At the last Technology Evening, Gary Friend from Extech Safety Systems presented on IS applications.
Mike Banda (right) with Gary Friend after the presentation.
Intrinsic Safety is a protection technique for safe operation of electrical equipment in hazardous areas by limiting the energy available for ignition. In signal and control circuits that can operate with low currents and voltages, the intrinsic safety approach simplifies circuits and reduces installation cost over other protection methods. Areas with dangerous concentrations of flammable gases or dust are found in applications such as petrochemical refineries and mines. As a discipline, it is the application of inherent safety in instrumentation. There are multiple ways to make equipment explosion-proof, or safe for use in hazardous areas. Intrinsic Safety is one of a few methods available and others include explosion proof enclosures, venting, oil immersion, powder and sand filling and hermetic sealing.
Gary covered the following topics:
• SANS standards adopted for the South African market.
• Surge protection in IS loops.
• Intrinsic safety applications.
• Protecting field devices.
• Running cables through IS trunking.
• Factors affecting maximum cable length for IS loops.
• Intrinsic safety in SIL loops.
• SIL levels and SIL 3 safety function.
• Analog input isolators used in safety functions.
• Functional safety interfacing.
• Mobile device application.
The branch thanks Gary for his valued and informative talk.
Introducing the 2016 committee
Mike Banda (chairman).
Gary Friend (vice chairman).
Cheryl Hird (treasurer).
Elri Klee (secretary).
Members: Andrew Bharath, Eric Carter, Ann de Beer, Steve Elliott, Kudzai Mberi, Tebogo Mulauzi, Jabulani Radebe and Alvin Seitz.
The new committee will map the way forward with regards to the operation of the branch, including the planning of events such as technical evenings, site visits and the annual golf day, details of which will be communicated in due course.
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