Woodward MicroNet Plus: High reliability redundant control system for prime mover control

Software tools such as Control Assistant and Monitor GAP provide service personnel with powerful monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities, including data graphic display, data recording, trend analysis, event logs, and X-Y plotting.

3. High precision synchronization and event recording

Sub millisecond time synchronization: Integrated with SNTP v4 standard time servers, it can achieve synchronization with external time sources in less than 1 millisecond.

High resolution event sequence recording:

The timestamp resolution of digital I/O events can reach 1 millisecond.

The event timestamp resolution for analog I/O and software process variables can reach 5 milliseconds.

This is crucial for analyzing power grid faults, equipment trip sequences, and complex dynamic processes.

4. Modularization and Intelligent I/O

I/O module designed specifically for prime mover control: Compared with ordinary industrial I/O modules, it has** exceptional accuracy, fast-synchronized updates, high channel-to-channel isolation**。

Intelligent modules: Many modules have built-in microcontrollers that can manage internal operations and continuously perform self diagnosis. They have self calibration capabilities and provide periodic online calibration monitoring to ensure the integrity of I/O measurement and control.

Powerful scalability:

The main control chassis can connect up to 7 expansion chassis through real-time network to build a large-scale control system.

Real time network supports CAT-5 cable or fiber optic configuration, with a fiber optic communication distance of up to 2 kilometers, suitable for equipment dispersed in factory areas.

Seamless integration with LinkNet ® Distributed I/O provides an economical and efficient solution for sequential control and monitoring functions.

Support connecting other commercial distributed I/O through CANopen, Ethernet, serial and other networks.

5. Rich communication protocol support

MicroNet Plus supports communication protocols widely used in modern prime movers and factory automation, ensuring good system integration:

Ethernet TCP/IP & UDP/IP

OPC DA 3.0 and AE 1.0

Ethernet Global Data

Modbus ®  (via Ethernet or serial RTU/ASCII)

CANopen

Customized proprietary drivers for specific devices

System specifications and compliance

operating environment

Working temperature: 0 to 55 ° C (32 to 131 ° F)

Impact resistance: Complies with the US military standard MIL-STD-810C, 15G, 11ms half sine pulse.

Anti vibration: Complies with Lloyd's Register ENV2 Test # 1 standard.

Regulations and certifications (reflecting their applicability to harsh and hazardous environments)

North America: UL certification, applicable to Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D, T3A hazardous areas.

Europe:

CE Mark: Compliant with EMC Directive and Low Voltage Directive.

ATEX Explosion proof Certification: Compliant with EN60079-15, suitable for Zone 2, Category 3, Group II G, Ex nA [nL] IIC T3 X environments.

Compliant with mechanical instructions (as a component).

Classification Society Certification: Recognized by American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, and Lloyd's Register of Shipping, suitable for ship applications.

physical dimensions

8-slot chassis: 320 mm (width) x 363 mm (height) x 307 mm (depth), weighing approximately 16 kg.

14 slot chassis: 478 mm (width) x 363 mm (height) x 307 mm (depth), weighing approximately 24 kg.

Both types of chassis support installation behind the board or adaptation to 19 inch cabinets.

Typical System Architecture and Redundant Operations

The system architecture diagram in the document demonstrates how MicroNet Plus builds a layered and redundant control network:

Control core: One or more MicroNet Plus main control chassis, including redundant CPUs and power supplies.

Real time expansion: Connect multiple expansion enclosures through redundant real-time fiber optic networks to expand I/O capacity.

Upper layer network: Connect HMI, service computer, and factory DCS server through redundant Ethernet.

On site network: Connect on-site devices (such as speed controllers and sensors) and distributed I/O through redundant CAN networks.

Redundancy switching mechanism: Under the redundant configuration of the primary/backup CPU, if the primary CPU fails, control can switch to the backup CPU without disturbance within less than 1 millisecond, ensuring the continuous operation of the prime mover. After the fault is repaired, control can be switched back.

Summary of Core Advantages

Unparalleled reliability and availability: With comprehensive redundancy options from CPU, power supply to I/O, combined with online hot swapping and sub millisecond level fault switching, the system ensures near zero downtime.

Excellent real-time performance and determinacy: Based on VxWorks' rate group architecture, it provides predictable control cycles as fast as 5ms, meeting the most demanding dynamic performance requirements (such as load shedding).

Ultimate flexibility and scalability: Modular design supports smooth expansion from small single machine applications to large multi chassis systems, and I/O types and redundancy methods can be freely combined.