Advanced performance, interoperability, and availability for today's connected plant

GE's distributed control system solutions are easily adapted to the constantly evolving requirements of industries such as power generation, oil and gas, and chemical processing.

A Complete Solution
The Mark VIe control system is a flexible platform used in multiple applications. It features high-speed, networked input/ output (I/O) for simplex, dual, and triple redundant systems. Ethernet based I/O can easily be distributed plant wide across all balance of plant applications. Industrystandard Ethernet communications are used for I/O, controllers, and supervisory interface to operator and maintenance stations, as well as third-party systems.

The ControlST* software suite is used with Mark VIe controls and related systems for programming, configuration, trending, and analyzing diagnostics. The Distributed Control Solution (DCS) function library accelerates creation of balance of plan  application logic. During runtime the system provides quality, time-coherent data in the controllers and at the plant level for effectively managing control system equipment.

Safety is delivered through the Mark VIeS Safety Management Solution. Based on the Mark VIe platform, the Mark VIeS is a stand-alone safety control system for safety-critical applications that conform to the IEC®-61508 standard. The ControlST software suite simplifies maintenance while maintaining a unique set of certified hardware and software blocks.

The Mark VIe Distributed Control Solution delivers a seamless, integrated, balance of plant solution designed to perform in the extreme conditions found in industries such as:
• Power Generation
• Oil and Gas
• Chemical and Process
• Pulp and Paper
• Mining and Minerals Engineering
• Renewables

The Mark VIe Distributed Control Solution offers:
• A proven solution
• Flexible and highly scalable architecture
• Enhanced productivity and efficiency
• Seamless integration with primary control systems
• Comprehensive design and integration
• Robust maintenance and services offering

Mark VIe controller-UCSB
At the heart of the Mark VIe system is the controller that includes the main processor and triplicated Ethernet drivers to communicate with networked I/O, and additional Ethernet drivers for the control network. A set of two or three controllers can be used to provide dual or TMR control. The control logic can be programmed in a combination of function block diagrams (FBD), and relay ladder logic (RLD). A real-time operating system executes this control logic and interfaces with the I/O system. In each frame, the online controllers read data from the input modules, write data to the output modules, and synchronize variables between controllers in a dual or TMR configuration.

Mark VIe I/O modules (I/O card & pack)-IS220PAICH2B
Mark VIe I/O modules have three common components: a termination block for field wiring, a terminal board, and I/O pack(s). Modules are DIN rail mounted. Wide gauge wiring eliminates marshalling and lowers costs. Each I/O pack contains two IONet ports and a local processor with a real-time clock synchronized for 1ms time-stamping in the sequence-of-events (SOE) function available on all discrete inputs and outputs. This feature allows customers to select SOE with the click of a button, without the complexity and expense of dedicated SOE hardware. I/O diagnostics and voting are performed at the pack level.

Simplex I/O modules have one I/O pack mounted on the terminal board; TMR I/O modules have three I/O packs mounted to a common terminal board. I/O redundancy is a single selection during hardware configuration, and is transparent to the application code.
IO network (IONet)-IS220PHRAH1A
The IO network is a dedicated, full duplex, point-to-point protocol. It supports a deterministic, 100 MB communications network suitable for local and/or distributed I/O modules. IONet switches are a GE design, incorporating extreme environmental capability with superior performance. Standard network protocols such as Profinet, Profibus and Foundation Fieldbus can be seamlessly integrated into the Mark VIe system.
Virtual Mark VIe controller-IS215UCCCM04A
For training and validation, simulation of the process and associated control can be invaluable.
The Virtual Mark VIe provides a virtual, PC-based form of the controller supporting:
• Execution of application program
• Communication interface with ToolboxST application
• Ethernet Global Data (EGD) services
• Process alarm management