Description

The AI6700 TRICONEX is a high-integrity, 16-channel analog input module designed exclusively for the Triconex Tricon V9/V10/V11 safety instrumented system (SIS). As a critical component within the world’s most trusted triple modular redundant (TMR) platform, this module is engineered to acquire critical process variables—such as 4-20mA current loop signals—from field transmitters with unparalleled reliability and accuracy. The fundamental design philosophy of the TRICONEX AI6700 module is to ensure continuous, fail-safe operation in the most demanding industrial environments, preventing catastrophic events by providing the control system with flawless data for its safety logic solvers.

Each of the 16 input channels on the AI6700 TRICONEX module is independently isolated and undergoes simultaneous processing by three separate internal circuits. This TMR architecture means that the module can detect and compensate for a hardware fault in any single channel without compromising the integrity of the entire input data stream. The module hot-swappable, allowing for online maintenance and replacement without necessitating a shutdown of the protective system, thereby maximizing plant uptime and operational safety. The TRICONEX AI6700 is not just an I/O module; it is a vital safeguard, transforming raw field data into a robust, fault-tolerant information stream for the Tricon controller.

AI6700 TRICONEX

Technical Specifications

Parameter Name	Parameter Value
Product Model	AI6700
Manufacturer	TRICONEX (Schneider Electric)
Product Type	16-Channel Analog Input Module (4-20mA)
Number of Channels	16
Input Signal Type	4-20 mA; 0-20 mA (software selectable per channel)
Resolution	15 bits (including sign)
Accuracy	±0.1% of full scale
Input Impedance	250 Ohms
Isolation	Channel-to-Channel and Channel-to-Bus isolation
Module Power	5V DC (from the chassis via backplane)
Operating Temperature	-40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F)
Communication	Tricon High-Speed Bus (TRIBUS)
Safety Certification	TÜV Rheinland certified to IEC 61508 SIL 3

Main Features and Advantages

The AI6700 TRICONEX module offers a suite of advanced features that underscore its position as an industry leader in safety-critical I/O. Its core advantage is the Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) architecture. Each analog input signal is processed by three independent isolation and conversion circuits, with the results voted upon by the main processor to eliminate any single point of failure. This design ensures continuous, accurate data availability even in the event of an internal component failure. Furthermore, the module provides extensive onboard diagnostics, continuously monitoring for open circuits, short circuits, and out-of-range signals, providing early warning of field device or wiring issues.

Enhanced system availability is another critical benefit. The AI6700 TRICONEX is fully hot-swappable, allowing technicians to remove and replace the module without de-energizing the chassis or interrupting the control logic of the other modules. This drastically reduces maintenance windows and minimizes process downtime. Each channel is individually software-configurable within the TriStation suite, offering flexibility for signal type (4-20mA or 0-20mA) and alarming. The robust construction and wide operating temperature range of the AI6700 TRICONEX ensure reliable performance in harsh plant environments, from freezing arctic conditions to scorching desert heat.

Application Field

The AI6700 TRICONEX analog input module is deployed in industries where process safety is non-negotiable and system failure is not an option. In the oil and gas sector, it is indispensable for emergency shutdown (ESD) systems on offshore platforms and in refineries, where it monitors critical pressures, levels, and flow rates to initiate safe shutdown sequences. Within the petrochemical and chemical processing industries, the AI6700 TRICONEX forms the sensory backbone of burner management systems (BMS) and fire and gas (F&G) systems, acquiring data from gas detectors and temperature sensors to prevent explosions and fires.

It also plays a vital role in power generation, particularly in nuclear and turbine control systems, where it ensures equipment operates within safe parameters. The high availability and fault tolerance of the AI6700 TRICONEX make it equally critical in pharmaceutical and other batch processing applications that utilize safety interlocks to protect both personnel and high-value assets. Essentially, any application requiring SIL 2 or SIL 3 certification for the reliable acquisition of analog process variables is a prime candidate for the robust performance of this module.

AI6700 TRICONEX

Related Products

3008: Tricon Main Processor, the brain of the TMR system that executes the safety logic.

3503E: Tricon Power Supply, provides redundant and conditioned power to the chassis.

DO8302: 32-Channel Digital Output Module, used to execute safety shutdown commands to field actuators.

DI8303: 32-Channel Digital Input Module, used to read discrete signals from field switches and initiators.

AO8401: 8-Channel Analog Output Module, provides analog control signals to field devices like control valves.

4351B: Communication Module for connecting the Tricon to a DCS or plant network via Modbus.

9662-810: Tricon V11 12-slot chassis that houses all the modules, including the AI6700.