SIL Verification made easy. SIL Solver™ integrates an extensive
device database with simplified fault tree analysis
equations to provide you with an SIL Verification
tool that delivers significant cost and time savings.
The software runs on a Microsoft Windows platform
and utilizes standard user interface components. When
you use the software for the first time, you will
be surprised by how simple it is to enter and review
data and how quickly you can model a safety function.
In addition to calculating the probability to fail
on demand average (PFDavg), the mean time to failure
spurious (MTTFs) is also calculated, ensuring that
you are designing a system that not only meets your
target SIL, but also your reliability goals.
This software product has been rigorously tested
both by the developers and users in the field. The
product uses an internationally recognized method
for calculating the PFDavg and MTTFs, enabling you
to focus on modeling your safety function rather than
the equations or calculations. The percent contribution
of each device or subsystem to the overall calculated
values is provided, so that design weaknesses can
be easily identified and corrected. This makes you
more productive by allowing you to fully concentrate
on the system being analyzed, reducing mistakes.
An
extensive database. The SIL Solver™ database
includes the most commonly utilized components for
safety function design. Whenever possible, real data
representing the device in the user application environment,
installed-state is utilized instead of manufacturer’s,
shelf-state data. The password-protected database
includes safe and dangerous failure rates, common
cause factors, diagnostic intervals, and diagnostic
coverage for a wide range of devices, including switches,
transmitters, relays, PLCs, solenoids, valves, motor
contactors, and more. Each datasheet lists the assumptions
made relative to the device boundary, diagnostics,
common cause factor, and data source. If you want
to add your own data, dropdowns and check boxes make
it easy to create datasheets within the standard default
database or in a project-level database.
Database Users Group. All SIL Solver™ users become members of the database users group,
establishing acceptable values for various devices
on a confidential basis. As our understanding of the
data evolves, you will be kept abreast of these changes.
This provides a high level of assurance that the data
used in any analysis meets the latest good engineering
practice.
Safety
function documentation. The hardest part
of SIL Verification is determining what is required
to achieve safe operation. For this reason, SIL Solver™ includes the ability to document the process hazard,
defining what must be mitigated, and the safety function
description, detailing how this hazard is mitigated
from input measurement to output action. The description
may also include other actions taken as part of the
overall interlock strategy. Documentation sources
are important, so SIL Solver™ provides space for listing
reference documents. Safety function targets can be
entered into SIL Solver™, allowing it to immediately
indicate when the target values have been met. Tabs
are provided for ease of navigation between the input,
logic solver, support system, and action screens.
Using SIL Solver™ is as easy as defining 1) what you
are measuring, 2) what is the decision you are making,
and 3) what actions you are taking to complete the
model of your SIS design.
Safety
function modeling. Safety functions can consist
of multiple components or multiple subsystems. Each
device datasheet is accessed using drop downs, which
allow you to view the PFDavg and MTTFs data for various
architectures and testing frequencies. This enables
you to select a combination that works the first time
rather than having to perform numerous calculations
to find the optimum solution. If questions arise concerning
data assumptions, the datasheets are easily accessible
from the safety function screen.
Safety
function summary. You see the overall result,
but do not understand how you got there? Well, simply
click on the summary tab to look at the overall safety
function results. Once you have completed your model,
you can use this screen to get a snapshot of how each
subsystem is affecting the overall results. This enables
you to rapidly zero in on where your best opportunities
are for improvement of the safety function design.
Consequently, SIL Solver™ allows you to optimize the
design and testing interval in order to reduce lifecycle
costs, while meeting operational and safety performance
targets.
SIL Solver Frequently Asked Questions
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Assistance is never far away. You
are not on your own when you buy software products
from SIS-TECH Applications. You can
contact us for support or even take an in-depth training
course on the fundamentals of SIL Verification.
