Towards the close of 2023, Pepperl+Fuchs won recognition from the South African Flameproof Association when it was presented with a Technical Innovation Award for its Ethernet-APL Rail Field Switch.
The Ethernet-APL rail field switch enables IIoT access to field instrumentation in hazardous areas.
The South African Flameproof Association is a non-profit organisation and an association of companies involved in explosion prevention and protection techniques for equipment used in hazardous atmospheres in industry and mining. It has a membership of close to 200 companies, which include end users and manufacturers, as well as relevant government bodies and equipment testing houses. The Technical Innovation Award is presented for an innovative product or system designed for use in hazardous areas.
Ethernet-APL
Ethernet-APL is the ruggedised, two-wire, loop-powered Ethernet physical layer that uses 10BASE-T1L plus extensions for installation in the demanding operating conditions and hazardous areas of process plants. It enables the direct connection of field devices to Ethernet-based systems in a way that means process industries can benefit from a convergence of their OT and IT systems. Using a switched architecture eliminates any unwanted interference between devices connected to the same network.
Ethernet-APL adopts technologies and options already established in the field of process automation. These include the proven trunk-and-spur topology, enabling it to power up to 50 field devices with up to 500 mW each. Widely used and established cable infrastructures are specified to support the migration in brownfield installations to Ethernet-APL.
Ethernet-APL Rail Field Switch - first of its kind
The Ethernet-APL rail field switch is the first switch combining current communications technologies with Ethernet-APL – enabling IIoT applications in real time in hazardous area. It allows users in process plants to deploy Ethernet beyond the control room and throughout the plant, for the first time. The field switch provides seamless, transparent and simultaneous access to field instrumentation. It enables entirely new applications and therefore new work processes for users and how they work with instrumentation and other devices installed in the field of process plants.
This brings digital communication via two-wire Ethernet into the field of process plants and allows for easy implementation of IIoT in process automation applications. All parties involved, from the planner to the user to the maintenance personnel, are thus able to reduce risks and can increase safety, quality and yield.
The Ethernet-APL rail field switch is well suited to compact plant layouts. In addition to the performance features for IIot applications, it provides all the features typical for FieldConnex and the simple mounting of fieldbus installations, including: robustness, a wide temperature range, suitability for use in hazardous areas and explosion protection with intrinsic safety / Ex ic IIC or Ex ia IIC.
For Pepperl+Fuchs, this award from the South African Flameproof Association highlights its commitment to revolutionising data transmission in hazardous areas.
For more information visit: www.pepperl-fuchs.co.za
