A new standard gives the process industries interoperability across multiple hosts, devices, and technologies.
The ISA-SP104 committee has completed adoption as an American National Standard of the generic electronic device description language (EDDL) specified by IEC 61804 for device integration.
The committee has announced the publication of ANSI/ISA-61804-3 (104.00.01)-2007, Function Blocks (FB) for Process Control - Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language.
The standard establishes an operating system independent language, used to declare device parameters and their dependencies, device functions, graphical representations, and interactions with control devices.
The language, EDDL, creates an electronic device description (EDD) for intelligent devices to integrate these with control systems and handheld communicators for use in the field.
An EDD is a text file, and its use supports information retrieval, diagnostics, performance analysis, operational statistics, parameter handling, operation, range setting, calibration trim, simulation, override, and monitoring of automation system components.
“This standard helps users and integrators fully utilize the EDDL interface to support a wide array of intelligent devices,” said committee chair Terry Blevins. “Using tools based on EDDL can mean faster device commissioning and loop checkout, as well as reduced field trips and the elimination of unnecessary maintenance.”
This flexibility allows the end user to choose the best combination of price and performance for devices and software. Since an EDD is required for Foundation Fieldbus device registration, and EDDL is the only device description language supported by the HART Communication Foundation, EDDL has the support of virtually every process control systems vendor in the world, and EDDs are available for any Foundation or HART device and for many Profibus-based field devices.
For related information, go to www.isa.org/networks.