Valve Safety Module with Isolated Safety and Operation Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety control systems in valve systems are compromised by operation control communication interfering with safety control communication, leading to potential malfunctions and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A safety module with separate safety and operation control processing circuits and dedicated communication pathways, using distinct wiring and protocols to isolate and protect safety control communications, ensuring independent operation and safety control functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If safety control communication and operation control communication share the same internal bus line, then device complexity is reduced, but safety control reliability deteriorates due to interference from operation control communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into two separate communication lines: a first communication line dedicated to safety control communication and a second communication line dedicated to operation control communication. This segmentation isolates safety-critical signals from non-critical operation signals, preventing interference while maintaining system functionality. The separation ensures that operation control communication cannot adversely affect safety control communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication module as an intermediary component that interfaces with both the safety control processing circuit and operation control processing circuit. This intermediary manages the separate communication lines and coordinates data flow between different control functions, enabling independent communication pathways while maintaining overall system integration.
2Reliability
If separate communication lines are used for safety control and operation control, then safety control reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into distinct first and second communication lines, each dedicated to specific control functions. This segmentation provides clear signal separation where safety control signals travel through the first communication line without interference from operation control signals on the second line, ensuring reliability while maintaining manageable system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module serves multiple functions by handling both safety control communication and operation control communication through its interface with separate processing circuits. This multi-functional component manages the complexity of having separate communication lines while providing a unified approach to system integration and data management.
3Device complexity
If safety control and operation control share the same processing circuit, then device complexity is reduced, but safety control reliability deteriorates due to potential interference
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuit is divided into separate safety control processing circuit and operation control processing circuit. This segmentation ensures that safety control operations are handled by dedicated processing resources that are not subject to interference from operation control processing, thereby maintaining high reliability while keeping the overall system architecture organized and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module acts as an intermediary that connects both the safety control processing circuit and operation control processing circuit to the control device. This intermediary manages data flow and coordination between the separate processing circuits, enabling independent operation while maintaining system integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety module (10) which is able to communicate with a control device (30) that performs a control on a valve module (12), is equipped with a safety control processing circuit (70) that carries out a safety control communication with the control device (30), a connection terminal (72) and a safety control wiring (74) used in the safety control communication, an operation control processing circuit (82) that performs an operation control communication with the control device (30), and outputs an operation control signal, an input terminal (84) to which the operation control communication is input, an operation control wiring (86) used in the operation control communication, and an output terminal (88) which is able to output the operation control signal to the valve module (12).