Rig floor PCs: portable HMIs for zone 1 on offshore platforms

Paul Boughton

For mobile use on oil and gas rigs, R STAHL presents HMI systems in an enclosure with a handle which can easily be moved from one location to another if required.

The Rig Floor PCs are designed for use in zone 1, 21, 2 and 22 hazardous areas, with the industry-specific rugged ambient conditions in mind.

The units weigh 23.6 kg. Users can configure their system from modular components, with either a Panel PC from the Open HMI ET-4xx series or a Thin Client/Remote HMI from the ET-5xx series as the basis.

Open HMIs are fitted with energy-saving CPUs from the Intel Atom series with up to 1.6 GHz, require no fan and have SSDs instead of conventional hard disks, thus making them vibration-resistant. All models provide back-up and recovery functions via their USB interface. All connection options – including those for HMA fibre optic plugs – are protected and located at the back of the Rig Floor PCs.

Optionally, the systems can be ordered with displays featuring R. STAHL’s innovative polarisation filter technology, which ensures readability even in direct sunlight. Although it is possible to boost the 15" displays to up to 1000 cd/m², they are easily readable even in direct sunlight with a luminescence of 700 to 800 cd/m².

The touchscreen systems also withstand extreme climatic conditions: heat up to 55°C poses as few problems as extreme cold down to -30°C and less. Many international certifications – in addition to ATEX and IECEx, the PCs also have DNV, UL and GOST-R certificates – mean that they can be used in practically all major regions of the gas and oil industry.

For more information, www.stahl.de                                         

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