SIL-CAPABLE ACTUATORS
PROTECT THE BASF PLANT
News / JULY 18, 2018
SIL-capable actuators protect the BASF plant
The AUMA actuators in the SIL version meet the highest safety requirements as part of the safety flue gas treatment system at the BASF incinerator plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Actuators act on the dampers of flue gases that protect the so-called GRP cleaners from too high temperatures in case of emergency.
In order to prevent damage to the cleaning system, BASF has implemented a protection scheme that, as a complete system, meets the strict requirements of SIL 3, in accordance with IEC 61508. The system includes three flue gas dampers with AUMA electric actuators that are TÜV certified for use in safety systems up to SIL 2 / SIL 3 (SIL 3 for redundant system architecture).
The first flue gas chimney is installed upstream of the flue gas purification device. If illicitly high temperatures are detected, the actuator closes the dampers to stop the flue gas entering the cleaning system. The other two actuators open the dampers that drain the flue gas into the
emergency chimney. For maximum safety, these dampers are arranged in the “string2oo2” configuration (two of two).
Actuators are operated using a safety PLC. It gives a signal to the ESD input of the actuator (emergency shutdown), whenever there is a need for a safety procedure. To ensure maximum system availability, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides power to the emergency actuator. Each actuator automatically performs a partial valve test (PVST) once a month to ensure that the actuators and dampers are working properly.
For several years, functional safety and SIL have been a priority for AUMA as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electric actuators. The company offers an extensive product range covering safety requirements up to SIL 3.
