The global importance of SIL (Safety Integrity Level) has grown substantially in the oil, gas, petrochemical and other process industries over the past 10 years. It makes sense, therefore, that devices such as gas detectors demonstrate their suitability and competence in line with the latest SIL2 third-party certification. The GD1 from Teledyne GFD first entered the market in 2011, with well over 1600 units since deployed at oil and gas exploration and production (Onshore & Offshore) companies throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.
With its new certification, the GD1 is now suitable for use in systems with SIL2 requirements. To provide some context, a typical SIL1 ATEX-certified gas detection device/system will come complete with the functional approval according to IEC 60079-29-3 and require regular maintenance. The step from SIL1 to SIL2 requires built-in automatic self-testing of hardware components and this means reduced maintenance intervals for sensors, and reduced downtime. GD1 complies to the latest standard for IEC 60079-0:2017 (IECEx).
Teledyne GFD´s innovative GD1 will prove attractive in SIL2 applications for several reasons, not in the least its unique customized tunable laser diode that eliminates environmental effects from sun, rain or fog. In fact, the GD1 can operate with up to 98% obscuration, boosting overall site safety. This capability is possible because light emitted by the detector travels as a cone from one point to another, rather than as a conventional straight beam. In other words, the beam expands after transmission and is almost a meter in diameter when it reaches the receiver mounted 75m away. It can therefore penetrate harsh environments that competitor solutions may find difficult.
With its fast and fail-safe laser, the GD1 performs real-time dual automatic calibration and automatic proof testing, thus eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing maintenance costs. Further advantages include low power consumption (15W), very long lifespan and a high sampling/detection rate of 8000 times per second thanks to its ultra-stable optomechanical construction. All these added-value characteristics mean the GD1 can replace multiple standard detectors to cover the same risk, making it an economic solution that typically demonstrates real cost savings within two years
