Description

HIMA SB3073-EX: Ex-i Isolated Digital Input Module for HIMatrix Safety System

Product Description

The HIMA SB3073-EX is an intrinsically safe (Ex-i) digital input module for the HIMatrix high-availability safety programmable logic controller (PLC). This module is specifically designed and certified for use in hazardous areas (Zones 1/21 or Div 1), where the presence of flammable gases, vapors, or dust requires specialized protection methods. The HIMA SB3073-EX provides the critical interface between safety-related field devices located in the hazardous area—such as emergency stop buttons, level switches, or gas detectors—and the HIMatrix safety controller located in the safe area. It achieves this by incorporating galvanic isolation and energy-limiting intrinsic safety (Ex-i) barriers directly within the module, eliminating the need for separate external isolators. The reliable operation of the HIMA SB3073-EX is paramount for ensuring safety signals from explosive atmospheres are accurately and safely transmitted.

Product Parameters

• Product Type: Ex-i (Intrinsically Safe) Digital Input Module
• Manufacturer: HIMA
• Part Number: SB3073-EX
• Compatible System: HIMatrix Safety PLC
• Hazardous Area Certification: ATEX, IECEx for Zone 1/21 (Gas/Dust) or Class I Div 1.
• Input Type: Typically designed for Namur proximity sensors or dry contact inputs from switches.
• Number of Channels: Commonly 8 or 16 intrinsically safe input channels.
• Safety Integrity: Suitable for Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 applications per IEC 61508/61511.
• Isolation: Galvanic isolation between each field channel and between the field and the system side.
• Diagnostics: Comprehensive diagnostics for wire break, short circuit, and module faults.

Advantages and Features

The primary advantage of the HIMA SB3073-EX is its integration of intrinsic safety protection directly into the safety PLC’s I/O module, simplifying system design, reducing cabinet space, and lowering installation costs compared to using a rack of separate isolators. It provides excellent diagnostic capabilities that can distinguish between a true safe state (e.g., contact open) and a dangerous fault condition (e.g., wire short to power), which is crucial for maintaining safety integrity. The module is designed for high availability, supporting hot-swap replacement in redundant configurations. The HIMA SB3073-EX ensures that the energy transmitted into the hazardous area is strictly limited to levels incapable of causing ignition, providing the highest level of protection for field circuits.

Application Cases in Various Fields

This module is essential in industries with explosive atmospheres. In Oil & Gas platforms and refineries, the HIMA SB3073-EX reads signals from emergency shutdown buttons, gas detector alarms, and tank level switches located in hazardous zones. Within Chemical and Pharmaceutical plants, it interfaces with safety interlocks on reactor manways and solvent handling areas. For Grain Silos and Food Processing with combustible dust hazards, it connects to safety switches on conveyors and elevators. It is also critical in Paint Spray Booths, Mining, and Offshore Drilling applications.

Comparisons with Competing Products

Compared to using a standard safety input module with external Zener barriers or isolators, the HIMA SB3073-EX offers a more integrated, compact, and easier-to-engineer solution. Competing safety system providers like Triconex or ABB also offer intrinsically safe I/O modules. The HIMA SB3073-EX is distinguished by its certification for the HIMatrix system and its design philosophy deeply rooted in the process safety domain. Its main competitive edge is the seamless combination of functional safety (SIL) and physical safety (Ex) in a single, high-availability module, backed by HIMA’s focus on independent safety systems.

Selection Suggestions and Precautions

1. Certification and Zone Compliance: Verify that the HIMA SB3073-EX module’s specific certifications (ATEX, IECEx) and entity parameters (Ui, Ii, Pi, Ci, Li) are approved for the exact hazardous area classification (Zone 1, Zone 21, etc.) of your installation. This is a legal and safety requirement.
2. Field Device Compatibility: Intrinsically safe loops must be fully assessed. Ensure the connected field devices (e.g., Namur sensors) are also certified for the hazardous area and that their electrical parameters, in combination with the cable capacitance and inductance, fall within the HIMA SB3073-EX‘s allowable safe area (ia or ib).
3. Installation and Wiring: Follow Ex-i installation standards meticulously. This includes using certified and correctly installed cable glands, proper separation of IS and non-IS wiring, and correct grounding. The blue color coding for IS wiring is often required.
4. Configuration and Proof Testing: The module must be correctly configured within the HIMatrix safety application software. A regular proof test of the entire intrinsically safe loop, including the HIMA SB3073-EX, its wiring, and the field device, is mandatory to maintain the loop’s safety certification.
5. Competent Personnel: Design, installation, and maintenance of intrinsically safe systems, including modules like the HIMA SB3073-EX, must be performed by or under the supervision of personnel competent in explosion protection techniques (e.g., holding CompEx or equivalent qualifications). Never modify or tamper with the module.

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