allows creation of a message associated with a specific database point
- Both features accessed by poke points.

Graphic Format Links

- On-screen macro buttons that allow quick access from one graphic format to another
- Allows user-defined display hierarchy

I/O Communication

- Extensive library of manufacturer’s protocols supported
- Process control devices supported include: remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic   controllers (PLCs), flow computers, gas chromatographs, single loop controllers, tank gauging   processors, rod pump controllers
- Communicate through microwave, radio, telephone (dial-up or leased line), direct connect serial line,   TCP/IP, fiber optics, cellular phone, or satellite.
- User defined scan intervals and analog deadband filtering

Connectivity

- ConNecTFlex provides all control and display capabilities present in the RealFlex system in a   Microsoft NT or 95 desktop "window".

Networking

- Built-in peer-to-peer communications
- Client server architecture
- Supports standard networks (Ethernet, Arcnet, Serial, and Token Ring)
- Redundant network architecture (multiple networks can run on one machine)
- Automatic load balancing across the network
- Automatic boot capability over the network

Password Protection

- Password capability provides functional security for up to 24 users, 12 levels each
- RealFlex user logon functions
- QNX login password protection

On-line Help

- A utility is provided that displays on-line help covering all aspects of the RealFlex system. This same   utility may be used to create corporate or site specific procedures or documentation available from   the RealFlex system to all users.

Hardware Requirements

- Intel based 486 computer or higher (requires math co-processor)
- 16 Mbytes memory
- 120 Mbyte hard disk (size determined by size of database)
- 3.5” floppy disk drive
- 1 RS232 port
- 1 parallel port (a second parallel port is recommended)
- VGA controller and monitor
- Printer - Any Epson compatible or Hewlett-Packard PaintJet, 500, 600 or 800 series or Postscript   compatible printer
- Keyboard and either mouse, trackball or touchscreen