SMART WIRELESS APPLICATIONS
Emerson’s Smart Wireless Network Helps Bord
Gáis Monitor Gas Transmission Pipeline System
in Ireland
BENEFITS
•Redundant wireless network ensures data integrity
despite the site being divided by a public road
•Cable integrity issues in Ex areas removed thereby
reducing the number of site inspections required
CHALLENGE
As well as supplying gas and electricity to the Irish market, Bord Gáis, the
state owned energy provider is also responsible for the maintenance
and upkeep of the countries natural gas distribution network. Bord
Gáis has a Mains Renewal Programme in place to ensure that the
pipeline system is the most modern in Europe. As part of the renewal
programme, a remote Above Ground Installation (AGI) located at
Middleton, near Cork, was to undergo an upgrade of its hard wired
instrumentation. Power and data cabling are usually installed in ducting
at the AGIs to protect them from the environment and from external
damage. However, burying cables can prove to be costly and time
consuming. The Middleton site has an added challenge in that it is
divided by a public road, requiring additional trenches to bury the
cables.
Bord Gáis decided to explore the possibility of installing a network of
wireless pressure and temperature transmitters at the site in order to
reduce the installation costs, but without affecting data integrity.
Although there is minimal traffic on the road dissecting the site, it was
felt that a line of sight wireless solution could not be used as the signal
may be interrupted by passing cars affecting the reliability of the
communications.
For more information:
www.EmersonProcess.com/SmartWireless
“Smart Wireless is ideal for site
upgrades where instruments and
cabling can be up to 25 years old
and in need of replacing. Installing
the transmitters is very simple as
the wireless devices simply replace
the existing analog devices.”
Frank Smiddy
Communications & Instrumentation Engineer
Bord Gáis
SMART WIRELESS APPLICATIONS
SOLUTION
Rosemount® wireless transmitters, including five measuring pressure,
one differential pressure, and one temperature have been successfully
installed and are sending measurements back to the control room via
the onsite Remote Terminal Unit (RTU).
The devices are placed in enclosures, standard practice for all
instrumentation used at Bord Gáis AGIs, and the Smart Wireless
Gateway is positioned within the instrumentation kiosk, which is
effectively a “walk-in” enclosure.
RESULTS
For the upgrade at Middleton, Emerson’s Smart Wireless plant network
promised to cost less than a traditional wired installation, offered faster
installation and start up, and easy integration into the existing RTUs
using Modbus serial communications. The Smart Wireless devices
have redundant communication to the RTU via two or three routes
thereby overcoming the problem of signal interference by cars. Where
cabling enters into a potentially explosive EX Zone, regular checks are
required of cable integrity as well as the condition of the EX barriers.
With no wires or EX barriers, the number of site inspections required
has been reduced.
“Reliability has not been an issue.
Enclosures do not interfere with
the wireless signals at all and we
trend the transmissions from the
control room so we can see if
there are any problems. So far
there haven’t been any.”
Brid Sheehan
Communication & Instrumentation Engineer
Bord Gáis
Rosemount wireless devices are placed in enclosures,
standard practice for all instrumentation used at Bord
Gáis' AGIs.
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