Fiber Optic Field Barrier for Intrinsically Safe High-Speed Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial process control networks face challenges in maintaining safe and reliable high-speed communication in hazardous environments, particularly where ignitable gases are present, as existing technologies may not adequately limit electrical energy to prevent ignition while ensuring effective communication.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing fiber optic communication infrastructure with a field barrier to limit electrical energy and employ a bus system with electrical wiring for power and fiber optic cables for communication, allowing for safe and reliable high-speed data transfer between safe and hazardous areas, using either a local or external light source for fiber optic communication to minimize energy consumption and heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical energy is supplied to field devices in hazardous areas for communication, then communication functionality is enabled, but the risk of ignition of hazardous gases increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a field barrier as an intermediary device between the hazardous area and the control room. This barrier limits electrical energy transmission to intrinsically safe levels while maintaining communication functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling communication and preventing ignition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional electrical communication systems with fiber optic communication. By using light instead of electricity for data transmission in hazardous areas, the system eliminates the ignition risk while maintaining reliable communication
2Speed
If fiber optic communication is used for high-speed data transfer, then communication speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The field barrier is designed to perform multiple functions: it limits electrical energy for intrinsic safety, enables fiber optic communication, and provides isolation between hazardous and safe areas. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the high-speed communication capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If local light source is used in field device, then communication autonomy is improved, but energy consumption in hazardous area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the field device and places it in the control room. The fiber optic cable transmits light through the field barrier, allowing the field device to communicate without having its own light source, thus reducing energy consumption in the hazardous area while maintaining communication autonomy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances communication performance and reliability, maintains intrinsically safe power standards, and supports IIoT by providing additional bandwidth while ensuring safety, allowing for faster control loops and compliance with industry standards like IS and FISCO.
Implementation Method 1
a bus system to supply electrical energy across the field barrier to the at least one field device using electrical wiring and to enable communication between the at least one field device and the one or more controllers across the field barrier using one or more fiber optic cables
Implementation Method 2
The local light source can generate light for fiber optic communication, and can be operated using electrical energy which is at or below the energy threshold. The drive circuit can directly or indirectly control the local light source to generate a light signal corresponding to data for transmission
Implementation Method 3
The optical switch can modulate and transmit the light from the external light source to conduct communication over a second optical fiber from the one or more fiber optic communication cables
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided to conduct communication in a facility with equipment in hazardous and safe areas. The system includes at least one field device in a hazardous area of the facility; one or more controllers, located in a safe area of the facility, for managing the at least one field device; and a field barrier, between the safe and hazardous areas, to limit at least electrical energy, which is supplied to the at least one device, at or below an electrical energy threshold in the hazardous area. The system also includes a bus system to supply electrical energy across the field barrier to the at least one field device using electrical wiring and to enable communication between the at least one field device and the one or more controllers across the field barrier using one or more fiber optic cables.