Description

The ABB INNIS21 is a highly advanced and versatile interface module that forms a critical communication bridge within ABB’s flagship IndustrialIT Extended Automation System 800xA. This module is specifically designed as a Network Interface Slave (NIS), enabling seamless and high-integrity integration of third-party or legacy devices into the comprehensive 800xA environment. The core function of the INNIS21 is to act as a protocol gateway, collecting data from subordinate field devices or subsystems using various fieldbus protocols and making this data uniformly available to the 800xA controllers and operators. It effectively translates between the specific language of the connected devices and the standardized information model of the 800xA system, ensuring data consistency and reliability across the entire automation architecture.

Positioned as a key component for system integration and migration projects, the INNIS21 provides immense value by protecting investments in existing equipment while unlocking the powerful engineering, operational, and maintenance features of the 800xA platform. It allows plants to incorporate PLCs, drives, weighing systems, or other intelligent devices from a wide range of manufacturers into a unified control and information system. The robust and reliable design of the ABB INNIS21 ensures continuous data flow, which is essential for maintaining process visibility and control. By leveraging the INNIS21, users can achieve a higher level of plant-wide integration, facilitating advanced functions like asset optimization and centralized diagnostics, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.

INNIS21 ABB

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

The ABB INNIS21 offers a powerful set of features centered on integration flexibility and data integrity. Its primary advantage is the ability to function as a Profibus DP-V1 slave to an external master (e.g., a third-party PLC) while simultaneously acting as a slave on the AF100 network to the 800xA controller. This dual-role capability allows the INNIS21 to seamlessly bridge two different fieldbus worlds, enabling bidirectional data exchange. The support for Profibus DP-V1 is particularly critical as it allows for advanced acyclic data communication, facilitating not just process data transfer but also parameter setting and diagnostic information retrieval from the connected devices, which is essential for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies.

The module is engineered for high reliability in industrial environments, featuring galvanic isolation between its communication ports to prevent ground loops and protect against electrical noise. The configuration of the INNIS21 is fully integrated into the 800xA engineering environment using Control Builder M Professional. This provides a significant advantage by allowing engineers to define the data mapping between the Profibus network and the 800xA system within a single, unified tool, streamlining the entire engineering process and reducing the risk of configuration errors. The extensive diagnostic capabilities, reflected through clear status LEDs and system alarms, enable rapid troubleshooting, minimizing downtime. The robust design and sophisticated functionality of the INNIS21 make it an indispensable tool for creating truly integrated and future-proof automation solutions.

Application Field

The ABB INNIS21 is primarily deployed in large-scale industrial automation projects within the process and hybrid industries where the integration of multi-vendor systems is a requirement. In industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, it is used to integrate specialized third-party packaged units—like compressor control systems, skid-mounted analyzers, or proprietary reactor controls—into the main 800xA Distributed Control System (DCS). This allows for centralized monitoring and control of the entire plant from a single operator station, rather than having isolated control panels for each package.

In metals, mining, and water treatment facilities, the INNIS21 is instrumental in connecting legacy PLC-based subsystems (e.g., for material handling, filtration, or pumping stations) to the overarching 800xA platform. This enables plant-wide data acquisition for historical logging, performance analysis, and higher-level optimization without the need for a complete and costly rip-and-replace of existing functional equipment. The module is also vital in modernization projects, acting as a migration tool that allows a phased transition from older control systems to the 800xA system. By using the INNIS21, plants can achieve a unified operational view, improve interoperability, and enhance overall system reliability and safety.

INNIS21 ABB

Related Products

INNIS22: An advanced version of the network interface slave module, potentially offering support for additional or different protocols.

CI854: A communication interface module for Profibus DP, which acts as a master, whereas the INNIS21 acts as a slave.

CI871: A communication interface module for Ethernet/IP, used for integrating Allen-Bradley and other Ethernet/IP compatible devices.

S800 I/O Baseplate: The physical mounting unit required to host the INNIS21 module within an S800 I/O station.

AC 800M: The high-performance controller family for the 800xA system that the INNIS21 ultimately communicates with.

Control Builder M Professional: The essential engineering software used to configure and commission the INNIS21.

SD821: A digital input module that would be a typical I/O module within the same S800 station as the INNIS21.