Product Guide

SCADAvantage Product Guide

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment
by ABB. ABB assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.

In no event shall ABB be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages of any nature or kind
arising from the use ot this document, nor shall ABB be liable for incidental or consequential damages arising from
the use of any software or hardware described in this document.

This document and parts thereof must not be reproduced of copied without written permission from ABB and the
contents thereof must not be imparted to a third party nor used for any unauthorized purpose.

The software or hardware described in this document is furnished under a license and may be used, copied or
disclosed only in accordance with the terms of such license.

Copyright 2009 ABB

All rights reserved.

is a registered trademark of ABB Inc.

Microsoft, Windows, Excel, and Visual Basic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other
brands and their products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and must be noted as
such.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 2 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO SCADAVANTAGE..................................................................................................... 5
OVERVIEW OF SCADAVANTAGE ....................................................................................................................................6
MICROSOFT WINDOWS PLATFORM SUPPORTED BY SCADAVANTAGE ................................................................................8
SOFTWARE LEVELS FOR INDUSTRIAL IT SCADAVANTAGE .............................................................................................9
SCADAVANTAGE HARDWARE RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................10
ORDERING INFORMATION.............................................................................................................................................12
SCADAVANTAGE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE ........................................................................................ 13
SCADAVANTAGE SERVER DATABASES ........................................................................................................................14
SCADAVANTAGE POLLING ENGINE (DVI).....................................................................................................................15
SCADAVANTAGE EXPLORER.......................................................................................................................................16
SCADAVANTAGE CLIENT (HMI) .................................................................................................................................17
FEATURES ,TOOLS, AND APPLICATIONS ............................................................................................ 27
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS .....................................................................................................................................28
CLIENT APPLICATION MANAGER(CAM).........................................................................................................................28
COMMUNICATION STATISTICS.......................................................................................................................................28
OBJECT FACTORY ......................................................................................................................................................31
GRAPHIC TEMPLATES .................................................................................................................................................32
REPORTS...................................................................................................................................................................32
SQL EDITOR ..............................................................................................................................................................33
CLASS IMPORT/EXPORT ..............................................................................................................................................33
VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVE CALCULATION .................................................................................................................34
INFERRED PRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................34
POINT CALCULATIONS .................................................................................................................................................34
TASK SCHEDULER ......................................................................................................................................................35
REPLICATION .............................................................................................................................................................35
SQL DATA REPLICATION .............................................................................................................................................36
TAG CALCULATION AND CONTROL SEQUENCES .............................................................................................................36
COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS APPLICATION .....................................................................................................................37
COMPRESSOR EFFICIENCY APPLICATION ......................................................................................................................38
ROD PUMP ANALYSIS & MONITORING APPLICATION - DYNOCARDS..................................................................................39
SOFTWARE POINT CALCULATION AND CONTROL ............................................................................................................41
SCADAVANTAGE ALARM CALL OUT.............................................................................................................................41
PRODUCTION DATA HISTORY (PDH) ............................................................................................................................42
PRODUCTION ALLOCATION ..........................................................................................................................................43
SCADAVANTAGE CONNECTIVITY.......................................................................................................... 44
OPEN DATABASE CONNECTIVITY / OLE DB ..................................................................................................................44
ACTIVE-X DATA OBJECTS ...........................................................................................................................................44
OPC.........................................................................................................................................................................44
.NET PROVIDERS .......................................................................................................................................................44
INTERFACES WITH OTHER PRODUCTS................................................................................................ 45
PRODUCTION VOLUME REPORTING (PVR) BY CGI ........................................................................................................45
FIELD DATA CAPTURE BY SLUMBERGER........................................................................................................................45
PI BY OSI..................................................................................................................................................................45
COMPUTERIZED MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BY DAVISON ................................................................................45
ASSET MASTER BY ABB..............................................................................................................................................45
ENTERPRISE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTION (ECS) BY ABB..................................................................................................45
GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................................ 46

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 3 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

APPENDIX A – SIZING CALCULATION ................................................................................................... 47

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 4 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

INTRODUCTION TO SCADAVANTAGE
SCADAvantage is a distributed, real-time, data acquisition and control system and
targets the Oil and Gas Industry. SCADAvantage delivers high performance, high
availability, and high extensibility in a cost effective package. SCADAvantage supports
day-to-day operations, while enabling high-level corporate functions through the
widespread distribution of real-time and historical information; refer to Figure 1
SCADAvantage Architecture.

Config Alarm
Display Display

Graphic Tabular Trend

Display Display Display

Optimization Network Web Data

and Business Client Access
applications

Industrial IT
SCADA Vantage

Other
Field
Automation
Devices
Systems

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 5 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 1 SCADAvantage Architecture

Overview of SCADAvantage
SCADAvantage is designed to meet the requirements of oil & gas upstream and
midstream industries including, gathering, transmission and distribution pipelines,
industries. SCADAvantage includes:
• High performance
• Ease of support and maintainance
• High availability
• Low total cost of ownership
• Use of industry standards (Microsoft, ODBC, SQL, .NET, OPC, etc.)
• Run on Windows compatible hardware
• Usable throughout a company as a Human Machine Interface(HMI) – from small
local displays to centralized control rooms and corporate desktops.

The SCADAvantage system is based on a mixture of Client-Server and Publishing-

Subscribing architecture. A single SCADAvantage server may be used in centralized
control operations, or several SCADAvantage servers may be used in distributed control
operations (refer to Figure 2). Server redundancy may be used when high availability is
required. SCADAvantage Client workstations can access multiple servers in a seamless
fashion over wired or wireless & dial-up networks. The HMI is compact and may be
integrated with common PC desktop applications to work within the corporate
environment. Based on Microsoft .NET, the HMI screens are highly flexible, allowing an
organization to create its own user interface that conforms to existing corporate
standards.
SCADAvantage may also serve data consolidation system between other automation
systems in an organization – allowing an organization to preserve its existing legacy
investments in while providing a modern, consistent, user interface. SCADAvantage data
is available to other automation systems, data mining applications, optimization tools,
business systems, reporting systems, accounting systems through Open Database
Connectivity (ODBC), Object Linking and Embedding–Database (OLEDB), and OLE for
Process Control (OPC) standards.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 6 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 2 SCADAvantage System Diagram

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 7 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Microsoft Windows Platform Supported by SCADAvantage

SCADAvantage server use standard PC and server class hardware depending on the
application. SCADAvantage Client HMI’s run on standard PC hardware from laptops to
high performance PC’s with multiple monitors.
Technology SCADAvantage 5.2.0
Microsoft Windows XP SP2 9

Microsoft Windows XP SP3 9

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 9

Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 9

Microsoft Office 2003 SP2 9

Microsoft Office 2007 9

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 9

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 9

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP2 9

Microsoft .NET 3.5 9

Microsoft Visual Basic 6 SP6 9

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 9

The communciations platform used by SCADAvantage is TCP/IP protocol over Ethernet.

Any LAN/WAN communication media supporting TCP/IP can be used.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 8 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Software Levels for INDUSTRIAL IT SCADAvantage

SCADAvantage software is available in two main server packages as well as data
collection and client software:
• SCADAvantage Field (server): SCADAvantage Field interfaces with common PLC’s
and RTUs and communicates with field devices via remote telemetry (e.g., radio,
microwave, satellite, CDPD, etc.) Provides full data collection and storage to serve
Client (HMI) needs including graphics , trends, alarm and event information. This
includes an integral data historian.
• SCADAvantage Centre (server): Enables a company to operate control centres and
corporate data centres by consolidating multiple SCADAvantage field servers and
third-party SCADA hosts via Replication.
• SCADAvantage Polling Engine (DVI): Provides remote data collection and
communication capabilities for a SCADAvantage field This option allows extra
polling nodes to be added for flexible communication architecture.
• SCADAvantage Client: Provides comprehensive view and control features (including
graphical displays, trend displays, reports, alarm displays and event displays) when
connected to SCADAvantage Field or SCADAvantage Centre.

SCADAvantage offers two kinds of redundancy for Field and Centre :

• Hot Standby Software Redundancy – SCADAvantage hot standby server

redundancy allows the system to run with an active/standby configuration. In the
event of a hardware or software failure on the active machine, the standby will
automatically take control of the system. Client applications will automatically
connect to the active server. Administrators may also perform demand fail-over of
the system.
• Warm Standby Redundancy – This feature allows the warm back-up server located
in a different control room (either in the same geographical location or a different
location) to take control in case of failure of the primary server. However the failover
operation is not automatic and manual intervention /initiaition is required.

SCADAvantage applications add specific functionality to SCADAvantage servers and

clients. For complete details on available applications, refer to ‘Other Features, Tools,
and Applications’.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 9 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage Hardware Recommendations

Minimum recommendations:
Server
Hardware Small System Medium System Large System
Less than 10000 Less than 60000 More than 60000
tags, no replication, tags, redundant, tags, redundant,
1 year of archive replication, 3 years replication, 5 or
data of archive data more years of
archive data
CPU Dual Core 2GHz or Quad Core 2GHz or Dual Quad Core
higher higher 2GHz or higher
Memory 2 GB RAM 3 GB RAM 4 GB RAM
Disk 100 GB 250 GB 500 GB
Standalone 1 Network Card 1 Network Card 1 Network Card
Redundant 2 or 3 Network Cards 2 or 3 Network Cards 2 or 3 Network Cards

Operator Workstation (Client HMI)

Hardware
Graphics 256 MB RAM or higher, DirectX 9 or higher*
CPU Dual Core 2GHz or higher
Memory 2 GB RAM
Disk 100 GB
Monitor(s) 1280x1024 Resolution or higher, 22 inch or higher*

Engineering Workstation (Graphics Building)

Hardware
Graphics 512 MB RAM or higher, DirectX 9 or higher*
CPU Dual Core 2GHz or higher
Memory 3 GB RAM
Disk 100 GB

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 10 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Monitor(s) 1280x1024 Resolution or higher, 22 inch or higher*

* Note: Graphic cards with multiple video outpus and multiple monitors are supported.
- DVD-ROM
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- 10/100 Network Card

Optional
- Modem
- Removable or remote data storage for archiving
- Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS)

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 11 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Ordering Information
For ordering information, please contact your local ABB representative and ask for
SCADAvantage.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 12 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAVANTAGE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

A SCADAvantage system may consist of multiple servers with multiple clients. Using
TCP/IP, SCADAvantage servers communicate with each other and with redundant
servers. SCADAvantage clients on the network are capable of connecting to multiple
servers at the same time; refer to Figure 3 SCADAvantage Software Architecture.

The following components make up a complete SCADAvantage system:

• SCADAvantage Server Databases (including Historian)
• SCADAvantage Polling Engine (DVI)
• SCADAvantage Explorer
• SCADAvantage Client (HMI)
• SCADAvantage Data Access Applications

SCADA Vantage User Interface

SCADA Vantage Server

Device

SCADA Vantage
Explorer

Realtime Relational
Polling Engine Database
(DVI) (RTRDB) & Historian SCADA Vantage
Client(HMI)
Users

Application Relational SCADA Vantage

Database Data Access Applications
(APPRDB)

Figure 3 SCADAvantage Software Architecture

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 13 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage Server Databases

Real-time Relational Database (RTRDB)

The Real-time Relational Database (RTRDB) is the core of SCADAvantage server and
exists in the computer’s memory for quick access and updates. This database is
relational, object-oriented and SQL-compliant; it stores all the realtime values and
system configurations.
A key feature of the RTRDB is the active query. The active query works in a report by
exception fashion. SCADAvantage Clients use active queries when they talk to the
server, and receive updates only when data values change. This results in much lower
network traffic and bandwidth utilization than with traditional polling methods, and much
faster dial-up access as data is transferred only when required.
All configuration changes are made online with SCADAvantage Explorer; there is no
need to stop and restart SCADAvantage when changes are made. SCADAvantage is
able to immediately process configuration changes that affect a point’s value or state
without waiting to poll the device.

Historian Database (integrated with RTRDB)

The Historian is closely integrated with the RTRDB. It functions as a high-speed data
logger for point value changes (such as analog values and digital states), alarms,
system events and communication statistics.
For point value changes, the Historian stores data values periodically, by exception, or a
combination of both then retrieves those values for trending or data analysis.
For system events, the Historian stores information such as configuration changes, user
actions, and alarm state changes. Events are available for viewing in a summary screen
that also provides filter capabilities.
All historian data is also available through direct queries to the RTRDB. All history data
can be optionally archived to multiple locations ( i.e writable CD/DVD, file servers) for
long term storage and retreival.

Application Relational Database (APPRDB) - (Optional)

The Application Relational Database (APPRDB) based on Microsoft SQL Server exists
to store large volumes of data that are, by nature, not real-time. The APPRDB is used
for SCADAvantage applications such as RTU based Trend Blocks, Dynocards,
Compressor Efficiency and Production Data History. The polling engine and RTRDB
communicate with the APPRDB to share information. SCADAvantage clients are able to
connect seamlessly to any number of APPRDBs. The APPRDB may coexist on the
same hardware as the RTRDB or may have separate hardware.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 14 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage Polling Engine (DVI)

The SCADAvantage Polling Engine also known as Device Interface (DVI),
communicates with field devices and sends data to the RTRDB. The polling engine also
accepts command requests from the RTRDB and, in turn, commands the field devices.
An RTRDB can communicate with many polling engines, and polling engines can run on
PCs separate from the RTRDB, thus enhancing the SCADAvantage server performance,
communciation flexibility and extending the distributed-system concept. The polling
engine is capable of connecting to devices using methods such as serial, direct radio
control (RTS/CTS), CDPD, dial-up modem, TCP/IP network connections, and protocol-
specific connections. In addition, by using the OPC client, SCADAvantage can
communicate with many ABB and third party OPC servers. SCADAvantage has an
extensive library of industry specific protocols. User specific protocols may be
developed on a custom basis.

The polling engine features redundant communication path capabilities. Multiple

communication paths may be defined for individual devices and device networks. These
physical communication paths are referred to as ‘Routes’ and each ‘Route’ has a
configurable ‘Cost’. This enables SCADAvantage to select a ‘Route’ to end-devices
either automatically or on demand and provides SCADAvantage with the ability to
support redundant communication networks.

The SCADA system has two Route selection methods: Automatic and Demand.

Automatic Route Selection is based on communication failures rate to the end-devices

on a network and the ‘Cost’ of the ‘Route’. The system automatically re-tests the failed
‘Route’ to a network, subject to configurable criteria, and switches back to the original
‘Route’ when the criteria is satisfied.

Demand Route Selection is based on a specific user request, via a network, to request
that the system handling a network a switch to an alternate ‘Route’. This effectively
enables the user to override the physical communication path being used to access a
particular network.
SCADAvantage polling engine “Listen Mode” simplifies swing over from legacy system.
In this scenerio, SCADAvantage is connected in parallel with an existing legacy system.
SCADAvantage listens passively to the communications of the other system and then
processes the data as if SCADAvantage was polling directly. In this way, a
SCADAvantage system can be completely tested and commissioned while the existing
legacy system continues to operate. Once SCADAvantage is ready to take over, a
single switchover is done and the SCADAvantage system is up and running, fully tested
and commissioned. Listen Mode is available for many protocols supported by
SCADAvantage.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 15 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage Explorer
SCADAvantage Explorer combines all server administrative and configuration functions
in a single, network-ready tool. It allows a user to view and configure data for any
SCADAvantage server on the network. SCADAvantage Explorer can connect to many
RTRDBs from a single location and provides access for point configuration, alarm and
event displays, trends, and system tools such as database import/export, bulk point
loaders, SQL Editor, communication analyzer, etc. SCADAvantage Explorer has an
intuitive Windows Explorer-style interface that Windows users easily understand. Figure
4 shows SCADAvantage Explorer with an analog summary.

Figure 4 SCADAvantage Explorer with an analog summary

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 16 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage Client (HMI)

The SCADAvantage Client (HMI) is built using Microsoft Visual Studio and includes a set
of tools that allow the user to create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for SCADAvantage.
The Client(HMI) supports single and multiple display PCs.
The graphic interfaces can be as simple as lists of device names and values or as
complicated as alarm displays combined with station graphics, realtime values and trend
elements on a single screen. Using SCADAvantage client, it is easy to define the look
and feel of SCADAvantage to match a company standard. Display builders use
Microsoft Visual Studio and the SCADAvantage data objects to build the client
environment. The objects are network-ready and are placed on forms by drag-and-drop
methods and property settings. Refer to Figure 5 (Sample SCADAvantage client
Screen).

Figure 5 Sample SCADAvantage Client Screen

Most objects provide advanced data access and control options when a user employs
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 17 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

the right-click and flyover functions (the flyover function displays the point name, value,
and other information such as failure reasons). The right-click function ability is
dependent on the point type and user access and is similar to the right-click features in
Windows Explorer. A client executable is capable of connecting to many
SCADAvantage servers at the same time; system security ensures appropriate access is
granted to each server.
The following objects are available in the SCADAvantage client enviromnent :
• Alarm Summary – allows access to SCADAvantage alarms. Users can view,
acknowledge, and clear alarms.
• Command Button – allows a number of functions such as screen navigation, device
commands, access to trend screens, access to reports, etc.
• Transparent Command Button- used to create”hot spots” on graphic displays.
• Event Summary – allows access to SCADAvantage events.
• Flood Bar – fills a rectangle based on an analog value. This often represents the
level in tanks or vessels.
• Gauge – represents an analog value in a gauge or speedometer format.
• Grid – displays the tabular results of an SQL query; the grid can use either static or
active queries.
• Infopad – provides an electronic notepad that is used by operators to make
operational notes.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 18 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 6 Infopad Screen

• Template Viewer – facilitates SCADAvantage’s powerful graphical templating

capabilities. This may be used to display templates for wells, compressor stations,
valve sites, or any other common display that is reused. Graphic templating saves
many hours of display building and testing.
• Smartmap – displays database objects on a map and provides a powerful graphical
navigation tool for operators.

Figure 7 Smart Map Screen

• Image – displays a bitmap with coloring based on the associated point’s state.
• Label – enables the display and input of text and numeric values from the database,
for example, a point’s units or value.
• Slider Bar – enables numeric data entry into the database. Users can enter a value
directly or use the slider to enter a value.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 19 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

• Status – displays a point’s current value and data quality.

• Time – displays the current time and date.
A calculation engine is available in the client environment and is used to manipulate
database values and create new values in the client executable. The engine is capable
of performing mathematic and logic sequences with numbers as well as manipulating
and displaying strings and boolean values.

Multi-language support is available in SCADAvantage for al the single and double byte
character sets with the exception of Arabic due to the right-to-left flow of characters.
Also display cycling is supported featuring a command list to control cycling between
HMI displays.
Reichard Symbol Factory can be used to have additional symbols added to the regular
SCADAvantage symbols.

In addition to the functionality outlined in the previous section, the standard features include:

Alarms and Events

Once SCADAvantage has determined a point’s value and state, it determines whether or
not a state change has occurred; if so, an alarm and event is generated. When a point
is in alarm, the point flashes in the client environment and an entry is placed in the alarm
summary. The corresponding event is a historical record of the alarm occurrence.
SCADAvantage makes the alarms audible (on a priority basis) with user defined sound
(WAV) files.
Nuisance alarms can be suppressed with inhibiting functions such as explicit inhibits (on
change to either normal or abnormal states), return to normal deadbands, and timer
delays on state changes.
SCADAvantage also supports alarm grouping to summarize the highest priority/severity
of them.
Alarm Processing now allows a return-to-normal (RTN) state change on a Point that
would otherwise generate an alarm to automatically be acknowledged (including the
acknowledgement of any previously generated Callout associated with the point).
Figure 8 is an example Alarm Summary screen which shows all the current alarms in a
user’s Area of Responsibility. By default, SCADAvantage sorts alarms first by priority
and then by time. The Alarm Summary screen is available in the Client Environment
and through SCADAvantage Explorer.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 20 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 8 Alarm Summary Screen

The SCADAvantage Event Summary screen shown in Figure 9 illustrates the historical
events within a user’s Area of Responsibility. By default, SCADAvantage sorts the
events by time. A user can switch to different views of the events as well as enable
filters to search for specific events. SCADAvantage stores state change events, control
events, system events, and maintenance events. The event summary screen is
available in the Client Environment and through SCADAvantage Explorer.

Figure 9 Event Summary Screen

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 21 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Security
SCADAvantage Security features are used to limit the data that users may view, and the
actions that they may perform on that data. To access data from a SCADAvantage
server, users must first log on to SCADAvantage with a unique name and password
combination. The SCADAvantage Area of Responsibility is used to limit the view and
modification of SCADAvantage data to given users. With these capabilities, the system
administrator can define users, user profiles, zones, and zone groups. Once these are
defined, the system administrator is able to determine exactly who can do what, and in
what area.
Once logged on to a server, the user may only view and control data that is within
assigned Areas of Responsibility. SCADAvantage Non-covered alarm detection feature
enables the system to detect alarms that belong in zones for which there is no user
currently monitoring. Non-covered alarms are automatically ‘re-routed’ to users who
have privilege to view and acknowledge non-covered alarms. All user control actions are
logged in the event summary.
Authentication against Microsoft Active Directory can also be mixed with the existing
SCADAvantage security. The current Windows Login account can be used by
SCADAvantage HMI and SCADAvantage Explorer clients for authentication. Using
Microsoft Active Directory security allows system administrators to centralize their
enterprise security and apply a consistent IT policy to SCADAvantage.

Control
SCADAvantage uses the Control component to allow users to send commands to field
devices. Users can issue commands only if they have been granted control privileges
for the device or point they wish to command.
It is possible to either fully inhibit commands for points or cause the display of a
command warning message. When a user attempts to command a point that has a
command warning, SCADAvantage displays the command warning message and the
user has the option of overriding the command warning. SCADAvantage has standard
commands for devices, analog points, and digital points.
The control component also supports Select-Check-Before-Operate (SCBO). SCBO
prevents duplicate and possibly conflicting control for the same Analog/Digital output
point from being issued by different opearators simulateouly. When enabled,
Analog/Digitial ouptut control points are ‘selected’ with an intervening period of time for
operator verification before activation. If the verification fails because the operator does
not execute the control the SCBO lock will be deselected (removed). If a user-defined
period of time elapses prior to the verification, the SCBO lock on the Analog/Digital
output point will automatically time-out and be deselected (removed).
Historical Trending
Trending in SCADAvantage is easy to use and flexible. The system stores data values
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 22 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

for points on a periodic exception or a combination of periodic and exception basis.

Once data is collected, the historical values are available for direct query (via ODBC and
OLEDB), or for analysis in reports and on trend displays.

Enhanced Historical Trend Data Feature

When enabled, this feature provides complete hourly or daily rollup traces by repeating
the last recorded value for a time period where an inconsistent number of trend data
rollups are present.
In addition to the raw collected values, rollups are available for each hour and day.
SCADAvantage calculates the minimum, maximum, and average values for the rollup
period. Standard deviation is also supported in all trends.
Operator Assignable Trend Groups allow ad-hoc creation of trend displays. Each user
may create their own trend displays combining values that are of interest at the time.
These displays may be kept either private to a specific user, or made public for all users.
Figure 10 is an example of a Trend Screen. The screen is available in the Client
Environment and through SCADAvantage Explorer. The trend screen can show the
real-time or historical trend for any point or group of points. Pan, zoom, dipstick and
many other features are also included.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 23 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 10 Trend Screen

Using Dipsticks
SCADAvantage’s trending facility provides for detailed analysis of graphical
representations of historical and/or realtime data. This analysis is possible via a
mechanism known as a dipstick, which is a vertical line created on the trend graphic
area at a date/time of interest. This vertical line is positioned via a single left-click on the
trend background and is accompanied by a popup window that contains the data
analysis values. The following image shows a simplified view of dipstick analysis:

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 24 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The trend also allow for calculations on values defined by the intervals created by
multiple dipsticks. The following image illustrates this:

In the image shown above, four dipsticks have been added to the trending display,
yielding three intervals of samples. The calculations pertaining to these intervals are
displayed as a column of data between each respective dipstick.

SCADAvantage Data Access Applications

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 25 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage supports standard interfaces such as ODBC, OLEDB, and ADO. Any
language or tool that supports these standard interfaces may be used to configure and
maintain the data access Applications. An example is the SCADAvantage Reporting
System, which uses Microsoft Excel to read and manipulate both real-time and historical
data from servers, and present the information in the form of a polished report. Other
applications which extract data and perform analysis and optimization may be easily
linked.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 26 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

FEATURES ,TOOLS, AND APPLICATIONS

SCADAvantage’s features, tools, and applications add functionality to the basic
SCADAvantage platform. Note that the Application Database (APPRDB) described
earlier in this document is required to run a number of the SCADAvantage applications.
Check with your ABB representative if there are any questions regarding a specific
application.
The following table outlines the features, tools, and applications available with
SCADAvantage. The features and tools which are included with SCADAvantage base
software and the applications which are optional are also shown in Table 1.

Features and Tools Applications

Name Included in Name Included in

Base Base
Client Application Manager Yes Communication Analysis Yes

Object Factory Yes Compressor Efficiency* No

Graphic Templates Yes Rod Pump Analysis and Monitoring No

(Dynocards)*

Reports Yes Software Point Calculation and No

Control

SQL Editor Yes Production Data History* No

Class Import/Export Yes Alarm Call out No

Variable Frequency Drive Yes Data and configuration replication No

Calculation

Inferred Production Yes Production Allocation* No

Point Calculations Yes

Task Scheduler Yes

Control sequences Yes

*Indicates requirement for APPRDB

Table 1 Features, Tools and Applications

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 27 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Communication Protocols
. The protocols listed below are available for addition to a SCADAvantage system:
• Modbus ASCII, RTU, Enron and TCP/IP
• Totalflow
• OPC Client and server (OPC interfaces with most available PLCs and some
devices)
• Allen-Bradley PLC5 DF1 (DH+)
• Adept (Barton)
• HP48000 (Hewlett Packard)
• Toshiba G2+
• Kimray
• Hex Repeater (Amocam)
• BSAP (Bristol)
• IEC 870-5 101 and 104
• ROCTalk and ROCTalk plus
• Mercury
Other protocols can be developed on a custom basis.

Client Application Manager(CAM)

The Client Application Manager (CAM) simplifies the process of installing
SCADAvantage software on client PCs and keeping it up to date. This is especially
useful as a SCADAvantage system grows to include multiple servers and multiple clients
or when clients are spread across a region or area.
The Client Application Manager ensures lower start-up and maintenance costs for users
of SCADAvantage by automatically distributing updated client Client Environment files
(typically executables and library files) to client PCs over the network.

Communication Statistics

The Communications Summary is a useful monitoring and diagnostics tool to help

analyze SCADAvantage communications.

The Communications Summary is available from a command button such as

or other object built into your companies SCADAvantage HMI. The Communication
Summary (three views) are shown below.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 28 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The Communication Summary Menu will pop-up with a right click while the mouse is on
any Communication Summary.

The Communications Summary has three different views that are selectable from the
Communications Summary Menu shown above:
• The REAL TIME VIEW shows the current communications status of each channel including time of Last Normal
and Last Abnormal communication.

• The CONFIGURATION VIEW shows the configuration details of each configured channel.

• The STATISTICS VIEW shows detailed statistics including percentage of communication during the current hour
and the previous hour for each channel. The three Communications Summary views are shown in the
illustration below.

When the Statistics View is selected, the STATISTICS GRANULARITY item in the
Communication Summary Menu becomes active. When the cursor is positioned over an
active STATISTICS GRANULARITY item, the menu shown here will appear and allow
selection of HOURLY, DAILY or MONTHLY.

The VIEW STATISTIC HISTORY item in the Communication Summary Menu will pop-up a
screen as illustrated below. This presents information similar to the Statistics View of
the Communication Summary but only for the selected communication level.

Once VIEW STATISTIC HISTORY has been selected, the TIME INTERVAL PROPERTIES and
VIEW STATISTICS TREND items become active. The Time Interval Properties are
illustrated below. This allows selection of the time period during which the statistic
history is shown.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 29 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The VIEW STATISTIC TREND item will produce a trend element as illustrated belwo. This is
a trend of the Communication Statistics for the Communication Level selected with the
View Statistic History. Normal Zoom functionality applies to the Statistic Trend. A right-
click within the Statistics Trend will pop up the menu shown at the right edge of the
illustration. The Statistic Trend Menu allows selection of UNDO ZOOM, REFRESH, PRINT
GRAPHIC, COPY and view of NORMAL STATISTICS or ABNORMAL STATISTICS for the
selected Communication Level.

Pre-configured filters may be applied to the Communication Summary using the SHOW
COMMUNICATION POINTS item in the Communication Summary Menu. Position the
cursor over the SHOW COMMUNICATION POINTS item and the menu shown below will
appear adjacent to the Communication Summary Menu. Select an individual

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 30 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Communication level (DEVICE, MODEM, etc) to narrow the view, or ALL to view all
Communication levels in the Summary.

Object Factory
The Object Factory enables SCADAvantage administrators and users to configure the
SCADAvantage database quickly, easily and accurately. With the Object Factory,
administrators are able to build templates (Business Object Template) of database
objects that are frequently used (Figure 11).
The template may correspond to something as simple as a typical user profile, or as
complicated as a device with hundreds of analog and digital points. Once the template
has been created, it is possible to create the new objects (either single or in bulk) at the
click of a button. For example:
A production field with 50 wells consists of several business-object templates
(variations in well configuration such as equipment, available input/output (I/O) and
control points, etc.). If users employ the provided business-object templates or
construct their own for each variation, they can load the configuration for the 50 wells
into SCADAvantage’s database in a matter of minutes.

With the SCADAvantage Object Factory, users save configuration time, commissioning
time, and troubleshooting effort.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 31 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 11 Business Object Template

Graphic Templates
Graphic Templates are closely related to the Object Factory. Users employ templates to
create the client environment graphics required to display objects. Graphic Templates
greatly simplify display development in that users only need draw the graphic template
once.
Graphic templates may be as complex or simple as standard screens. After a graphic
template has been incorporated into the client environment, it is accessed with an object
name. The template then displays all information that is applicable to that object.
In addition to saving time by not building similar screens many times, the Graphic
Templates save time in distributing screens. Once a client PC has a specific graphic
template, users can employ that template immediately for new database objects as soon
as the database points exist.

Reports
The Reporting Engine (RE) is a set of controls and services meant to allow the creation,
distribution, and execution of user defined reports in a quick and seamless manner.
Reports are first constructed in the SCADAvantage Explorer (configuration tool), then
destinations can be defined for any reports. Reports are then scheduled and routed to
selected destinations, with any given parameters for the report being designated at

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 32 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

configuration time, but provided at run time.

The Report Editor, displayed above, allows a user to edit/create a report. A visual query
designer is included with the Report Editor, and can be used to edit/create the SQL
statement used to designate the fields to be included in the report. Sub Reports can
also be linked from this screen.

SQL Editor
The SQL Editor is an enhanced interface for issuing SQL commands to SCADAvantage
servers. The editor is a tool within SCADAvantage Explorer. The SQL Editor features:
• Standard Windows features such as cut and paste, print, copy and export
• A recorded command history with the ability to repeat commands
• An active query update (with the active query, the result set continually updates, thus
ensuring that data is accurate. Users can modify the result set and save it to the
database making the SQL Editor an active tool for maintaining the database.)

Class Import/Export
The Class Import/Export tool is a means of exporting the SCADAvantage database to
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 33 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

text files for manipulation with a tool such as Microsoft Excel. These files can be
imported back into the SCADAvantage database resulting in a convenient method for
creating or modifying points in bulk.
Users can select the classes to import or export, and use an SQL query to specify the
data to export within SCADAvantage Explorer.

Variable Frequency Drive Calculation

The Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Calculation feature calculates the revolutions per
minute (rpm), current, and torque for VFDs that do not natively contain this information.
SCADAvantage stores the calculated values as analogs, which a user can view or
employ to draw graphs of trends, as with any other analog point in SCADAvantage. If
operators prefer to send speed setpoints in RPM (revolutions per minute) as opposed to
frequencies in Hz, the feature takes the setpoint in RPM, converts the value to Hz, and
sends that value to the VFD. Calculations are available for standard, rodless, and ESP
pumps. This feature may be used to assess the performance of a well with respect to
inflow and torque problems.

Inferred Production

The Inferred Production Application is a convenient and practicle application focused on

heavy oil production using Progressive Cavity (Screw) Pumps. The intent of the
application is to calculate the daily production rate for screw pumps.
Once configured, the Inferred Production calculation runs every time the associated
device is polled. The calculation result (which represents the flow rate per day based on
the most recent RPM reading) is stored in SCADAvantage and may be viewed by
system users. Setup of this application is through the SCADAvantage explorer.

Point Calculations

The SCADAvantage Point Calculations are intended to provide users with mechanisms
to have the SCADAvantage real-time database maintain and calculate a number of
frequently used values over various rolling time windows. Each calculation is performed
for each of the current/previous time periods: hour, day, month, year, and two user-
defined time periods. The calculations available include:
• Time Weighted Average – calculation of a point’s time weighted average.

• State Time – calculation of the amount of time a point has spent in each state.
• State Transition Count – calculation of the number to times a point has changed
into each state.

• Totalizers – calculation of the summation of positive deltas for a point.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 34 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

• Integrations - calculation and storage of the calculated accumulation (integration)

for a rate point.

• Software rate/accumulators – given a telemetered rate, the system is capable of

calculating a software accumulation; conversely, if given a telemetered
accumulation, the system is capable of calculating a software rate. The system
is also capable of detecting and handling accumulator resets and rollovers.

Task Scheduler

The SCADAvantage Task Scheduler controls the execution of system-defined and user-
defined tasks as well as operator alarms.

An example of a system-defined task is saving the database to disk on an hourly or daily

basis. An example of a user-defined task is synchronizing the time of all field devices on
a daily basis, or uploading meter readings on an hourly basis.

Operator alarms provide users with the ability to generate a configurable alarm message
at a specific time (often used as reminders especially during shift operations).

Replication

SCADAvantage replication enables separate SCADAvantage systems to share

configuration and real-time data. Analogs and digitals configured at one system may be
automatically replicated to another system. The polled values are also replicated from
one system to another. Setpoints and digital out commands may then be commanded at
either system and the commands are sent to the physical device via the system actively
polling the device.
Data consistency between systems is maintained via integrity updates on connect,
update by exception, and periodic integrity updates, or a subset of the three. The
number of realtime exception updates may be reduced by deadbanding or only sending
values periodically.
ScadaVantage replication supports a variety of topographies. Replicated systems may
be peers sharing some or all data, master/sub-master systems concentrating data to a
single point, or even backup offsite systems ready to take over control in the event of a
failure (on-site backup is usually performed via ScadaVantage redundancy which
provides more automatic failover). Replicated systems may form complete circles
without causing an endless chain of replicated updates. Also, replicated systems may
replicate data from a nearby system rather than the original source system in order to
reduce bandwidth requirements (data hopping).
Data may be selectively replicated to remote systems by either limiting which points (e.g.
analogs and digitals) are replicated to a remote system, or by limiting the type of data
replicated to a remote system (e.g. configuration, operator configuration, or real-time
data).

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 35 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The replication data stream may be compressed for additional efficiency in low
bandwidth environments.

SQL Data Replication

SCADAvantage SQL data replication enables SCADAvantage systems to replicate

configured portions of tables and/or views in SQL Server databases from one system to
another. Production Data History (PDH) databases are one example, after appropriate
Data Transformation by the AppRdbDataService / PDH Flattener.
SQL Replication embeds SQL replications messages in real-time replication messages.
This design enables all the supported topologies and many features of Real-time
Replication to be re-used including network monitoring and data compression.

Tag Calculation and Control Sequences

The Tag Calculation package of SCADAvantage is design to cover extensive calculation
and conversion of data. It consists in the following major components:

• Averages and digital runtimes

• Conversions extensions
• Calculated tags
• Control Sequences

The Analog Averages and the Digital runtimes are intended to provide users with a
mechanism to have the SCADAvantage real-time database maintain and calculate time-
weighted averages of real-time values over various rolling time windows.

A Conversion object contains the parameters and setting necessary to perform a

conversion of a raw data value into a process data value suitable for an application. By
default, conversion function is a simple linear equation: y = mx + b

The SCADAvantage Rate Calculations & Integrations Application is intended to provide

users with mechanisms to have the SCADAvantage real-time database maintain and
calculate rates and accumulators and their respective totalizers over various rolling time
windows.
The ‘Integrations’ and ‘Totalizers’ tables in the SCADAvantage real-time maintain
integrated and accumulated values for Analog Points with the ‘Integration’ and ‘Totalize’
calculation enabled. The current and previous period values are calculated and
maintained for the following Time Windows:

• Hour
• Day
• Month
• Year
• User 1

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 36 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

• User 2
• Unlimited
When designing a Control Sequence it is possible to implement either a process
oriented sequence or an event driven sequence. They allow the system to evaluate a
complex expression taking action under certain predicted results

Communication Analysis Application

The Communication Analysis Application (refer to Figure 12 ) is used to analyze and
troubleshoot communications between SCADAvantage and its configured devices. By
using this application through SCADAvantage Explorer, it is possible to view
communications data from any location on the network.
This application enables the analysis of the communications for one or more devices, or
an entire network, simultaneously. Many users can look at the same or different devices
at the same time.
Other features of this application include:
• a screen with the device name, time stamp, data bytes, and ASCII conversion
• clearly distinguishable messages with configurable color options
• a detail window that allows a user to select bytes and see the conversion to integer
and floating point values
• the ability to save selected messages to disk or the Windows clipboard
• the ability to record an entire session to disk
• the ability to print selected messages.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 37 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 12 Communication Analysis Screen

Compressor Efficiency Application

The Compressor Efficiency Application provides a real-time view of the operating

characteristics of compressors.
A Compressor Efficiency Diagram is used to view the efficiency at which a compressor,
or a number of parallel compressors, is operating. The Compressor Efficiency Diagram
shows various characteristic/flow capacity curves of the compressor(s) (based on
reference curves as supplied by the compressor manufacturer) adjusted to the current
operating condition of the compressor(s). The Compressor Diagram (Figure 13)
includes a plot of the current net flow produced by the compressor(s) as well as the
maximum capacity and ultimate maximum capacity curves for the compressor(s). This
illustrates not only the current capacity of the compressor(s), but also the potential
maximum capacity that could be expected from the compressor(s) under different
operating conditions.

The Compressor Diagram is very flexible in that the capacity /characteristic curves
shown on the diagram are adjusted on demand according to the real-time operating
parameters of the compressor(s). Thus, as the operating conditions such as speed,
discharge pressure and suction pressure change, the Compressor Diagram is able to

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 38 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

present
the revised

operating capacity of the compressor(s) in real-time. This is advantageous to

Engineering and Operations personnel as the Compressor Diagram enables them to
quickly assess the production capacity of the compressor(s) and determine what
changes (i.e. pocket settings, speed changes, etc.) could be used to maximize the
production. Furthermore, the Compressor Diagram is capable of showing numerous
capacity curves for an individual compressor, allowing the Engineer/Operator to easily
view “what-if” scenarios.

Rod Pump Analysis & Monitoring Application - DynoCards

The Rod Pump Analysis and Monitoring Application collects, analyzes, and reports
information generated by Rod Pump Controllers. SCADAvantage uploads and stores
rod pump controller data, such as load vs. position, and presents dynamometer plots
(DynoPlots) to operations and engineering personnel for analysis and diagnostics.
When incorporated with an operational philosophy of well visits by exception, this
software application is a key factor in reducing equipment failure, analyzing production
problems, and increasing production.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 39 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The DynoPlot Diagram (see Figure 14) is capable of presenting more than one
Dynocard (i.e. pump stroke) at a time and thus a Dynocard presented on a DynoPlot can
provide significant insight into the operation and behavior of the well for engineering and
operating personnel.

Figure 14 Dynoplot

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 40 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Software Point Calculation and Control

This tool enables a user to create analog and digital software points, and make those
points available within SCADAvantage. SCADAvantage recieves the point values from
calculations performed in Microsoft Excel or Visual Basic; users can base the
calculations on constants, real-time point values, or other software point values.
Because Microsoft Excel or Visual Basic is the calculation engine, the range of
supported calculation types is extensive. The calculations are triggered automatically as
underlying data values change.
The control component allows users to define control strategies based on point values.
For example, if an analog value goes to a high alarm, SCADAvantage may automatically
command a digital point to correct the situation.

SCADAvantage Alarm Call Out

SCADAvantage Alarm Call Out application is an integrated telephony and messaging

system within SCADAvantage and offers real time intelligent alarm notification. It allows
users remote access to critical specific alarms & events via telephone voice (PSTN or
cellular), radio, pager (numeric and alpha-numeric) and e-mail (Figure 15). The Alarm
call out application enables users to reduce their operational costs by allowing them to
remotely monitor critical alarms and dial in to acknowledge a call out. Users can listen to
and acknowledge alarms, hear exact value of variables via telephone from remote
locations saving valuable time and money.

Alarm call out can be configured to generate a call out based on a defined escalation list
that defines a number of SCADAvantage system users who are to be contacted by any
of the above call out methods(telephone, pager, e-mail etc) in case the call out is not
acknowledged within a configurable period of time.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 41 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Figure 15 Alarm Call Out

Production Data History (PDH)

SCADAvantage Production Data History based on Microsoft SQL Server is designed to

be the source of production data for oil and gas companies. PDH is tightly coupled with
the SCADAvantage real time database so that hourly and daily production data upload
from the RTU’s or flow computers is automated complying with API 21.1
recommendations.

Gas composition, and parameters such as orifice plate size can be uploaded and
downloaded directly from PDH. PDH supports trending for any entity that can be
numerically defined and tracked over time for e.g daily values, time on production, gas-
oil ratios etc. A reporting tool is built into PDH to display reports either in SCADAvantage
clients or the reports can be saved in HTML format. PDH supports redundancy at the
software level providing a hot–standby environment with automatic failover for systems
requiring high availability.

Figure 16 Production Data History

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 42 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Production Allocation

The production allocation application will govern the calculation and management of
production allocation on a well-by-well basis. In coarse terms, this is achieved by using the
product metered at the a group level (outlet of a testing faciliti group line or outlet of a cluster
or inlet of a plant) and allocating production back to source wells based upon well test
information and time on production
On a daily basis, well-specific allocated production is calculated using last accepted 1 well
test and combined product daily volume information. The Production Allocation application
consists of two main requirements areas – one to configure the logical objects representing
the real-world entities (such as wells, meters, etc.) and one to compute the allocated
production as necessary.

1
Accepted well test refers to a well test that in the operator’s opinion is accurate
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 43 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAVANTAGE CONNECTIVITY
SCADAvantage was built as an open system to interact with other systems. It can
interact with other applications or users can build applications that interact with it.
SCADAvantage uses the mechanisms in this section to interface (e.g., read, import,
export) with other systems.

Open Database Connectivity / OLE DB

Many commercially available relational databases use the ODBC interface. Designed by
Microsoft and other database vendors as a cross-platform, database-independent
method, ODBC uses API calls for universal data access.

Active-X Data Objects

ADO is a set of Active-X controls that provide programming access to Microsoft’s
underlying data access technologies. This can be accomplished through most
programming or scripting languages, as long as the languages can create and use
Active-X controls, which are effectively COM objects.

OPC
OPC is an open standard for sharing data from remote devices and other systems with
computer applications. It allows applications to read and write process values, and
enables a computer network to share data.
Currently SCADAvantage supports OPC DA V3.0, OPC AE V1.1 and OPC HDA V1.2 in
the server and client versions.

.NET Providers
A data provider in the .NET Framework enables you to connect to a data source in order
to retrieve and modify data from the data source. A .NET Framework data provider also
serves as a bridge between a data source and an ADO.NET DataSet.
Most database systems currently available are already accessible by ADO.NET through
an existing OLE DB provider and the .NET Framework Data Provider for OLE DB or the
.NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC. In addition, you can expose many data
sources directly using XML.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 44 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

INTERFACES WITH OTHER PRODUCTS

SCADAvantage is specifically adapted to interact with the products listed in this section.
ABB Inc. will be adding other interfaces in the future.

Production Volume Reporting (PVR) by CGI

Production Volume Reporting is a suite of software for managing historical (daily)
production information. By means of an API, SCADAvantage is able to transfer
information to PVR. However, since oil companies have different setup for this system
customization of this interface is likely required.

Field Data Capture by Slumberger

Field Data Capture is a software for managing historical (daily) production information.
By means of an API, SCADAvantage is able to transfer information to FDC. However,
since oil companies have different setup for this system, customization of this interface
is likely required.

PI by OSI

PI Historian fully automates the storage and presentation of data, allowing users to
perform in-depth data analysis, manipulation and aggregation. SCADAvantage can
interface with PI through OPC in real-time.

Computerized Maintenance Management System by Davison

This CMMS system keeps track of maintenance record per device plus is able to
generate work orders for maintenance. SCADAvantage can interface with the Davison
CMMS through an API which carries the runtimes for field equipment.

Asset Master by ABB

The Asset Master is an ABB product designed to interface with Foundation Fieldbus,
Hart and Profibus field instrumentation for remote diagnostics and configuration.
SCADAvantage can interface with Asset Master through OPC FF in real-time. Asset
Master can also interface with Maximo CMMS at the corporate level.

Enterprise Connectivity Solution (ECS) by ABB

Enterprise Connectivity Solutions is a suite of software capable to provide connectivity

and validation to any relational database and it is also a certified SAP connector for the
enterprise accounting. SCADAvantage can interface with ECS through OPC in real-time.
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 45 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

GLOSSARY
ADO Active-X Data Object
API Application Programming Interface
APPRDB Application Relational Database
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
CAM Client Application Manager
CDPD Dellular Digital Packet Data
client A PC running the software that a person uses to run the SCADAvantage
applications, Client and Explorer.
COM Component Object Model
CSV Comma-Separated Value (a file type commonly used by Microsoft Excel)
CTS Clear To Send
DCOM Cistributed Component Object Model
DVI Device Interface
ESP Electric Submersible Pump
flyover The text, with brief information about a tool bar icon, that appears when you hold
the cursor on the icon; also known as a tool tip.
GUI Graphical User Interface
Hz Herz (frequency unit)
I/O Input / Output
IP Internet Protocol
ODBC Open Database Connectivity
OLE Object Linking and Embedding
OLE-DB Object Linking and Embedding–Database
OPC OLE for Process Control
PC Personal Computer
PLC Programmable Logic Controller
RPM Revolutions Per Minute
RTRDB Real-time Relational Database
RTS Request To Send
server The PC that is running the SCADAvantage database.
SP Service Pack
TCP Transport Control Protocol
user The person who is running the SCADAvantage software.
VFD Variable Frequency Drive
WAV A format for a PC sound file.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 46 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

APPENDIX A – SIZING CALCULATION

ABB recommends hyper-threading be disabled on any CPU that

supports it.

It is important to mention that SCADAvantage real-time database

can be physically split, if performance requirements demand it, in
which case data from several databases running on different
physical servers can be combined in one screen display.

Currently there are 85,000-point systems in operation and

SCADAvantage has been tested in the lab with a simulated load
of 100,000 points. Also the number of simultaneous client
machines actively exchanging data with a server has been lab
tested at 300 workstations. For real conditions there is a company
running in excess to 100 workstations.

Finally SCADAvantage has been deployed as a simple HMI of 100

tags all the way to enterprise systems, the software licenses allow
increments of as little as 100 tags to 50,000 tags.

Data Flow and Link Bandwidth Requirements

The following describes the various data flows associated with

SCADAvantage.

Where data flows across WAN links, a calculation methodology for

that portion of the bandwidth is described. Some of these
bandwidth requirements are very minimal and/or infrequent so are
not detailed, but are allowed for in the spare bandwidth allowance
to be included with each link.

For data flow restricted to the local LAN at 10/100Mb no detailed

calculations are provided unless very large data transfers are
anticipated as the available bandwidth far exceeds the demands
of this SCADA system.

Since much of the data communications in this system are done

by exception, only changes in field IO values generate data traffic.
Bandwidth calculation parameters are based on experience with
similar systems, advice from developers regarding typical data
record sizes, and empirical testing of specific features. Note that
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 47 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

SCADAvantage uses variable length text fields so there is no fixed

size for data records but instead depends on the typical tag
names, descriptions, device names, comment etc text length so
need to be estimated.

Digital values are usually associated with status of such devices

as motors, valves and rarely change. Calculations based on each
point changing 1/hour are typically very conservative. Analog
points are more active but within a 0.5% deadband values could
be expected to be reported once every 1-15 minutes. (Note that
levels and temperatures are typically very steady at about 5
minutes per change. Flows tend to report frequently <1 minute
and pressures depend on the application but every 2 minutes is
reasonable). Estimates for loading will be based on the
RateofChange value being computed as follows.

RateofChange/sec = (% Digital)/3600sec + (% Analog)/60sec

Initial estimates are 60% Digital and 40% Analog points giving a
RateofChange of 0.00677

The calculations below also include a BurstFactor to de-rate the

normal communications loading (i.e. Burst Factor=1) to allow for
process upsets that may cause spikes in the normal exception
reported data flow. BurstFactors ranging from 1.5-3 would be
reasonable but given the types of measurements expected, large
bursts are not anticipated. A BurstFactor of 1.5 will be used for all
calculations to follow.

Finally, all calculations to follow include only the raw data transfer
requirements and do not include the TCP/IP overheads or any
“safety factors”. TCP/IP overheads of 5% should be applied (40
Bytes of TCP/IP protocol in 576-1504 Bytes total message) and a
25% safety factor to allow for communications delays and
additional data overheads.

These calculations will be used to compute communications

loading for each site as part of the Communications Bandwidth
Document typically to be completed in detailed engineering. Note
that bandwidth is usually expressed n-kilo Baud or kilo-bits-per
second (kbps) where as data quantities are expressed in Bytes.
We use an approximation of 10 bits/Byte (to account for normal
serial start/stop/parity bits) so the factor from Bytes per second to
kbps is 1000/10=100

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 48 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

RTU to SCADA server

Average RTUs

SCADAvantage will use the ABB AC800F controller as an RTU

and will communicate to the associated gas level 1 SCADA Host
via OPC DA protocol for data collection and command outputs.
However, since the OPC server will reside in the SCADA Server,
the external communications loading is related to the native
AC800F protocol over TCP/IP – not OPC. This communication
will be continuous and significant but is dependant on the rate
data is changing in the RTU, as data is exchanged by exception.
This includes average protocol overheads but does not include
TCP/IP protocol overheads..

Load (kbps)*100= (# of Points) * (10 Bytes/Point) *

(RateofChange/sec) * BurstFactor

Bristol RTUs

SCADAvantage will directly communicate with the Bristol RTU’s

via serial radio where low power RTU’s are requested. This data
communication is polled, however the available solar power
usually limits the polling rate. The following calculation assumes
all the required data is in two contiguous register ranges

Load (kbps)*100 = (2*15 Bytes data request + 2*15 Bytes data

reply + 4 Bytes /Point * (# of Points)

Including radio delays, a system will typically poll real-time data for
1 device every 2.5 seconds and transfers about 60 Bytes + 4
Bytes per point = approx 64 / 2.5 Bytes/sec = 256bps. As this
communications will be a dedicated 19.2 communications
channel, the communications channel usage is approximately
256/19200 = 1.3% loading at peak loading (RTUs on fast scan).
Note that the RTUs are sized for polling once per minute under
normal conditions.

OPC linked to other systems or external applications

Third-party OPC Server will communicate to the associated

SCADAvantage Host via OPC DA protocol to transfer all the real-
SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 49 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

time process control parameters from the third-party OPC server

to the SCADA Host and control commands from the SCADA Host
to the third-party OPC server. The third-party OPC Server is not
required to communicate across any of the Level-to-Level links.
In this case the OPC servers will exist on other computers distant
from the SCADA Viantage server. Hence the communications
loading is for the OPC DA protocol. This includes average
OPC/DCOM protocol overheads but does not include TCP/IP
protocol overheads.

Load (kbps)*100 = ( # of Points) * (15 Bytes/Point) *

(RateofChange/sec) * BurstFactor

Server Replication

The Level 1 SCADAvantage can communicate to the Level 2

SCADAvantage via ABB’s SCADAvantage replication protocol
over TCP/IP for the replication of the real-time and historical data,
and host configuration to the Level 2 SCADAvantage and control
commands from the Level 2 SCADAvantage. The Level-to-Level
data replication works in the following modes; normal data
synchronization, integrity updates and historical data
synchronization.

Normal Data Replication

The normal data synchronization process is continuously

transferring data from the Level 1 SCADAvantage server to its
associated Level 2 SCADAvantage server based on the rate of
change of the data from the RTU. The bandwidth requirement for
this mode of replication is calculated based on the number of
points and the rate at which the host is receiving the data from the
RTU or OPC Server. Also note that the replicated data can be
optionally compressed prior to transfer with the compression ratio
dependent on the quantity of update messages and content of tag
configurations. Compression ratios of 50%-15% are common for
real time data transfers.

The Level 1 to Level 2 Normal Data Synchronization

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 50 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Communication Link Loading calculations will be based on the

following formulas:

Load (kbps)*100 = ( # of Points)* (64 Bytes/Point) *

(RateofChange/sec) * BurstFactor * CompressionRatio

For example:

100 pressure transmitter values are changing more than 1% of its

current value at an average rate of once every 60 seconds and
the Burst Factor is 150%, assume compression is disabled due to
limited points and no data buffering, therefore the communication
link loading for this point would be:

((100)*(64 Bytes/Point) * (1/60 sec) * 150%*100%)/100 =1.6 kbps

For the overall SCADAvantage server normal data

synchronization replication communication link loading for 500
tags with RateofChange considering a mix of analogs/digitals and
normal 20% compression

((500)*(64 Bytes/Point) * (.00677/sec) * 150%*20% )/100 =.65

kbps

Integrity Updates

When the Level 1 and Level 2 servers initially connect (or

reconnect after a communications failure) an integrity updates
process ensures that the two servers are initially synchronized
prior to exchanging data by exception as described above.

This Integrity Update function is also typically scheduled to occur

once a day or on demand. The feature has built-in settings to
manage bandwidth by restricting the number of integrity update
messages per second for various update reasons. It also can do
an incremental update for short communications outages where
only the changes occurring during the outage are transferred.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 51 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

Finally, replication includes a data compression features which

can be very effective for integrity updates since much of the tag
data is repetitive and transferred in groups of multiple tags –
hence compression ratios of 20-15% are achievable. Hence the
following is based on normal WAN link settings for scheduled
updates of 1 update per second. The integrity update exchanges
check-sum type data for each data record and only synchronizes
data records, which are not synchronized.

The integrity update message sizes associated with any object are
very dependent upon the configuration. For instance, an empty
Analog object without a description can be transferred in
approximately 220 bytes (about 160 for configuration and 60 for
operator configuration). For the test typical tag description is 100
characters, tag comment of 50 characters, tag name of 23
characters, device name of 15 characters and allowing for normal
configurations options and a fully configured analog is 300 to
500 bytes. The actual size of the original message should not be
overly important since compression will remove redundancy and
reduce the messages to compact sizes.

The Level 1 to Level 2 Integrity Update Communication Link

Loading calculation will be based on the following formula:

Load (kbps)*100 = (500 Bytes/Point)* (IntegrityUpdate/second) *

CompressionRatio

Duration of Load = (# Points) / (IntegrityUpdate/second)*150%

Note that the duration of the integrity update is scaled by 150% to

allow for transfer other SCADA configuration, which is related to
the total point count but not strictly associated with the tag count.

For example:

A Level 1 Server with 500 replicated tags, with a complete

integrity update scheduled to occurring once every day and set to
update 10 values every 10 seconds, the total loading would be:

(500 Bytes/Point)* (1 Update/second) *20% = 1 kbps/Update

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 52 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

(500 Points) / 1(Update/second) *1.5 = 750

seconds = 12.5 minutes

Note that the integrity update process can occur more quickly
simply by increasing the update rate and increasing the bandwidth
required. However the Integrity Update process occurs in the
background and is normally just a validation of the system
configuration so there is no urgency to complete it. The update
that occurs upon initial connection typically is set to almost 10x
this update rate and is done incrementally, so it would consume
10x the bandwidth but last less than a minute.

Historical Data Synchronization

Each SCADAvantage server replicating data is responsible to

historize the real time data locally – hence under normal
circumstances, there is no need to transfer history data to Level 2.
However in the case of a communications failure between Level 1
and Level 2, the Level 2 server is no longer receiving real time
data so local historization cannot occur. In this case, once
communications are restored, the Level 1 server must send the
history data it collected up to Level 2. Transferring a file
containing the missing data between servers does this.

The Level 1 to Level 2 Historical Data Synchronization

Communication Link Loading calculation will be based on the
following formula:

Load (kbps)*100 = (# Points) *

(HoursofMissingData)*(2610Bytes/Point/Hour) /
(RequiredUpdateTime sec)

The Bytes/Point/Hour is based on the Historical Data Log

containing 64 Bytes per entry and the Historical Event Log
containing 256 Bytes per entry and the assumption that on
average a Level 1 SCADA Host database is comprised of 60%
Analog points and 40% Digital points and that Analog points are
historized at an average rate of 6 entries per hour and Digital
points are historized at a rate of 1 entry per hour. Also, one event
per every 50 points is historized per hour.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 53 of 54

3
 SCADAvantage Product Guide

The average Bytes/Point/Hour is calculated as follows:

60% * (6 Entries/hour) * (64 Bytes/Entry/Point) + 40% * (1

Entries/hour) * (64 Bytes/Entry/Point) + (1 Entry/hour/Every 50
Points) * (256 Bytes/Entry/Point) = 261 Bytes/Point/hour

For example:

A Level 2 Server with 24 hours of missing historical data for 500

replicated tags and requires 600 seconds (10 min) to complete the
update, the total loading would be:

((500 Points) * (24 hours) * (261 Bytes/Point/Hour) / (600 sec))

/100 = 52 kbps

The total maximum bandwidth requirement for Level 1 to Level 2

replication based on 500 points is:

Total Maximum Loading = Normal Data Synchronization + Data

Integrity + Historical Data Synchronization

2.64 kbps + 1.0kbps + 52 kbps = 56 kbps

Note that where 52kbps is only necessary for Historical Data

Catch-up which would be an infrequent requirement and which
could be set to update more slowly to conserve bandwidth.
Normal bandwidth would be 4kbps.

SCADAvantage Product Guide Page 54 of 54