IT & Automation
Smart wireless network monitors performance of critical equipment
Self-organising wireless technology is enabling continuous monitoring of critical equipment contributing to improved reliability of power stations.
La tecnología inalámbrica auto organizativa permite la monitorización continuada de los equipos críticos, contribuyendo a una mayor fiabilidad de las centrales eléctricas.
Selbstorganisierende drahtlose Technik ermöglicht die kontinuierliche Überwachung kritischer Anlagenteile und dient damit der Verbesserung der Zuverlässigkeit von Kraftwerken.
P
PL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa, USA, controls more than 11 000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key US markets,
and delivers electricity to more than 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the UK. Emerson Process Management’s smart wireless technology has proven to be ‘extremely cost- effective and reliable’ in providing continuous performance data on critical boiler feed pumps at PPL Generation’s Montour power station, as well as feedwater and air heaters at its Brunner Island Unit 1 power plant, both in Pennsylvania, USA. “Te additional information provided by
the wireless instruments allows us to more effectively monitor the mechanical and thermal performance of these valuable assets,” said Joe Murach, who is supervisor of equipment reliability.
Thermal performance Key temperature and pressure measurements were not available previously to populate software designed to analyse thermal performance and determine preventive maintenance schedules.
Company officials have long wanted to obtain this information, but the high cost of installing wiring was an obstacle they could not overcome. “Emerson’s Smart Wireless technologies
reduced our installation costs by 50 per cent, making it the only option for obtaining the data we needed,” Murach said.
Suction pressure Emerson’s Smart Wireless technology was chosen following an on-site demonstration that proved its ability to transmit reliably, despite the dense infrastructure of the power plant. Rosemount wireless transmitters were installed at the Montour plant to monitor suction pressure and DP across the suction screen, as well as other points that provide a valuable insight to the overall condition of the feed water pumps. A smart wireless network was installed at
the Brunner Island plant to include wireless measurements to help determine thermal efficiency of the feed water heater and the air preheating systems.
Wireless transmitters More than 25 wireless transmitters were installed in a widely distributed layout around the unit’s feedwater and air heating systems. Te data is pulled into the plants historian, as well as its reliability monitoring software. “Te Emerson technology is able to handle
the power plant environment,” Murach said. “Te transmitters communicate with the gateway without a problem even across several floors and through walls. “Installing wireless eliminated the need for drilling through concrete decks, installing conduit and cable trays, and pulling wires. Instead, we have an easily installed, cost-effective and reliable wireless network.” Each wireless device in the PPL self-organising
Fig. 1. Emerson’s Smart Wireless technologies have been successfully applied at PPL Generation’s Brunner Island Unit in Pennsylvania, USA.
Picture: PPL Corporation. 16
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