Wireless transmitters monitor storage tanks at Nynas refinery

February 01, 2010
Emerson
Case Study

Summary

February 1, 2010 - Emerson Process Management announces that its Smart Wireless technology has been installed by Nynas AB to upgrade an underground storage tank monitoring system, creating an online integrated solution and reducing installation costs by €10,000 compared to a wired alternative. Nynas is an international group that refines heavy crude oil to produce bitumen and naphthenic specialty oil products. The company owns four refineries, one of which is located at Nynäshamn in Sweden. The underground storage tanks at Nynäshamn are monitored for unequal vapor pressures which can indicate potential blockages in the pipes that connect the tanks. The existing pressure switches are aging and due to be replaced. They were not continuous, only indicating when set levels had been exceeded.“When a signal cable on one of the switches failed we decided to upgrade to an online solution that would bring storage tank measurement data directly into the plant’s control system and help identify blockages much earlier,” said Morten Hansen, senior instrument engineer, Nynas. “We were also interested in trialling wireless technology and this application presented the perfect opportunity.”The underground storage tanks are located a considerable distance from the control room and if Nynas had installed conventional instrumentation, new cabling would have been required to connect to the remote devices. The cost of this was prohibitive so Nynas looked at the benefits of using wireless.With no line of sight between the location of the pressure transmitters and the ideal position for the gateway, Nynas selected Emerson’s Smart Wireless products which use self-organizing technology to connect the devices. With this technology, each wireless device can act as a router for other nearby devices, passing messages along until they reach their destination. If there is an obstruction, transmissions are simply re-routed along the network until a clear path to the Smart Wireless Gateway is found. The technology also offers redundant communication via two or three routes ensuring greater than 99 percent communication reliability. Two additional Rosemount wireless pressure transmitters provide measurements from the very large underground storage rooms (bunkers) containing crude oil. Measurements are taken to identify unequal vapor pressures in the different sections of the bunker. Data is transmitted every 60 seconds to a Smart Wireless Gateway located 650 meters from the pressure transmitters. The Gateway is connected to Emerson’s DeltaV digital automation system using Modbus communications. A further two Rosemount wireless transmitters installed on large vessels within the facility act as repeaters providing additional routes for the data and ensuring reliability of connection. Additional wireless measurement devices can be easily added as required and, by increasing the number of routes available to send data back to the gateway, they make the network even more reliable.“Using Emerson’s wireless solution we have been able to significantly reduce the cost of upgrading the pressure measurement to an online system. Installing new cabling would have cost €10,000 more than the wireless solution,” said Hansen“Installing the Emerson devices onsite was relatively easy and it took less than a day to complete the configuration and start-up procedure,” said Hansen. “We have also found the technology easy to use with the ability to manage the devices using Emerson’s AMS Suite predictive maintenance software.”Having successfully trialled the Smart Wireless technology, Nynas has expanded the wireless network at the site. Rosemount Rex radar level gauges, equipped with Smart Wireless THUM adapters have been installed, replacing two existing mechanical servo gauges. A technology change of this type would normally require the replacement of the signal cables, but by using a THUM adapter wireless communication is added to the instrument, thereby avoiding the need for expensive cable installation. The THUM adapter is a WirelessHART device that can retrofit on almost any two or four wire HART device, without special power requirements, to enable wireless transmission of measurement and diagnostic information. Devices with the THUM adapter operate as components of Emerson’s Smart Wireless self-organizing field network. Smart Wireless is an extension of PlantWeb digital architecture that offers solutions for field instrumentation and plant operations. In addition to the products installed at Nynas, other Smart Wireless products available include Fisher position monitors, Rosemount Analytical devices and Machinery Health Management transmitters, and native wireless interfaces to Ovation digital automation systems, and SmartStart services. About Emerson Process ManagementEmerson Process Management, an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb, Syncade, DeltaV, Fisher, Micro Motion, Rosemount, Daniel, Ovation, and AMS Suite.About Emerson Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Emerson’s sales in fiscal 2009 were $20.9 billion. The company is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. Learn More

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