Connectors & cables
Corrosion and waterproof components for the oil and gas industries
Here, Roy Phillips, managing director of Intelliconnect, explains why the Pisces range of waterproof RF connectors are the ideal choice when it comes to the remote monitoring of pipelines used in the oil and gas industries.
a unique system for remote monitoring of the wall thickness of pipelines used in the petrochemical, oil and gas industries. The end system uses discrete RF modules directly connected to specific points on an installation to provide remotely managed continuous measurement and monitoring of pipeline wall thickness. Traditionally this activity is carried out manually with inspection staff having to regularly access the relevant areas over a complete installation or site. This can be a very costly, time consuming and potentially error-prone procedure.
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ntelliconnect has provided a new design of rugged corrosion and waterproof connector to a UK start-up company who manufacture
THE BRIEF The measuring equipment is designed to be installed indoors or outdoors in a wide range of environments in oil refineries or on pipelines from desert to near arctic conditions. the system needed to be waterproof and to be capable of withstanding ingress of liquids sand and dust. A range of waterproof TNC/MCX bulkhead mount adaptors, waterproof TNC plug connectors, waterproof quadraxial (four-way for signal and data lines) connectors were required all of which would have to be ATEX approved in the equipment by the customer. There were also a number of internal cable assemblies requiring ATEX approval, which required careful selection of heat shrink sleeves.
CHallEngEs
The outdoor environment of up to 200°C operating temperature for an ultrasonic thermocouple temperature unit.
Waterproof to IP68, impervious to liquid, sand and dust, capable of meeting ATEX approval (material selection, cable assemblies)
A custom connector 4-way Quadraxial design that was aesthetically similar to the TNC adaptor design, with the ability to ensure the correct device was fitted to the correct TNC bulkhead adaptor.
soluTIons This project was a development from existing TNC/MCX adaptors, plus a new design of quadraxial (four way) connector. Standard and reverse polarity designs ensured that incorrect device connection could be eliminated, and the materials data and samples were submitted to undergo ATEX approval testing. The adaptors were waterproof both at the
bulkhead and sealed internally to prevent moisture ingress through the internal connector components when unmated.
16 February 2021 Instrumentation Monthly
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