PROFINET over APL

Technical Details
The Value Added to PROFINET by Ethernet-APL
Knowing the key advantages of PROFINET and it’s well known broad industrial
acceptance for reliable, high- performance communication in any automation domain
combined with the new physical communication layer creates new value for the
process automation like:

 Two-wire cable
 Long cable runs
 Power and communication on the same cable
 Support of all explosion protection techniques incl. intrinsic safety
 Simple installation technology
 Reuse of existing fieldbus cable type ‘A’, which reduces cost and provides
 easy migration strategies from PROFIBUS PA to PROFINET over APL
 Resilience to electro-magnetic interference
 Support of surge protection

How PROFINET over APL differs from classic Ethernet connectivity

Ethernet-APL is an enhanced physical layer for single-pair Ethernet (SPE) based on

10BASE-T1L, as shown in the figure below.
It communicates via a cable length of up to 1000 m at 10 MBit/s, full-duplex, which is
more than 300 times faster than current technologies, such as HART communication.
It is the logical extension for Ethernet, that provides the attributes required for reliable
operation in the field of a process plant. Ethernet-APL is a physical layer that will also
support OPC-UA or any other higher-level protocol.

PROFINET over APL includes additional attributes required by process applications.

These features derive from the requirements of outdoor installations and hazardous
area protection. They follow respective IEC standards and provide interoperability
and simplicity, for example:

 2-WISE stands for 2-Wire Intrinsically Safe Ethernet. This IEC technical
specification, IEC TS 60079-47 (2-WISE) defines intrinsic safety protection for
all hazardous Zones and Divisions. For users, this includes simple steps for
verification of intrinsic safety without complex calculations.

 Ethernet-APL defines port profiles for multiple power levels with and without
hazardous area protection.

 PROFINET over APL allows wiring to screw-type or spring-clamp terminals,

thus supporting cable entry through glands. Additionally, well-defined
connector technology ensures simplicity during installation.