Energy - Advanced Remote Monitoring For Gas Pipelines
Overview
A customer specializing in the sales, installation, and calibration of instrumentation equipment for the oil and gas industry offers tailored services to meet specific needs. They ensure prompt delivery and high customer satisfaction by adhering to international standards and providing hands-on support from feasibility to maintenance.
Challenge
A Siemens Ultrasonic Gas Leak detector, located at a remote gas station on a pipeline in the Northern Territory, monitors gas-oil ratio (GOR) leaks and triggers alarms. The Sonik uses Modbus RTU protocol to communicate and needs to send data to a cloud-based dashboard via a 4G Internet connection. Additionally, the system must send SMS notifications when a digital input (DI) alarm is triggered.
Key Requirements for Gas Station:
- Durable Design: Must operate reliably in humid and extreme temperature conditions.
- Enhanced Features: Support for Modbus and DI-triggered SMS alarms.
- Cost Efficiency: Must fit within a low project budget.
Solution
The NE2204-440 router provides reliable, low-latency communication over a 4G network, maintaining the TCP connection for converting Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP. Data from the Sonik is transmitted via Modbus RTU to the NE2204-440, which then sends it over a 4G connection to a cloud-based dashboard. This dashboard displays Sonik values, alarm status, and other information, and sends email notifications to designated personnel. The alarm contacts from the Sonik are hardwired to the DI on the NE2204-440, which sends SMS alerts when an alarm occurs.
Solution Advantages:
- Cost Savings: The NE2204-440 enables real-time monitoring, quick fault response, and preventive maintenance planning, significantly reducing labor and costs.
- Multiple Industrial Interfaces: The NE2204-440 includes 4 Ethernet ports, RS232, and RS485 interfaces for Serial to IP communication, plus digital inputs and outputs for connecting sensors and actuators.
- Reliable Communication: The NE2204-440 ensures low-latency communication and offers dual SIM capabilities for network redundancy.
- Adaptability to Harsh Conditions: Its robust design ensures continuous connectivity and remote access, even in challenging environments.