ST9: Need to Track Absolute Positioning Safely? Think SIL3 / PL e
(Room Theater 1)
17 Oct 18
11:10 AM
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12:00 PM
Gerry Paci - Advanced Positioning Product Manager, Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. — For the past 20 years, absolute positioning has been an application solved by many technologies in many different ways. Tracking absolute position is critical for several reasons, primarily the need to ensure that product is transferred from one place to the next with reliability and constant feedback. As this application expanded into more markets (automotive, warehousing, packaging, entertainment), the need for simple absolute position changed. The requirement to have “safety” in these applications evolved. The solution for safe absolute position commonly included 2 “non-safe” sensors creatively combined. While that solution is satisfactory, one of the many downsides is the work required behind the scenes to satisfy the safe requirements. This typically includes a safety application function block in the PLC, 2 separate installations and of course the certification by the safety governing body. Today, the technology is available to remove many of the hurdles with tracking absolute position “safely.” The common question with this is “What is safely?” The easy answer is SIL3 / PL e rated Absolute Position. Typically, this high level of safety (Safety Integrity Level) cannot be achieved when using 2 non-safe sensors. This, along with the ability to only have only one sensor, is why the technology is so useful and of course revolutionary.