SIL Solver® Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there any special software requirements for SIL Solver?

No. SIL Solver® was developed using Microsoft Foxpro and does not require any additional software beyond Microsoft Windows (see 2). SIL Solver® installs in a user-designated directory and operates independently of other software. It does require administrative rights to the installation computer. SIL Solver® uses Crystal Reports as the print interface, so the computer registry must be accessed to register the license for Crystal Reports. If SIL Solver® is installed without administrative rights, the software will install and will operate normally from a user standpoint, but the reports will not print and error messages will be displayed to the user when the print function is used. After installation, the user must have read, write, and modify rights to the SIL Solver® folders (see 5).

2. What versions of Windows does SIL Solver support?

SIL Solver® 5.53 and higher has been tested and successfully installed on Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP.

3. Are there any special hardware requirements for SIL Solver?

A CD-ROM drive is required for installation. Any of the above Microsoft operating systems can be used.

4. Does SIL Solver support mirrored drives?

No. While the majority of SIL Solver® features will function normally, the rename and delete features do not work properly when SIL Solver® operates using a mirrored drive. SIL Solver® must be provided with a physical address for the program and data files.

5. Can the user designate where SIL Solver is installed?

Yes. During installation, the user can select either the default location or another location. The folder specified during installation establishes where SIL Solver® program files are located. This folder location cannot be changed without re-installation. Projects created in SIL Solver® are stored as folders in the default directory C:/silsolver_projects. The user can change this default directory by selecting Options Project Files Location on the project screen (main screen) in SIL Solver®. The function and project reports are generated by Crystal Reports, which uses templates that are located in c:/SILSolver_CR_Dbf. This template location may not be changed by the user. The user must have read, write, and modify rights to the SIL Solver® program directory, the project files location (default - C:/silsolver_projects_, and c:/SILSolver_CR_Dbf.

6. Does SIL Solver support a multi-user installation?

No. Version 5.53 only allows a single user to access the project folders at any one time.

7. How much data is in the device database?

  There are currently over 150 devices in the SIL Solver® database. The database has grown through the years and users with active licenses receive the new device data with program updates. Users may also add their own devices and failure rate data.

8. Where does the data come from?

The data is based on a variety of sources. The data accounts for typical process application impact, covering the full boundary of the device. Each data sheet contains a listing of the data sources that were reviewed during the data selection process. The database is a compilation of failure rate data from various industry published databases, end-user data, and manufacturer data.

9. How does SIL Solver® do the calculations?

SIL Solver® is an advisory software package intended for use in the verification of the Integrity Level (IL) of Protective Instrumented Functions (PIF) commonly encountered in the process industries. SIL Solver® utilizes reliability block diagrams with fault tree equations to calculate the probability to fail on demand (PFDAVG) and the MTTFspurious of the protective instrumented function (PIF). SIL Solver® uses globally recognized standards and methodologies to analyze components, subsystems, and PIFs, such as:
ANSI/ISA 84.00.01-2004 (IEC 61511)
ISA TR84.00.02
IEC 61511
IEC 61508

SIL Solver® is capable of analyzing PIF with multiple input and output elements, tested at different intervals, including partial stroke testing of valves, and includes a device failure rate database.