Yokogawa’s linear heat detector DTSX1 is on the EN54-22 certification finishing line. Ralf Cymontkowski talked to the experts Cordova Cordova (Product Manager DTSX) and Toru Fukuzawa (Head of DTSX Solution Planning Section – both to be seen in conversation on the cover of this article) about it.
Ralf Cymontkowski: Dear Mr. Cordova, together with our R&D department you as former European product manager were strongly involved in the EN54-22 certification of our DTSX1 for fire detection market. Could you please briefly explain what is DTSX1?
Cordova Cordova: DTSX1 is a fiber optic based linear heat detector that specifically developed for fire prevention and fire detection on large facilities and infrastructure such as conveyor belt, cable tray, building, and tunnel.
Could you please tell about the background of the DTSX1 product development. For whom is DTSX1 developed for?
Cordova: Yokogawa has served its customer using its industrial fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTSX200/DTSX3000) since 2011 for upstream and industrial application such as well temperature monitoring, leak detection, furnace monitoring, and power. Along the time, more and more customers expected that we serve also fire detection application where a product to be used must be specifically certified for it. Additionally, direct hardwired communication to and from the fire alarm panel mostly preferred to be integrated, while the DTSX200/DTSX3000, which usually coupled with Yokogawa control system and SCADA system using Modbus or SFTP protocol, needs additional module to fulfill it. Therefore, we designed our linear heat detector DTSX1 as our new product line that able to provide such capability with only single product.
What are the product features of this linear heat detector?
Cordova: DTSX1 has the longest capability for fiber optic base fire detection, up to 16 km distance with scan time of only 5 seconds. It also has 4 fiber optic channels, thus one single product can monitor 4 different areas with the maximum distance. The capability to provide pre-alarm—if there is a temperature anomaly within the monitored facility which may lead to fire breakout—will give benefit to our customer to prevent the breakout. Thus, a lost and damage due to such situation can be avoided. 64 digital outputs can be provided not only for alarming, but also can be used to directly triggered fire suppression system based on zone when it is needed. Also, 1.000 virtual zone for alarm indication can also be configured to serve our customer with flexibility in their equipment or facility monitoring. In addition, our GA10 data acquisition software has been prepared with a special adjustable template to visualize DTSX1 operation. Most important, DTSX1 will be EN54-22 certified by VdS, a notified body based in Germany that well known worldwide for its high quality certification process. Therefore, our customer can install our DTSX1 with high confident level.
Dear Mr. Fukuzawa, as the Head of DTSX Solution Planning Section from our headquarter, you lead the DTSX1 product development. Since the DTSX1 is part of the OpreX strategy, could you please briefly explain what is OpreX?
Toru Fukuzawa: The OpreX brand name stands for excellence in the technology and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa’s IA products, services, and solutions.
Dear Mr. Cordova, part of the EN54-22 certification are i.a. the optical fibers. Are these optical fibers produced by Yokogawa inhouse?
Cordova: Yokogawa is focusing on its core business with high quality and reliability control, sensing, measurement and software product. As fiber optic is not our core business, we are partnering with LEONI, a global player high quality fiber optic supplier, to provide our DTSX1 with fiber optic cable as its sensing device. Yokogawa and LEONI works together since 2017 to design high quality and robust fiber optic cable for fire detection purpose. Hence a combination between DTSX1 and the cable from LEONI will provide our customer with highly reliable fire prevention and fire detection system.
What is required to purchase and to install the heat detector?
Cordova: DTSX1 is designed for wall mounting installation without the need of system cabinet which will give benefit for our customer of its small foot print and easy installation. Therefore, once our customer would like to install it by authorized system integrator, as a minimum effort, they just need to open the box we delivered, prepared the fiber optic cable with E2000/APC connector, and 24VDC power supply. Although the PC or laptop is needed for a configuration and calibration, it can be disconnected when DTSX1 already running.
For our clients generally maintenance is very important. Which maintenance procedures should be considered?
Cordova: DTSX1 is designed to have self-diagnostic, a log file about system operation and failures are presented in this downloadable file. While the alarm related with fire detection itself such as fiber breakage can be seen directly from DTSX1’s LED indication. A calibration related with its measurement only needed when there is a change in fiber optic cable configuration. Shortly, DTSX1 is a plug and play device with very minimum maintenance effort.
Which application areas are used?
Cordova: DTSX1 will be certified for EN54-22 class A1N, A2N which is for room protection such as civil constructions (building, tunnel, parking garage, etc.) and class BN which to be used on an equipment with maximum typical temperature up to 65 0C.
Thank you very much Mr. Cordova for your effort during the DTSX1 product development and certification process. How will Yokogawa continue to position itself with DTSX1 in your opinion?
Cordova: Yokogawa continuously improve its portfolio to provide reliable Industrial Automation product and service to its customer by Co-Innovation. We are positioning ourselves to be a partner for our customer in answering future challenge in increasing their competitiveness while at the same time optimizing their business process. Yokogawa DTSX portfolio is designed to be ready for providing our customer continuous monitoring system that will increase their facility safety, availability, reliability, and integrity. Hence, optimization can be realized.
Dear Mr. Fukuzawa, also many thanks for time. I would like to give you the last word and thanks again to both of you.
Fukuzawa: DTSX1 is an excellent example of our co-innovation strategy. We really appreciate the teamwork of the European colleagues and my R&D team. We are currently planning to receive the EN54-22 certificate around august this year. Our vision statement is “Process Co-Innovation”, which means we are creating new value with our clients for a brighter future. With DTSX1 we are providing to our clients an added value asset to increase plant safety and to reduce operational costs. Thank you very much.
Optical fiber temperature sensing leads to competitive advantages thanks to integration
