May 5, 2010 – Honeywell released a universal remote input/output (I/O) module for its Safety Manager platform that allows process manufacturers to integrate more safety devices while simplifying installation and maintenance. The module is ideal for facilities that must cost effectively integrate equipment, units and other assets that are spread over wide geographic distances, such as upstream applications in the oil and gas industry. Plants and refineries use Honeywell’s safety instrumented system (SIS) platform, Safety Manager, to safeguard their assets and to share critical safety information with process control systems. This system helps them prevent and mitigate safety incidents by protecting equipment, monitoring for fire and gas leaks, and maintaining critical control functions.
The new Safety Manager Remote I/O module is designed for the harsh environments often found with offshore oil and gas operations, such as production platforms located in extreme-climate regions ranging from Alaska’s North Slope to tropical Southeast Asia. An increasing focus on safety has led to a greater need for SIL (Safety Integrity Level) certified systems that can operate in these tough environmental conditions. Safety Manager’s remote I/O module is SIL-3 certified, by Germany-based TÜV Rhineland.The new remote I/O module also helps facilities more easily expand the Safety Manager solution. Typical I/O modules are wired to control rooms through junction boxes and marshalling cabinets.
By using soft-marshalling, the Honeywell Safety Manager Remote I/O module can be mounted close to the process unit, eliminating the need for marshalling panels and homerun cables, and reducing or eliminating field auxiliary rooms. This reduces overall capital expenditure, engineering cost as well as maintenance costs.Each channel of the universal, high-density module can individually be configured to a different IO type, which provides manufacturers more flexibility to design safety solutions that are uniquely suited to their needs.
“Process manufacturers today are paying closer attention to safety applications for a variety of reasons, including a growing list of regulations and widespread reports of industrial safety incidents around the world,” said Erik de Groot, Marketing Manager for Honeywell Process Solutions. “Adding universal, remote I/O to Safety Manager gives process manufacturers an alternative and cost effective path to comply with these regulations, and to prevent or mitigate an incident.”Honeywell International is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.
Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry.