Monitoring plantwide with scada is common but this has extended to larger geographic areas and even to countrywide applications. Omniflex has been involved with telemetry and data acquisition since the company started more than 35 years ago. Over this time a considerable amount of expertise has been developed to overcome the technological challenges of implementing these systems.
Maxiflex has developed networking hierarchies to accommodate telemetry and data acquisition at any level - from the plant floor or those hard to reach areas - to the plant backbone running Ethernet. Communication options like wireless in some applications, cable based in others or a mixture of the two needs to be accommodated. The ability to seamlessly integrate between the options was of prime importance. In addition, response time of the system has become a crucial component in some applications. The simple poll response mechanism proves to be inadequate for response time critical applications. Unsolicited message transmission from outstations means the network is used more efficiently, however, even this can be compromised by outstations with faulty inputs ie, a chattering relay. Multiple channel processing to data concentrators provide superior performance and increased availability of outstation information due to its architecture.
Overview of the structure from fieldbus level through to main backbone
The Data Concentrator allows multiple sub networks to be supported in concurrent mode to a higher-level network. In addition it supervises the activities on the sub networks gathering data for the supervisory systems at the highest levels above. The Maxiflex data concentrator can be configured without writing any programs or can have application software running for each sub network. Where this proves useful is where large amounts of data require collection from different register locations or many different devices on the network. To make the network more efficient, these registers or data can be compacted into contiguous registers for the supervisory system to read. This makes the network more efficient. The Data Concentrator can also store configuration data for outstations and update them automatically if the outstation CPU or I/O is changed.
Maxiflex data concentrator
The integration of many different outstation and front-end devices can be accommodated into a single system with very little effort. The system is thus suitable for many utilities industries from electrical through to water.
No power, no coverage, no problem Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Remote monitoring expert, Omniflex has delivered a remote monitoring and control solution for an impressed current cathodic protection control system, aiding local authorities in Queensland, Australia in the essential maintenance of roadside culverts.
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...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...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...Upgrading radiological surveillance systems in nuclear facilities Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Nuclear plant operators face an uncomfortable reality. Many of the control and monitoring systems still in use today were never designed to support the full operational lifespan of the facilities they serve.
Read more...Wireless radiation monitoring for nuclear defence facilities Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Gary Bradshaw, director of radiation monitoring specialist Omniflex, discusses why sitewide radiation and alarm monitoring remains one of the most complex challenges in defence environments, and how experience-led system design is critical to maintaining safety and resilience over the long term.
Read more...Remote water monitoring Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex has helped New South Wales Ports improve its ability to track water usage by installing remote monitoring to 38 water meters at its Port Kembla site, sending the data to the NSWPorts web portal.
Read more...Control and information overlay for nuclear plants Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Radiation monitoring specialist Omniflex has supported a major UK nuclear plant operator through a critical phase of its decommissioning programme, ensuring continuous safety and security monitoring as buildings were progressively de-manned.
Read more...Upgrading an outdated alarm monitoring system Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Industrial Wireless
Legacy alarm replacement specialist, Omniflex has successfully upgraded Guernsey Electricity’s MPAS90 alarm annunciator systems, which were first installed decades ago and are obsolete.
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