The Safety Integrity Level (SIL) is a key standard defined by EN 50129 for the railway industry, essential to ensure that operations and infrastructure meet the highest safety standards. This risk assessment system is used to quantify and mitigate potential hazards, covering levels ranging from SIL 1 for minor hazards to SIL 4 for those that may have catastrophic consequences. Eletech, the Head of the International Design Centers of Elemaster, R&D division of the Group, uses this methodology to ensure that its rail systems and solutions comply with the highest safety standards.
Overview of Safety Integrity Level
The SIL is an indispensable reliability measure for control systems which affect safety. The detailed explanation of the different levels is given below:
- SIL 1: Applied to systems with minimal risks, where safety requirements are moderate and a higher failure rate can be tolerated.
- SIL 2: Used for systems with moderate risks that require greater reliability and more frequent safety checks than SIL 1.
- SIL 3: Required for systems that handle high risks, with very stringent safety requirements and almost no tolerance for errors.
- SIL 4: Reserved for the most critical systems, where failure could have devastating effects. These systems require the highest safety measures and an extremely high level of reliability.
These levels indicate a progressive increase in the reliability required and preventive measures necessary to protect passengers and personnel effectively.
SIL Implementation in Rail Safety Projects
Eletech applies the principles of Safety Integrity Level in all its railway projects that require functional safety to ensure maximum integrity and reliability of the devices. The following are some case histories that illustrate the implementation of these standards in technological solutions:
- Hydrogen Safety System (SIL 2)
Designed for the hydrogen train, this device follows strict SIL2 safety standards, certified by TUV as Independent Safety Assessor (ISA). Uses advanced accelerometers to shut off the hydrogen valves in case of abnormal accelerations. This component is a practical example of how SIL2 is used to ensure safe operation in innovative rail vehicles.
- Dock Door Control System (SIL 3)
Rated SIL 3, this system ensures that the train and platform doors are perfectly aligned before opening, using advanced sensors to detect obstacles and prevent dangerous openings. The design of hardware and software minimises the risk of failure. This project highlights the use of SIL3 to improve passenger safety in high-traffic railway stations.
- Wheel Slip Monitoring System (SIL 4)
Representing the highest level of SIL safety, this system is essential to prevent accidents, especially under adverse operating conditions. With a dual channel safety architecture, it continuously monitors the condition of the train wheels, alerting the control centre in the event of anomalies. This example demonstrates the implementation of SIL4 to maintain a high level of operational safety in trains.
SIL Flex: A Versatile Approach to Functional Safety
SIL Flex is a versatile approach developed by Eletech for functional safety. These platforms are configurable from SIL 0 to SIL 4, allowing the system to be adapted to the specific safety requirements of various projects. The idea is to design and develop a platform that can be configured at different levels of SIL, meeting the required safety requirements. This method works as a template, allowing you to easily adapt devices to the required standards. Thanks to this flexibility, SIL Flex optimizes development times and guarantees high safety standards, making the systems more adaptable to different design needs.
The Crucial Role of SIL for Safety in the Railway Sector
Eletech’s adoption of Safety Integrity Level (SIL) represents a fundamental pillar of safety in the rail industry. Through advanced solutions such as SIL Flex, the company stands out as a leader in functional safety, offering devices that can be configured from SIL 0 to SIL 4. This flexibility allows systems to be adapted to the specific safety requirements of projects, optimising development time and maintaining a high standard of reliability.
From fire detection to wheel slip monitoring, the effectiveness of SIL in Eletech’s solutions is evident, ensuring compliance with the industry’s high safety standards. These systems not only mitigate operational risks, but also improve the overall safety of the railway infrastructure, protecting passengers and daily operations.
In conclusion, Eletech’s commitment to integrating SIL into projects not only sets new benchmarks for reliability and safety in rail transport, but also demonstrates an ongoing ability to innovate and adapt to emerging challenges in the sector. With SIL as the technological foundation, the company confirms itself as a strategic partner for the realisation of safe, state-of-the-art railway solutions.