3 fieldbus overview – Flowserve 3400IQ Digital Positioner User Manual
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Logix 3400IQ Digital Positioner FCD LGENIM3402-00 – 0/07
One	important	parameter	should	be	discussed	at	this	point:	Inner	loop	offset.	Referring	to	Figure	
1.1,	a	number	called	inner	loop	offset	(IL_OFFSET)	is	added	to	the	output	of	the	control	algorithm.	
In	order	for	the	spool	to	remain	in	its	null	or	balanced	position,	the	control	algorithm	must	output	a	
non-zero	spool	command.	This	is	the	purpose	of	the	inner	loop	offset.	The	value	of	this	number	is	
equivalent	to	the	signal	that	must	be	sent	to	spool	position	control	to	bring	it	to	a	null	position	with	
zero	stem	deviation.	This	parameter	is	important	for	proper	control	and	will	be	discussed	further	in	
the	Control	and	Tuning	section.
1.3 Fieldbus Overview
Understanding Fieldbus
Fieldbus	is	an	all-digital,	serial,	two-way	communication	system	which	interconnects	industrial	‘field’	
equipment	such	as	sensors,	actuators,	and	controllers.	Fieldbus	is	a	Local	Area	Network	(LAN)	for	
field	instruments	with	built-in	capability	to	distribute	the	control	application	across	the	network.	See	
Figure	1.4.
Figure 1.4 Fieldbus Connecting Control Room and Field Devices
Open System Design
The	Fieldbus	Foundation	has	defined	standards	to	which	field	devices	and	operator/control	stations	
communicate	with	one	another.	The	communications	protocol	is	an	open	system	to	allow	all	field	
devices	and	control	equipment	which	are	built	to	the	FOUNDATION	fieldbus	standard	to	be	integrated	
into	a	control	system,	regardless	of	the	device	manufacturer.	This	inter	operability	of	devices	using	
fieldbus	technology	is	becoming	the	industry	standard	for	automation	and	distributed	control	
systems.
Hardware Architecture 
The	physical	architecture	of	fieldbus	allows	installation	of	fieldbus	devices	using	a	twisted-pair	cable.	
Often,	existing	wiring	from	analog	devices	can	be	used	to	wire	up	digital	fieldbus	devices.	Multiple	
field	devices	can	be	connected	on	one	cable	(a	multi-drop	link),	rather	than	conventional	point-to-
point	wiring	used	for	analog	devices.	See	Wiring	the	Logix	3400IQ	Digital	Positioner	to	a	Fieldbus	
Network	on	page	27.
Software Architecture
Fieldbus	software	architecture	provides	for	more	control	functions	to	be	available	in	the	micropro-
cessor-based	field	device.	Since	fieldbus	is	a	digital	communication	system,	more	data	is	available	
to	operators	for	process	monitoring,	trend	analysis,	report	generation,	and	trouble	analysis.	Device	
software	changes	can	be	downloaded	to	field	devices	remotely	from	the	operator	station	(or	PC)	in	
the	control	room.
Fieldbus LAN
ST 3000 FF
Logix 3400IQ
Digital Positioner
Fieldbus
Device
Fieldbus
Device
Control Room Device
(Operator Interface)
