01-11-2019

Yokogawa releases ProSafe-RS R4.05.00

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the November 15 release of ProSafeTM-RS R4.05.00, an enhanced version of the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system. ProSafe-RS is a core product of the OpreXTM Control and Safety System family.
 
This latest version of ProSafe-RS has a new processor module with a Yokogawa-developed microprocessor unit (MPU). The use of an MPU of Yokogawa’s own design eliminates the risk of disruptions caused by the modification or discontinuation of commercially available electronic components, ensuring the long-term stable provision of the ProSafe-RS system. This version of ProSafe-RS also features an enhanced function that speeds up system software upgrades and a new function that helps to prevent operator errors. With these enhancements, Yokogawa is helping to ensure safety and sustainable operations over the entire lifecycle of plant operations, from commissioning to end of service.
 
Development Background
In energy and basic materials industries such as oil, gas, petrochemicals, and chemicals, safety instrumented systems are employed to safely initiate emergency plant shutdowns whenever abnormal conditions are detected, and they operate as part of fire and gas systems that annunciate alarms and initiate appropriate countermeasures if toxic gas, flame, smoke, or heat is detected.
 
Rapid advances in technology are resulting in ever shorter lifecycles for the electronic components that are used in a wide variety of products and systems. When an electronic component is modified or discontinued, suitable substitutes are not always commercially available. As a result, manufacturers must often make significant modifications to their products and systems. To address such needs and thereby ensure long-term support over the entire plant lifecycle, Yokogawa has developed components of its own design for ProSafe-RS and has added and enhanced functions that help to keep software up to date and improve operability.
 
Enhancements
1. New S2CP471 processor module with Yokogawa-developed MPU
The safety control station (SCS) is a key component of the ProSafe-RS system, and the processor module is a vital component of the SCS. For this latest version of ProSafe-RS, Yokogawa has developed the S2CP471 processor module. To ensure long-term product lifecycle support (supply chain security) and thereby contribute to the overall stability and continuous of plant operations, Yokogawa has incorporated a new MPU of its own design in the S2CP471 processor module.
 
2. Ability to upgrade system version while SCS is operating
To ensure safe plant operations, the latest security features and other countermeasures must be implemented in plant system software. Until now, upgrade to the SCS software could normally once every few years because it required a shutdown of related production processes. This new version of ProSafe-RS features an enhanced SCS program upgrade function that is able to perform software updates online, thus allowing the upgrade to a new version without suspending production processes. This allows greater freedom when choosing when to perform system software upgrades. A risk assessment is required before using this new function.
 
3. Addition of forced I/O viewer to improve visibility and plant awareness
The forcing of I/O and application program variables is usually necessary during plant commissioning and maintenance. Identifying whether specific I/O and program variables are forced has required consultation with safety engineers or the looking up of such information in work shift documentation. To improve efficiency and accuracy, Yokogawa has developed a forced I/O viewer that enables operators to identify at a glance for all SCSs whether an I/O or variable has been forced. This enhances visibility and awareness so that appropriate countermeasures can be taken whenever an unsafe situation occurs.
 
About ProSafe-RS
Released in February 2005, the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system helps prevent accidents by detecting abnormal conditions in plant operations and initiating emergency actions such as a plant shutdown. An independent certification body has certified that ProSafe-RS can be used in SIL3 applications by TÜV Rheinland. Unlike conventional safety instrumented systems and distributed control systems, which are regarded as having different roles and functions and operate separately, the operation of ProSafe-RS and the CENTUM integrated control system can be fully integrated. ProSafe-RS is highly regarded by users and has been installed in more than 2,600 projects worldwide (as of October 2019).
Extending its efforts to support the safe operation of plants mainly through the ProSafe-RS safety integrated system, Yokogawa has been proposing services, systems, and software packages comprehensively under the concept of Sustainable Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Solution, which is a systematic consolidation of approaches to support continuous and safe operations, since 2017.
 
Major Target Markets
Oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, electric power, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, food, iron and steel, water supply and wastewater treatment, non-ferrous metals, metal, cement, etc.
 
Applications
For use in fire and gas systems (FGS), burner management systems (BMS), and emergency shutdown systems (ESD)
 
About OpreX
OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa's IA products, services, and solutions. This brand comprises the following five categories: OpreX Transformation, OpreX Control, OpreX Measurement, OpreX Execution, and OpreX Lifecycle. One of the product groups that make up the OpreX Control category is the OpreX Control and Safety System family, which includes the ProSafe-RS. With its various OpreX Control solutions, Yokogawa is able to quickly effect changes for its customers that lead to a transformation in such areas as management and operations, and provides highly reliable control technology that ensures high efficiency, high quality, and safe and stable plant operations.
 
With the OpreX brand, Yokogawa will deliver integrated solutions that address specific needs and support its customers in their efforts to transform and grow their businesses.