The hardware basis for this intelligent mobile device is provided by the Pad-Ex 01 from the Pepperl+Fuchs brand Ecom Instruments, an ex-protected Windows tablet for industry. Thanks to the combination of this hardware and the cloud-based IIoT ecosystem Netilion, Endress+Hauser was able to master a tricky diagnostic task at a customer company and resolve previously unexplained system downtimes.

Smart plant asset management is more difficult in certain sectors, such as the chemical industry, than in others. Often extensive production sites suggest mobile solutions instead of permanently installed terminals in order to expand the range of movement of employees. At the same time, the special conditions in the chemical industry, in particular the Ex zones, place specific requirements on the mobile devices used. These must not only be robust and explosion-proof, but must also be able to display complex diagnostic applications comprehensibly and intuitively. Last but not least, the appropriate communication protocols must ensure digital communication in the context of Industry 4.0 and Industry of Things.

Complex measurement processes need modern solutions

The example of an international manufacturer of acrylic products shows how the use of suitable mobile devices in the chemical industry can significantly simplify processes. Its employees were unable to make sense of a repeatedly occurring anomaly: A measuring device, which was supposed to measure the flow rate emanating from a reagent container, regularly gave a zero value despite the presence of a flow rate. Internal research into the causes did not provide a satisfactory explanation for this measurement error. The situation was all the more explosive in view of the fact that a measured flow rate of zero triggers automatic safety precautions. These stop crucial processes in production and generate high costs due to the loss of productivity associated with the system downtime.

In order to rectify the measurement anomaly as quickly as possible and stop the process interruptions, the chemical company turned to the measurement specialists at Endress+Hauser for diagnostic support. The company is a leading provider of measuring instruments, services and solutions for industrial process engineering and offers complete solutions for flow, level, pressure, analysis, temperature, data acquisition and digital communication.

During such field work, the Field Xpert SMT70 configurator tablet serves as a reliable companion for mobile plant asset management and the administration of field devices for the engineers at Endress+Hauser. As a mobile workstation, it enables the specialists to move freely around the production site for configuration and diagnostic processes - thanks to the explosion-proof design, work in Ex zones is also possible without any problems. The robust tablet supports the specially developed Heartbeat Technology, which Endress+Hauser uses to measure pressure, flow and level as well as for various diagnostic applications. The cloud-based IIoT ecosystem Netilion, which is set up in accordance with NAMUR Open Architecture, structures the measurement data and makes it accessible in the cloud. The data is also accessible via REST API and OPC UA communication protocols. The user remains the owner of the data and can authorize users for data access.

The combination of Heartbeat Technology and Netilion was also able to shed light on this case. The cause of the fault turned out to be a defective cable - a fault that could be rectified within minutes.

Explosion-proof mobile device for all situations

Field Xpert SMT70 has thus also proven itself in a new application scenario. The tablet is the result of a trusting partnership between Endress+Hauser and the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments. ECOM provided the hardware basis for the Field Xpert SMT70 with the explosion-proof Pad-Ex 01 industrial tablet, while the firmware, including the Netilion ecosystem, comes from Endress+Hauser. As part of this technology partnership, Endress+Hauser benefits not only from the robustness and high level of data and device security, but also from the versatility of the Windows tablet for use in Zone 2/22 and Div. 2.

The features of the Pad-Ex 01 are designed for use in demanding environments, for example in the oil, gas and chemical industries. Complex applications and web-based content can be displayed accurately and conveniently on the large display of the industrial tablet PC. Despite the required robustness, the tablet remains light and compact to facilitate movement and transition between different areas within the plant. Whether plant management, inventory management, process automation, maintenance or applications in transport and logistics - the Pad-Ex 01 makes everyday work in the industrial environment easier.