ABB launch new rugged PLC system
Latest AC500-XC unit offers more control and protection in extreme environments
ABB have announced the launch of their ‘extreme conditions’ AC500-XC PLC-based control system, which has been designed to protect against a wide variety of threats, including high and low temperatures, high humidity, low-air pressure, salt mist, hazardous gases and vibration and shock.
The new PLC unit helps reduce system building costs by eliminating the need for sophisticated protective enclosures with special seals, HVAC, shock absorbers, EMC protection etc.
The embedded protection features ensure that the AC500-XC PLC system stays functional and reliable even when operating in hostile environments. Such conditions can be found in many common automation applications, including quarries, mines, tunnels, vessels, cranes, and water/wastewater plants.
The AC500-XC PLC is the latest version of ABB’s well-known modular AC500 PLC. Almost all of the modules in the extensive AC500 range are available in the XC (eXtreme Conditions) version, providing users with a modular control platform that can offer almost limitless flexibility and scalability.
The AC500-XC PLC system also runs exactly the same program code as the AC500, allowing users to migrate to more robust solutions easily, and simplifying development for large systems that require control systems for both standard and extreme conditions.
This inter-range compatibility also extends to ABB's safety PLC, the AC500-S-XC. The mechanical dimensions and electrical specifications of connections are the same as the standard AC500, allowing existing panel layouts and wiring harnesses or designs to be reused
The AC500-XC PLC operates in temperatures from –30 to +70 degree Celsius, with reliable system start-ups in temperatures as low as –40 degree Celsius. Its circuit boards are coated to protect against high humidity levels, while the PLC has extended immunity against salt mist and atmospheres with corrosive gases.
High levels of vibration and shock can be tolerated, with accelerations up to 4g from random vibrations up to 500Hz, or 2g from sinusoidal vibration. The PLC is capable of operating at altitudes up to 4,000m. It also offers extended EMC protection against voltage surges and fast transients, as well as electrostatic discharge.
‘The extreme conditions PLC allows automation to be sited right where the control I/O is needed,’ said Thomas Boenig of ABB. ‘The technology opens up new and more profitable design approaches for a wider variety of automation users.’
