i.safe MOBILE focuses not only on the durability of its products, but also on safety and supports its customers with durable mobile devices for use in potentially explosive environments.
In order to meet the high requirements and expectations of our customers and the industry, the IS530 and IS930 device series, which have been on the market since 2019/2020, will be upgraded to Android 14 in 2025. The upgrade will enable security patches and bug fixes to be provided until 2027, thus extending the life cycle and useful life by a further two years. The devices remain up to date and are compatible with standard applications.
The international industry and innovation leader thus offers customers of the IS530.x smartphone and IS930.x tablet the unique opportunity to receive security patches and bug fixes for a full 8 years after the market launch in 2019/2020.
In order to provide customers with a standardized platform for device management and update management, all Android-based i.safe MOBILE smartphones and tablets will be upgraded to Android 14 in the course of 2025. The upgrades will start with the IS540.x at the end of 2024, followed by the IS940.x in the first half of 2025. The IS530 and IS930 series will then be upgraded to Android 14 later in 2025.
As part of its long-term product strategy, i.safe MOBILE is offering security updates and bug fixes for the IS440, IS540 and IS940 device series until 2030.
The complete list of security updates can be found here.
Leaking valves in industrial plants not only lead to loss, safety risks and possible contamination and pollution, but also result in high economic costs. Therefore, valves in hazardous areas require regular proper inspection and preventive maintenance to ensure their functionality.
i.safe MOBILE has launched the world’s first 5G smartphone for ATEX and IECEx zone 1/21. The intrinsically safe mobile device, which was also developed for use in 5G campus networks, offers companies great flexibility thanks to its wide range of possible applications, especially in the automation sector.
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VALVE SENSE The first mobile and smart inspection system for leakage detection in valves for hazardous areas Leaking valves in industrial plants can not only lead to loss, safety risks and possible contamination and pollution, but also result in high economic costs. Therefore, valves in hazardous areas require regular proper inspection and preventive maintenance to ensure their functionality.
The software and AI-controlled intelligent mobile inspection system for the Ex area from i.safe MOBILE and its strategic partner Senseven bases on the established method for acoustic emission and combines it with new, digital features. Thus, high-quality acoustic emission sensors are connected with the 5G smartphone IS540.1 and a specially developed app. In case a valve is leaking, energy is released emitting acoustic signals in the high frequency range. These waves are detected by the acoustic emission sensor and the signals are sent to the IS540.1 smartphone for processing. Sensevens’s app developed for leak detection in valves supports the user so that inspection processes can be realized in the ongoing production process without any expert knowledge. Time-consuming training of employees performing the inspections and production downtimes are avoided thanks to an easy and user-friendly handling of the app. Algorithms and artificial intelligence automatically evaluate the sensor signals and provide immediate results.
Regular in-house maintenance with Valve Sense ensures that valves only have to be replaced if they are really leaking, and functioning valves can be continued to be used. Testing is performed during the ongoing production process – without having to test the functionality of the valve on an external test bench. This avoids production standstills and ensures considerable cost and time savings at the same time.
The measured data is automatically stored in a cloud-based platform – the back office – to use it for further analysis and reporting. There is no internet connection necessary during inspection. Automatic data synchronization takes place as soon as the smartphone receives a signal. The back office thus becomes a central location where maintenance personnel can get an overview of all critical valves and identify needs for action.
https://www.isafe-mobile.com/en/inspection/valve-sense for more info & videos
FUNCTIONAL & compatible Intrinsically Safe loop approvals. April 2024
Gary Friend PrEng CEng MIET, Managing Director, www.extech.co.za
About the Author: Gary Friend graduated with BSc Eng in 1990 in South Africa. He moved to UK in 1992 and worked at MTL Instruments (Now Eaton MTL) for 11 years from 1995 to 2006 in various technical roles. He manages Extech Safety Systems (since 2006) in South Africa.
With all the focus on IS loop approval, it is easy to forget to check that the loop will function correctly. i.e. will the field device have sufficient power (voltage & current) to operate over the full process range. It is not unusual to see a 4-20mA loop to function from 4-16mA but as the current increases, the IS barrier/isolator (interface) output voltage drops & cable voltage drop increases causing the transmitter to run out of juice. From a safety perspective this is extremely concerning as most processes have HIGH trip points. Do not rely on ATL/NB for operational functionality when an Ex certificate is issued
IS Compatibility: An IS Interface has maximum output parameters for voltage, current and power Uo Io Po. These are maximum output values under fault conditions (known as Safety Description or entity parameters). The field device has maximum input parameters Ui Ii Pi which are the maximum values that can be applied under fault conditions and still be safe.
NOTE: FOR A SAFE LOOP ALL THREE INPUT PARAMETERS MUST BE GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO OUTPUT PARAMETERS (Ui ≥ Uo, Ii ≥ Io, Pi ≥ Po)
Based on this assessment, a system certificate or loop approval can be documented.
To complete the system loop approval, the electrical stored energy (cabling) needs to be considered. This will be covered later in the paper.
An IS Interface has operational parameters:
Figure 1. Zener Barrier
Figure 2. MTL5521 Solenoid / Alarm driver
Figure 3. MTL5541 Analogue Input isolator
NOTE: BARRIER/ISOLATOR SAFETY PARAMETERS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS.
A field device has minimum voltage for functionality and the current requirement will depend on device type (AI something like 12V at 20mA; DO something like 40mA at 12V).
The problem that occurs is:
To achieve IS compatibility with longer cables requires a higher Co value. To achieve a higher Co value, you need to reduce the Uo value. Reducing the Uo value invariably reduces the operating voltage.
Using a lower working voltage with longer cables results in a lower voltage available to power the field device. This increases the risk that the field device will not function correctly.
NOTE: For any instrumentation loop, you need to ensure that field devices function 100%. This is in addition to the IS loop compatibility. To check the operating voltage at the end of the cable you need to look at the supply voltage from the IS interface at the highest loop current. The voltage drop across the current limiting resistor & drop over the full length (impedance) of the cable needs to be taken into account.
Consider a typical 4-20mA loop. The IS interface has Co & Lo. The transmitter has internal capacitance and inductance, so maximum cable capacitance Cc = Co-Ci and maximum inductance Lc = Lo-Li. (Alternatively the cable L/R ratio can be used). The cable specification typically gives pF/m and µH/m allowing a calculation of maximum cable length.
Table A.2 in IEC/SANS 60079-11 lists the maximum capacitance Co against output voltage of the IS interface. IEC/SANS 60079-11 also state maximum inductance Lo. In the example below the maximum electrical stored energy that can be connected to the hazardous area terminals is Co 83nF Lo 4.2mH. The transmitter has internal capacitance and inductance, so maximum cable capacitance Cc = Co-Ci and maximum inductance Lc = Lo-Li. In this example, 63nF will limit the cable length to around 500m.
The output working voltage is 16.V at 20mA so no issue functionally.
Figure 4. Instrument located in Zone 0 (or 1).
If longer cable runs are required, there are effectively 3 options:
Use an IS Interface with lower Uo value which will allow a higher Co value.
If the field device is in zone 2, then use Exic
If the gas group is IIB or IIA, then the loop can be certified as such instead of IIC.
Further info:
The MTL4541T was designed for longer cable runs with a Uo 22V Io 167mA. The lower Uo allowed for a higher Co 165nF for IIC zone 0/1 effectively doubling the cable length. (Note that lower Uo translates into higher Io which affects IS compatibility). The important issue here though is that the working voltage drops to 14V at 20mA. 2.5V lower & with longer cable (higher impedance) means lower voltage for the field device.
Exic is a technique used for zone 2 (Intrinsic Safety in normal operation) where the 1.5 safety factor is NOT required (as shown in Table A.2 of IEC /SANS60079-11). This applies to cable parameters allowing for longer cable runs. For a standard 24V loop (Uo = 28V) this changes the Co from 83nF to 270nF allowing a significantly longer cable. The Co value is defined in IEC/SANS60079-11: 2011 Table A.2 page 96 .
Figure 5. Permitted capacitance.
So any barrier/isolator with 28V safety description will have Co = 83nF (Zone 0/1; IIC). In practice this parameter will define the maximum allowable cable length.
Figure 4 shows an Exia loop with a Co=83nF. The max cable capacitance Cc=63nF. With a typical cable capacitance of 95nF/km, this would equate to maximum cable of 660m.
If the loop were Exic, the Co=272nF, so Cc=252nF would theoretically allow 2.5kms of cable. i.e. no longer a limiting factor. (The limiting factor in this system is likely to be operating voltage at the end of the cable being high enough for the transmitter to work). In Figure 6, you can see that the system is Exic certified.
Figure 6. Field instrument in Zone 2.
For new installations requiring long cable runs, classifying the area as zone 2 (if possible) offers significant benefit.
For upgrading existing plants where the new loop approval fails, reclassify the hazardous area as zone 2, use Exic and make use of the higher Co value.
Exic offers some flexibility, particularly for upgrades of old control systems, improving safety.
Now let’s consider the impact of Gas Group on cable lengths for IS loops. If it is not possible to use Exic (i.e. zone 0 or 1), note that Gas Group also offers an option. Gas Group classification impacts Co parameter as per Figure 7
Figure 7. Co values
Remember Figure 4: Ex ia loop with a Co=83nF; Cc=63nF; typical cable capacitance of 95nF/km = maximum cable of 660m.
If the loop was Ex ic, the Co=272nF, so Cc=252nF would theoretically allow 2.5kms of cable. i.e. no longer a limiting factor.
If the Gas Group were IIB, Co=650nF which also eliminates capacitance as a limiting factor.
Please note that SANS/IEC60079-25 has statement below. In my opinion though, using either makes very little difference as the cable length will be limited by working voltage, not by cable capacitance.
Conclusion:
A non-functional but compatible IS loop could potentially be more dangerous!!
Always check the operation beyond the full process range (e.g. -10% to 110%) to confirm sufficient power to the field devices.
For installations requiring long cable runs, classifying the area as zone 2 (if possible) offers significant benefit. Alternatively, if there is an option for IIB (or IIA) classification, this offers a way of allowing longer cables lengths.
This allows for higher operational voltage with less risk of the field device not functioning correctly.
Dear Ms Ruiters, as discussed with Mr Laubscher at the SAFA Ex Steering committee on 7 February, please find an urgent request for assistance
SANS 60079-15:2022 (Ed. 5.00), Explosive atmospheres Part 15: Equipment protection by type of protection n was released in September 2022. In this version of the standard, the protection concept “ExnA” was removed and put into SANS 60079-7:2019.
This effectively means that ExnA products can no longer be used in South Africa.
They are however still able to be used elsewhere in the world under the ATEX directive and IECEx system, due to these schemes allowing a grace period (which can be a few years) and the use of both the current and the immediate past standards respectively. Evidence of this can be found at https://www.en-standard.eu/search/?q=60079-15.
South Africa continues to import equipment certified under both the ATEX directive and the IECEx System. Europe (ATEX) seem to be having issues with ending the harmonization period for EN60079-15 Ed. 4 as other similar updates have had shorter harmonization periods (e.g. ExnL)
SAFA respectfully requests that the Department of Employment & Labour takes urgent action (exemption and/or Gazetting as discussed in the Ex Steering committee meeting 7 Feb 2024) for SANS60079-15:2010 Edition 4 to be continued for imported equipment with a valid and current IECEx or ATEX certificate. This should continue until Europe withdraw it & end the harmonization period.
