Danfoss OPC Operating guide

Operating guide

OPC server for ECL Comfort 310

Table of Contents
1.	Introduction to Danfoss ECL OPC Server ..........................................................................................................................	2
2.	Configuring databases.......................................................................................................................................................	6
3.	Exporting configuration data............................................................................................................................................	7
4.	Importing data from an XML file .......................................................................................................................................	8
5.	Address Space ....................................................................................................................................................................	9
6.	Devices..............................................................................................................................................................................	11
7.	Folders ..............................................................................................................................................................................	14
8.	Data Items.........................................................................................................................................................................	15
9.	Conversions ......................................................................................................................................................................	20
10.	Device Parameters ...........................................................................................................................................................	23
11.	Simulation Signals ...........................................................................................................................................................	25
12.	Alarm Definitions .............................................................................................................................................................	28
13.	How the client connects to and gets data from a server ................................................................................................	34

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1. Introduction to Danfoss ECL OPC Server

The Danfoss ECL OPC Server is an OPC-compliant server that serves data to OPC clients. The OPC server was implemented using advanced programming concepts of the current version of the OPC specification for use in developing next generation industrial software applications.

The OPC Server communicates with OPC clients and real time Danfoss ECL devices. This OPC server is also based on the popular Modbus protocol and can be connected to real world Modbus compatible I/O hardware.

Key features of the OPC Server include:

•Advanced OPC data quality and data conversion to client’s request.

•Supports multiple multi-drop I/O devices.

•Supports multiple groups for easy configuration and manageability.

•Supports popular PLC and RTU data types.

•Internally simulated for configuration and testing.

•User interface for viewing tags, groups, and real-time signals.

•Supports OPC Data Access (DA) and Alarm and Events (AE) specifications.

•Flexible engineering units and signal ranges

The OPC Server product contains two parts: a user interface configuration module and the actual OPC server, the runtime module.

Configuration module:

The configuration module allows you to create a database that holds configuration data of the tags such as the tag name, the ranging, and the alarm settings.

Runtime module:

The runtime module uses a runtime database to access the actual values of the tags configured. Structures of both databases are indicated in the following sections.

Changes made to the configuration are accepted only after a restart of the OPC server. However, changes made to the runtime database are accepted online.

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1.1 What is OLE for process control?

OLE™ for Process Control (OPC) is a standards-based approach for connecting data sources (e.g., PLCs, controllers, I/O devices, databases, etc.) with HMI client applications (graphics, trending, alarming, etc.).

It enhances the interface between client and server applications by providing a universally supported and welldocumented mechanism to communicate data from a data source to any client application.

Included are not only a detailed guide on how to pass the data, but also specific information on other attributes to supplement those data, such as range information, data type, quality flags, and date and time information.

Figure 1.1 shows the OPC Architecture, which was introduced by the OPC Foundation. By following the OPC Architecture, a device needs only one standard driver, which is an OPCcompliant server. All OPC-compliant client applications can then be connected to that device, either locally or over a network. Furthermore, connections can be made to more than one OPC server at the same time.

Figure 1-1: General OPC-Based Client-Server Architecture

Any OPC client application can connect to any OPC server. In other words, OPC offers true Plug-and-Play capability in the fields of HMI and industrial automation. OPC server types include OPC Data Access (DA), OPC Alarm and Events (AE).

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Figure 1-2: Danfoss ECL Comfort OPC structure

The OPC Server is based on Standard Modbus protocol for

RS485 and TCP. Heat meter data can be read through the ECL

Comfort controller using the M-bus network.

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1.2 System requirements

OPC Server Configurator can run on the following Microsoft

Windows operating systems:

•Windows Server 2008 x64 (runs in the 32 bit compatibility mode)

•Windows Server 2008

•Windows Vista x64 (runs in the 32 bit compatibility mode) †

•Windows Vista †

•Windows Server 2003 x64 (runs in the 32 bit compatibility mode)

•Windows Server 2003 R2

•Windows Server 2003 SP2

•Windows XP Professional x64 (runs in the 32 bit compatibility mode)

•Windows XP Professional SP3

•Windows 2000 Server SP4 ††

•Windows 2000 SP4 ††

†

Supported Editions of Windows Vista are Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise Edition. Windows Vista Home and Home Premium Editions are not supported in this release.

††

Windows 2000 is supported for Classic OPC Server installations only.

The OPC Server Configurator is capable of running on computer/workstation hardware with the following specifications:

•1 GHz Processor (CPU)

•1 GB Physical Memory (RAM)

•2 GB Hard Disk space available

•DVD drive for installation

•SVGA Video Card; 256 or more colors for best results

•A mouse or other compatible pointing device (such as a trackball or touch screen)

•Microsoft-compatible keyboard

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2. Configuring databases

The OPC Server Configurator provides the ability to create new configuration databases.

2.1 Creating a Microsoft Access Configuration

Database

To create a new Microsoft Access Configuration Database in the Configurator, the following steps have to be completed:

•Start the Danfoss ECL OPC Configurator.

•Select ‘File’, ‘New’ from the menu and specify a name for the configuration. For example ‘myProject.mdb’

•Select the ‘Save’ button and the configuration file will be created.

This configuration database will contain the configuration of all your devices, and the logical tag naming in the OPC address space.

2.2 Activating the database

Once your configuration is complete, you need to make sure that your database is “Active”. The database that is designated as “Active” is the one that the server uses.

To make a database active:

Select ‘File’, ‘Make Active’… and click the ‘Yes’ button.

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3. Exporting configuration data

3.1 Exporting data to an XML file

The Configurator also allows you to export data from your configuration database to an XML file. The Configurator also allows you to export the XML schema. A schema is a special XML file that specifies the data structure of an XML data file.

The purpose of having the configuration in XML would be that you have it in another readable format and could manipulate the content with 3rd party tools to later import the changes again.

To export data, select from the menu ‘File, XML Export’…

This opens the ‘Export XML File’ dialog box. Specify a file a name and click ‘Save’.

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4. Importing data from an XML file

4.1 Importing data from an XML file

The Configurator allows you to import data from your configuration database to an XML file.

To import data, select from the menu ‘File, XML Import’…

This opens the ‘Import XML File’ dialog box. Select a file and click ‘Open’.

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5. Address Space

The 'Address Space' branch of the Configurator provides a tree explorer in Workbench, shown in the figure below, for setting the properties and connection parameters of the following items:

•Devices

•Folders

•Data Items

Data items can be organized hierarchically. It is similar to organizing directories and files on your computer's hard disk. The OPC server offers several levels of hierarchy.

The Configurator module uses the terms ‘Folder’ and ‘Data Item’. A folder can contain additional folders and also data items. The data items are always the branches in the tree control hierarchy.

The hierarchical structure of the folders and data items helps to organize the devices and tags, as shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1: Address Space

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5.1 Areas

Areas can be used to group devices logically. You can configure as many areas as required. At least one area is required.

To add an new area:

Right-click on the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench, and click on ‘New Area’.

Figure 5-2: Creating a 'New Area' in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench

Select the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench and use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Area’ menu item.

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6. Devices

In the Configurator, a device represents a hardware device that communicates with the OPC server over TCP/IP.

A device is directly communicating with its socket, so it is logically under the first level in the ‘Address Space’ tree.

Again, the device is represented by its symbolic name. Also, its IP address in combination with the unit identifier value uniquely identifies the device.

Setting up a device requires configuring its IP address, unit identifier, TCP port, type, timeouts and optimization parameters.

To add a device:

Right-click the ‘Address Space’ branch of the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench, and click on ‘New Device’.

It is impossible to have two devices with the same IP address.

Figure 6-1: Adding a 'New Device' in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench

Select the ‘Address Space’ branch in the Configurator tree explorer in Workbench and use the menu ‘Edit’, ‘New’, ‘Area’ menu item.

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