The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
February 2004
The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
Copyright © 2009 HART® Communication Foundation
This document contains copyrighted material and may not be reproduced in any fashion without the written
permission of the HART Communication Foundation.
Trademark Information
HART® is a registered trademark of the HART Communication Foundation, Austin, Texas, USA.
Any use of the term HART hereafter in this document, or in any document referenced by this document, implies
the registered trademark. WirelessHART™ is a trademark of the HART Communication Foundation. All other
trademarks used in this or referenced documents are trademarks of their respective companies. For more
information contact the HCF Staff at the address below.
Attention: Foundation Director
HART Communication Foundation
9390 Research Boulevard
Suite I‐350
Austin, TX 78759, USA
Voice: (512) 794‐0369
FAX: (512) 794‐3904
http://www.hartcomm.org
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The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
Abstract
HART® Field Communications Protocol is widely accepted in the industry as the standard for digitally
enhanced 4‐20mA communication with smart field instruments. A wide range of products from an
increasing number of suppliers is available today, and many more are in development. The enhanced
two‐way communication capability of instruments using the HART protocol can significantly improve
plant information management, provide solutions to today's business challenges, and yield substantial
cost savings. Initial installation/commissioning savings of $400 to $500 per instrument and annual
maintenance/operations savings of $100 to $200 per instrument are commonly reported.
Introduction
For many years, the field communication standard for process automation equipment has been a
milliamp (mA) analog current signal. The milliamp current signal varies within a range of 4‐20mA in
proportion to the process variable being represented. In typical applications a signal of 4mA will
correspond to the lower limit (0%) of the calibrated range and 20mA will correspond to the upper limit
(100%) of the calibrated range. If the system is calibrated for 0‐100 PSI, then an analog current signal of
12mA (50% of range) will correspond to a pressure of 50 PSI. Virtually all installed systems use this
international standard for communicating process variable information between process automation
equipment.
HART Field Communications Protocol extends this 4‐20mA standard to enhance communication with
smart field instruments. The HART protocol was designed specifically for use with intelligent
measurement and control instruments, which traditionally communicate using 4‐20mA analog signals.
HART preserves the 4‐20mA signal and enables two‐way digital communications to occur without
disturbing the integrity of the 4‐20mA signal. Unlike other digital communication technologies, the HART
protocol maintains compatibility with existing 4‐20mA systems, and in doing so, provides users with a
uniquely backward compatible solution. HART Communication Protocol is well established as the "de
facto" industry standard for digitally enhanced 4‐20mA field communication.
HART Field Communications Protocol is an extremely important technology for both end users and
suppliers. HART technology is a major step in the evolution of process control, and as an enabling
technology is bringing significant innovation in the capabilities of field instrument systems. The
enhanced communications capability of intelligent field instruments employing the HART protocol,
offers significantly greater functionality and improved performance over traditional 4‐20mA analog
devices. The HART protocol permits the process variable to continue to be transmitted by the 4‐20mA
analog signal, and additional information pertaining to other variables, parameters, device
configuration, calibration, and device diagnostics to be transmitted digitally at the same time. Thus, a
wealth of additional information related to plant operation is available to central control or monitoring
systems through HART communications.
A wide breadth of products supporting the HART protocol is available from major instrumentation
suppliers, and the number of products and suppliers incorporating the technology continues to grow.
The HART protocol provides many benefits today that are promised by fieldbus technologies in the
future, and yet retains the compatibility and familiarity of existing 4‐20mA systems. The HART protocol
is field proven, simple to implement, use and maintain. HART technology is being used in a wide variety
of applications worldwide to gain significant improvements in plant performance, provide solutions to
regulatory compliance issues (ISO 9000, OSHA, EPA, DOT, etc.) and realize substantial cost savings in
initial installation/commissioning and ongoing maintenance/operations. Current estimates exceed 1.4
million installations worldwide.
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The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
The HART Protocol ‐ An Overview
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 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. 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 second from a field device. As the digital FSK signal is phase continuous, there is no
interference with the 4‐20mA signal.
HART is a master/slave protocol which means that a field (slave) device only speaks when spoken to by a
master. The HART protocol can be used in various modes for communicating information to/from smart
field instruments and central control or monitoring systems. HART provides for up to two masters
(primary and secondary) as shown in Figure 3. 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. The most commonly employed HART communication mode is master/slave
communication of digital information simultaneous with transmission of the 4‐20mA signal as shown in
Figure 4. The HART protocol permits all digital communication with field devices in either point‐to‐point
or multidrop network configurations. Figure 5 highlights the 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 digital communication mode and use is normally restricted to point‐
to‐point topologies.
Considerable installation savings are possible with the multidrop networking capability of HART, which
allows multiple field devices to be connected to the same pair of wires. In multidrop applications,
communication with field devices is restricted to digital only as the loop current is fixed at a minimum
value and loses any meaning relative to the process. From an installation perspective, HART signals are
carried over the same wiring as is typically used for conventional 4‐20mA analog instruments today. As
one might expect, cable run lengths can be longer for individually shielded twisted pairs, than for
multiple twisted pairs with an overall shield as reflected in Figure 6. For short distances, unshielded
cables may be used. HART compatible intrinsic safety barriers and isolators are also available which pass
the HART signals for use in hazardous areas.
The HART Command Set is organized into three groups and provides read/write access to the wealth of
additional information available in smart field instruments employing this technology. Universal
Commands must be implemented by all HART devices and provides interoperability across the large and
growing base of products from different suppliers supporting the HART technology. Universal
Commands provide access to information that is useful in normal plant operation such as the instrument
manufacturer, model, tag, serial number, descriptor, range limits, and process variables. Common
Practice Commands provide access to functions, which can be carried out by many devices though not
all, and Device Specific Commands provide access to functions, which may be unique to a particular
device. Figure 7 highlights the type of information that can be obtained from these devices. The integrity
of HART communication is very secure as status information is included with every reply message and
extensive error checking occurs with each transaction. Up to four process variables can be
communicated in one HART message and each device may have up to 256 variables.
Device Description Language (DDL), a recent enhancement to the HART technology extends
interoperability to a higher level than provided through the Universal and Common Practice Commands.
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The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
As reflected in Figure 8, DDL provides a field device (slave) product developer with the means to create a
complete description of their instrument and all relevant characteristics, such that it can talk to any host
device using the language. This is analogous to a printer driver in the personal computer world which
enables an application to talk with a printer such that what gets printed on the page is what was
expected by the application. Universal hand‐held communicators capable of configuring any HART‐
based instrument through DDL are available today. Broader application in other types of host systems is
expected. The HART Communication Foundation manages the centralized library of all registered Device
Descriptions and DDL is being supported by all members of the Foundation.
The Benefits of Fieldbus Technologies Today!
The relative simplicity of the HART protocol makes it easy for both end users and suppliers to gain
experience and benefit from the enhanced two‐way communication capability of smart field
instruments using this technology. Powerful multiparameter instruments, efficiency with remote
communication, field device diagnostics, cost‐effective control in field devices, installation savings with
multidrop networking, and flexible/accurate digital data transmission are all achievable today with
instruments that use HART Field Communications Protocol. Users can achieve many of the benefits
promised by fieldbus technologies in the future with the HART protocol today. And, the compatibility
with 4‐20mA makes it easy for users to incrementally add HART‐speaking instruments incrementally
protecting their investment in existing systems and gaining the benefits of enhanced field
communication.
The advantages of enhanced field communication enabled by HART technology have been quantified in
terms of maintenance, installation, and commissioning cost savings in a wide variety of applications and
industries. Initial installation/commissioning savings of $400‐500 per instrument and annual
maintenance/operations savings of $100‐200 per instrument are commonly reported. Tremendous
operational benefits are also being achieved. And today, the large and growing base from major
instrumentation suppliers supporting the HART Protocol provides the freedom to choose the right
product for the job in integrating with existing plant systems.
Instrumentation products equipped with the HART protocol are being used in a wide range of
applications and industries to provide cost saving benefits and improved plant performance worldwide.
From chemical/refining operations, to gas/liquid distribution systems, and remote/off‐shore monitoring
stations current installations are addressing virtually all aspects of control, data acquisition, and
maintenance. Installation estimates already exceed 1,400,000 and independent projections forecast
explosive growth over the next decade. Some of the many reasons cited for the tremendous growth and
acceptance of HART technology include:
The wide variety and increasing number of products available today from a growing list of major
instrumentation suppliers around the world. HART is the only "open" communications protocol of its
type and the "defacto" industry standard. Users have the freedom to choose the right product for their
application and interoperability is assured by the common command and data structure.
Relatively easy to understand and use, the HART protocol provides access to the wealth of additional
information (variables, diagnostics, calibration, etc.) available in smart field devices employing this
technology. HART enables field instrument suppliers to incorporate powerful features into their
products such as PID control algorithms, diagnostics, and additional process measurements. User access
to these features is provided through the enhanced communication capability of HART.
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The HART® Protocol – A Solution Enabling Technology
HART is a no risk solution for enhanced field communication. For maintenance and operations people,
HART is a relatively easy transition especially in point‐to‐point applications. Any fears about being able
to keep the plant running are small as the 4‐20mA signal can still carry the process variable (as with
traditional instruments), and the enhanced two‐way field communication capability of HART can provide
real benefit for improved plant performance.
And, in applications where appropriate the multidrop capability of HART provides the opportunity to
connect several field instruments on the same pair of wires, substantially reducing installation costs.
HART Technology Support
As owner of the technology, the independent HART Communication Foundation maintains the standard
and ensures ongoing support for the HART protocol. The Foundation is a not‐for‐profit corporation,
specifically organized to coordinate and support the application of HART technology worldwide.
Educating the industry on the capabilities and value of this important technology is a key role. Operating
costs are offset by membership and training/support service fees. Membership is open to all suppliers,
end users, and others interested in use of the HART protocol.
The HART Communication Foundation supports the industry, and its members, as the official source of
information regarding HART technology worldwide. Additional functions include: providing training and
support for application of the technology, directing quality assurance programs to ensure the
interoperability of HART devices, managing the centralized library and controls distribution of all
registered Device Descriptions, and coordinating trade show exhibits and promotional activities for
educating industry on the technology. The Foundation maintains an informational site at
www.hartcomm.org.
HART® is a registered trademark of the HART Communication Foundation. Information regarding the
HART protocol can be obtained from the HART Communication Foundation, 9390 Research Blvd., Suite I‐
350, Austin, Texas 78759, Tel: (512) 794‐0369 or Fax: (512) 794‐3904.
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