Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, Tenn., has been working with NovaTech and the previous owners of the D/3 Distributed Control System (DCS) for more than 30 years. Now the company is looking forward to D/3 Version 14.1 to improve operations even further. “We purchased our first D/2 Batch System in 1979 and a D/2 Interlock System in 1980,” said Terry Browder, a control systems analyst for Eastman. “Today, we have D/3 DCS systems in our Polymers Manufacturing, Chemicals Manufacturing and Research/Technology divisions. We are pleased to see NovaTech’s commitment to improving the D/3 product and look forward to continued success in the future.”
NovaTech’s latest version of the DCS (D3v14.1) incorporates the latest functionality while preserving existing investment in applications, system hardware and I/O subsystems. Built on an open hardware and network design philosophy, the D/3 features powerful process controllers, and is used for process automation around the world.
The D3v14.1 supports multiple languages and incorporates more than 100 new features that increase operational safety, reliability, efficiency and security. The ProcessVision Console, for example, provides comprehensive process and system diagnostics information to operations and technical staff with minimal configuration required. The latest version also enhances tools for engineering staff to make online changes and debug sequence and batch programs. Operators benefit from display hierarchies that are easy to understand and navigate, information that is delivered in a more graphical manner, and the ability to embed any web-accessible data resources into the ProcessVision Console. Browser-based TotalWebVision graphics and trends and the new D3Express cloud-based mobile application can deliver critical information to staff members anywhere, anytime, and on any device.
The DCS fully integrates the PAS PlantState Suite product to expedite compliance with the ISA 18.2 Alarm Management standard. Version 14.1 includes more than 400 new High-Performance Smart Graphical Objects, enabling users to develop process graphics to promote greater situational awareness and enhancing the operator’s ability to make timely and accurate decisions.
Integrated Microsoft Windows authentication enhances security and protects engineering and operator access with an extensive and granular selection of privileges. D/3 provides comprehensive logging of all user activity to facilitate 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. ProcessVision can be configured for automatic inactivity log off, and sessions can be set up to manage and lock the layout of the entire console desktop over multiple screens.
