Wofür steht SIL?

SIL (Safety Integrity Level) ist ein Maß für das Sicherheitsniveau eines Systems, das sich auf das Risiko unerwünschter Ereignisse in industriellen Prozessen bezieht. Die SIL-Skala definiert die Anforderungen an die Konstruktion, Implementierung und Wartung von funktionalen Sicherheitssystemen.

The importance of SIL safety chains in industrial processes

SIL safety chains play a key role in industrial processes where safety is an absolute priority. Properly securing technological processes against failures, accidents or explosions avoids many dangerous situations and also protects against financial losses. It is worth noting that in the event of errors or system failures, the consequences for the company can be very serious and involve not only financial costs, but also the risk of loss of health or life of employees.

Examples of the use of SIL safety chains

SIL safety chains are used in various industries. SIL devices are used in the chemical, refining, petrochemical and energy industries, as well as in food and pharmaceutical production. Each of these industries requires specific solutions that must be tailored to the needs and requirements of the production processes.

SIL levels - EN 61508-1

SIL (Safety Integrity Level) is a scale that defines the required functional safety levels of equipment in safety systems. There are four SIL levels, numbered from 1 to 4, each corresponding to a specific probability of functional failure and potential risk to people and the environment. The higher the SIL level, the greater the reliability and safety requirements of the system.

Specifically, SIL levels define the minimum requirements for the functional safety of a system, where 1 corresponds to the lowest and 4 to the highest level of requirements. In other words, the higher the level, the more likely it is that the safety functions will function correctly. The definitions of the different SIL levels are shown below:

• SIL 1: minimum functional safety requirements; used where a failure will not cause serious consequences for people or the environment
• SIL 2: higher functional safety requirements; used where a failure could cause serious injury or a small risk of death
• SIL 3: very high requirements for functional safety; used where a failure could cause serious injury or risk of death
• SIL 4: highest functional safety requirements; used where a failure could cause serious injury or death. SIL 4 is the highest level that can be achieved and is only used in the riskiest applications such as nuclear reactors.

Correctly determining the safety levels of electronic and mechanical equipment requires knowledge of the standards and the ability to follow the risk and safety assessment procedure in practice.

JUMO safety chain devices SIL

JUMO Safety Performance is a new brand from JUMO, offering SIL qualified and PL qualified products for enhanced safety in safety applications, including SIL and PL certified devices and passive components for SIL and PL measurement chains. It includes devices such as:

• RTD temperature sensors and thermocouples: these products are certified for SIL 3 measuring chains, which means that they are highly reliable. Various types of temperature probes are available (up to 40 different types).
• JUMO dTRANS p20 flameproof encapsulated pressure transmitter: This is a process pressure transmitter that is SIL/PL certified up to SIL 2. It provides precise pressure measurement and can optionally be available in Ex ia (for hazardous areas).
• JUMO dTRANS T06 temperature transmitter: This is a multifunctional four-wire transmitter that can be mounted on a rail. It is SIL/PL certified up to SIL 2/3 and has the advantages of high measurement accuracy, universal measurement inputs and various configuration options.
• JUMO safetyM STB/STW temperature limiter: this device is an alternative to the programmable safety controller. It provides the highest safety up to SIL 3 and is also available in Ex version. This limiter enables safe process shutdown and temperature monitoring.
• JUMO dTRANS T07 temperature transmitter: This is a 2-channel temperature transmitter with HART®/Ex/SIL options. It is SIL/PL certified up to SIL 2/3. It offers reliable measuring operation by monitoring the sensor and has an accuracy of 0.1 K.

Factors influencing the selection of a suitable SIL safety chain device

In order to select the appropriate SIL level for your process, you need to carry out a risk assessment, which involves analysing your industrial process, identifying potential hazards and estimating the likelihood and consequences of each hazard occurring. Based on the results of this analysis, you can determine the level of SIL that is required to ensure an adequate level of safety.

When selecting the appropriate SIL safety chain device, several factors should be considered, including:

• The type of industrial process and the specifics of the application
• SIL safety level requirements
• The operating environment of the device (temperature, humidity, presence of chemical agents)
• Possibility of integration with other devices in the SIL safety chain
• When using JUMO products in safety-related systems, we offer assistance in assessing the installation. You can request safety-related data, such as MTBF (mean time to failure), MTTFD (mean time to hazard) and FIT (frequency of failure per billion operating hours), via the enquiry form.

Guidelines for assembly and configuration of devices

The correct assembly and configuration of devices are key to ensuring that they function correctly and are effectively linked in the SIL safety chain. Depending on the type of device, it may be necessary to carry out calibration and testing to ensure that it is operating according to SIL level requirements. It is also important to read the operating instructions and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for maintenance and service before operating the equipment.