• R Stahl Private Limited

Remote I/O for Hazardous Areas

R Stahl has launched Remote I/O for Hazardous Areas that supports comfortable PROFINET functions. This explosion-protected remote I/O system IS1+ is among the first Ethernet-capable solutions that also support “PROFINET for Process Automation” even in zone 1 and 2 hazardous areas. This capability gives users another option for Ethernet applications alongside the existing protocol support for Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP communication. “Ex op is” fibre optic cables ensure explosion protection and interference-free transmission even over long distances. In late 2013, a tentative final draft of the PROFINET requirements for remote I/O specified by PROFIBUS International (PI) has been presented in the “Remote IO for Process Automation (RIO for PA) for PROFINET” profile. A member of the PI working group “DCS requirements”, R. Stahl introduced its explosion-protected remote I/O system IS1+ with one of the first implementations of this profile as early as mid-2013. Since then, several customer projects have been successfully implemented based on this innovative solution. System integration is carried out via PROFINET GSDML. Compared with PROFIBUS GSD, this markup language allows for a considerably more comfortable and highly automated integration of IS1+ functions into engineering systems. Similar to PROFIBUS PA, module functions are mapped via transducer and function blocks that allow for diagnostics as well as, for example, scaling with units. Mode handling allows for setting signal transfer to “Auto” (Cyclical Updates), “Manual”, or “O/S” (Out of Service) operation. Conforming to NAMUR recommendation NE 107, the new status information options such as “Maintenance Required“ or “Out of Specification“ provide operators with a quick and easy overview of signal quality regardless of specific causes of errors.