A major oil and natural gas company with more than 70 years' experience in natural gas exploration and production supplies over seven billion cubic metres of natural gas per year. It also imports, transports, stores and sells natural gas.
The challenge
Consumers need varying amounts of natural gas at different times. Seasonal, weekly and hourly fluctuations need to be met by the supplier. To help manage these demand fluctuations, pipeline companies often use abandoned gas mines and other underground cavities to hold small quantities of natural gas that they can quickly bring online when needed.
One example of this type of underground cavern is located in a small town in the north of Germany. In conjunction with a facility in an adjoining town, it supplies consumers around Hamburg. All of the storage facilities are state of the art and designed to meet applicable codes and regulations.
An automated process control system monitors and controls all of the operating procedures in the system, which is automatically switched off if values go above or below specified limits. Three artesian wells are used to monitor the tightness of the underground storage facilities: an increase in pressure beyond a specified value indicates that there is a fault. In the past, these pressures had to be read manually requiring frequent trips to the remote sites by the company’s technicians.
Solution
The company installed two unidirectional radio paths between the remote storage facilities and the central control station. Phoenix Contact’s Trusted Wireless I/O modules transmit the analog measured values over distances of approximately 300 metres.
Because of the distances involved, one of the locations was without power. It was integrated into the system using a Phoenix Contact Solar Interface System (SIS), which continuously powers the sensor and unidirectional radio module allowing information to be transmitted back to the control centre as required.
Since this was a European installation, the power transmission for Trusted Wireless I/O was limited by government regulations to 10 mW. To overcome obstructions and distance challenges, a 19 dB parabolic panel antenna was installed at the receiver end, the high gain creating a successful link between transmitter and receiver.
Summary and results
* The pressure of underground natural gas storage containers needed to be monitored to detect leaks.
* Trusted Wireless I/O transceiver modules were used to transmit data from remote well sites to the control centre.
* At the remote location, solar panels were used as a power supply enabling radio use without grid connection.
* The customer saved money and time to the remote locations to manually read the pressure levels.
* Leaks are identified quickly thanks to continuous monitoring.
Comprehensive protection of the network Phoenix Contact
IT in Manufacturing
In recent years, the generation of data to create ever better transparency and control of production has become a decisive competitive factor. IIoT has also contributed to more manufacturing systems being connected to IT or cloud systems. This places higher demands on access security, which Phoenix Contact meets with the Secure Edge Box.
Read more...How lighting solutions support lean manufacturing processes Turck Banner Southern Africa
Editor's Choice Industrial Wireless
The philosophy of lean principles is a big trend in the pharmaceutical industry. It emphasises using time and resources as efficiently as possible in order to reduce waste and focus on value-added activities. Here are four examples of how lighting solutions can help increase efficiency by addressing common sources of wasted time and resources in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Read more...Programmable LED indicators Turck Banner Southern Africa
Industrial Wireless Data Acquisition & Telemetry
Turck Banner is expanding its portfolio of LED lights with the robust LED indicators of the K100 series. These units improve workflow and reduce downtime through clearly communicated status information.
Read more...Decoding the world of direct part marks Omron Electronics
Data Acquisition & Telemetry
OMRON has unveiled its latest breakthrough, the V450-H ultra-rugged handheld scanner. Tailored specifically for industrial DPM reading, this innovative device sets new industry standards for durability and performance.
Read more...Green manufacturing energy conservation and emission reduction Dahua Technology South Africa
Data Acquisition & Telemetry
As a world-leading video-centric AIoT solution and service provider, Dahua is committed to improve its sustainable development capabilities and to make continuous efforts in building a greener and safer digital world by developing innovative solutions that can help conserve energy and reduce carbon emission.
Read more...Overcurrent protection for explosion-protected areas Phoenix Contact
IS & Ex
The customisable Caparoc circuit breaker system from Phoenix Contact now also offers modules for explosion-protected areas, thereby extending the range of possible applications.
Read more...Adding value in a Heartbeat Endress+Hauser South Africa
Data Acquisition & Telemetry
This Endress+Hauser technology provides enhanced measuring reliability and safety, higher efficiency in operation, productivity gains and compliance, and fewer unplanned shutdowns.
Read more...Lightning and surge protective devices Phoenix Contact
Electrical Power & Protection
The new Flashtrab-MB lightning and surge protective devices from Phoenix Contact are based on innovative triggered carbon spark gap technology.
Read more...Radio telemetry network Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Data Acquisition & Telemetry
Remote monitoring specialist Omniflex has completed a system revamp of legacy radio monitoring equipment for Lepelle Northern Water.
printer friendly version