DeltaV Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO Simulation with the DeltaV Simulate OPC SIO Driver

This application note describes the steps required to use the DeltaV Simulate OPC SIO Driver for DeltaV Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO simulation.

The direct IO interface simulations available in MiMiC v2.x for the DeltaV Controller for PROVOX and RS3 IO were not ported to MiMiC v3.  These drivers required older proprietary hardware that is not supported on current PC software and hardware platforms.  An alternative is to use the DeltaV Simulate OPC SIO Driver, MM3-2102.  This solution has some disadvantages compared to the MiMiC v2.x direct IO simulation for PROVOX or RS3 including:

• MiMiC Simulated IO are driven to the module level of the DeltaV configuration.  No simulation through IO assignments is possible.
• The DeltaV control modules will need to be unassigned from the controller and assigned to the DeltaV Simulate workstation.  At the end of the testing period, those some modules will need to be unassigned from the DeltaV Simulate workstation and assigned to the controller.
• Because the modules are running in the workstation, there is no measurement of controller loading, CPU free time, memory usage, or instruction slippage.
• The DeltaV Input blocks (AI, DI) will need to run in Simulate mode.

The advantages of this solution include:

• All control system testing or operator training can occur in a PC environment without controllers, power supplies, or carriers.
• No modification to the DeltaV configuration is required other than the un-assignment and reassignment mentioned above.
• The auto-generation of SIO Tags and low level models (IO and Tiebacks) is handled completely by the DeltaV Database Generator Utility in MiMiC.

Procedure for Setting up the Simulation

1. Do a complete export of the DeltaV system prior to changing any module assignment.  Ideally, the DeltaV database will be fully configured, ready for install in the live plant system.
2. Generate the MiMiC Database using the MiMiC 3.x Database Generator, following the procedures found in Using MiMiC, DeltaV FHX Utility Guide, in the MiMiC Online Web Help.
3. Open the MiMiC Database generated by the utility in MiMiC Explorer.  Each DeltaV Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO will have a Node generated in the Simulation Database Section with a corresponding OPC_IODef in the IO definition section.
4. In DeltaV Explorer un-assign the modules from the Delta Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO and assign them to the DeltaV Simulate Assigned Modules folder.  Do NOT run the DeltaV Simulate Convert Utility.
5. Start the Node in MiMiC Explorer.  Select the OPC_IODef generated by the utility.  Change the name of the SERVER_MACHINE to the DeltaV Simulate Workstation to where the modules are assigned.  Once the node starts MiMiC should begin driving Simulated IO values to the DeltaV configuration on the workstation.  The MiMiC to DeltaV Simulate communications should be setup following the procedure in the Using MiMiC, DeltaV Simulate Setup Guide of the MiMiC Online Web Help.
6. When the use of the simulation is complete the user can change the DeltaV configuration back to a production plant ready state by un-assigning the modules from the DeltaV Simulate workstation assigned modules folder and assigning them back to the appropriate DeltaV Controller for PROVOX or RS3 IO.  Because the Simulate Convert utility was NOT run, the original DST assignments should be intact.