Executive Q&A Q&A with...
Matthew Hawkridge Chief Technical Officer, Ovarro ... ...about remote telemetry units, or RTUs
Q A
What are remote telemetry units? Effectively, remote telemetry units (RTUs) are mini-computers that collect data locally, act upon it immediately and report securely to a central control room, whilst maintaining a local historical store as an additional backup. They are widely used for process automation and control as part of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Although RTUs were traditionally used to monitor and control remote field devices, they are now routinely specified for industrial processes, as engineering, operations and planning teams gain a better understanding of their benefits. In these applications, the RTU connects to a plant control room or SCADA, providing a low latency response to changing
Photograph by Jerome Wassenaar
process conditions as well as performing data filtering. They ensure that only key, critical information is passed securely via the narrow communications links, minimising data throughput but maximising the useful information received.
Q A
What are the benefits of RTUs? Information gathered, analysed and interpreted by RTUs provide the tools to improve efficiency, safety and maintenance costs, as well as reducing shutdowns or fines due to environmental and safety incidents. Achieving these goals requires RTUs to collect additional data points from a vast range of equipment. For instance, new data points may replace manual dip tests to verify the accuracy of primary-level sensors, track product density to ensure that the right product is in the right vessel, or monitor product temperatures, inert gas blanket supply or pump vibration. There are also benefits for operators of remote sites that are vulnerable to theft and vandalism.
Oil and gas refineries require RTUs for their processes 18 December/January 2021
www.electronicsworld.com
Deploying a suite of RTUs for monitoring equipment ensures a cost-effective and safe way to protect physical assets at these locations. The opportunity list is virtually endless.
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