BRC300 | ABB Bailey Harmony Bridge Controller (BRC-300)

Introduction

The Harmony Bridge Controller (BRC-300) is a high-performance, high-capacity process controller. It is designed to interface with both Harmony block I/O and Harmony rack I/O within the Symphony™ Enterprise Management and Control System. The BRC-300 is fully compatible with the INFI 90® OPEN system in terms of functionality, communication, and packaging. It collects process I/O, performs control algorithms, and outputs control signals to process level devices. Additionally, it imports and exports process data from other controllers and system nodes, and accepts control commands from operators and computers connected to the network.

Hardware Description

The BRC-300 controller consists of a faceplate and a circuit board:

• Faceplate: Measures 35.56 mm wide by 177.80 mm high (1.4 inches wide by 7.0 inches high). It includes two latching screws for secure placement in a module mounting unit (MMU) and features a transparent window for viewing status LEDs. The faceplate also provides access to the stop/reset pushbutton.

• Circuit Board: Features state-of-the-art surface mount technology, including nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM), static random access memory (SDRAM), flash memory (ROM), a microprocessor running at 160 MHz, direct memory access (DMA) circuits, ABB custom bus circuits, redundancy circuits, and various support circuitry. The circuit board attaches to the faceplate and occupies one slot in an MMU.

Hardware Application

The BRC-300's superior performance allows it to handle applications that previously required an external mainframe or minicomputer within the Harmony control unit. It meets sophisticated control application requirements such as supervisory control, optimization routines, performance assessment, and process modeling.

Features

• Interfaces with Harmony block I/O, Harmony rack I/O, and S800 I/O in the Symphony Enterprise Management and Control System.
• Fully compatible with the INFI 90 OPEN system.
• Stand-alone device capable of handling specific control and information processing applications.
• Supports multiple control languages, including C and function codes (FC).
• Includes circuitry that supports redundancy, allowing for seamless transfer of control in case of primary controller failure.
• Requires a Processor Bus Adapter (PBA) for connection to the Harmony I/O subsystem via Hnet.

Technical Specifications

• Microprocessor: 160 MHz
• Memory: NVRAM, SDRAM, flash memory (ROM)
• Communication: Supports Hnet communication, I/O expander bus, serial channels, and station link.
• Redundancy: Redundant controllers connect via a cable for seamless control transfer.
• Dimensions (Faceplate): 35.56 mm wide by 177.80 mm high (1.4 inches wide by 7.0 inches high)

The BRC-300 controller is designed for high reliability and performance in process control applications, ensuring robust operation within the Harmony control system.