Pierre Magnetics Introduces Second Generation PSS 4000-R System

Fifteen years ago, the first generation PSS 4000 system was launched. As an automation system, the PSS 4000 system is able to include a variety of functions such as safety control, specification control, visual diagnosis, etc. It is especially suitable for medium and large-scale automation applications. PSS 4000-R is a series launched by PILZ Pilmagnet specifically for the railroad industry, and it can easily assist users in the railroad industry in completing the SIL level of the structure. Recently, PILZ PILZ released the second generation of the PSS 4000-R system.

The second-generation PSS 4000-R system, whose hardware roots are derived from the second-generation modular distributed remote I/O system PSS u2 and developed, thus it has the similar appearance, installation methods and features of the PSS u2 distributed I/O system. The second generation PSS 4000-R header module is capable of expanding all PSS u2 I/O-R expansion modules.

One PLC completes the SIL4 architecture

The naming convention of the second generation PSS 4000-R system header modules is “very different” from that of the PSS u2 system. Currently introduced the first PLC head module for the PSS u2 P42 F/S -R, where P42 represents the head module with program processing functions, F/S indicates that it supports both safety functions and support for standardized functions, -R indicates that the head module belongs to the railroad industry-specific. So the second generation of PSS 4000-R head module and the first generation of head module compared to what is updated?

The second generation of PSS 4000-R system is the most important feature is that only one set of PLC to complete the railroad architecture SIL 4. The first generation of PSS 4000-R system requires two sets of independent PSS 4000-R PLC to complete the structure of the 4 to take 2. Between the two sets of PSS 4000-R PLC requires users to self-programming code to complete their respective input and output point signals interspersed with the verification (as shown below), design, design, and so on. The program code between the two sets of PSS 4000-R PLCs needs to be programmed by the user to check the signals of the respective input and output points (as shown in the figure below).

After selecting the second generation of PSS 4000-R system, everything has become very simple, because only one set of PLC can complete the railroad architecture SIL4. Due to the selection of PSS u2 hardware module root, from the system structure design point of view, the second generation of PSS 4000-R system compared to the first generation to save nearly 50% of the width, and PSS u2 input and output modules are more integrated, 12.5mm width of the module can be accomplished on the maximum of 8 points of the safety input or safety output, 16 points of non-safety inputs or non-safety outputs, so the second generation of PSS 4000-R system is very simple, because only 1 set of PLC can complete the railway architecture SIL4. Therefore, the second generation PSS 4000-R system occupies less space in the electrical cabinet.

The PLC header module of the second generation PSS 4000-R, the PSS u2 P42 F/S-R, has an integrated Ethernet interface for program uploading and downloading, troubleshooting and communication with other devices. The communication functions include secure communication with other PSS 4000 stations using the SafeyNET p protocol, as well as non-secure communication with third-party devices using the Modbus/TCP, TCP, and UDP protocols.

SIL architecture features of the second-generation PSS 4000-R system safety solution

● SIL 4 architecture features

1. only 1 safe PLC module required

2. redundant 2 input circuits require their own independent power supply module

3. 2 redundant output circuits require separate power supply modules.

SIL 3 architecture features

1. Only one safety PLC module is required.

2. Input and output circuits must be redundant.

3. 1 power supply module can be shared by the entire system.

SIL 2 features

1. Only one safety PLC module is required. 2.

2. Input and output circuits do not require redundancy.

3. 1 power supply module can be shared by the whole system.