Eaton's new HART multichannel collector provides a total communication solution for plant safety and monitoring

     Eaton has introduced a new series of MTL HART multichannel collectors that provide a reliable connection between field equipment and plant control systems. The device incorporates predictive maintenance diagnostics as part of a plant asset management strategy, allowing users to reduce unplanned plant downtime and improve reliability. There are three new multichannel collectors in this family, the MTL4851, MTL4852 and MTL4854, all of which have been specially designed to communicate with the latest HART standard process instrumentation.

     With the ability to establish a simple interface between the field smart device and the HART communication system, the MTL4851 and MTL4852 multiplex collectors can form a scalable solution, from 16 to 256 channels per node, which is compact and easy to configure. Because of the automatic detection of communication parameters, there is no need to install switches on the module, and compared with similar products, the scanning rate can be increased by up to three times, which greatly saves the user's debugging time and related costs, and also reduces the project risk.

     Together, the MTL4851 and MTL4852 multiplex collectors provide a communication system with access to device health and process data, and the modules can also be connected to the same network, giving you access to approximately 8,000 devices. By using ET-485 devices that can be easily connected to Ethernet, these multichannel collectors offer the lowest single channel cost in the MTL product family.

     The new MTL4854 multichannel collector offers four HART modems for 32 channels, allowing users to access multiple devices simultaneously. For example, if a user is using one channel for a partial stroke test to diagnose a valve positioner, the user can continue to monitor other channels at the same time. As a result, plant managers can complete parallel communications, giving them continuous access to data and optimizing processes based on this data.

     The MTL4854 new multichannel collector complements the existing product family, including the MTL4850 HART multichannel collector; These HART multiplex collectors have been certified for connection to SIL3 class process safety equipment.

     Andrew Ingrey, MTL Technical Manager at Eaton's Ouse -Hinds division, said: "With the new multiplex collector, we can more than triple its performance to meet all customer requirements, whether it is a retrofit or a new construction project. All of Eaton's employees have been working to make it easier for customers to install their equipment, thereby minimizing installation downtime. Plant engineers can quickly install HART multiplex collectors; The advanced functionality also minimizes the amount of installation and configuration required."