Time synchronization

To be effective, the time data used by all elements of a control system must be accurate and synchronized.  In a generally decreasing order of importance, accurate, synchronized, system-wide is necessary to:

In an APACS+™ system, there are three distinct areas in which synchronization must occur.  The first is synchronization of the workstations on the process automation network.  A number of methods for maintaining the workstation clocks are possible, including the use of time signals obtained from the orbiting constellation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.  The second is the synchronization of the APACS+ control modules on the control network.  The control modules can maintain synchronization among themselves using a dedicated time-synchronization function block in their configuration.  Finally, a Time Synchronization Utility software package is provided in the APACS+ ProcessSuite® to synchronize the real-time clocks of the control modules to an accurate time source via one of the workstations.