What is the Tricon?

The Tricon is a state-of-the art controller that provides fault tolerance

by means of Triple-Modular Redundant (TMR) architecture. TMR integrates

three isolated, parallel control systems and extensive diagnostics in one control

system. The system uses two-out-of three voting to provide high-integrity,

error-free, uninterrupted process operation with no single point of failure.

The Tricon controller uses three identical channels. Each channel indepen

dently executes the control program inparallel with the other two channels.

Specialized hardware/software voting mechanisms qualify and verify all

digital inputs and outputs from the field, while analog inputs are subject to

a mid-value selection process.

Because each channel is isolated from the others, no single-point failure in any

channel can pass to another. If a hardware failure does occur on one channel,

the other channels override it. Mean while the faulting module can easily be

removed and replaced while the controller is online without interrupting 

the process.

Setting up control programs is simplified with the triplicated Tricon system,

because it operates as a single control system from the user’s point of view.

The user terminates sensors and actuators at a single wiring terminal and

programs the Tricon with one set of control program logic. The Tricon

controller manages the rest!

Extensive diagnostics on each channel,module, and functional circuit immedi

ately detect and report operational faults by means of indicators or alarms.

All diagnostic fault information is accessible by the control program and

the operator. The program or the operator can use diagnostic data to modify

control actions or direct maintenance procedures.