Pepperl+Fuchs meets the boundary conditions of functional safety according to SIL 3 without the use of special emergency shutdown valves and safety shut-off valves. Instead, the existing analog positioners are used in a discrete mode to a certain extent. They are either fully open or closed.

The functional inspection according to SIL 3 is achieved by actuating these controllers with HART signals for partial stroke tests in addition to their actual function. These tests allow for functional inspection testing without shutting down the entire media supply and without redundant hardware. The KCD2-SCD-Ex1.ES SMART current driver, for example, is suitable for this function up to safety level SIL 3.

Plain bearings provide reliable lubrication in high-speed machines. They ensure minimal friction losses and play a crucial role in increasing service life. For example, this is how turbines and generators become fully lubricated, which ensures that the friction between metal surfaces is transferred into the liquid lubricant, thereby avoiding any abrasion. To achieve this effect, the lubricating film needs to be pressurized, because this is the only way to reliably separate the contact surfaces from each other. In the case of hydrostatic plain bearings, an oil pump is used to ensure consistent oil pressure and reliable lubrication.

A pressure transmitter with a measurement output of 4 … 20 mA is ideally suited for constantly monitoring the oil pressure in the lubrication cycle. A transmitter power supply unit provides an intrinsically safe power supply and ensures that the data is reliably transmitted. KCD2-STC-Ex1.ES modules are typically used for this application. They are suitable for applications up to SIL 3 in accordance with IEC/EN 61508.

A prerequisite for reliable alarm signaling in the event of a fire outbreak is safe signal transmission supplemented by galvanic isolation between the control and field circuits. The ETS safety relays (energized-to-safe) from Pepperl+Fuchs are designed precisely for this purpose.

The KFD2-RSH-1.2E.L safety relay is an example from this series. It meets the requirements for integrated safety according to SIL 3 and is used for the safe energizing of devices. Periodic diagnostic and proof tests are carried out to check the proper functioning of connected devices to ensure that both a fire alarm and automatic firefighting measures are reliably triggered in the event of a fire.

Large diesel engines with several thousand horsepower are typically used in diesel locomotives. Engines of this caliber are also often used as an emergency power unit for uninterruptible power supplies. The air-fuel mixture ignites completely within the engine and therefore poses almost no risk to the engine itself or to people working near the engine. Danger can only arise if one of the fuel lines is faulty and fuel leaks.

The key requirement for alarm systems and automatic extinguishing devices being reliably activated is fault-free signal transmission between the field circuit and the control side, which are galvanically isolated from each other. KFD2-RSH-1.*D.* safety relays are ideal for such applications. These safety relays comply with the requirements up to SIL 3 according to IEC/EN 61508 and up to PL e according to EN/ISO 13849—a multi-stage redundancy concept for ensuring that malfunctions are virtually impossible

With its annual SIL clinic, Pepperl+Fuchs hosts an event that is appreciated by speakers and participants alike. Get an impression of the tenth edition and what makes the SIL clinic so special.

Extensive in-house expertise has been vital to Pepperl+Fuchs' leadership in functional safety components. In this interview from our digital magazine "amplify," Head of Functional Safety Michael Kindermann, Functional Safety Manager Hasan Sülük, and Manager of Training and Committee Work Dr. Andreas Hildebrandt discuss their day-to-day work, the current standards with which their products must comply, and methods for transferring knowledge.