Product category:
Safety and Safety Systems
News Release from: Castell Safety International | Subject: Castell interlocks
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 August 2003
Castell stops scientists getting stuck
in a bunker
Mechanical and electrical interlocks from Castell are safeguarding the operation of a state-of-the-art 30-million-volt cyclotron at the University of Technology in Holland
Mechanical and electrical interlocks from Castell are safeguarding the operation of a state-of-the-art 30-million-volt cyclotron at the Eindhoven University of Technology The cyclotron is managed by Acctec BV, a commercial arm of the university, and is used for the production of radioisotopes for Amersham Health, a major supplier of radiopharmaceutical products
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 14 Aug 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Simple system prevents accidental lock-in
Castell has developed a simple, cost-effective device to prevent the accidental or malicious closing of machinery access doors while an operator is still inside a dangerous area
Telecoms site protected by trapped-key interlocks
Trapped-key interlocking systems from Castell are being used to ensure that maintenance work at the world's largest satellite earth station carries no risk to personnel
The cyclotron has been installed under supervision of the Radiation Protection Department, which is responsible for the enforcement of Dutch legislation on radiation safety at the university campus.
The entire safety system for the cyclotron has been reviewed in three risk assessment sessions, one of which was devoted to the hardware involved.
Due to their robust design and reliability, Castell interlocks were selected to meet the high standards required.
Safe operation of the cyclotron is ensured by a PLC-based interlocking system from Honeywell Safety Management Systems, which has been designed and built according to IEC 61508 guidelines.
The system regulates conditional access to the vault that hosts the cyclotron, as well as to vaults containing the production equipment.
At the interface between the PLC system and the building hardware, Castell switches and interlocks are used to implement search procedures of vaults, motor operation of 2.5m-thick concrete vault doors and locking of the doors.
The Castell keys, which are released after the vaults have been sealed and the concrete doors moved into position, are then trapped in the central control panel of the PLC safety system, allowing start-up of the cyclotron.
• Castell Safety International: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
