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OPC500 - Training Course

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OPC500: OPC Communications Theory and Practicals

Contact Us Today: info@PiControlSolutions.com, Tel: (832) 495 6436

Duration: 2 Days Classroom or 16 hours Online
Audience: Process Control Engineers, Application Engineers, Analyzer Technicians, Boiler Technicians, DCS technicians, Instrument Engineers and Supervisors.
Prerequisites: Some plant experience and/or a 2-year associates diploma in technical field.
Course Material: OPC training slides, OPC hands-on training slides, various OPC software products – OPC Servers, OPC Clients, OPC Explorers and OPC Browsers, real industrial OPC servers and client software for installation and configuration practice.

PiControl Software Tools for Training:

  • PiOPCServer – Simulation OPC server with PID controller
  • PiBridge – Dual OPC client capable of connecting to two OPC servers
  • PiLogger – Fast data monitoring, trending and logging OPC client
  • PiLims – Laboratory information management system with OPC client

 

Course Description:

OPC (OLE for Process Control) is now the latest, most modern and powerful communications protocol for the industry. Using OPC, many data transfers can be quickly and effectively facilitated. In addition, many powerful, custom applications can be developed and implemented on an OPC server-based computer connected to the DCS.

This course shows you how to use OPC for many important DCS connected applications, e.g.: bringing online data from gas chromatographs into the DCS, allowing operator entered data on an operator HMI screen to get downloaded into the DCS.

This course also shows you how to connect two independent OPC servers together easily with special software. The course covers how to pull/push data to and from DCS/PLC to host computers. It teaches how to use signal processing and validation for increasing safety and reliability in chemical processes.

The course teaches how to conceive, design and implement new process control, advanced control and communications-related applications using OPC, level-3 computers and DCS/PLC.

This course is very hands-on. You install various real OPC servers and real OPC clients. You run the OPC servers and OPC clients in full real-time mode. You will witness real-time data transfer and two-ways data communications.

You will get complete real industrial hands-on experience since you are installing and configuring real industrial grade software products.

You will not only see these products during the online session but you will install these products yourself on your own computer for training, learning and hands-on practice. The experience is full industrial grade and the same principles you learn will be applicable in a real industrial plant environment.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, attendees will clearly understand important concepts about OPC and its use in the industry. Attendees will be able to connect any OPC server together, transfer data two-way to DCS/PLC, perform custom calculations directly on an OPC server and then talk to the DCS, decipher, troubleshoot and solve OPC problems. Attendees will understand COM, DCOM, DA, HDA, UA, AE and all commonly used OPC concepts.

Attendees will have the skills and knowledge to develop new applications using OPC, save costs using modern OPC technology and implement new APC and primary control schemes faster and with lower costs.

At the end of this course, you will be able to install, configure and activate real industrial grade OPC servers and clients. You will be familiar with both COM and DCOM configuration. You will be configuring both COM and DCOM on your own computer(s).

You will understand how to connect two different devices or OPC clients together. You will install and activate both fast data logging and historizing OPC client. You could use the concepts for connecting online analyzers to any DCS/PLC using OPC. You could connect online vibration monitoring sensors to another device. The number of applications and opportunities are diverse and wide-spectrum.

With this knowledge, you will be able to select the right OPC tools (servers and clients) for any industrial application.

The following topics are covered in this course:

  • History and Vision behind OPC technology
  • Basic Concepts of OPC
  • OPC Specifications
  • Benefits of OPC Solutions
  • Connection Parameters in OPC Servers
  • Configuration of OPC Clients
  • OPC Redundancy OPC DA and HDA
  • OPC Client and Server Architecture
  • OPC Tunneling Technology
  • OPC Alarms and Events
  • Windows Security
  • OPC options and industry vendors
  • XML Overview
  • COM and DCOM Troubleshooting
  • DCOM Problems
  • Systematic Detailed Procedure for Correctly Setting DCOM Configuration
  • OPC Diagnostics
  • SCADA applications using OPC
  • Server-Client-Server (SCS) OPC Applications
  • OPC UA (Unified Architecture)
  • Overview of connecting OPC clients to OPC servers
  • PiBridge OPC Client Connector Connecting different OPC servers together
  • PiConect Human-to-Excel/DCS Interface
  • Building powerful custom process applications using OPC
  • Converting any Excel spreadsheet from office/control room and make it online using OPC
  • Online Analyzer Signals in Chemical Processes
  • Fast Data Monitoring for Debugging Process Problems and Equipment Shutdowns
  • OPC Product PiLogger for Fast Data Monitoring
  • Expert-System Rule-Based Advisory using OPC
  • Additional Industrial Applications using OPC
  • Online process optimization using OPC Fieldbus, Ethernet, OPC comparisons
  • Practical industrial communications case studies

OPC500 Question & Answers

OPC OLE for Process Control is a modern and powerful communication protocol used in industrial automation. It enables seamless data transfer between different control systems such as DCS/PLC and host computers, allowing for more efficient and reliable process control.

OPC technology simplifies data exchange between devices and control systems, improves communication reliability, and supports real-time data monitoring and advanced control schemes, thus optimizing operations and reducing costs.

OPC DA (Data Access) is used for real-time data monitoring, while OPC HDA (Historical Data Access) provides access to archived data. Both are vital for monitoring and analyzing data trends in industrial control systems.

OPC alarms and events enable real-time monitoring of critical process changes. This feature ensures that operators are notified of any irregularities, improving safety and responsiveness in industrial environments.

OPC tunneling technology enables the connection of OPC clients and servers across different networks, allowing data to flow securely between systems that may not be directly connected. This is essential for distributed systems in industrial applications.

OPC UA is an advanced version of OPC that offers enhanced security, flexibility, and scalability. Unlike traditional OPC, it allows for cross-platform communication and supports more sophisticated data models, making it ideal for modern industrial applications.

The course covers key topics such as OPC specifications, configuration of OPC clients, OPC DA and HDA, OPC tunneling technology, troubleshooting COM and DCOM, OPC diagnostics, SCADA applications, OPC alarms and events, and the use of OPC UA Unified Architecture.

Yes, OPC500 demonstrates how OPC can be integrated into SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, enhancing the ability to monitor and control industrial processes in real-time.

The OPC500 course covers systematic troubleshooting methods for OPC servers and clients, helping attendees diagnose and resolve issues related to COM/DCOM configuration, OPC diagnostics, and connection problems.

The course covers OPC client and server architecture, connection parameters, redundancy configurations, and OPC tunneling, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of how these components interact in an industrial system.

By teaching how to connect OPC clients and servers, configure alarms, perform custom calculations, and troubleshoot OPC systems, OPC500 prepares you to implement advanced control strategies and communication protocols in process automation and industrial control systems.

PiControl provides several training software tools: PiOPCServer (simulation OPC server with PID controller), PiBridge (dual OPC client capable of connecting to two OPC servers), PiLogger (fast data monitoring, trending and logging OPC client), and PiLims (laboratory information management system with OPC client).
The course will teach you both COM and DCOM configurations, which are essential for establishing OPC communication between devices and software in a networked environment.
PiBridge is an OPC client connector that connects two different OPC servers, enabling communication between devices from various manufacturers. It is used in OPC500 to demonstrate Server-Client-Server (SCS) OPC applications and how to connect different OPC clients to OPC servers together.
Yes, the OPC500 course includes training on PiLogger, an OPC client designed for fast data monitoring, trending, and logging in real-time.
Absolutely! You'll learn how to use PiConect to interface between OPC clients and MS Excel, allowing for real-time data collection and monitoring directly within Excel.
By using OPC tools like PiLogger, you'll be able to monitor fast data and identify issues in processes or equipment shutdowns, making it easier to troubleshoot and maintain smooth operations.
OPC can be used in diverse applications such as connecting vibration sensors to other devices, integrating online analyzers with DCS/PLC systems, and optimizing process operations using OPC-enabled tools.
OPC500 teaches platform-independent methods for system communication, helping reduce vendor lock-in and enabling more flexible architecture design.
By enabling proactive monitoring and troubleshooting of communications infrastructure, the course helps engineers avoid data bottlenecks, reduce manual errors, and improve real-time system reliability.

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