|
Mesh Network Success Stories
Industrial Monitoring
The Sensicast Wireless Sensor Networking Platform can provide
a cost effective solution for monitoring the state of manufacturing
and industrial processes. A WSN supplements existing control
facilities by allowing for the measuring of manufacturing
properties that with other "legacy" systems that
would be cost prohibitive to retrofit into an existing facility.
Examples of using the Sensicast Wireless Network include
the monitoring of motor vibration, and temperature for determining
whether a machine is running optimally.
Industrial Motor Condition-based
Monitoring
Electric motor energy consumption accounts for 23% of all
energy use in the United States and 62% of industrial electricity
usage. Currently, only the largest, most critical motors are
monitored. Leveraging Sensicast's Sensor Networking Platform
with the SensiNet™ Networking Protocol for use in industry's
typical high multi-path RF environment, it is possible to
provide an economic solution for wirelessly monitoring motor
operating core temperature - for all classes of motors, creating
an enormous opportunity for energy and cost savings.
Into a nuclear power plant with
B&B Electronics 802.15.4 wireless
Lloyd Pentecost, Maintenance Engineering at the San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station in California, searched for a method
to monitor large secondary plant motors with a wireless mesh
networking system.
Monitoring temperature of pump motors gives one indication
of the operating conditions or "health" of the 2500 horsepower
motors. If a motor were to fail unexpectedly, the plant would
operate at only 80% capacity for a number of days, resulting
in losses that could exceed $400,000. Collecting and analyzing
motor temperature data in real-time allows action to be taken
before a catastrophic failure occurs.
As the monitoring system plan developed, it was decided a
new wireless data communication was called for. Avoiding new
cabling would save initial installation expense and improve
life-cycle and system ROI considerably. Pentecost required
a system that would be reliable in his RF noisy environment,
and meet demanding security requirements, while providing
a path for future expansion.
An 802.15.4 wireless mesh network from Sensicast Systems
was selected. "Evaluating various wireless technologies, Sensicast's
networking platform provided the right set of features for
the job," Pentecost said.  "With
battery powered sensors, no power wires are needed. It has
excellent performance and range compared to the other technologies
we tested."
As part of Pentecost's system, B&B Electronics is supplying
custom RTD to 802.15.4 wireless converter nodes. They will
connect to embedded RTD sensors and convert their analog signals
to RF signals for the wireless network.
"B&B has been working with the 802.15.4 wireless platform
for several years. We are pleased to have had our technology
incorporated into this program," stated Craig Skarpiak, Wireless
Product Line Manager for B&B Electronics.
IEEE 802.15.4 is just one of the wireless standards in which
B&B Electronics is fluent. Contact us for off-the-shelf or
custom products.
|
Ethernet
Accesories