Maximum plant availability is essential – how can you achieve this?
A redundant and high-availability SIMATIC S7-1500 is the answer. A backup CPU synchronised with the primary CPU ensures that no data is lost and best of all, synchronisation and project consistency are a system function. Thus you don’t need special knowledge to use a SIMATIC S7-1500 R/H CPU: Same engineering in TIA Portal!
Redundant systems reduce costs and increase productivity
Machine and plant downtime nearly always means production outages. In the worst case, an unplanned plant outage can damage the product or the machinery, which incurs more costs. Redundant systems can prevent outages in many cases, they’re easier to maintain than application-based solutions, and they may also meet legal requirements. But if a CPU outage occurs, production can continue because the backup CPU takes over seamlessly. And because service technicians aren’t always on-site, you have more time to schedule service work.
Safety, security, availability – the key elements
In addition to availability, safety and security are two more key factors in plant operation, although they differ greatly in terms of their focus and effects. Safety protects people and machines if a fault occurs, and it puts the plant units in question in a safe state: In other words, it brings them to a stop in most cases. Security prevents attacks from outside like cyber attacks or sabotage and so helps maintain availability. Redundant solutions enable what’s known as “hot standby” to ensure that the plant can continue to run in the event of an outage or other unforeseen events. This involves linking redundant CPU pairs together via PROFINET.
Benefits of Redundant CPUs
Easy to operate thanks to automatically synchronised CPUs
The redundant CPU pairs are automatically synchronized to ensure that the latest program with up-to-date data is available in the primary and backup CPUs at all times. If one CPU fails, the other takes over (known as “hot standby”).
No extra time and effort for engineering
Like other SIMATIC controllers, the engineering and visualisation take place in the TIA Portal, including simulation of the CPU using PLCSIM Advanced.
No special expertise required
The programming of a redundant CPU – with or without safety-related functions – is the same as for the other SIMATIC controllers: Redundancy is a system feature of the SIMATIC S7-1500 R/H.
No downtime when installing spare parts
When a redundant CPU is being replaced, the plant continues to operate, because the backup CPU has already taken over non-reactively as the primary CPU.
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