When signals need to be exchanged long distances and the installation site is exposed to the elements, cable and contact-based systems very quickly reach their limits. In the industrial sector, the wireless InduraNET p system from Pilz Automation Safety L.P. has demonstrated its suitability for everyday use. Now it is proving to be a reliable signal and data transmitter under difficult conditions in a wastewater treatment plant.
The scraper bridge rotates its way round the third secondary settling tank, which has been in operation at the wastewater treatment plant in Bergen auf Rügen, Germany since early 2008. Two blades remove floating sludge and scum on the floor of the tank. At the same time, the station moving along the bridge collects messages on conditions and potential faults. These messages are transmitted wirelessly to the control station, about 90 yards away, via InduraNET p (Industrial Radio Network). In 2005 Bergen's local authority put the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant out to public bid. The requirement manual specified various status conditions to be communicated to the control station.
As with all applications using rotary joints or slip ring transmission systems, contact-based communication systems are limited to linear or rotational movements. InduraNET p was developed for a rugged industrial environment. Its distinguishing features are robust and interference-free communication, plus high availability and coexistence capability with other wireless services.
An InduraNET p network consists of a base station and a remote station; allowing for two-way communication. A maximum of 10 InduraNET p networks can cooperate within a single environment. Pre-assembled cables are used to connect the base and remote station to industrial antennas. At the plant the remote station is positioned on the blade; the controls for the drives, pumps and snow sweeper are issued via the I/O modules. The base station is located in the control cabinet. InduraNET p does not adversely affect any other industrial wireless systems. Busy frequencies are marked as unusable for a certain time period. InduraNET p has a strong immunity to signals from other wireless services. The compact antennas enable efficient wireless communication despite constantly changing conditions in relation to the propagation of the radio waves.
InduraNET p is used in conjunction with the decentralized I/O system PSSuniversal, which can process safety-related signals and/or standard control signals. The configuration of the wireless network is stored on a chip card, plant availability is therefore assured, should it be necessary to exchange the station hardware. Even outside classic industrial applications, this technology shows its strengths wherever there's a need to transfer a wide range of signals. The plant operator intends to fit InduraNET p systems to the two older secondary settling tanks. Service and maintenance intervals will be extended, making the plant more available and reducing costs.
By experimenting with the photovoltaic reaction in solar cells, researchers at MIT have made a breakthrough in energy efficiency that significantly pushes the boundaries of current commercial cells on the market.
In a world that's going green, industrial operations have a problem: Their processes involve materials that are potentially toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. If improperly managed, this can precipitate dangerous health and environmental consequences.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
3 
