In addition to a fundamental rethinking of how input/output gets done in process control and monitoring applications, Emerson's I/O on Demand approach has transformed the ability of users to flexibly deploy modular, distributed safety applications while ensuring the robust isolation of safety functions and the elimination of single points of failure.
Further, the transparent integration of DeltaV SIS with DeltaV automation systems used for basic process control system (BCPS) applications allows the leveraging of safety I/O data to make better informed process control decisions.
Fully Configurable I/O
Starting with upfront design and engineering tasks, complexity is greatly reduced by the use of fully configurable I/O in DeltaV SIS. This configurable I/O functionality allows users to design application-specific safety instrumented functions (SIFs) without limitations on I/O type per logic solver or the added complexity of I/O card wiring. This simplifies both engineering and maintenance.
Field devices are wired to the logic solver as needed, and the I/O channels are then configured appropriately. Specifying the I/O hardware requires only two pieces of information—the total number of I/O and whether (and where) redundancy is required. Redundancy allows for the on-line replacement, on-line upgrade and on-line proof-testing. However, DeltaV SIS logic solvers are SIL 3-rated in both simplex and redundant configurations. There are no time-out issues should a redundant pair fail.
Modular and Scalable
With the DeltaV SIS architecture, users can add I/O capacity in increments of as few as 16 fully configurable I/O points—up to a maximum of 30,000 points in a single system. Because the I/O is directly connected to the logic solver, memory and processing power increase whenever I/O is added; this negates any concerns over the abillity to effectively run the configured logic, regardless of system size.
Each DeltaV SIS logic solver is in effect a container for a small number of SIFs, and there can be no unplanned interaction between them. This is very different from the traditional approach where hundreds of SIFs are all placed in a single safety PLC, and the effect of changing a single register or the addition of a SIF could affect all of the logic.
For complex applications that may require multiple SIFs acting on the same final element, input data is shared among multiple logic solvers so that cause-and-effect logic can easily be implemented in a single SIS module. Given this flexibility, the DeltaV SIS system is well-suited to the full range of safety applications, from small burner management applications to large emergency shutdown (ESD) and fire and gas applications.
The DeltaV SIS system architecture also enables SIS applications to be geographically distributed in local junction boxes across a plant or facility. This ability is especially appealing for large plant complexes as well as for applications such as distributed oil and gas wellheads and pipelines (Figure 1).
