MODULE DETAILS

Best Practice Industrial Data Communications DIAIDC608

Nominal duration: 60 hours total time commitment

This time commitment includes the structured activities, preparation reading, and attendance at each webinar, completing exercises, practical assessments and proctored assessments.

It is also expected that students spend additional time on readings, personal study, independent research and learning, practicing on remote labs and required software and working on any projects and assignments.

This module covers the characteristics of modern cabling solutions including methods for dealing with industrial environments, serial communication issues, features of TCP/IP, MODBUS Serial, and DNP3 protocols, and a comparison of first, second and third generation industrial networks.

MODULE PURPOSE

The purpose of the module is for participants to be able to delineate best practice in the design, installation, commissioning and troubleshooting of industrial data communications systems.

MODIFICATION HISTORY

Original module approved in 2007 (51935); June 2011 (52403WA); 2014 (52708WA).  This version: V4.0

PREREQUISITE AND/OR CO‑REQUISITE MODULES

Modules that must be delivered and assessed before this module:

None

Modules that must be delivered concurrently with this module:

None

SUMMARY OF LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1.    Outline the characteristics of modern cabling solutions and methods for dealing with industrial environments

2.    Identify weaknesses in serial communications networks (RS-232/485) at the physical layer

3.    Evaluate TCP/IP, MODBUS Serial and DNP3 protocols

4.    Identify weaknesses in MODBUS Serial at packet level

5.    Evaluate first generation industrial networks

6.    Evaluate second generation industrial networks

7.    Evaluate third generation industrial networks

LEARNING OUTCOMES

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Learning outcomes specify what students will be able to do as a result of the learning.

Assessment criteria provide the criteria by which achievement of the learning outcomes will be judged.

1

Describe the characteristics of modern cabling solutions and methods for dealing with industrial environments

1.1

Outline basic characteristics of:

(a) Noise

(b) Grounding

(c) Shielding practices for industrial environments

1.2

Describe the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system

1.3

Outline basic characteristics of copper cabling for Industrial applications, with reference to:

(a) Cable standards

(b) Connectors

(c) Grounding

(d) Characteristic impedance

(e) Termination

(f) Transient protection

1.4

Outline basic characteristics of fibre cabling for Industrial applications:

(a) Modes (multi-mode and single mode)

(b) Graded Index (GI) fibre

(c) Splicing methods

2

Identify weaknesses in serial communications networks (RS-232/485) at the physical layer

2.1

Outline the concept of serial asynchronous (byte-oriented) data communication

2.2

Explain RS-232 operation with reference to:
(a) Pin allocations

(b) Static voltage levels

(c) Signal waveforms

2.3

Explain RS-485 operation with reference to:

(a) Static voltage levels

(b) Signal waveforms

(c) 2W/4W operation

2.4

Compare static voltages on RS-232 and RS-485

2.5

Compare data transmission signal characteristics on RS-232 and RS-485

3

Evaluate TCP/IP, MODBUS Serial and DNP3 protocols

3.1

Outline the basic purpose, structure and functionality of the TCP/IP protocol suite

3.2

Outline the basic purpose, structure and functionality of DNP3 serial

3.3

Outline the basic purpose, structure and functionality of MODBUS Serial (RTU and ASCII)

4

Identify weaknesses in MODBUS Serial at packet level

4.1

Identify outputs of MODBUS serial master/slave interaction

4.2

Analyse MODBUS Serial Application Data Units (ADUs)

5

Evaluate first generation industrial networks

5.1

Compare the following Industrial networks:

(a) MODBUS Plus

(b) Data Highway Plus

(c) HART

in terms of:

(i) Media

(ii) Physical and Data Link Layer implementation

(iii) Architecture (physical topology)

(iv) Frame (packet) size

(v) Medium Access Control method(s)

(vi) Speeds

6

Evaluate second generation industrial networks

6.1

Compare the following field buses:

(a) DeviceNet

(b) PROFIBUS

(c) FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1

in terms of:

(i) Media

(ii) OSI stack implementation

(iii) Architecture (physical topology)
(iv) Frame (packet) size

(v) Medium Access Control method(s)

(vi) Power supply to devices
(vii) Speeds

7

Evaluate third generation industrial networks

7.1

Compare the following field buses with their non-Ethernet predecessors:

(a) Ethernet/IP

(b) PROFINET

(c) FOUNDATION Fieldbus HSE

7.2

Compare the following Ethernet-based field buses used for real-time applications:

(a) EtherCAT

(b) EPL

(c) Sercos III

(d) CC-Link

DELIVERY MODE

Online and/or face-to-face

SPECIALISED RESOURCES

N/A

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, structured assessments, samples and questioning. This will include short answer questions on the knowledge content, the use of remote and virtual labs, and writing tasks to apply the learning to academic tasks.

CONDITIONS OF ASSESSMENT

Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this module. The candidate must have access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required.

The candidate must be permitted to refer to any relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.

Assessments may be open book assessment and may be completed off campus. Invigilation software will be used for some assessments to ensure authenticity of work completed.

Model answers must be provided for all knowledge-based assessments to ensure reliability of assessment judgements when marking is undertaken by different assessors.