Enhanced ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system

Development background

Due to rising crude oil prices and energy demand, the oil, natural gas, and petrochemical industries are making major capital investments and a flurry of large-scale plant construction projects are underway. As the size of plants increases, there is a corresponding requirement to reduce the cost of constructing and operating these plants. Accordingly, the cost of introducing plant safety instrumented systems also needs to be lower and better operability is required.

For these reasons, users of the ProSafe-RS have requested a remote control function, enabling systems to be constructed more efficiently, as well as a feature that allows for closer integration with the CENTUM CS3000 R3 and gives operators added flexibility.

As part of ongoing efforts to deliver optimum solutions to users, Yokogawa has added the requested features to the ProSafe-RS.

Enhancements

1. New optical remote control function
   This new function enables ProSafe-RS controllers and I/O modules to be connected via optical fibre. At large plants and facilities used in oil exploration, refining and transport, an instrument panel room and safety controller have traditionally been installed in each process to monitor and operate safety field devices. The optical remote control function of the latest ProSafe-RS allows the instrument panel rooms and safety controller to be installed at one location in a plant for remote monitoring and operation.
2. Closer integration with CENTUM CS3000 R3
   From CENTUM CS3000 R3 operation and monitoring terminals, safety field devices such as emergency shutdown valves can be operated. Operators can thus use safety field devices under normal plant operation conditions and enjoy greater flexibility in plant operation. In addition, connection with the CENTUM CS3000 R3 via Vnet/IP, one of the latest control networks, is possible.
3. Greater connectivity with other systems
   It is now possible to connect the ProSafe-RS system via HART communications with the Plant Resource Manager (PRM) software used to manage the information of field devices throughout a plant, thereby optimising device management and maintenance.

About ProSafe-RS

When combined with the CENTUM CS3000 R3, ProSafe-RS can integrate the process control and safety systems that up till now have been constructed separately because of differences in their functions and roles. A third party has certified that the ProSafe-RS complies with the IEC61508 international safety standard and is approved for applications up to safety integrity level (SIL) 3. The ProSafe-RS has been well received by users, having been adopted in more than 100 projects since its release in February 2005.

By addressing the latest user needs in the strong-selling ProSafe-RS, Yokogawa will seek to expand its safety instrumentation business.

IEC61508 is a standard for the functional safety of electric and electronic devices developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The Safety Integrity Level (SIL) is a measure of the reliability of a safety instrumented system, and has been defined by the IEC. SIL3 means that the risk factor for a plant has been reduced to a range from 1/1000 to 1/10000.

Major target applications are emergency shutdown systems and fire protection systems in plants in the oil, natural gas, petrochemical, and other process industries