Freelance provides both, operator level and process level. The operator level contains the functions for operation, process monitoring, archives and logs, trends and alarms. Open- and closed-loop control functions are processed in the controllers which communicate with actuators and sensors in the field.

2.1 Operator level

 The Freelance Operations software runs on a simple PC or tablet- under Microsoft Windows. It installs in five minutes. Freelance Operations supports four (4) monitors operation, which offers the benefit to stay continuously tuned with essential information like the alarm list, while inspecting at the same time for example the progress of a sequential function chart, trend archives, or the system display with extended diagnostics. In a plant, several Freelance Operator Workplaces can work seamlessly together.

 The extended automation functionality of ABB’s System 800xA can be used for Freelance as well by utilizing the “800xA for Freelance” connectivity package. This way you can concentrate several Freelance systems under one common operator console in parallel to the existing operator stations.

2.2 Engineering tool

 The Freelance engineering station is used to  

configure and commission the whole system  

including the controllers, field devices and  Freelance Operations. Usually, portable equipment such as laptops, which allow configuration both in the office and on site, are used. The  operator level PCs can also be used for system  engineering. A permanent connection to the  engineering station is not necessary.

2.3 Process level

 A Freelance system can consist of one or combination of several AC 700F, AC 800F and/or  AC 900F controllers. It can be connected to field devices through fieldbuses, direct and remote I/Os. With AC 900F controllers, you have the option of configuring your entire system in redundancy. As shown in the architecture drawing (see "Free- lance System Architecture" on next page), Freelance can go from a typical OEM offering with an AC 700F controller, a Panel 800 and around 50-100 I/ Os. The AC 700F can host up to eight direct I/O modules and can have several remote I/ Os connected via PROFIBUS. Modbus RTU and TCP are also supported. Integration of 3rd party PLCs like Safety PLCs or package units can easily be achieved by using the OPC based “PLC Integration” functionality of Freelance. This not only provides the ability read or write data, but also to create faceplates based on existing Freelance ones to interact with those units and to integrate the alarms into the  Freelance alarm management.

The operator and the process level communicate via the control network, which is based on Standard Ethernet. You can choose between vari ous transmission media such as twisted pair or fiber optic cable. The system components use a specific protocol called DMS, which is an enhanced MMS (Machine Message Specification) protocol. This protocol can be utilized by 3rd party network subscribers using the application interface DMS-API. This is a “C” programming interface for MS Windows to enable programmers to create tailored solutions. A more standardized and generic approach to connect to the system is provided by the Freelance OPC server to access real-time process values (DA) and alarms/ events (AE) from the Freelance System. A Freelance system in theory can have up to 100 controllers and 100 operator stations. However the majority of the systems are in the range of 1 to 5 controllers/ operator stations. Each control ler can communicate to a total of 10 Freelance operator stations, OPC- or trend servers. If the number of those exceeds 10. the system allows to segment the data communication accordingly per simply setting some check marks. Note: a Freelance operator station or the Freelance OPC-server can “talk” to more than 10 controllers. So, if the number of controllers exceed 10. there is no further action required. 

— 2.4.1 Control network The control network connects the controllers, operator stations and engineering station in the Freelance system. The control network complies with the Ethernet Standard according to DIN/ISO 8802. Part 3 (IEEE 802.3) and can be used with twisted pair or coaxial cable. It is also possible to use a combina tion of these standards or to implement 1-GBit/s components within a network as high-speed backbone. Freelance uses confirmed and un- confirmed services. The unconfirmed UDP service is used for screen updating and lateral communi cation between controllers. The confirmed TCP/IP service is used for alarming and trend archiving. The control network has the following features: 

• The ability to cover long distances 

• A high data throughput 

• A flexible network layout 

• Control Network redundancy REG670 REG670 

— Freelance Engineering 

— Freelance Operations, Batch, Information, Asset Management

— Supervisory Operations, System 800xA ERP MES INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET (OPTIONALLY REDUNDANT) OPERATOR LEVEL PROCESS LEVEL PACKAGE UNIT SIL3 HIGH INTEGRITY Panel PC MODBUS Panel 800 Family Drives and motors Valve Field devices AC 700F Controller with direct I/O AC 700F or AC 900F Controller with direct I/O Panel 800 Family Screenmaster Recorders ControlMaster Controllers Field devices MODBUS PROFIBUS PROFINET FOUNDATION FIELDBUS PROFIBUS PROFIBUS Direct I/O Direct I/O S700 I/O FREELANCE RACK I/O MODBUS 3rd party PLC Field devices Drives and motors S900 I/O S800 I/O Intelligent Switchgear MNS iS Universal Motor Controller AC 900F Controller, optionally redundant Safety Controller Safety I/O Safety Valve Select I/O for Safety Safety Transmitter VIA OPC ABB and 3rd party PLC & DCS C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Freelance Configurationcliparts.

2.4.2 OPC

Freelance provides an OPC gateway (server), which allows OPC clients to access data and alarms from the Freelance controllers. The OPC server also allows access to the DPV1 parameters and user parameters of PROFIBUS and HART devices. In the case of HART devices, this is only possible if they are connected to an S900 remote I/O unit. The parameters of FOUNDATION Fieldbus devices can also be accessed. It is possi ble to limit access to this data at the OPC gateway such that an OPC client cannot see certain tags and variables at all, can only read other tags and variables, or has both read and write access to certain tags and variables. Freelance Operations has a built-in OPC client, which permits you to access data from external OPC servers. Using this, for example, data from third-party controllers with OPC support can be integrated into a custom graphic in Freelance Operations. Since Version 9.2. when using Free- lance Operations PLC Integration, also Faceplate creation and Alarm & Events are supported. As several OPC gateways can be used in the Freelance system, server redundancy can be established using OPC clients that support this function. The Freelance Engineering software supports this with the redundant OPC gateway configuration. The trend server option provides a special OPC gateway that is used by the operator stations for user-defined trend displays. Access to the trend server is fixed to “read only”, and all trend vari ables are automatically available. There is one trend server per Freelance system. OPC UA Gateway As of Freelance Version 2019 SP1 FP1. the Unified Automation Gateway can be installed as a Freelance OPC UA server solution. With the UaGateway® it is possible to connect the Freelance OPC Server with the OPC Unified Architecture, which enables new, secure and reli able expansion and integration possibilities of any OPC UA Client application. Also the Freelance Control Aspect has been enhanced to communicate via OPC UA.

2.5 Advanced application programming DMS-API

The DMS Application Programming Interface pro- vides C programmers with a Windows interface through which they can access internal Freelance communications services. This enables them to create their own Windows applications that can read online data from the Freelance system and create values. 

2.5.1 Advanced application programming DMS-API The DMS Application Programming Interface pro vides C programmers with a Windows interface through which they can access internal Freelance communications services. This enables them to create their own Windows applications that can read online data from the Freelance system and create values.

Exchange of PM 802F, Base Unit 4 MB