Pepperl+Fuchs has introduced the PS3500-DM—a new diagnostics module for its PS3500 power supplies—bringing a new level of reliability by continuously monitoring the conditions and health of the PS3500 power supplies and primary side power conditions. The diagnostic module has four layers of monitoring—mains, output, power supplies and diagnostics to maintain system integrity. The PS3500 DM is easily integrated into plant asset management systems through RS485/HART, EDDL or FDT/DTM technologies, and provides intelligent power and real-time diagnostics.
The PS3500 series field power supplyoffers N+1 and N+N redundancy to ensure a low mean time between failures.
PS3500 power supplies provide N+1 or N+N redundancy, high immunity and industry-leading efficiency for the most demanding environments. Featuring adjustable output voltages between 22.5 VDC and 30 VDC, the product has built-in alarm outputs, a fanless design, hot-swappable module replacement, and boasts an efficiency of up to 91%, according to the company's product specifications.Pepperl+Fuchs' product manager, Robert Schosker, says, "Pepperl+Fuchs needed a robust and clean power supply to support our other product lines, such as fieldbus (FieldConnex) and HART. These two product lines require clean, efficient and reliable power because signal quality is important due to their digital communications."
Modern continuous processes operate for long periods without downtime, and most field instruments have a power supply, or their power is supplied by the output loop. Digital (smart) field instruments have extremely long, useful lives, with very low mean time between failures (MTBFs). The power supplies also must have similarly low MTBFs.
"These demanding conditions necessitate N+1 and N+N redundancy," Shosker said. "N+1 redundancy means that multiple power supply modules (N) have a backup power supply module. That's the +1. All modules within the configuration share the load. If one module fails, the working modules are able to continue load sharing with no system degradation. This is simple and affordable, and guarantees that the system will keep operating even during a power supply failure."
Each 24-VDC, 15-A power supply module plugs directly into a 3- or 6-position backplane, which allows a maximum capacity of 45A or 90A of continuous uninterrupted power. The entire system is rated for IP20 protection class in accordance with EN60529, and has an operating temperature rating of -25 °C to 45 °C at a relative humidity of less than 95%, non-condensing.
Input voltages from 90 VAC to 250 VAC or 90 VDC to 300 VDC are permissible. Current required is 15 A. Output voltage is adjusted via an easy-access, backplane-mounted potentiometer. The system is rated Class I, ATEX Zone 2 and Division 2 certified by Underwriters Laboratories. To make the most use of the PS3500, users should add a diagnostic module to the backplane. This module adds the most protection possible, and it should be used with all mission- critical loops. It's also rated Class I/Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D, T4 and Class I/Zone2 Groups IIC T4.
The power supply diagnostic module permits real-time input and output power monitoring with a complete suite of diagnostics and fault indication with configurable warning and alarm levels. Its bus output is RS-485 (HART), and is suitable for integration with the plant's asset management system with its EDDL and DTMs. Its alarm output is a single Form C relay (NO/C/NC).
"Use of the diagnostic module," Schosker says, "means that maintenance and operations personnel can get early warnings of faults or impending failures from the power supply, enabling them to schedule maintenance or switch out the faulty unit before a problem causes unexpected and expensive downtime."
For more information, call 330 486-0002 or go to www.pepperl-fuchs.us.
