Description

The PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A is a high-density protocol gateway module developed by ProSoft Technology (now part of Rockwell Automation) for seamless integration of HART field instruments into FOUNDATION Fieldbus (FF-H1) networks. This versatile interface module enables bidirectional communication between FF-H1 host systems and up to 16 HART-enabled devices (e.g., smart transmitters, positioners, analyzers) without disrupting legacy infrastructure. The PROSOFT RL2X-IHNF-A operates as a HART multiplexer, converting HART digital signals into FF function blocks while maintaining native HART command sets for configuration and diagnostics. As part of ProSoft’s RLX2 series, it supports critical process automation upgrades in brownfield installations, allowing plants to leverage existing HART assets while transitioning to FF architectures. Its compact form factor and flexible mounting options make the PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A ideal for space-constrained control panels in hazardous environments.

PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

The PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A delivers exceptional interoperability through its dual-processor architecture: one dedicated to FF-H1 stack processing and another for HART command execution. This eliminates host system loading while enabling simultaneous communication with all 16 HART devices. Advanced signal conditioning ensures reliable HART FSK signal extraction even in electrically noisy environments like petrochemical plants. The module’s transparent mode preserves native HART Device Description (DD) files, allowing asset management systems to access full device diagnostics (e.g., sensor drift, calibration alerts) without protocol conversion limitations.

Key advantages include zero configuration loss during power cycling due to non-volatile memory and automatic HART device rediscovery. The PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A supports FF AI, DI, and PID function blocks with user-defined scaling, enabling seamless integration into DeltaV or other FF host systems. Its DIN-rail form factor reduces cabinet space by 60% compared to conventional multiplexers. ProSoft’s PSI-Tools software simplifies bulk device configuration and provides real-time HART parameter trending – critical for predictive maintenance strategies.

Application Field

The PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A is indispensable for modernizing process facilities with mixed communication infrastructures. In oil refineries, it integrates legacy HART pressure transmitters on distillation columns into FF-based control systems, enabling advanced process optimization while preserving existing instrumentation investments. Chemical plants deploy the PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A to interface HART-capable corrosion probes with FF asset management platforms for real-time wall thickness monitoring.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers leverage its multidrop capability to connect multiple HART temperature sensors in bioreactors to a single FF segment, reducing wiring costs in cleanroom environments. Water treatment facilities use this module to bridge HART-enabled pH/ORP analyzers to FF control networks for precise dosing control. The PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A also enables SIL 2 safety applications by transmitting HART diagnostic data to FF safety instrumented functions (SIFs) in gas compression stations.

PROSOFT RLX2-IHNF-A

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