Application Scenarios:In a 300 MW coal‑fired power plant, the boiler control system’s left‑side and right‑side INFI‑NET networks experience intermittent data loss due to a faulty communication link, causing the DCS to intermittently lose view of critical burner management signals. This unreliability risks forced outages and limits the plant’s ability to respond to grid frequency changes. Replacing the failed link with the ABB SPIIT13​ Local Transfer Module restores a robust, deterministic data pathway. The module seamlessly routes real‑time process data (e.g., drum level, fuel valve positions) between network segments, eliminating packet loss and ensuring the control room has a unified, real‑time view of the entire boiler island. This resolves the critical pain point of network segmentation, enhancing system‑wide data integrity and operational availability.

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Technical Principles and Innovative Values:The ABB SPIIT13​ operates at the data link layer of the proprietary INFI‑NET control network, which forms the backbone of ABB’s distributed control systems.

• Innovation Point 1: Deterministic Local Data Routing:​ Unlike generic Ethernet switches, the SPIIT13​ is optimized for the real‑time requirements of process control. It provides predictable, low‑latency transfer of time‑critical I/O scans and controller‐to‐controller messages between physically separate INFI‑NET loops. This prevents network congestion from affecting control loop execution times.
• Innovation Point 2: Enhanced Network Segmentation and Fault Containment:​ The module allows engineers to segment a large INFI‑NET ring into logical subsections (e.g., by plant area: boiler, turbine, BOP). If a fault occurs in one segment, the SPIIT13​ helps contain the issue, preventing a single point of failure from cascading across the entire DCS network. This design significantly improves overall system availability.
• Innovation Point 3: Backward Compatibility and Long‑Term Stability:​ Designed for longevity, the SPIIT13​ maintains full electrical and protocol compatibility with decades‑old INFI 90 systems while also supporting newer Symphony Plus environments. This allows power plants and refineries to extend the life of their existing control assets without costly network infrastructure overhauls.

Application Cases and Industry Value:

• Case 1: Refinery Desalter Control Upgrade:​ A major Gulf Coast refinery needed to integrate a new desalter unit into its existing Symphony DCS. The existing INFI‑NET ring was at its node limit. Engineers used the ABB SPIIT13​ to create a new local network spur dedicated to the desalter. The module handled the high‑volume analog I/O data from conductivity analyzers and interface level transmitters without adding latency to the main control network. This avoided a costly full‑network upgrade and enabled a phased expansion, keeping the project on schedule and under budget.
• Case 2: Pulp & Paper Mill Network Redundancy:​ A pulp mill experienced production losses due to communication breaks in its single‑loop INFI‑NET. They redesigned the network into a dual‐redundant ring architecture using multiple SPIIT13​ modules as interconnection points. This provided alternate data paths. During a subsequent fiber optic cable cut in the woodyard area, the network automatically reconfigured via the SPIIT13​ links, and control was maintained with zero interruption to the digesters, saving an estimated 8 hours of downtime.