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Hardware configuration of redundant safety integrated systems

Control system architects apply redundancy selectively to ensure reliability while minimizing false alarms. Here are some of
the strategy options.
Robert I. Williams, PE

09/06/2013

Major SIS (safety integrated system) suppliers provide redundant hardware configurations based on 1oo2 (1 out of 2), 2oo3,
and 2oo4 configurations. Applications of these configurations are designed to provide a higher level of reliability while
simultaneously reducing the probability of a false trip shutting down a process unnecessarily. This discussion reviews how
these strategies developed along with a more detailed overview of two redundant architectures commonly applied in
large-scale SIS SIL3 applications, namely 2oo3 and 2oo4 as applied by Triconex and Honeywell, respectively. These two major
companies are only examples as similar hardware configurations are available from other SIS suppliers.
This article is intended to stimulate discussion among users, SIS suppliers, and other SIS specialists to elaborate on the
benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of implementing redundant hardware configurations according to relevant SIS
industry standards from ISA and IEC. You can comment directly via the online version of this article, or by sending an email to
the address listed at the end.
Basic SIS architectures
1oo1This simplex output circuit opens the switch to de-energize a device and
shut down the process safely. A safe failure would be when the contacts open
without an associated cause, which would be classified as a nuisance trip,
although such events are not without their associated negative economic impact
to the overall process facility. A dangerous failure would be if there was indeed a
safety shutdown cause and the contacts failed to open. This could be caused by
the contacts overheating and becoming welded closed over time. Such events
are classified as a failure to operate on demand.
1oo2This approach has two outputs (1oo1) in series for a normally closed and
energized safety shutdown circuit. Only one SIS has to function to initiate a
shutdown. Of course, having two 1oo1 circuits presents twice the potential for
nuisance failures, which can be costly due to the loss of revenue for the overall
process. However, it is a safer circuit since only one contact is required to
operate to achieve a shutdown and the probability of a dangerous failure to
operate on demand is much lower. Neither 1oo1 nor 1oo2 has any ability to
reduce the potential for nuisance trips.
2oo2These systems have the outputs wired in parallel, requiring both contacts to operate to initiate a process shutdown.
Since the contacts are in parallel, nuisance trips by one contact are reduced but the obvious drawback that a dangerous failure
scenario with a failure to operate on demand is doubled, making the system less safe.
As shown, 1oo2 and 2oo2 systems are not effective for both safety and nuisance trips. However, with SIS diagnostics it is
possible to achieve higher availability, referred to as 1oo2D (1oo2 with diagnostics).
Advanced SIS architectures
2oo3 or triple modular redundancy (TMR) safety shutdown systems are commonly used for applications such as gas turbines,
compressors, and heaters, and for individual process units within a refinery such as coker units.

As the switching diagram indicates, the 2oo3 configuration requires two out of three channels to agree as to the output even
though the third does not. If only one SIS trips its pair of contacts, one of the legs still remains closed so the process continues
operating. Real-world systems use a voting scheme to maintain the output when 2oo3 are OK but the third signal is ignored,
allowing for a fault tolerant configuration.
Industrial implementations
Industrial installations built by major vendors use more sophisticated versions of these basic concepts. The examples that
follow describe how two major SIS suppliers provide diagnostics to achieve their 2oo3 and 2oo4 configurations. These
companies and other suppliers that use similar approaches can provide the necessary data for MTBF (mean time between
failures), failure probabilities, and failure to operate on demand, which serve as the basis for a complete SIS implementation
evaluation.
2oo3 as triple modular redundancy
Every Trident system contains three main processors (MPs), A, B, and C. Each MP controls a separate channel and operates
in parallel with the other two. A dedicated I/O control processor on each MP manages the data exchanged between the MP
and the I/O modules. A triple I/O bus, located on the base plate, extends from one column of I/O modules to the next using I/O
bus cables.

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The I/O control processor polls the input modules and transmits the new input data to the MPs. The MPs then assemble the
input data into tables, which are stored in memory for use in the voting process. The input table in each MP is transferred to its
neighboring MP by the TriBus. After this transfer, voting takes place. The TriBus uses a programmable device with direct
memory access to synchronize, transmit, and compare data among the three MPs.
If a disagreement occurs, the signal value found in two out of three tables prevails, and the MPs correct the third table
accordingly. One-time differences which result from sample timing variations are distinguished from a pattern of differing data.
The MPs maintain data about necessary corrections in local memory. Built-in fault analyzer routines flag any disparity and use
it at the end of each scan to determine whether a fault exists on a particular module.
Three good, four better?
One question to consider is whether the double redundancy concept, 2oo4, is considered safer or less safe due to the
additional hardware and software involved.
Quadruple modular redundant (QMR) architecture is based on 2oo4D (D refers to inherent diagnostics) voting, dual-processor
technology in each QPP (quad processor pack, the processing module of the system). This means that it is characterized by
an ultimate level of self-diagnostics and fault tolerance.
The QMR architecture is realized with a redundant controller. This redundant architecture contains two QPPs, which results in
quadruple redundancy making it dual fault tolerant for safety.
The 2oo4D voting is realized by combining 1oo2 voting of both CPUs and memory in each QPP, and 1oo2D voting between the
two QPPs. Voting takes place on two levels: on a module level and between the QPPs.

Process safety practitioners have debated the pros and cons of various redundant configurations for many years. Have you
been part of these conversations? Send us your thoughts on maintaining the delicate balance of overall safety vs. avoiding
nuisance trips. Comment online or send me an email.
Robert I. Williams, PE, is a systems consultant specializing in DCS, SIS, and SCADA. Reach him at riwilliams1@cox.net
Key concepts:
An effective safety system must shut down a process in an emergency, but it must also avoid causing false alarms.
Safety system architects have created a variety of strategies, some simple and some complex, to accomplish these two
key tasks.
ONLINE
http://iom.invensys.com
www.honeywellprocess.com
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