Beckhoff Automation
EtherCAT terminals (photo), part of this company’s ELX Series, have been expanded through the addition of analog input terminals with built-in TwinSAFE SC (single channel) technology. These highly compact I/O terminals can be used to support applications in hazardous areas that require both intrinsically safe signal transmission and functional safety capabilities. TwinSAFE SC technology enables the use of standard signals for safety-related tasks in any network or fieldbus system. The data from a TwinSAFE SC terminal are fed to the TwinSAFE Logic, where they undergo safety-related multi-channel processing. The data originating from different sources are analyzed, checked for plausibility and submitted to a “voting” process. The space-saving ELX Series terminals, which are certified to be in compliance with the specifications of the ATEX and IECEx standards, enable direct connection of intrinsically safe field devices through Zone 0/20 based on an integrated safety barrier. The new terminal designs now make it possible to achieve new safety levels, enabling users to harness all process data existing in a system for safety technology, such as to monitor the speed of fans in areas sensitive to explosion hazards, for example. — Beckhoff Automation LLC, Savage, Minn.