ethernet hazardous areas process industry

Safe Use of Ethernet in Ex Areas

Predictive maintenance: Analyze your process data up to zone 0.

Digital Process Optimization for Hazardous Locations

Update your processes to the digital era. Make your production system more efficient, identify weak points and anticipate failures before they occur.

Up to now, data has been distributed across many devices at the field level. Turck is paving the way for the evaluation of this data with its high-availability I/O system excom. Its GEN-3G Ethernet gateway provides an interface for parallel data access. In this way, you can transfer process information and meta data from the field to IT systems. There, intelligent condition monitoring algorithms transform this data into knowledge that helps you and your plant.

Tamper-proof data access

The excom Ethernet gateway is approved for installation in zone 2 Ex areas or in safe areas. It not only transmits usage data to the control system via multiprotocol Ethernet (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP). In addition to this user data, analysis data can be retrieved from the gateway by suitable network participants and transferred to outsourced IT systems.

These run in parallel over the same network. The IT system for data analysis has read authorization only. This prevents tampering with the process or control system. The systems for data analysis can be realized on premises without an external network connection or in cloud systems.

excom: The I/O solution for all Ex zones – for all markets

excom is the only high-availability I/O system in the world that consistently implements the system concept: Optimized system components are available for use in safe areas as well as in zone 2 and zone 1 (with Profibus DP). Nevertheless, users can control all zones and system parts via a DTM, EDS or GSDML and the same structure and logic. This minimizes the training requirements and increases the flexibility of operators.

excom connects I/O level and explosion isolation in one housing. This allows space-saving, central installations to be implemented in the instrumentation and control room as well as decentralized I/O solutions for installation in zone 2 or even up to zone 1 (with Profibus DP). Watch the video below to learn how excom can be used as a central data supplier for predictive maintenance – cyber-secure and highly available.

Video: Predicitve maintenance in hazardous locations

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ONE SYSTEM, ONE APPROVAL, ONE PARTNER

No re-approval required, even for extensions

The entire system is approved for the corresponding Ex areas. Users can therefore exchange or even supplement gateways or I/O cards flexibly. The operators can carry out the necessary re-evaluation of the temperature in the system housing themselves without an external test site.

excom systems are installed and wired for you in your control cabinet or individual enclosure, taking account of your specific requirements. Individual cable glands, terminals, system connectors and other components can be installed directly. Depending on the project, the factory acceptance test (FAT) can be performed directly at Turck's site. Your benefits: You only need one partner for your turnkey I/O system.

SEAMLESS CONTROL SYSTEM INTEGRATION

excom enables smooth integration into the world's most important process control systems.

Whether via Ethernet or fieldbus connection: The excom system is transparent for the full functionality of the control systems from Rockwell, Emerson, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Yokogawa or Supcon. Thanks to detailed integration manuals and worldwide support, the integration into DCS/PLC is simple and error-free.

MAXIMUM AVAILABILITY

Double is stronger – especially in the process industry.

excom supports Profinet S2 redundancy and ring topologies. Even for Ethernet protocols that do not have a native redundancy specification, excom uses its own specification to establish system redundancy, gateway redundancy or combinations of the two. This allows maximum availability to be achieved with all systems – regardless of whether or not the control systems support the respective redundancy concept.

In addition to network and protocol redundancy, excom also supports hot swapping, i.e. the replacement of all components and modules during operation. This makes maintenance work much easier.

HIGH PACKING DENSITY

Unmatched: 960 signals in a single standard control cabinet.

excom's packing density of up to 960 signals on five module racks in a standard control cabinet is unmatched worldwide. Explosion isolation is already integrated in the I/O system. Control cabinets for interface technology are thus completely superfluous, as are I/O cards in the control system. This space advantage can be decisive, especially in retrofit projects. excom can connect up to 192 binary or 96 analog signals via a single IP address.

Three module racks for 8, 16 and 24 modules ensure that the space is optimally used in every installation, whether in a single enclosure or in the large I&C control cabinet.

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION

excom Ethernet: Connecting your processes to the future.

Thanks to parallel data access, the process data of the control system can be systematically separated from analysis data. In addition to the security aspect, this architecture offers a further advantage: In terms of monitoring and optimization (M+O), your plant benefits from the short innovation cycles of the IT world and can rely on the safety and reliability of OT (operational technology).

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The entire excom system is approved for all major international markets.

Webinar Archive

Our webinar recordings provide you with the condensed specialist knowledge from the live dialogs with our experts. This gives you the option of watching the 30- to 45-minute presentations in their entirety - or jumping to the exact point in the video that is particularly important to you.

IIoT in the Process Industry

How can Ethernet be used today for data management in process plants? How is diagnostic data evaluated and displayed?

Answers to these and other questions were given on March 23 in the webinar entitled „IIoT in the Process Industry“. Jorge Garcia, Product Manager Fieldbus Systems Process Automation at Turck, presented Ethernet, data analytics and parallel cloud architectures for process plants.

Ethernet in Hazardous Areas

How can you use your field data for process optimization via Ethernet even in explosion-protected areas? Do you have to wait for the breakthrough of an intrinsically safe Ethernet standard to evaluate large quantities of data? And how can manipulation be reliably ruled out despite the Ethernet connection?

Jorge Garcia, Product Manager Fieldbus Systems Process Automation at Turck, gave answers to these questions in the webinar "Ethernet goes Ex" on September 10.

excom Ethernet: Full data access, maximum availability, absolute security.

The graphic shows the variety of installation scenarios of excom with Ethernet. Combinations of different redundancy concepts increase the availability of the plant. The connection to asset management systems, mobile terminals and various clouds can be made via Turck's encrypted cloud protocol Kolibri, OPC-UA or MQTT.

Fit for the future thanks to parallel data access

The parallel data retrieval brings IIoT into the process world. Data is diverted into a parallel IT structure below control system level. This means that the control systems and process control remain untouched. Outside the control and ERP systems, this data can be used to make valuable findings regarding component efficiency and failure probability. For example, if the running time of a valve connection increases, it may indicate corrosion or deposits. The findings from these analyses flow back into the processes at operation management level in optimization cycles.

Whitepaper: Ethernet in Hazardous Areas

Learn more about the advantages and technical challenges of using Industrial Ethernet in hazardous areas

Ethernet in hazardous areas: technology, example application and product details

Here, technology enthusiasts will find in-depth information on using Ethernet in Ex areas, a practical example and all the facts at a glance.

Ethernet in Hazardous Locations

Ethernet is only gradually becoming established in Ex areas. Visit our technology page to find out why and how you can use Ethernet for digital process optimization in explosion-protected areas today.

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Automating modular skids with Ethernet

Two things are important in modular process plants: Compactness and good interconnectivity between modules. excom with Ethernet is one of the leading systems in both disciplines.

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Space-saving Ethernet Signal Connection in the I&C Room

If the I/O level of a plant must be replaced, it is advisable to use an I/O system with integrated explosion isolation such as excom. Compared to the conventional solutions with separate explosion isolation and I/O level, excom saves a lot of space.

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Ask an Expert

Jorge Garcia and his colleagues will answer your questions about excom and industrial Ethernet in Ex areas.
Fill out our contact form and get advice.

Jorge Garcia

Product Manager Fieldbus Systems Process Automation

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#DigitalInnovationPark

Digitally designing industrial processes, controlling applications decentrally as required, and making relevant data usable are key topics in our regular Digital Innovation Park updates.

Explore the latest innovations from Turck for Industry 4.0 and IIoT.