RAJEEV GANDHI MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Autonomous
Affiliated to JNTUA Anantapur, Approved by AICTE New Delhi,
Accredited by NBA and NAAC with A Grade New Delhi
Nandyal 518501, Kurnool (Dt), A.P

DEPARTMENT OF
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

A Technical Report on

HART COMMUNICATION

ESTD: 1995

Submitted by
C.VENKATA SAI PRAVEEN (12091A04G4)

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that

C.VENKATA SAI PRAVEEN (12091A04G4), of

B.TECH, E.C.E have carried out the Technical seminar report on

HART

COMMUNICATON

under

the

esteemed

guidance

of

Department for the fulfillment of the award of the BACHELOR OF

TECHNOLOGY in Electronics and Communication Engineering in
R.G.M.C.E.T, Nandyal (Affiliated to J.N.T.University, Anantapur) is a
bonafied record of work done by me during the year 2012-2016.

Dr. M.RAMANA
REDDY
HOD of E.C.E

CANDIDATES DECLARATION
I

hereby

declare

that

the

report

titled

HART

COMMUNICATION submitted towards completion of Technical

Report in IV Year 2nd Semester of B.Tech (ECE) at the Rajeev
Gandhi Memorial College of Engineering & Technology, Nandyal. Is
an authentic record of my original report and is prepared by me.
I have not submitted the matter embodied in this report for
the award of any other degree in any other institutions.
By
C.VENKATA SAI
PRAVEEN
No. 12091A04G4
Place: Nandyal
DATE :

Regd

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At the outset, we would like to express our sincere and
grateful thanks to the management of Rajeev Gandhi Memorial
College of Engineering & Technology, under the leadership of
Dr.M. SANTHIRAMUDU, Chairman for providing us an
opportunity to fulfill our aspirations.
Our special thanks to Dr. T. JAYACHANDRA PRASAD,
Principal, Rajeev Gandhi Memorial College of Engineering &
Technology, for providing all the facilities and guidelines, required
for our academic pursuit.
Our special thanks to Dr. M.RAMANA REDDY, Head of the
Department (ECE), Rajeev Gandhi Memorial College of
Engineering & Technology, for providing all the facilities and
guidelines, required for our academic pursuit.

By
C.VENKATA SAI
PRAVEEN
12091A04G4

ABSTRACT
HART Field Communications Protocol is widely recognized as the
industry standard for digitally enhanced 4-20 mA smart instrument
communication. Use of the technology is growing rapidly, and today virtually
all major global instrumentation suppliers offer products with HART
communication.
The HART protocol provides a uniquely backward compatible solution
for smart instrument communication as both 4- 20 mA analog and digital
communication signals are transmitted simultaneously on the same wiring.
HART provides many benefits promised by fieldbus, while retaining the
compatibility and familiarity of existing 4-20 mA systems.
HART protocol provides a unique communication solution that is
backward compatible with the installed base of instrumentation in use
today.This backward compatibility ensures that investments in existing
cabling and current control strategies will remain secure well into the
future.The HART Communication protocol is based on the BELL 202
telephone communication standard and operates using the Frequency Shift
Keying principle.The digital signal is made up of two frequencies-1200 Hz
and 2200 Hz representing bits 1 and 0,respectively.

HART COMMUNICATION

INDEX
TOPICS
PAGE NO

INTRODUCTION

HART OVERVIEW

2-5

BENEFITS OF USING HART

6-7

HART PROTOCOL SPECIFICATIONS

7-8
HART COMMANDS

8-9

WIRELESS HART

9-12

WIRELESSHART - HOW IT WORKS

12-15
CONCLUSION

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INTRODUCTION:

The HART Communications Protocol (Highway Addressable Remote

Transducer) is an early implementation of Fieldbus, a digital industrial
automation protocol. Its most notable advantage is that it can communicate
over legacy 4-20mA analog instrumentation wiring, sharing the pair of wires
used by the older system. According to Emerson, due to the huge installed
base of 420 mA systems throughout the world, the HART Protocol is one of
the most popular industrial protocols today. HART protocol has made a good
transition protocol for users who were comfortable using the legacy 420 mA
signals, but wanted to implement a "smart" protocol. Industries seem to be
using Profibus DP/PA and Foundation fieldbus (also by Rosemount) more as
users become familiar with later technology and look to take advantage of
the enhanced diagnostics they can provide.

The protocol was developed by Rosemount Inc., built off the Bell 202
early communications standard, in the mid-1980s as proprietary digital
communication protocol for their smart field instruments. Soon it evolved
into HART. In 1986, it was made an open protocol. Since then, the capabilities
of the protocol have been enhanced by successive revisions to the
specification.

Field networks are not the only solution when plant operators want to
use the advantages of smart field devices. The HART protocol provides many
possibilities even for installations that are equipped with the conventional 4
to 20 mA technique.HART devices communicate their data over the
transmission lines of the 4 to 20 mA system. This enables the field devices to
be parameterized and started up in a flexible manner or to read measured
and stored data (re-cords). All these tasks require field devices based on
microprocessor technology. These devices are frequently called smart
devices.

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Introduced in 1989, this protocol has proven successful in many
industrial applications and enables bidirectional communication even in
hazardous environments. HART allows the use of up to two masters: the
engineering console in the control room and a second device for operation on
site, e.g. a PC laptop or a handheld terminal.

HART Overview
HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol is the global
standard for sending and receiving digital information across analog wires
between smart devices and control or monitoring system. The majority of
smart field devices installed worldwide today are HART-enabled.
More specifically, HART is a bi-directional communication protocol that
provides data access between intelligent field instruments and host systems.
A host can be any software application from technician's hand-held device or
laptop to a plant's process control, asset management, safety or other
system using any control platform.
HART technology offers a reliable, long-term solution for plant
operators who seek the benefits of intelligent devices with digital
communication that is included in the majority of the devices being
installed. Because most automation networks in operation today are based
on traditional 4-20mA analog wiring, HART technology serves a critical role
because the digital information is simultaneously communicated with the 420mA signal. Without it, there would be no digital communication.

A CRITICAL, DIGITAL ROLE

HART technology is easy to use and very reliable when used for
commissioning and calibration of smart devices as well as for continuous
online diagnostics.
There are several reasons to have a host communicate with smart devices.
These include:

Device Configuration or re-configuration

Device DiagnosticS

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Device Troubleshooting
Reading the additional measurement values provided by the device
Device Health and Status

If you have ever used a land-line telephone and noticed the Caller ID
display to take note of who is calling, you already know half of what the HART
Protocol doesit tells "who" is calling. In an industrial automation network
"who" is a microprocessor-based smart field device. HART emerged in the
late1980s based on the same technology that brought Caller ID to analog
telephony. It has undergone continued development, up to and including
automation products now shipping with built-in Wireless HART
Communication.

How HART Works

HART is an acronym for Highway Addressable Remote Transducer.
The HART Protocol makes use of the Bell 202 Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)
standard to superimpose digital communication signals at a low level on top
of the 4-20mA.

Figure 1. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)

This enables two-way field communication to take place and makes it
possible for additional information beyond just the normal process variable to
be communicated to/from a smart field instrument. The HART Protocol
communicates at 1200 bps without interrupting the 4-20mA signal and
allows a host application (master) to get two or more digital updates per

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HART COMMUNICATION
second from a smart field device. As the digital FSK signal is phase
continuous, there is no interference with the 4-20mA signal.
HART technology is a master/slave protocol, which means that a smart
field (slave) device only speaks when spoken to by a master. The HART
Protocol can be used in various modes such as point-to-point or multidrop for
communicating information to/from smart field instruments and central
control or monitoring systems.
HART Communication occurs between two HART-enabled devices,
typically a smart field device and a control or monitoring system.
Communication occurs using standard instrumentation grade wire and using
standard wiring and termination practices. The HART Protocol provides two
simultaneous communication channels: the 4-20mA analog signal and a
digital signal. The 4-20mA signal communicates the primary measured value
using the 4-20mA current loop - the fastest and most reliable industry
standard. Additional device information is communicated using a digital
signal that is superimposed on the analog signal. The digital signal contains
information from the device including device status, diagnostics, additional
measured or calculated values, etc. Together, the two communication
channels provide a lowcost and very robust complete field communication
solution that is easy to use and configure.

Figure 2. Two Communication Channels

The HART Protocol provides for up to two masters (primary and secondary).
This allows secondary masters such as handheld communicators to be used
without interfering with communications to/from the primary master, i.e.
control/monitoring system.

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Figure 3. Primary and Secondary Masters

The HART Protocol permits all digital communication with field devices in
either pointto-point or multidrop network configurations:

Figure 4. Point-Point Configuration

Multidrop Configuration
There is also an optional "burst" communication mode where a single slave
device can continuously broadcast a standard HART reply message. Higher
update rates are possible with this optional burst communication mode and
use is normally restricted to point-to-point configuration.

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Benefits of Using HART

Users worldwide who have realized the benefits of HART
Communication know that they can gain quick, easy visibility to devices in
the field when using HART-enabled handheld test, calibration devices and
portable computers. In fact, device testing, diagnostics and configuration has
never been easier!
However, many have yet to realize HART technologys greatest benefits
which come from full-time connections with real-time asset management
and/or control systems.
HART technology can help you:

Leverage the capabilities of a full set of intelligent device data for

operational improvements.

Gain early warnings to variances in device, product or process

performance.

Speed the troubleshooting time between the identification and

resolution of problems.

Continuously validate the integrity of loops and control/automation

system strategies.

Increase asset productivity and system availability.

Increase Plant Availability

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HART COMMUNICATION

Integrate devices and systems for detection of previously undetectable

problems.

Detect device and/or process connection problems real time.

Minimize the impact of deviations by gaining new, early warnings.

Avoid the high cost of unscheduled shutdowns or process disruptions.

Reduce Maintenance Costs

Quickly verify and validate control loop and device configuration.

Use remote diagnostics to reduce unnecessary field checks.

Capture performance trend data for predictive maintenance

diagnostics.

Reduce spares inventory and device management costs.

Improve regulatory compliance

Enable automated record keeping of compliance data.

Facilitates automated safety shutdown testing.

Raise SIL/safety integrity level with advanced diagnostics.

Take advantage of intelligent multivariable devices for more thorough,

accurate reporting.

The standard features of HART technology range from simple compatibility

with existing
4-20mA analog networks to a broad product selection:

Compatibility with standard 4-20mA wiring

Simultaneous transmission of digital data

Simplicity through intuitive menu-driven interfaces

Risk reduction through a highly accurate and robust protocol

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Ease of implementation for maximum up-front cost effectiveness

Broad product selection, with compatible devices and software

applications from most process automation providers

Platform independence for full interoperability in multi-vendor

environments

HART Protocol Specifications

The HART Protocol was developed in the late 1980's and transferred to
the HART Foundation in the early 1990's. Since then it has been updated
several times. When the protocol is updated, it is updated in a way that
ensures backward compatibility with previous versions. The current version
of the HART Protocol is revision 7.3. The "7" denotes the major revision level
and the "3" denotes the minor revision level.
The HART Protocol implements layers 1,2, 3, 4 and 7 of the Open System
Interconnection (OSI) 7-layer protocol model:
The HART Physical Layer is based on the Bell 202 standard, using
frequency shift keying (FSK) to communicate at 1200 bps. The signal
frequencies representing bit values of 0 and 1 are 2200 and 1200Hz
respectively. This signal is superimposed at a low level on the 4-to-20mA
analog measurement signal without causing any interference with the analog
signal.
The HART Data Link Layer defines a master-slave protocol - in normal use,
a field device only replies when it is spoken to. There can be two masters, for
example, a control system as a primary master and a handheld HART
communicator as a secodary master. Timing rules define when each master
may initiate a communication transaction. Up to 15 or more slave devices
can be connected to a single multidrop cable pair.
The Network Layer provides routing, end-to-end security, and transport
services. It manages "sessions" for end-to-end communication with
correspondent devices.
The Transport Layer: The Data-Link Layer ensures communications are
successfully propagated from one device to another. The Transport Layer can
be used to ensure end-end communication is successful.

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The Application Layer defines the commands, responses, data types and
status reporting supported by the Protocol. In the Application Layer, the
public commands of the protocol are divided into four major groups:
1. Universal Commands - provide functions which must be implemented
in all field devices
2. Common Practice Commands - provide functions common to many, but
not all field devices
3. Device Specific Commands - provide functions that are unique to a
particular field device and are specified by the device manufacturer
4. Device Family Commands - provide a set of standardized functions for
instruments with particular measurement types, allowing full generic
access without using device-specific commands.
The most important performance features of the HART protocol include:

proven in practice, simple design, easy to maintain and operate

compatible with conventional analog instrumentation
simultaneous analog and digital communication
option of point-to-point or multidrop operation
flexible data access via up to two master devices
supports multivariable field devices
sufficient response time of approx. 500 ms
open de-facto standard freely available to any manufacturer or user

HART Commands
The HART Protocol is a master-slave communication protocol which
means that during normal operation, each slave (a field device)
communication is initiated by a request (or command) from the master
(host) communication device. The master or host is generally a distributed
control, PLC, or PC-based asset management system for example. The slave
device is typically a field measurement device such as pressure, level,
temperature, flow or other transmitters.
In order to make certain any HART-enabled device from any supplier
can communicate properly and respond to a command with the correct
information, the set and types of commands are defined in the HART
Specifications and implemented in all HART registered devices.

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Users need not worry about these commands because they are
included in the functions of the host. The specific capabilities of a device
(device specific commands) are available to the host when the host is given
the instructions included in the Device Description (DD) of a specific device.
An important point is that defined device status indications are included with
each communication response to the host. The host then interprets these
status indicators and may provide basic device diagnostic information.
The HART Command Set provides uniform and consistent communication
for all field devices. Host applications may implement any of the necessary
commands for a particular application. The command set includes three
classes:
Universal
All devices using the HART Protocol must recognize and support the universal
commands. Universal commands provide access to information useful in
normal operations (e.g., read primary variable and units).
Common Practice
Common Practice commands provide functions implemented by many, but
not necessarily all, HART Communication devices.
Device Specific
Device Specific commands represent functions that are unique to each field
device. These commands access setup and calibration information, as well as
information about the construction of the device. Information on Device
Specific commands is available from device manufacturers.

WirelessHART Overview
As the need for additional process measurements increases, users seek
a simple, reliable, secure and cost-effective method to deliver new
measurement values to control systems without the need to run more wires.
With process improvements, plant expansions, regulatory requirements and
safety levels demands for additional measurements, users are looking to
wireless technology for that solution.
With approximately 30 million HART devices installed and in service
worldwide, HART technology is the most widely used field communication
protocol for intelligent process instrumentation. With the additional capability
of wireless communication, the legacy of benefits this powerful technology

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provides continues to deliver the operational insight users need to remain
competitive.

Backed by the Power of HART

Built on proven industry standards

Created by industry and technology experts

Multi-vendor support and interoperable devices

Uses existing devices, tools and knowledge

Flexible Applications

Reduced installation costs no wires!

Process monitoring, control and asset management

Health, safety and environmental compliance monitoring

Supports All Phases of the Plant Life Cycle

Fast engineering, deployment and commissioning

Cost-effective move from scheduled to predictive maintenance

Easy diagnosing and troubleshooting

Simple. Reliable. Secure.

Even though millions of HART devices are installed worldwide, in most
cases the valuable information they can provide is stranded in the devices.
An estimated 85% of all installed HART devices are not being accessed to
deliver device diagnostics information with only the Process Variable data
communicated via the 4-20mA analog signal. This is often due to the cost
and the difficulty of accessing the HART information.

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WirelessHART technology allows users to access the vast amount of
unused information stranded in these installed HART smart devices85% of
the installed HART devices. It also provides a simple, reliable and secure way
to deploy new points of measurement and control without the wiring costs.
Simple
WirelessHART is a robust technology that is simple to implement. It enables
users to quickly and easily gain the benefits of wireless technology while
maintaining compatibility with existing HART devices, tools and systems.

Easy Installation and Commissioning

Familiar tools, work flow and procedures

Multiple power options

Reduced installation and wiring costs

Coexistence with other wireless networks

Supports both star and mesh topologies

Add devices one at a time

Automatic Network Features

Self-organizing and self-healing

Always-on security

Adjusts as new instruments are added

Adjusts to changes in plant infrastructure

Reliable

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Industrial facilities with dense infrastructures, frequent movement of large
equipment, changing conditions, or numerous sources of radio-frequency
and electromagnetic interference may have communication challenges.
WirelessHART includes several features to provide built-in 99.9% end-to-end
reliability in all industrial environments.
Standard Radio with Channel Hopping

Radios comply with IEEE 802.15.4-2006

2.4GHz license free frequency band

Hops across channels to avoid interference

Delivers high reliability in challenging radio environments

Coexistence with Other Wireless Networks

Clear Channel Assessments tests for available channels

Blacklisting avoids frequently used channels

Optimizes bandwidth and radio time

Time synchronization for on-time messaging

Self-Healing Network

Adjusts communication paths for optimal performance

Monitors paths for degradation and repairs itself

Finds alternate paths around obstructions

Mesh network and multiple access points

Secure

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WirelessHART employs robust security measures to protect the network and
secure the data at all times. These measures include the latest security
techniques to provide the highest levels of protection available.
Protects Valuable Information

Robust, multi-tiered, always-on security

Industry standard 128-bit AES encryption

Unique encryption key for each message

Data integrity and device authentication

Rotate encryption keys used to join the network

Protects Wireless Network

Channel hopping

Adjustable transmit power

levels

Multiple levels of security keys for access

Indication of failed access attempts

Reports message integrity failures

Reports authentication failures

Safe from Wi-Fi type Internet attacks

WirelessHART - How it works

WirelessHART is a wireless mesh network communications protocol for
process automation applications. It adds wireless capabilities to the HART

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Protocol while maintaining
commands, and tools.

compatibility

with

existing

HART

devices,

Each WirelessHART network includes three main elements:

Wireless field devices connected to process or plant equipment. This

device could be a device with WirelessHART built in or an existing
installed HART-enabled device with a WirelessHART adapter attached to
it.

Gateways enable communication between these devices and host

applications connected to a high-speed backbone or other existing
plant communications network.

A Network Manager is responsible for configuring the network,

scheduling communications between devices, managing message
routes, and monitoring network health. The Network Manager can be
integrated into the gateway, host application, or process automation
controller.

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The network uses IEEE 802.15.4 compatible radios operating in the

2.4GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical radio band. The radios employ
direct-sequence spread spectrum technology and channel hopping for
communication security and reliability, as well as TDMA synchronized,
latency-controlled communications between devices on the network. This
technology has been proven in field trials and real plant installations across a
broad range of process control industries.
Each device in the mesh network can serve as a router for messages
from other devices. In other words, a device doesn't have to communicate
directly to a gateway, but just forward its message to the next closest
device. This extends the range of the network and provides redundant
communication routes to increase reliability.
The Network Manager determines the redundant routes based on
latency, efficiency and reliability. To ensure the redundant routes remain
open and unobstructed, messages continuously alternate between the
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redundant paths. Consequently, like the Internet, if a message is unable to
reach its destination by one path, it is automatically re-routed to follow a
known-good, redundant path with no loss of data.
The mesh design also makes adding or moving devices easy. As long
as a device is within range of others in the network, it can communicate.
For flexibility to meet different application requirements, the
WirelessHART standard supports multiple messaging modes including oneway publishing of process and control values, spontaneous notification by
exception, ad-hoc request/response, and auto-segmented block transfers of
large data sets. These capabilities allow communications to be tailored to
application requirements thereby reducing power usage and overhead.
Components of WirelessHART technology
A Gateway provides the connection to the host network. WirelessHART
and then the main host interfaces such as Modbus Profibus Ethernet. The
Gateway also provides the network manager and security manager (these
functions can also exist at the host level however initially they will be in the
gateway).The Network manager builds and maintains the MESH network. It
identifies the best paths and manages distribution of slot time access
(WirelessHART divides each second into 10msec slots) Slot access depends
upon the required process value refresh rate and other access (alarm
reporting configuration changes).The Security manager manages and
distributes security encryption keys. It also holds the list of authorized
devices to join the network.
The Process includes measuring devices the HART-enabled instrumentation.
A Repeater is a device which routes WirelessHART messages but may
have no process connection of its own. Its main use would be to extend the
range of a WirelessHART network or help go around an existing or new
obstacle (New process vessel). All instruments in a WirelessHART network
have routing capability which simplifies planning and implementation of a
wireless network.
The Adapter is a device which plugs into an existing HART-enabled
instrument to pass the instrument data through a WirelessHART network to
the host. The adapter could be located anywhere along the instrument 420mA cable; it could be battery powered or obtain its power from the 4-20Ma
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cable. Some adapters will be battery powered and use the same battery to
power the instrument as well in this case there will be no 4-20mA signal to
the host all process data will be reported via WirelessHART
A Handheld Terminal may come in two versions.
In the first case, the handheld will be a standard HART FSK
configuration unit (just add new device DDs or DOF files), just like the one
used for everyday tasks such as routine maintenance and calibration checks.
In the case of wireless support, the handheld is used to join a new instrument
to an existing WirelessHART network.
In the second case the handheld has a WirelessHART connection to the
gateway and then down to an instrument and could be used for reading PV
or diagnostics.

CONCLUSION :

HART protocol provides a unique communication solution that is

backward compatible with the installed base of instrumentation in use
today.This backward compatibility ensures that investments in existing
cabling and current control strategies will remain secure well into the
future.

The HART Communication protocol is based on the BELL 202 telephone

communication standard and operates using the Frequency Shift
Keying principle.The digital signal is made up of two frequencies-1200
Hz and 2200 Hz representing bits 1 and 0,respectively.

Versatile It continuously validates the integrity of control information.

It ensures accuracy of system data and detect any deviation between

device and system.

It gives additional information in multi variable devices.

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