MTL has built an outstanding reputation over the last 40 years for supplying quality products into some of the harshest environments known. We are proud to stand as a world leader in Intrinsic Safety, and continue to lead the way in the development of FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus components for harsh and hazardous areas. MTL’s training courses have been an industry staple for many years, and continue to provide best in class education for technical managers, engineers and technicians involved in the design and selection of apparatus in the process industries.

Why Choose MTL Training?

• You will be trained by experienced industry professionals
• The training is grounded in the practical application of Intrinsic Safety and FOUNDATION™ fieldbus technology
• First-class supporting materials are provided for each learner
• MTL has an establish track record in offering education courses
• Each course uses a variety of media, to provide a stimulating learning environment

Course Portfolio

• Foundation Fieldbus principles and physical layer design - 1 Day (UK only)

The growth in open architecture in the process automation industry is founded on standard fieldbuses, providing fast, reliable digital communication between field devices and control systems. This course will describe the fundamental principles of FOUNDATION™ fieldbus networks, and how they are implemented in control systems for safe and hazardous area applications. There will be an emphasis on the design of the fieldbus ‘physical layer’, meaning the electrical field network comprising power supplies, wiring and field device couplers. This course will be of particular relevance to anyone involved in the selection, specification, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fieldbus networks, particularly in a hazardous environment.

Subjects covered include:
Comparison between 4-20mA and fieldbus instrumentation systems
Benefits and drawbacks of fieldbus networks
Introduction to the fieldbus ‘physical layer’
Foundation Fieldbus definitions
Boundary conditions for designing reliable networks
Permitted cable types
Consideration of failure modes
Designing networks for high availability
Fieldbus power supply types, redundancy and failure signaling
Field device couplers
Taking fieldbus networks into hazardous areas
Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO)
Fieldbus Barriers
Physical layer diagnostics

• Introduction to ATEX, DSEAR and Intrinsic Safety - 1 Day (UK only)

Where process industries involve explosive atmospheres, the ATEX Directives - 94/9/EC (100a) and 1999/92/EC (137) lay down European legal requirements. In the UK, the implementation of these directives is found in the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulation (DSEAR), which details the user’s responsibilities. The application of the directives to installation practice are described, with reference to relevant Codes of Practice. The course also introduces the main international systems for the classification of flammable atmospheres, and describes the principles and implementation of the Intrinsic Safety protection method for electrical apparatus. The seminar is targeted at electrical and instrument engineers, technicians and other qualified engineers involved in the safe use of intrinsic safety equipment and its use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Subjects covered include:
Explosions - causes and consequences
Review of current practice in Gas, Temperature and Area Classification
Behaviour of flammable gases and vapours
The ‘fire triangle’, flammable range, vapour density and flash point
Combustible dusts and powders
IEC standards applied to electrical equipment
Understanding ATEX terminology
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)
ATEX Equipment protection Levels (EPLs)
Equipment marking requirements
The Ex methods of protection: Ex d, Ex e, Ex p, Ex n, Ex m, Ex o, Ex i, Ex q
Origins and principles of Intrinsic safety
Shunt zener diode barriers and galvanically isolating interfaces
Simple Apparatus
Applications of Zener barrier and isolators – worked examples
Installation, earthing, maintenance and inspection requirements
Safety parameter matching and cable parameter calculation

The courses are conducted by arrangement at premises of your choice, and to suit the individual needs of your workforce. Courses are charged per day, plus the trainer’s travel and subsistence costs where applicable. There is no fixed limit on the number of learners, but a maximum of 20 is recommended to encourage participation. Multiple-choice questions will be used where appropriate to check participant understanding of key subject matter.

To find out more about MTL training, costs or to arrange an on-site course please contact:

Philip Saward, Training & Technical Consultant, Tel: +44 (0)1582 407272 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)