System Architecture

The RTP Critical Control and Safety Application architecture can extend to 32 intelligent I/O chassis, process in excess of 10,000 I/O channels per node, and incorporate multiple levels of redundancy. The unique RTP design is built upon a set of standard hardware and software components that support Triple Modular Redundant (T), Dual Redundant (D), and Single (S) configurations. As shown in the figure on this page possible configurations include-from left to right: (a) 2500-M single-chassis single-processor system; (b) 2500-S single chassis, single processor system; (c) 2500-D system with a single processor in two separtate chasis; (d) 2500-T system is a single-chassis, three processor system; and (e) 2500-T system with three processors distributed in three separate chassis.  All configurations, except the 2500-M, can extend to 32 intelligent I/O chassis.

Costs Less

• Single, Dual, or Triple Redundant
• Low Cost Hardware
• Software Site License – Unlimited Use
• No Maintenance or Upgrade Cossts

RTP entered the SIS market with a stated goal being to bring down the cost of Safety Systems.

SIS systems are a necessary part of many industrial processes, but they should be affordable.  RTP strives to make that happen.

All RTP hardware and software is produced by RTP at its corporate facility in Pompano Beach, FL.  By keeping this activity in house, implementing best in class manufacturing techniques and make low-cost manufacturing a corporate competency, RTP is able to provide an advanced product at a reduced price reducing the capital cost involved in the initial purchase of a system.

Our unique software licensing policy which sells each user an unlimited site license on our comprehensive NetSuite software package further reduces capital costs.  There are absolutely no limits on the use of the NetSuite package as long as it is used on the site to which it is licensed.

365 day a year, 24 hour a day phone support is included in the cost of the product.  There are no support contracts to purchase.  Software upgrades are included in the site license fee.  There is no software subscription service.  As new releases are completed, they are made available at no extra cost to all licensed users.

We believe our products are so good that you’ll want to buy more and we believe that you should only pay us money when you want to buy things.  There should be no ongoing ownership fees.

So, RTP saves you money on the initial purchase price of the hardware and software that you buy, and RTP saves you money on the ongoing cost of ownership.

Or, as we say, RTP products COST LESS.

Runs Faster

• Constant 10 Millisecond Scan
• 25-32 Millisecond Response Time
• Extensive Diagnostics
• Most Processing Power

Our 40 years of experience in the controls industry allows us to build a better product.  RTP applies technology to critical control and safety applications better than any other company in the world.

The process industry has been conditioned to believe that speed is not important, but that’s just not true.

In control applications, no one would argue that the closer the Process Variable is kept to the set point, the better.  That will mean higher quality or less waste or less off-spec product.  All of those things are good and all of those things are a function of speed.  All too often, we use expensive offline process optimization packages simply because the controls systems being used aren’t capable of controlling the process in real time.  This is not a problem with the RTP 2500.  Run your process under tighter control and increase profitability.

In safety applications, a fault should be cleared as quickly as possible.  With many so called state-of-the-art SIS systems, this can be 200 to 500 Milliseconds.  The RTP 2500 has a response time of 25-32 Milliseconds, about 90% faster.  A faster shutdown can mean less damage or no damage to equipment, personnel, and the environment.  If the process can really stand a longer response time, the 2500 can verify the fault condition over multiple scans preventing an unnecessary shutdown due to spurious information.  So speed in control applications means less damage or fewer spurious trips.  In other words, less cost for the end user.

How can the RTP 2500 be so much faster than other systems?  Simply put, RTP applies technology better.  First, the RTP 2500 has more processing power.  With the combination of powerful Intel microprocessors, independent communications channels, and RISC based processors, RTP brings more processing power to the task.  Then, as the application grows, additional processing power is added.  So the processing capability grows with the application enabling both higher performance and advanced diagnostics.

Speed does matter.  That’s why the RTP 2500 RUNS FASTER.

Never Stops

• Highest MTTFS – Fewer Nuisance Trips
• Extensive Diagnostics – No Need to Stop to Determine the Problem
• Every Component is Hot Swappable – No Need to Stop to Repair the System
• Unlimited Online Modifications – No Need to Stop to Implement Changes

A Safety Instrumented System (SIS) should always take the process it protects to a safe state when it is required to do so . . . and it should never interfere with the operation of the process at any other time.

When discussing uptime on processes with Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF’s) implemented, the discussion always turns to MTTFS or Mean Time to Fail Spurious or Safe.  This is a measure of how often your SIS will take your process to a safe state for no reason.  That’s another way of saying how often your SIS will shut your process down.  RTP’s MTTFS is over 10 times that of all other SIS systems.  That means 90% fewer nuisance trips.  So, we could drop this issue right here . . . except.

Most SIS systems are fault tolerant, but what does that mean.  In order for fault tolerance to save money, the SIS system must be able to diagnose a fault, continue to operate in the presence of the fault, and allow online repair of the fault within the designed repair time.

Through increased processing power that actually increases as the application grows, the RTP 2500 has extensive diagnostic capability allowing it to diagnose almost any fault.  When configured as a redundant or triplicated system, the 2500 will continue to operate in the presence of a fault and any fault can be corrected online in a matter of minutes, meaning no downtime is required.

With IEC61511’s requirement for continuous improvement, SIS systems routinely require changes.  Once the need for a change has been identified, the change cannot be delayed until the next turn around.  It must be implemented immediately.  The RTP 2500 allows for unlimited online changes.  Changes can include logic modifications, the addition or deletion of I/O and/or I/O chassis, or even the addition or deletion of redundant controllers.

Couple all the above with RTP’s industry-leading reputation for reliability and you have a system that . . . NEVER STOPS!