Eurotherm Launch New Family of Process Controllers With Text Messaging

Eurotherm have introduced an advanced new family of temperature / process controllers called the 3000 Series. Designed to be fully compatible with the company's highly successful 2000 Series controller family, the four precision units feature a number of innovative features not available in any competitive products, including plain language scrolling text message displays.

The new text display feature will provide operators with a fully customisable 'message centre', which clearly displays the exact name and function of any parameter being set. This will save on commissioning time and the 'Auto-Help' facility associated with every parameter means that a printed manual is not required as a reference. If a user scrolls to a parameter and waits for a few seconds, the description of that parameter will scroll across the display in the language of choice. Four different language drivers, available for English, French, German or Italian, are easily downloadable from the Internet.

There are four models in the new 3000 Series; the 3116 and 3216 (both 1/16 DIN front panel size) the 3508 (1/8 DIN) and 3504 (1/4 DIN).

The compact model 3216, with an overall depth of just 90mm, has been designed primarily with machine builders and OEMs in mind. This feature-rich instrument offers high accuracy input, four on-board process recipes and Eurotherm's patented "Instant Accuracy"® system. The unit also has three additional input/output sites, which provide combinations of digital input, output, logic and relay. These are configurable for heating, cooling, internal events and alarms.

Other advanced 3216 features include a universal input, universal power supply, the ability to down load custom input curves, digital communications, and IP65 rating. This model may also utilise a current transformer input to continuously monitor load current (used to detect fault conditions and provide alarm outputs). The model 3116 is identical physically, but offers slightly fewer features.

The two 3500 Models (3508 and 3504) have been specifically designed for demanding, high-accuracy, single loop control applications. Examples of these would include furnace control, heat treatment, environmental chambers, or critical batch production processes in the chemical, food, brewing, pharmaceutical and plastics industries. Accuracy is maintained using an advanced control algorithm and high resolution input, which together give virtually "straight line" control.

These instruments provide a number of advanced programming facilities for the control of complex processes, and can store up to 50 setpoint programs. The units utilise a wide range of built-in standard function blocks, enabling them to replace other process control components such as timers, programmable controllers and single loop temperature controllers. In the same way, special machine control functions can be created by connecting analogue and digital parameters to the control loops, either directly or by using a selection of mathematical and logical functions.

3500 models also have a quick start configuration feature that enables the user to configure each unit in seconds rather than minutes. Each can be fully programmed manually from the front panel, digitally using a remote network or Internet link, or locally by using a dedicated infrared port on the front panel. Optionally, they can be set up for Modbus, Profibus, Ethernet, or DeviceNet digital communications, allowing connection to other Eurotherm products, supervisory computers or PLCs.

All four models in the new 3000 Series are fully supported by a new version of Eurotherm's well-known iTools configuration software. This now uses a 'wizard' approach to simplify configuration and commissioning tasks, and can reproduce the complete configuration of any controller via digital communications links or the infrared port. The software provides a number of powerful tools to simplify and optimise even the most sophisticated process control applications.