ABB CI853-1 module – a bridge for industrial communication, come and argue if you don’t agree!

Description

The CI853-1 is a high-availability, dual-channel communication interface module manufactured by ABB for its flagship Symphony™ Plus and System 800xA distributed control systems (DCS). This module serves as a critical and robust gateway, specifically engineered to provide a fully redundant PROFINET IO Controller interface. Its core function is to manage real-time, deterministic data exchange between the central AC 800M high-performance controllers and a wide array of PROFINET IO Devices, such as remote I/O stations, motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and intelligent field instruments. The CI853-1 is a cornerstone for implementing modern, Ethernet-based plant-wide networking strategies, ensuring seamless integration of high-speed process and machinery control within ABB’s automation architecture.

Designed for mission-critical applications where system uptime is paramount, the CI853-1 module’s defining feature is its built-in redundancy with two independent PROFINET channels. This design ensures continuous communication even in the event of a single network failure, a critical requirement for processes in industries such as power generation, oil and gas, and chemical manufacturing. The module integrates natively into the S800 I/O system, where it acts as a powerful concentrator, efficiently handling the data from numerous I/O modules and making it available over the high-speed industrial Ethernet network. The value of the CI853-1 lies in its ability to enhance system resilience, maximize plant availability, and future-proof automation investments by leveraging the widespread adoption and high performance of the PROFINET IO standard.

CI853-1 ABB

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

The most significant advantage of the CI853-1 is its integrated high-availability architecture. The dual, independent PROFINET channels provide inherent network redundancy, automatically switching over in milliseconds to maintain uninterrupted data flow if a cable is cut or a network switch fails. This built-in resilience is far superior to external solutions and is essential for critical control loops. The module supports PROFINET Conformance Class C, including Isochronous Real-Time (IRT) communication, which enables precise, deterministic control and synchronization of high-speed processes, such as motion control and turbine management, with jitter in the microsecond range.

Simplified engineering and robust diagnostics: Configuration of the CI853-1 is fully integrated into ABB’s unified Control Builder engineering environment. The GSDML (General Station Description Markup Language) files for connected IO Devices are imported, allowing for straightforward drag-and-drop configuration and automatic validation of the entire network setup. The module provides extensive diagnostic capabilities at the network, device, and channel level, which are accessible both locally via LED status indicators and remotely through the engineering software. This allows for rapid fault localization and predictive maintenance, minimizing downtime. The robust industrial design of the CI853-1, with wide operating temperature ranges and hazardous area certifications, ensures reliable performance in the most demanding industrial environments.

Application Field

The CI853-1 is strategically deployed in large-scale, mission-critical continuous process industries where maximum system availability and high-speed communication are non-negotiable. In power generation, particularly in nuclear, combined-cycle, and large coal-fired plants, the CI853-1 is used to create highly available networks connecting the DCS to turbine governor systems, burner management systems, and critical pump and fan controls, where any communication failure could lead to a forced outage. In oil and gas, the module is essential for upstream and midstream applications, such as offshore platforms and compressor stations, where it integrates safety instrumented systems, fire and gas panels, and turbo-machinery control into a redundant and deterministic network.

Within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the CI853-1 supports batch processes that require precise synchronization and cannot tolerate interruptions. It is also widely used in metals and mining for controlling rolling mills and material handling systems that depend on high-speed, reliable data exchange. The CI853-1 is the ideal solution for any greenfield or modernization project aiming to implement a future-proof, Ethernet-based control architecture with the highest level of redundancy and performance, ensuring operational excellence and protecting valuable assets.

CI853-1 ABB

Related Products

TU833 3BSE013258R1: A specific S800 I/O unit base designed for high-density and communication modules like the CI853-1.

AC 800M Controller (e.g., PM866): The high-performance controller that manages the S800 I/O station where the CI853-1 module resides.

S800 I/O Modules (e.g., AI845, DI810): The various analog and digital I/O modules whose data is managed by the CI853-1.

SD833 3BSE018107R1: A power supply module optimized for high-availability S800 racks.

PROFINET Network Switches: Managed industrial Ethernet switches that support MRP for building redundant network rings with the CI853-1.

CI854: A single-channel PROFINET IO Controller interface module for applications where redundancy is not required.

Control Builder Professional: The engineering software essential for configuring the CI853-1 and its connected IO Devices.