This Spanish Refinery is Both on Air and In Control with Wireless Automation

Related Vendors

TURCK GmbH

EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Anton Paar GmbH

PHOENIX CONTACT Deutschland GmbH

After two years of successful testing wireless communication, work began on retrofitting the infrastructure in the field. To this end, more than 2,200 valves were fitted with valve position indicators (VPIs) that use limit switches to facilitate remote valve position monitoring. While this was being done, system management specialists from Phoenix Contact's Oil & Gas division drew up the control cabinet concepts for capturing the approximately 4,400 field signals from ATEX zone.

The solution is based on the modular Inline I/O system, where communication heads are deployed for Modbus RTU and Ex modules. The expansive Inline range flexibly meets the different needs of various industrial sectors in terms of number of channels, ambient temperatures, and certification, to name but a few.

Wireless Network Provides Flexibility to Expand

The Radioline modules replace cables in Modbus RTU transmission to the control center with a wireless solution. The modules operate on the 2.4 GHz ISM bandwidth, making them suitable for global use. The 360 stations at the Petronor refinery are distributed across seven logical wireless networks, aligned to the individual plant components. Each wireless station also serves as a repeater for remote stations within the network.

The mesh thus created allows for independent repairs to be carried out on the wireless system in case a station goes down. This makes it possible to ensure reliable communication of the remaining wireless devices. Each of the subnetworks can also be expanded to up to 250 wireless stations to guarantee that ample reserve capacity is available for further digitization of the refinery going forward.

The Network's Center: How to Control Wirless Automation

The control center has data on valve positions, tank levels, and pump statuses at all times. This facilitates the central monitoring of material transport, allowing liquids and gases to be moved from a specified source to a defined destination. This fully eliminates contamination of different products and the high costs that go with it. It also significantly reduces the workload of field operators as the transporting routes can be configured, managed, and monitored. Moreover, it is important for Petronor for valve actuation to be performed manually in the future so that employees continue to have a good understanding of the overall process. Having employees on site on a regularly basis allows any repairs that may be necessary to valves, fittings, and other equipment to be detected early on and carried out on the spot.

(ID:44238691)