Built on Decades of Experience
As a pioneer in the field of intrinsic safety barriers, we build on decades of experience: Pepperl+Fuchs is the world's leading expert in the field of intrinsic safety.
Safety above All.
Globally certified protection for people, plants, and the environment
Interface Technology for Process Industry Applications: the K-System
With more than 70 years of experience and as the inventor of the intrinsic safety barrier, Pepperl+Fuchs is a leading manufacturer of interfaces for hazardous areas. Nowadays, Interface Technology from Pepperl+Fuchs is reknown and established in process industries all over the world. Technical expertise, application know-how, and a profound market knowlegde ensure that interface technology form Pepperl+Fuchs is tailored to meet specific market requirements in every detail.
One highlight is the Pepperl+Fuchs K-System with its extensive product range, worldwide certifications, unique versatility, and easy handling. From simple isolator modules for safe signal transmission to highly functional components with numerous additional functions, the K-System portfolio offers modules and systems for a wide range of applications in hazardous areas—the best protection for people, plants, and the environment, as proven by millions of installed devices from North Sea platforms to clean room applications.
Technology Highlights
Interface technology from Pepperl+Fuchs offers maximum safety and highly functional features.
Wide Product Range for All Applications
- Modules for all signal types
- Numerous functions, from simple switch amplifiers to high performance devices
- Modules for all signal types
- Numerous functions, from simple switch amplifiers to high performance devices
Cost Savings
- Long service life due to lower power consumption, space-saving design, low heat dissipation
- Long service life due to lower power consumption, space-saving design, low heat dissipation
Easy Maintenance
- Easy installation and replacement
- Internal diagnostic function
- Easy installation and replacement
- Internal diagnostic function
Safety on All Levels
- Choose from a complete SIL 3 portfolio for all signal types, analog and digital
- Choose from a complete SIL 3 portfolio for all signal types, analog and digital
Why Interface Technology from Pepperl+Fuchs?
Global Hazardous Area Expertise
Interface systems from Pepperl+Fuchs are certified worldwide and guarantee maximum process reliability for countless applications in numerous industries.
Largest Product Portfolio of Its Kind
Pepperl+Fuchs offers a comprehensive range of modules and systems for a wide variety of applications up to SIL 3.
K-System for Maximum Reliability
The K-System impresses with high availability due to low power loss, comprehensive international support, demand-oriented installation options, and unrivaled performance.
The K-System—Established in Process Industries All over the World
A wide range of functions, easy maintenance, and high flexibility: this is what the K-System in particular stands for. Certified worldwide and unsurpassed in reliability, it guarantees maximum process reliability in numerous industries. The K-System is designed for mixed applications of Ex and non-Ex modules.
Its barrier function limits the energy fed into the intrinsically safe circuit. The galvanic isolation of the measuring and control circuits protects control systems and field devices from interference on the signal path, therefore ensuring the efficiency and availability of the system.
Features of the K-System: Maximum Performance for Maximum Safety
K-System technology offers various outstanding features. The Power Rail for DIN rail mounting significantly reduces wiring and maintenance costs. The new K-DUCT power rail with two separate cable ducts maximizes space and channel density in the cabinet. K-System safety relays provide triple redundant switching contacts, diagnostics and line fault transparency (LFT), ensuring maximum protection in emergency situations. These are just some highlights—discover much more benefits in this video!
The Latest Innovation: KCD2-SCS*
Positioners are often equipped with analog position indicators that provide feedback to the controller to confirm that the correct position has been reached. This feedback is typically sent back to the control system as a 4 … 20 mA signal. Previously, a separate isolator module was required for the input and output signal. The KCD2-SCS* combines both functions in one device. Find out more about the unique 2-channel devices for analog signals with individual configurability of the channels!
Product Highlights
Main Applications
Thermal Power Plants: Direction of Rotation and Speed Monitoring Feedwater Pumps
Task and boundary conditions:
Galvanic isolation of control and field side in the safe area and ensuring feed water supply for steam generation.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Direction of rotation monitoring and speed monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Frequency converters of the K-System are also available as intrinsically safe devices for applications in hazardous areas.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Direction of rotation monitoring and speed monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Frequency converters of the K-System are also available as intrinsically safe devices for applications in hazardous areas.
Water Locks: End Position Control
Task and boundary conditions:
Galvanic isolation of control and field side in the safe area. Ensuring that the lock gates are closed before water is admitted or discharged into the lock basin.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Feedback of the end position contact to the control system when the lock gates are closed.
Typical isolating modules: Switch amplifiers of the K-System are also available as intrinsically safe devices for applications in hazardous areas.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Feedback of the end position contact to the control system when the lock gates are closed.
Typical isolating modules: Switch amplifiers of the K-System are also available as intrinsically safe devices for applications in hazardous areas.
Ships: Optical and Acoustic Warning Devices
Task and boundary conditions:
Galvanic isolation of control and field side in the safe area, safe switching on of warning devices in case of emergency, and safety integrity level of the signal circuit(s): SIL 3
Typical measuring and control tasks: Transmission of switching signals from the control system to the warning devices
Typical isolating modules: Safety relay with line fault transparency of the K-System
Typical measuring and control tasks: Transmission of switching signals from the control system to the warning devices
Typical isolating modules: Safety relay with line fault transparency of the K-System
Pharmaceutics: Control of Valves in Large Plants
Task and boundary conditions:
Control of the mass flow of API, hazardous area, safe signal transmission in large plants, different supply modes for a large number of different valves
Typical measuring and control tasks: Control of valves
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe barrier of the K-System, high operating margin by output up to 45 mA (for safety-related applications: SIL3 ESD- and DCS systems that need LFT to get SIL level for DO cards/channels)
Typical measuring and control tasks: Control of valves
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe barrier of the K-System, high operating margin by output up to 45 mA (for safety-related applications: SIL3 ESD- and DCS systems that need LFT to get SIL level for DO cards/channels)
Sewage Treatment Plants: Speed Monitoring of Archimedean Screws
Task and boundary conditions:
Load-dependent control of the Archimedean screws to keep the high energy consumption typical of these plants within limits
Typical measuring and control tasks: Speed monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System frequency converters. They are also available as isolators for applications in the safe area.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Speed monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System frequency converters. They are also available as isolators for applications in the safe area.
Biogas Production: Gas Analysis of Biogas and Landfill Gas
Task and boundary conditions:
No constant composition of biogas produced in digesters; gas-fired power plants depend on constant supply of chemical energy; continuous analysis of gases, transmission of results to the control system
Typical measuring and control tasks: Transfer of gas quality measurements
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System transmitter power supply or isolators.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Transfer of gas quality measurements
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System transmitter power supply or isolators.
Life Sciences: Temperature Monitoring of Process Media
Task and boundary conditions:
Temperature monitoring in vats with process media to limit the temperature, preventing unwanted decomposition or chemical reactions; potentially explosive atmospheres
Typical measuring and control tasks: Temperature monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System temperature converter with output of two configurable limit values or isolators for safe areas.
Typical measuring and control tasks: Temperature monitoring
Typical isolating modules: Intrinsically safe K-System temperature converter with output of two configurable limit values or isolators for safe areas.
Customized Solutions—Engineered for Your Needs
Pepperl+Fuchs has established special Solution Engineering Centers (SECs) worldwide, where experienced experts plan, develop, and design customer-specific solutions on a daily basis. One such solution can be seen in this video: Pepperl+Fuchs has developed the BGT rack with integrated K-System modules, which enables users to easily replace outdated Eurocard technology with state-of-the-art interface technology.
Step By Step to Your Tailor-Made Solution
Customized solutions from Pepperl+Fuchs are developed in collaboration with our customers to meet the global approval standards of a trusted partner. No matter how extensive the customizations and specific developments are—our solutions are always based on individual consulting and regular communication with our customers. Our experts cover every step of the process, from the initial consulting, customer specification, solution proposals, engineering, and inspection to the integration of finished, globally certified solutions.
Contact Us
Do you have any questions on our K-System or Interface Technology in general? We are happy to help! Simply fill out the contact form and send us a message.
Learn More
- News Article: Valve Positioner Control and Monitoring with Only One Device
- Literature: Two Functions—One Device. 2-Channel SMART Transmitter Power Supplies/Current Drivers KCD2-SCS*
- Knowledge: Functional Safety—Safety Integrity Level (SIL) and Performance Level (PL)
- Blog: 5 Ways to Use K-System Interface Technology in Wastewater Treatment Plants
- Blog: SIL 3 Current Drivers for Intrinsically Safe Signals
Pepperl+Fuchs Inc.
1600 Enterprise Parkway
Twinsburg, OH 44087
United States of America
sales@us.pepperl-fuchs.com
+1 330 425-3555
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