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DCS-Delta V, S series, controllers firmware upgrade

Dear All,

We have a delta V S-series with firmware 11.3.1 which is not supported by Emerson. So, we need to make the firmware upgrade  from 11.3.1 to the version 14.3.1.

During the upgrade, the controllers required a total download of programs. We need/ are obliged to shuttdown the plant to fullfill the firmware upgrade.

- We need to know why the controllers required a total download of the programs given that such upgrade don't require controllers download?

- Could you please advice about the steps or procedure to make this upgrade succefully ?

Thanks for your Support.

AJARI

• 9 Mar 2021 8:48 PM
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4 Replies

• Maarten van der Waal

  

  • 9 Mar 2021 9:00 PM

  During an upgrade indeed the controler looses its downloaded configuration. For this reason the process has to be brought to a safe, stable state. This might be a shutdown depending on your plant.
  In case you have redundant controllers, you have the possibility to upgrade one controller at a time. Then after a switch the second controller can be upgraded. Here, the plant can be operated during the upgrade process, however, it still would be wise to bring the proces to a stable status.

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• LaurentB

  

  • 9 Mar 2021 9:50 PM

  In reply to Maarten van der Waal:

  Plant requiring high availibilty should be in redundant controllers architecture...
  in case of simplex and mandatory firmware upgrade with running plant it could possible to add controller redundancy on line then flash. I think it was never done before, before most of the time upgrade is not so urgent and or very often already with red controllers.

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• Andre Dicaire

  

  • 10 Mar 2021 12:36 AM

  In reply to LaurentB:

  As LaurentB explained, Redundant controllers are required to allow firmware upgrade without taking a shutdown.
  
  A redundant controller does not lose its configuration during upgrade. The standby is first updated and once it has synchronized with the Active controller, a switchover is performed. Than the second processor firmware is updated and a final switchover is performed to confirm all is working.
  
  Emerson supports/tests online migrations on defined migration paths. v11.3.1 is supported to migrate to v13.3.1, not v14.LTS. You would be expected to migrate to v13.3.1 and then to v14.LTS. I suggest you discuss this migration with your local Service provider and consider engaging Emerson to assist with planning, testing and execution of the only migration. Your configuration will need to be evaluated to identify any potential issues that could affect Operations when the controllers switchover during the upgrade process. These issues are configuration dependent. There is a Controller Redundancy Analyzer that is use to analyze the FHX file. If you can confidently perform a switchover on your system, that is a good starting point. If you have concerns, then you need to understand them and be prepared because you will be switching over during the upgrade.
  
  An Offline upgrade is much less critical as you can perform total downloads to fully synch the upgraded database with the runtime controllers. An Online upgrade takes careful planning and preparation, and you should seek out the experts who have done many of these.

  Andre Dicaire

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• zazar

  

  • 10 Mar 2021 7:01 AM

  dear all .i think we do this job at the plan is working .u can switch the primary controller to seconder controller and upgreat the primary controller . and do the gain with seconder controller

  thanks 

  haroon dcs eng 

  call iraq 07701012121 

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