Product category:
Smaller-Sized PLCs
News Release from: Eurotherm | Subject: Model 2704 controller/programmer
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 22 March 2000
Most advanced controller ever from
Eurotherm
The latest addition to Eurotherm's Series 2000 family of process and temperature controllers is an powerful multi-function controller/programmer available in a single, dual or three-loop format.
The latest addition to Eurotherm's Series 2000 family of process and temperature controllers is an powerful multi-function controller/programmer available in a single, dual or three-loop format The Model 2704 is a high accuracy, high stability instrument designed for demanding, high-accuracy multi-loop control applications, such as furnace and kiln control, environmental chambers, and a wide range of critical batch production processes in the chemical, brewing, pharmaceutical and plastics industries
Eurotherm claim that for its size, it is the most advanced controller ever produced.
The 2704 features an innovative 120 x 160 pixel electroluminescent display on which all the process information is displayed.
Process and programming information can thus be presented in bright, easily understood graphical form, making programming and set-up and operation much simpler.
The user interface is menu driven via the display and 7 front panel keys, providing extreme flexibility and ease of operation.
Despite outstanding functionality, the 2704 has just a 1/4 DIN (96 x 96mm) profile, and is designed for panel mounting.
The instrument incorporates a unique self-correcting input circuit to maintain calibration accuracy.
This maximises accuracy and performance during warm up and changes in ambient temperature.
Configuration is achieved either via front panel interface or by using Eurotherm's proprietary iTools configuration package running under the Windows 95 or NT operating systems.
The key to the 2704's accuracy is an advanced control algorithm giving virtually "straight line" control.
Automatic tuning simplifies the commissioning procedure by performing a one shot tune to calculate the optimum PID and cutback values for each loop.
To further optimise each control loop, gain scheduling can be used to automatically transfer control between up to three sets of PlD values.
A useful graphical display option called 'Trending' enables the operator to view both current and historical information on the process variable and setpoint of each loop.
Both the measurement range and timeframe may be modified.
Up to 50 programs may be stored, with a maximum of 500 segments, allowing control loop setpoints to follow a predetermined series of ramp and dwell segments.
Each program may profile up to three separate variables with each connected to its own control loop.
Alternatively, one profile may be assigned to more than one loop.
Program segments can trigger up to 16 digital events, allowing dynamic interaction functions.
To increase digital I/O capability, the 2704 uses a DIN rail mounting expander - common to other instruments in the 2000 Series family - which can increase I/O up to a maximum of 20 inputs and 20 outputs.
This facility provides the option for greater remote operation of the programmer and expands the 2704 controller PLC logic capability.
Communication to this unit is via a 2-wire proprietary communication link.
Cameron Large, Eurotherm's Product Manager for the 2704, believes that the new instrument will be of considerable interest to both process managers and original equipment manufacturers.
He comments: "The 2704 is the result of a very focused development program based on its predecessor the 2604.
This instrument has been designed to meet real industry needs and utilises the best advantages which current technology can bring us.
We believe that it is probably the most advanced controller of its type in the world." Eurotherm Limited is part of Invensys plc, one of the world's leading automation and controls companies.
It manufactures at a number of locations in Europe and the USA, and is a major supplier to the world's processing and manufacturing industries.
In the UK, design and assembly is carried out at three sites in Worthing, West Sussex.
The company's offerings now include temperature and process controllers and indicators, data recorders and data acquisition systems, and complete process automation solutions.
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