Feature Wireless Technology Failure is not an option
ProSoft Technology’s PROFIBUS Modules and Industrial Radios allow critical data to be transmitted from ControlLogix PACs at a flood defence system. When a flood barrier’s control system is being upgraded the consequences of failure of that control system would be catastrophic. Should a flood barrier malfunction, thousands of homes and businesses could be severely impacted. Upgrading a flood barrier isn’t a task that can be done overnight. It takes months and months of work. The barrier has to remain available for use throughout the upgrade, mak- ing it a considered and careful task. There has to be several fail safe measures and redun- dancies in place. Whoever said redundancies are a bad thing hasn’t taken a look at a flood barrier system. Two steel gates, each 30m across and weighing over 160 tonnes each, are suspended at high level between two concrete towers, like a huge guillotine at the creek mouth. When closed together, the 160 tonne steel gates can withstand up to 10.4m of water. “The system has to be highly available with many fallback systems in case of failures,” said Andrew Garwood, a senior contracts manager in the Controls Division of Qualter Hall & Co, Barnsley.
Just a couple of years ago, the control system was starting to show its age. As part of a
large upgrade to the barrier, its associated control system was overhauled. The original control system was a completely hardwired-based relay system that was over 30 years old. Spare parts for the 30 year old system were becoming scarce. Qualter Hall decided to call ProSoft Technology, because it was a reliable, cost effective solution that was endorsed by Rockwell Automation. Two Rockwell Automation ControlLogix redundant PACs are inside each of the 20m tow- ers to control the opening and closing of the barrier, but much of the equipment the con- trol system spoke to was PROFIBUS or Siemens-based. Two PROFIBUS Master commu- nication modules (MVI56-PDPMV1) from ProSoft Technology were installed inside the ControlLogix PACs to facilitate communication from the Rockwell Automation processors. “The ProSoft Technology modules were utilised to provide PROFIBUS DP into the
ControlLogix rack and permitted four separate PROFIBUS DP segments for redundant operation,” Garwood added.
Fibre optic cables were installed between the two towers, as part of the control system overhaul. While the cable links were being constructed, ProSoft Technology 802.11 Industrial Hotspot Radios served as the communication link. Garwood said, “The wireless link was then used as an automatic fallback connection should fibre optic connection be lost. The ProSoft Technology equipment was selected for its flexibility and support of the spanning tree protocol (RSTP).” ProSoft Technology’s solutions helped ease the engineering work by making it possible for the ControlLogix system to communicate as one single protocol. The system now allows data to be reviewed quickly, centrally and remotely, providing convenience when accessing diagnostic information. Thousands of homes and business- es are now safely protected. ProSoft Technology
www.prosoft-technology.com T: 07415 864 902
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