The latest Durban branch Technology Evening was kindly sponsored by Emerson Rosemount. Colin Malan, ably assisted by Fanie Ferreira who provided clarity on some detailed technical matters, gave an interactive and interesting presentation titled: ‘Wireless – Imagine the possibilities’.
John Owen Ellis (right) thanks Colin Malan while Fanie Ferreira looks on.
Colin currently holds a position with Emerson Rosemount as a business development manager with responsibilities for southern and east Africa. He has been in the process measurement industry since 1980 and has held various positions including sales and product management on a wide variety of products including flow, pressure, temperature and level.
The presentation showed how wireless solutions combined with pervasive sensing techniques can deliver more field intelligence. Through the use of WirelessHart, installation costs can be reduced, process blind spots eliminated and access to difficult to monitor locations provided. A wireless network structure was described showing the field devices, gateways and control system interfacing. Its ability to deal cost effectively with the ‘scope creep’ that is unfortunately so common in projects today was highlighted, as was the ability for existing 4-20 mA transmitters to be adapted to wireless. The meeting was made aware of the present limitation of this technology to non-critical control, and also to a present limitation in response rate of approximately one second. Colin also showed a fascinated audience how widely wireless communication has already entered our everyday lives without most people even being aware of it contributing to their safety or comfort, this being particularly true in the case of motor vehicles. As evidenced by the questions afterwards, this was an interesting and timely presentation on a topic becoming more and more pervasive.
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