Pepperl+Fuchs’ Dynamic Arc Recognition and Termination System (DART) is a dynamic power supply and control system for intrinsically safe Fieldbus installations that dramatically increases the power available to field devices in explosion hazardous areas控制工程网版权所有, while maintaining intrinsically safe energy levels.

“The DART system supplies enough power to support nearly as many devices as is typically supplied in non-hazardous areas控制工程网版权所有, and can also power field instruments that previously required more power than intrinsically safe solutions could oFFer,” says David Hohenstein, department manager, Pepperl+Fuchs. “What makes DART so unique is that it enables process users to fully benefit from the advantages of fieldbus technology in hazardous area applications such as ensuring system availability and lowering total cost of ownership.”

During normal operation, a DART power supply feeds full nominal power of 8 to 50 W, exponentially more power than the approximately 2 W normally permitted in intrinsic safety environments. Should a fault occur, the potential spark remains non-incendive. DART detects the resulting change in current and immediately switches off the power supply. In microseconds, energy from the electrical system is reduced to a safe level, robbing a spark of the energy needed to ignite hazardous gases.

When applied to fieldbusCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, DART provides a much higher intrinsically safe power allowance to the trunk so that the segment can support up to 32 devices per segment, the maximum permitted. This capability reduces capital costs by eliminating excessive fieldbus infrastructure. Moreover, cable lengths as long as 1,000 m are possibleCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, opening up many application areas to fieldbus technology while maintaining intrinsic safety requirements for all devices and cables, including the trunk line. The higher device count per segment eliminates having to design complex network topologies with many sub-segments控制工程网版权所有, each requiring its own power supply, junction boxesCONTROL ENGINEERING China版权所有, and barriers.

For more information, visit the Pepperl+Fuchs website.