How the Swiss Army knife of monitoring promotes safe and effective plant functionality in Australasia
Plant managers often have a deep understanding of all the critical operational challenges facing their facility and a broad knowledge of the instrumentation that can help solve them. However, they might only sometimes be aware of the latest innovations that can make their lives easier. For instance, multifunctional monitoring instrumentation simplifies all plant measurement and control processes. Ian Loudon is an international sales and marketing manager at Omniflex, a remote monitoring specialist.
Streamlining technology is one of the most effective ways to innovate. In almost every industry, a business will likely opt for a single solution with multiple functionalities over a selection of specialised products—provided it doesn’t compromise on quality.
Signal conditioning is no different. Signal conditioning converts physical qualities into readable data that computer systems can process. Often, applications are complex, with multiple specialised components configured to measure an individual physical property, such as line linearisation in tanks. This method quickly becomes impractical across all industries with signal conditioning applications because multiple physical processes require 24/7 monitoring.
In an industrial plant environment, physical processes must work and are measured accurately. They act as catalysts for each other, constantly propelling an efficient plant operation, which is why signal conditioning is an integral interface in plant management.
Tank monitoring involves measuring the volume of liquid in storage tanks and detecting issues like overflows and leaks before they cause major structural and environmental damage and safety incidents. While this can often be a straightforward process, it becomes trickier if the tank is uneven or awkwardly shaped. This can make levels harder to read, as it requires additional mathematical computations on top of simply reading the analogue signals.
A classic example of this would be in petrochemical applications where spherical tanks are commonplace, such as the 30 million-litre fuel storage facility at Port Melville, Melville Island. Here, liquid levels inside the tank don’t rise linearly with liquid volumes, and mathematical calculations are required to work out liquid volumes from the readable tank level.
This is where Omniflex’s TFX module shines, acting as a ‘one-stop shop’ for signal conditioning. Its ability to manipulate analogue signals and configure the appropriate mathematical functions means it can simultaneously measure multiple physical properties.
Additionally, its SIL-1 rating makes the module suitable for use in harsh and hazardous environments where safety is a key consideration. This is critical in petrochemical applications where the potential for combustion and explosion must be factored into all operational considerations.
When applied to the challenges in tank monitoring, the module provides an easy solution that mitigates them. The TFX works out the volume of conical or spherical tanks to differentiate tank shapes without needing an additional kit.
Tanks can also deform due to pressure or temperature changes over time. They could have minor denting that is not severe enough to warrant a replacement; however, the shape of the tank has still changed, and the original linearisation data is obsolete. This can be mitigated easily by using the TFX module to monitor linearisation because it can calibrate itself to adjust to the subtle deformations.
Thanks to the device’s multifunctionality, the risk of the tank leaking is significantly reduced. The TFX’s ability to adapt means that the data collected is accurate even with unconventional physical properties. Any tank issues will likely be resolved quickly, and the chances of significant errors—like leaking—will dramatically decrease.
Finding the right signal conditioning application is critical for plant operations. Multifunctional modules like the TFX are smoothing out the monitoring process, maintaining the accuracy needed for successful data monitoring.