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 are 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 420mA 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,

Simultaneous Analog + Digital Communication

+0.5mA
Analog Signal
-0.5mA
FSK freq: 1200 Hz 2200 Hz
Logical:

Figure 1 - HART uses Frequency Shift Keying to encode digital information

on top of the 4-20mA analog signal

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 are 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.

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.

MASTER / SLAVE or POLL / RESPONSE

Master

Slave

REQUEST MESSAGE
REPLY MESSAGE

20 mA
Analog + Digital or Digital Only Communication

Digital Signal

Analog signal is not interrupted

Analog Signal

Slave responds to Commands/Requests from Master

Typical 500 ms response (2 values per second)

4 mA

Figure 4 - Master/Slave Communication

(Normal HART Mode)

Note: Not to Scale

Ti me

Figure 2 - HART digital communication signal superimposed

on the 4-20mA analog 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
Analog
4

mA

20

HART
HART
Interface

2 digital updates/sec
(typical)

+ 4-20mA

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.
BURST OR BROADCAST MODE

Digital
Master

Slave

Multiple Masters
Up to 3000 m
(Same cable as today)

Figure 3- The HART protocol enables two Master devices

to access information in Slave (field) devices

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.

All Digital Communication Mode.

Continuous transmission of a Selected Standard Reply
Message such as PV.
Gaps between Messages allow Master to change
Command or Mode
3 to 4 updates per second typical

Figure 5- HART Burst Communication

(Optional Mode)

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 Com-

Same Wire As Today!

Similar Length Limitations
Compatible with telephone
system for longer
distances

Distance
(m)

Cable Type

AWG/(mm)

<1,524
(5,000 ft.)

Multiple
Twisted
Pair,
Common
Shield

24 / (0.2)

>1,524
<3,048
(10,000 ft.)

Single
Twisted
Pair
w/Shield

20 / (0.5)

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.
A Device Description of transmitters, valves,
and other field devices provides a image of
all parameters and functions of the field
device in a standardized language.

DD

Figure 6- The HART protocol uses the same cabling as is used today
for conventional analog instruments

mands 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.
Universal Commands
Model ID
Tag ID
Description

Message
Date
Range Values

Common Practice Commands

Read Variables
Calibration (zero, span)
Initiate Self Tests
Serial Number
Time Constant Values

Instrument Limits
Process Measurements
Device Status

Device Specific Commands

Model Specific Functions
Start, Stop, or Clear Totalizer
Select Primary Variable
Enable PID Control, Tune Loop
Special Calibration Options
Etc.

Figure 7 - HART Universal & Common Practice Commands

ensure interoperability across products of different manufacture

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. 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

A field device consists

of the field hardware
plus a DD for the
device.

Fisher

Figure 8 - Device Description Language extends interoperability

to include device specific functions

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.
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 a forum section on CompuServe devoted
to the HART protocol (GO HARTCF) and a World
Wide Web site located at http://www.ccsi.com/hart/.
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 II-250, Austin,
Texas 78759, Tel: (512) 794-0369 or Fax: (512) 7948893.

Ronald B. Helson
HART Communication Foundation, 9390 Research Blvd., Suite II-250, Austin, Texas 78759
Tel (512) 794-0369, Fax (512) 794-8893,
ronh@hartcomm.org, 75672.1514@compuserve.com