Remote monitoring expert, Omniflex has delivered a remote monitoring and control solution for an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) control system, aiding local authorities in Queensland, Australia in the essential maintenance of roadside culverts. This is designed to operate in the complete absence of mains power and cellular coverage.
In Far North Queensland, a vast remote region of Australia, roadside infrastructure operates in extremely challenging environments. Monsoons and seasonal flooding in these remote areas place huge pressure on culverts that are often out of sight, but essential to road safety and drainage. Such culverts are susceptible to corrosion and failure could lead to the roads collapsing.
Working with corrosion consultant Infracorr, Omniflex supplied a bespoke ICCP enclosure and control system to protect the culvert. The system, powered entirely by solar panels and using satellite connectivity, now provides continuous reporting of performance data without the need for regular site visits.
“The culvert that needed cathodic protection was several hours from the nearest town in a region with no power or network coverage,” explained David Celine, managing director of Omniflex. “This meant that traditional remote monitoring solutions weren’t viable and sending engineers to inspect the system in person would be very costly.
“During our own early site visits, access was so limited that the consultants were forced to abandon the trip altogether when the road became impassable due to flooding, not a cost-effective use of time. With galvanic anodes already in place from a previous installation that were not providing sufficient protection, an ICCP system that would extend the lifespan of the infrastructure and allow performance to be verified was urgently needed,” continued Celine.
Due to the remoteness of the site, vandalism was considered a risk factor, so the entire ICCP system was installed at the top of a pole under the solar panels, and the batteries buried in the ground in a waterproof enclosure.
Omniflex’s system used two solar-powered transformer/rectifiers for ICCP delivery and a remote terminal unit to monitor and control performance using four reference electrodes embedded in the earth surrounding the culvert. Using satellite connectivity to report back to Omniflex’s Data2Desktop platform, local authorities can easily adjust set points, access performance data and information on solar power generation, and monitor battery health in real time, reducing the need for regular in-person site inspections.
How smart signalling can transform Africa’s manufacturing future Schneider Electric South Africa
Industrial Wireless
Imagine a factory floor where humans and machines communicate in real time with issues flagged instantly, workflows adjusted seamlessly and downtime reduced to near zero. This is the reality unfolding across Africa as manufacturers embrace the next generation of intelligent signalling technologies.
Read more...Smart ICCP monitoring for safer tank storage Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Cathodic protection is critical for combatting corrosion in oil and gas infrastructure. Omniflex explores how to manage CP systems in hazardous and hard-to-reach areas.
Read more...Safety underground
Industrial Wireless
Becker Mining’s advanced Smartcom VHF leaky feeder system is engineered for dependable performance in harsh mining environments.
Read more...When SCADA meets the cloud Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
SCADA/HMI
Engineers are faced with the challenge of unifying legacy SCADA systems with modern, IoT-based data platforms. The trouble is, when hardware from multiple manufacturers and generations are all used in the same system, compatibility becomes an issue
Read more...Fanless embedded Box PC Vepac Electronics
Industrial Wireless
Industrial PC solutions provider, AAEON has introduced the BOXER-6648-ARS, its first fanless embedded box PC featuring the new Intel Core Ultra Processors range.
Read more...Safety-critical fibre optic systems in mining Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Enclosures, Cabling & Connectors
Omniflex highlights the importance of fibre optic technology in in enabling systems in the mining industry to transmit shutdown commands reliably over tens of kilometres and verify that they have been executed.
Read more...The keys to successful nuclear decommissioning Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex has published its latest sector overview exploring the challenges of maintaining critical alarm visibility and radiation monitoring during nuclear decommissioning.
Read more...Metering and telemetry solutions for water and wastewater facilities in rugged, remote areas Schneider Electric South Africa
Industrial Wireless
Schneider Electric has announced the availability of its battery-powered electromagnetic water meter, industrial Ethernet radio and RTU. These are intelligent technologies that provide the water and wastewater industry with greater accuracy, visibility and resilience.
Read more...How next-gen RTUs are connecting the dots in remote automation Schneider Electric South Africa
Industrial Wireless
In the world of industrial automation, the spotlight has recently shifted from traditional turbomachinery to the innovative capabilities of remote terminal units. These advanced devices are redefining how industries manage remote assets.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version