Introducing the next major step in Hazardous Area Instrumentation. Banner Engineering announced an entirely new way to collect analog, digital and temperature information in hazardous areas. The system is a state-of-the-art combination of wireless communication, battery technology and intrinsically safe electronics.
There are two main methods used today when collecting signals within a hazardous area: explosion-proof and intrinsically safe. Traditional explosion-proof methods work well and have been used reliably for decades, but they are expensive and the installation is time consuming. In the last 20 years, intrinsically safe barriers have reduced some of the cost and complexity. But, both methods still add a significant level of complexity and expense when compared to similar efforts in non-hazardous areas. Now, Banner has taken the next major step to make sensing within the hazardous area as easy as possible. This new method moves the intrinsically safe power supply from the control room to the wireless transceiver. This is the DX99.
The DX99 Battery-Powered Node is a revolutionary combination of 3 key state-of-the-art technologies combined in a single housing:
1) Battery-based power supply
2) Robust wireless technology for mission critical data
3) Intrinsically safe operation
Battery-based power supply: The DX99 Battery-Powered Node uses a liquid lithium battery to produce an intrinsically safe power source for the transceiver and an external third party sensor. When combined with low-power consumption sampling electronics, we have a standalone unit that can operate for up to 10 years on a single battery.
Robust wireless technology: The DX99 wireless technology is a highly tuned subsystem designed with industrial process applications in mind. It was designed to be reliable, secure and provide diagnostic information about the status of the wireless link. It has also been designed to transmit and receive up to 3 miles (150mw with 2dBi antenna) while consuming very little power. Every DX99 has a built-in site survey mode that allows the installer to quickly and easily determine the quality of the wireless link.
Intrinsically safe operation: This is the key that allows the DX99 to provide intrinsically safe power to the sensor directly within the hazardous area.
The DX99 is designed specifically for a certain class of applications. The following conditions are key indicators that you should consider the DX99:
Retrofit or upgrade situations: When trying to retrofit, repair or upgrade existing equipment, using wireless is a clear winner. The DX99 and sensor can simply be added to the existing system with no need to run new conduit or pull new wires. The addition of a DX99 Battery-Powered Node and a sensor can be completed in a matter of a few hours. Simply “peel and stick” where you need it.
Low power situations: Because the DX99 is battery powered, it works best in applications that have low sensor power requirements, including Thermocouple, Digital, and RTD, Loop powered sensors.(Typical process applications) The DX99 uses a sampling technology to reduce power consumption. The system can be configured to sample each second. However, if you sample every 16 seconds instead, the battery will last 16 times as long. The DX99 can also be configured to report on change of sensor-state or only in an alarm condition. This further conserves power and extends battery life. Proper sampling will provide 10-year battery life.
Mobile applications: The DX99 Battery-Powered Nodes are wireless and work ideally in mobile situations and can eliminate umbilical cords running back to the control panel.
Long distance applications: The DX99 can transmit up to 3 miles with a standard 2dbi antenna and range may be further extended using Banner’s serial data radios with no compromise to the determinism established within the star topology of the network.
