Today's Automation News Headlines from Automation.com

May 17, 2011 – Emerson added exida alarm rationalization software to DeltaV Analyze V2.0 software to help process automation operators manage alarm system performance to new industry standards. exida’s SILAlarm alarm rationalization software optimizes the DeltaV system’s alarm performance.

Alarm rationalization is one of the key activities in ISA-18.2’s alarm management lifecycle and is critical to create a sustainable and effective alarm management program. SILAlarm delivers benefits to operations that previously would have considered rationalization too burdensome and expensive. The results include reduced alarm load on the operator, no more nuisance alarms and improved operator response.

Nuisance alarms are a common problem in industrial plants since the application of digital computers to process control in the 1980s. The ease with which alarms can be implemented has led to alarm overload, alarm floods, and incorrectly prioritized alarms, all of which diminish control room operators’ effectiveness. 
 
Emerson’s DeltaV Analyze V2.0 software provides out-of-the-box reports that measure alarm system performance as prescribed by the new standards, such as peak and average incoming alarm rate and priority distribution. Reports contain “top 20” lists of nuisance alarms of various types, such as the sources of the most frequent occurring alarms and those that remain active for the longest time.

Notes early DeltaV Analyze user Steve Elwart, systems engineering director for Ergon Refining, “After just six weeks using Emerson’s DeltaV Analyze software we had identified and eliminated nuisance alarms for an overall 40% reduction in alarms seen by our operators.”

“New industry standards that define good alarm management engineering practice combined with heightened scrutiny by safety, health and environmental regulatory agencies and the insurance industry are making plant managers take notice,” says Emerson’s Kim Van Camp, making reference to ANSI/ISA18.2-2009 Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries and the forthcoming complimentary IEC standard, IEC62682.

About exida
exida is a certification and consulting firm specializing in safety critical / high availability automation systems and control system security. exida has performed more process control safety certifications than any other company worldwide and it’s exSILentia safety lifecycle tool is a market leader. exida's main offices are located in Sellersville, PA, USA and Munich, Germany. exida has worldwide operations with service centers in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, and New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management, an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb, Syncade, DeltaV, Fisher, Micro Motion, Rosemount, Daniel, Ovation, and AMS Suite.