WO2011018106A1 - Gateway device and communication system in a process control system - Google Patents
Gateway device and communication system in a process control system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011018106A1 WO2011018106A1 PCT/EP2009/060379 EP2009060379W WO2011018106A1 WO 2011018106 A1 WO2011018106 A1 WO 2011018106A1 EP 2009060379 W EP2009060379 W EP 2009060379W WO 2011018106 A1 WO2011018106 A1 WO 2011018106A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- process control
- control system
- gateway device
- sensor devices
- protection means
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/46—Interconnection of networks
- H04L12/4604—LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to a gateway device and a communication system for a process control system being at least partly controlled in an explosive atmosphere as well as to such a process control system.
- Some process control systems need to be provided in zones where there is an explosive atmosphere. This is often due to the fact that a process being controlled is a process which by its very nature causes the atmosphere to be explosive. Examples of this are processes, such as oil and gas processes or
- the gateway should thus be provided in a way that reduces the risk of igniting the atmosphere while still being close enough for being able to communicate with the sensor devices.
- US 2008/316048 does for instance describe a sensor at a hazardous oil well site communicating wirelessly with a gateway outside this site.
- the gateway in turn
- JP 20077312333 describes one part of a wireless LAN being provided in an explosive area and communicating with another part of the wireless LAN outside of this explosive area.
- WO 2007/028361 describes an encapsulated WLAN access device for application in mines with hazardous gases.
- US 6967589 describes a gas/oil well monitoring system, where a monitoring unit in a dangerous area communicates with a gateway outside of this area.
- the gateway in turn uses cellular or land line
- CN 1676881 describes an underground safety inspecting system provided in a mine. In the mine there are tunnel base stations in wireless communication with wireless terminals and in both wireless and wired communication with a ground station above the mine.
- One object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device that can be easily connected into a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere.
- This object is according to a first aspect of the present invention solved through a gateway device for wireless communication with sensor devices in a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere, said gateway device comprising :
- a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices
- a connector for connection to an interface of a mains power system
- a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment
- atmosphere protection means comprising an explosion proof encapsulation.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can be easily connected into a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere.
- This object is according to a second aspect of the present invention solved through a communication system for a process control system at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the communication system comprising:
- sensor devices for sensing properties of the process and/or process control equipment
- a gateway device comprising
- a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices
- a connector for connection to an interface of a mains power system
- a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment
- atmosphere protection means comprising an
- Another object of the present invention is to simplify the connection of a gateway device into a process control system for controlling a process, where the control is at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere .
- This object is according to a third aspect of the present invention solved through a process control system for controlling a process, the control being at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the process control system comprising:
- a gateway device comprising
- a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices
- a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment of the process control system
- atmosphere protection means comprising an
- the present invention has a number of advantages.
- the gateway device does first of all not need any extra conductors for communication. It uses the cables of the mains power system that already exists for powering various equipment in the area where the process is controlled. There is thus no need for any wired
- gateway device Since the gateway device does not need any openings for these extra communication
- the enclosure is furthermore simple and economical to produce. This also lowers the risk of explosions compared with having an extra gland for such a communication cable.
- the use of power line modulation has the further advantage of being reliable and lacking the typical fluctuations associated with wireless networks.
- fig. 1 schematically shows a process control system according to the principles of the present invention including a number of wireless sensor devices, a wireless gateway device and a mains power system
- fig. 2 schematically shows one suitable location for the wireless gateway device at premises where the process is being controlled
- fig. 3 schematically shows a wireless gateway device according to a variation of the present invention.
- a process control system 10 there is schematically shown parts of a process control system 10.
- the process control system 10 is here provided in zones where various risk levels exist of the atmosphere being explosive.
- the process being controlled is in a first embodiment of the invention an oil and gas or petrochemical process, where there are a lot of hydrocarbons.
- An explosive atmosphere is typically a mixture of
- these flammable substances in the form of gases, vapors mists or dusts with air under atmospheric conditions.
- these flammable substances are thus hydrocarbons .
- a first zone ZO is a zone which has an explosive
- a second zone Zl is a zone where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur under normal operation, i.e. under normal process control
- a third zone Z2 is a zone where an explosive atmosphere may occur under abnormal operation
- a fourth zone Z3 is a safe zone, with essentially no risk of an
- the first and the second zone ZO and Zl here make up a high to medium explosion risk region and the second and third zones Zl and Z2
- first zone ZO by itself makes up a high risk region
- second zone Zl by itself makes up a medium risk region
- third zone Z2 by itself makes up a low risk region, where the risk is the risk of igniting the atmosphere by the equipment used in control and monitoring in the system.
- the first zone Zl is typically a zone heavily involved in the process, such as covering a tank including hydrocarbons, while the second zone Zl may be the immediate vicinity of such a tank and other equipment handling hydrocarbons.
- the third zone Z2 may typically include areas in the vicinity of the process such as local control rooms, while the fourth zone Z4 is completely separated from the process.
- the process is at least partly controlled in an explosive atmosphere.
- sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 In order to monitor or sense properties of the process and/or equipment involved in the control or monitoring of the process, there are a number of sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 in the system 10. The sensor devices may for instance perform vibration monitoring in the system to obtain such properties. These sensor devices may be placed in the different zones in
- the sensor devices are wireless sensor devices, i.e. they communicate with other parts of the process control system wirelessly. For this reason they may be wireless field devices and they may communicate using a standard such as for instance the standard Wireless Hart. They may here be able to set up an ad hoc wireless network or to set up such a wireless network on demand.
- protection means are furthermore adapted to protection requirements of the region or regions in which they are deployed.
- explosion proof encapsulations i.e. encapsulations that prevent explosions occurring in the interior of the device from igniting the
- atmosphere outside of the device Such an encapsulation may be made of steel, aluminum or in some instances plastic.
- This type of atmosphere protection means is often called flameproof protection.
- Another atmosphere protection means include energy limitation means for limiting the energy of the sensor devices to levels below which the probability of igniting the atmosphere is low. This means that
- this gateway device 22 is in this first embodiment of the invention placed in the third zone Z2, provided with an antenna for such wireless communication and also with a connector 24 for
- This mains power system is equipped with one or more interfaces, such as sockets or outlets.
- this mains power system is here represented by a single power line 26 provided with one interface 28.
- the connector 24 of the gateway device 22 is here provided for connection to this interface 28 of the mains power system 26.
- the mains power system may here extend out from the third zone Z2 and into the safe fourth zone Z3 and lead to a power delivery network 30, which power delivery network may include a power distribution network and possibly also a power transmission network.
- a power delivery network 30 may include a power distribution network and possibly also a power transmission network.
- another piece of process control equipment 34 such as a control or protection computer, is connected via a further power line 32.
- Fig. 2 schematically shows an operator room 36
- the mains power system interface 28 may be equipped with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of the region in which it is placed. In this example this region is the medium to low risk region and then more particularly the low risk region made up of the third zone Z2.
- the atmosphere protection means includes improved insulation and increased connection reliability for avoiding
- Fig. 3 schematically shows the gateway device 22 according to the invention. It is also provided with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of the region in which it is placed. In this example this region is also the medium to low risk region and then more particularly the low risk region made up of the third zone Z2.
- the atmosphere protection means includes an
- the encapsulation 44 through which only the antenna and the connector 24 protrude.
- the encapsulation may here be an explosion proof encapsulation, for instance made of steel, aluminum or plastic. Inside this
- This wireless communication unit 38 connected to the antenna for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices.
- This wireless communication unit 38 is in turn
- the modulating unit 40 is connected to the connector 24.
- modulating unit 40 is connected between the connector 24 and the wireless communication unit 38.
- connector 24 which may be provided through the use of a gland, can also be provided with atmosphere
- the power supply unit 42 receives energy in the form of electrical power, for instance electrical AC power at 220V and 50 Hz from the mains power system and converts this power to a type and a level suitable for powering the wireless communicating unit 38 and the modulating unit 40.
- the sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 and gateway device 22 may together form a communication system that is to be deployed in an already existing process control system. For this reason the sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be able to may form a wireless ad hoc or on-demand network and communicate with the process control equipment 34 via the wireless gateway device 22.
- the reason for providing such an ad hoc network may be in order to obtain an improved diagnosis of existing equipment. For this reason they may communicate wirelessly according to a wireless
- the wireless communication unit 38 of the gateway device 22 receives this communication via its antenna and
- the modulating unit 40 converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40.
- the modulating unit 40 then converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40.
- the modulating unit 40 then converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40.
- the modulating unit 40 then converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40.
- the modulating unit 40 then converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40.
- the modulating unit 40 then converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure,
- the modulating unit 40 may here use the HomePlug standard for this modulation. Modulated data is then sent via the mains power system 26 and power delivery system 30 to the remote equipment 34 which performs demodulation using a corresponding modulating unit. In the same manner data may of course be received by the modulating unit 40 via the mains power system 26 and then transferred to the sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 via the wireless communication unit 38.
- the invention has a number of advantages.
- the gateway device does first of all not need any extra conductors for communication. It uses the cables of the mains power system that already exists for powering various pieces of equipment in the area where the process is controlled. There is thus no need for any wired
- the mains power system interface and the gateway device were provided in the third zone. It should be realized that they may both also be placed in the second zone.
- the sensor devices were also shown as being placed in the first and second zones. They may also be placed in the third zone. It should also be realized that it is possible to provide more gateway devices than the one described. This may for instance be done in order to provide communication in relation to sensor devices in two different wireless networks. It is thus possible that the sensor devices in two such networks can communicate with each other or other process control equipment either locally or remotely using these gateway devices. It is thus clear that communication via a gateway device is not limited to remotely located process control and monitoring equipment, but can also be performed with locally placed process control equipment, i.e. with equipment pplaced in the zones ZO - Z3.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
Abstract
The invention concerns a gateway device and a communication system for a process control system being at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere as well as such a process control system. The process control system (10) comprises sensor devices (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for sensing properties of the process and/or process control equipment, a mains power system (26) with an interface (28) and a gateway device (22). The gateway device comprises a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices, a connector (24) connected to the mains power system interface, a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment (34) of the process control system, and atmosphere protection means in the form of an explosion proof encapsulation.
Description
GATEWAY DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN A PROCESS
CONTROL SYSTEM
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a gateway device and a communication system for a process control system being at least partly controlled in an explosive atmosphere as well as to such a process control system.
BACKGROUND
Some process control systems need to be provided in zones where there is an explosive atmosphere. This is often due to the fact that a process being controlled is a process which by its very nature causes the atmosphere to be explosive. Examples of this are processes, such as oil and gas processes or
petrochemical processes, where there are a lot of hydrocarbons.
However, such processes do need to be monitored and controlled. Because of this it is necessary to place monitoring devices in an explosive area where the process is ongoing. These monitoring devices are typically electrical in nature and therefore they have to be provided with extensive protection schemes in order to avoid the atmosphere from being ignited as well as in order to ensure their proper functionality.
These devices are furthermore often capable of
communicating with other equipment in the process
control system such as control and protection
computers .
In such communication they often normally communicate with process control equipment via a wireless gateway. When providing this gateway in a control system it is important to provide adequate security while at the same time ensuring sufficient communication
capabilities. The gateway should thus be provided in a way that reduces the risk of igniting the atmosphere while still being close enough for being able to communicate with the sensor devices.
There exist some documents relating to communication between sensor devices and gateways in different environments .
US 2008/316048 does for instance describe a sensor at a hazardous oil well site communicating wirelessly with a gateway outside this site. The gateway in turn
communicates with other devices using wireless
communication .
JP 20077312333 describes one part of a wireless LAN being provided in an explosive area and communicating with another part of the wireless LAN outside of this explosive area.
WO 2007/028361 describes an encapsulated WLAN access device for application in mines with hazardous gases.
US 6967589 describes a gas/oil well monitoring system, where a monitoring unit in a dangerous area
communicates with a gateway outside of this area. The gateway in turn uses cellular or land line
telecommunication networks for further communication. CN 1676881 describes an underground safety inspecting system provided in a mine. In the mine there are tunnel base stations in wireless communication with wireless terminals and in both wireless and wired communication with a ground station above the mine.
However, there is still a need for improvement in the field of process control systems in relation to
explosive atmospheres. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device that can be easily connected into a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere.
This object is according to a first aspect of the present invention solved through a gateway device for wireless communication with sensor devices in a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere, said gateway device comprising :
a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices,
a connector for connection to an interface of a mains power system,
a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line
modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment, and
atmosphere protection means comprising an explosion proof encapsulation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can be easily connected into a process control system for a process being controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere.
This object is according to a second aspect of the present invention solved through a communication system for a process control system at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the communication system comprising:
sensor devices for sensing properties of the process and/or process control equipment and
a gateway device comprising
a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices,
a connector for connection to an interface of a mains power system,
a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment, and
atmosphere protection means comprising an
explosion proof encapsulation. Another object of the present invention is to simplify the connection of a gateway device into a process control system for controlling a process, where the
control is at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere .
This object is according to a third aspect of the present invention solved through a process control system for controlling a process, the control being at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the process control system comprising:
sensor devices for sensing properties of the process and/or process control equipment,
a mains power system with an interface, and
a gateway device comprising
a wireless communication unit for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices,
a connector connected to the mains power system interface,
a modulating unit connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment of the process control system, and
atmosphere protection means comprising an
explosion proof encapsulation. The present invention has a number of advantages. The gateway device does first of all not need any extra conductors for communication. It uses the cables of the mains power system that already exists for powering various equipment in the area where the process is controlled. There is thus no need for any wired
communication infrastructure. This provides flexibility in setting up communication regarding process elements to be monitored. This simplifies retrofitting of a
process control system with a gateway device or
communication system. Since the gateway device does not need any openings for these extra communication
connections, the enclosure is furthermore simple and economical to produce. This also lowers the risk of explosions compared with having an extra gland for such a communication cable. The use of power line modulation has the further advantage of being reliable and lacking the typical fluctuations associated with wireless networks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will in the following be
described with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where fig. 1 schematically shows a process control system according to the principles of the present invention including a number of wireless sensor devices, a wireless gateway device and a mains power system, fig. 2 schematically shows one suitable location for the wireless gateway device at premises where the process is being controlled, and
fig. 3 schematically shows a wireless gateway device according to a variation of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a wireless gateway device, a
communication system and a process control system according to the invention will be given.
In fig. 1 there is schematically shown parts of a process control system 10. The process control system 10 is here provided in zones where various risk levels exist of the atmosphere being explosive. The process being controlled is in a first embodiment of the invention an oil and gas or petrochemical process, where there are a lot of hydrocarbons. Thus the process itself here causes the atmosphere to be explosive. An explosive atmosphere is typically a mixture of
flammable substances in the form of gases, vapors mists or dusts with air under atmospheric conditions. In the first embodiment these flammable substances are thus hydrocarbons .
There are therefore four different zones ZO, Zl, Z2 and Z3, indicated through vertical dashed lines, where a first zone ZO is a zone which has an explosive
atmosphere all the time, a second zone Zl is a zone where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur under normal operation, i.e. under normal process control, a third zone Z2 is a zone where an explosive atmosphere may occur under abnormal operation and a fourth zone Z3 is a safe zone, with essentially no risk of an
explosive atmosphere. The first and the second zone ZO and Zl here make up a high to medium explosion risk region and the second and third zones Zl and Z2
together make up a medium to low risk zone region. This also means that the first zone ZO by itself makes up a high risk region, the second zone Zl by itself makes up a medium risk region and the third zone Z2 by itself makes up a low risk region, where the risk is the risk
of igniting the atmosphere by the equipment used in control and monitoring in the system.
The first zone Zl is typically a zone heavily involved in the process, such as covering a tank including hydrocarbons, while the second zone Zl may be the immediate vicinity of such a tank and other equipment handling hydrocarbons. The third zone Z2 may typically include areas in the vicinity of the process such as local control rooms, while the fourth zone Z4 is completely separated from the process. As can thus be understood, the process is at least partly controlled in an explosive atmosphere. In order to monitor or sense properties of the process and/or equipment involved in the control or monitoring of the process, there are a number of sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 in the system 10. The sensor devices may for instance perform vibration monitoring in the system to obtain such properties. These sensor devices may be placed in the different zones in
dependence of the process entities they are to monitor. As an example there is a first and a second sensor device 12 and 14 in the first zone ZO and a third, fourth and fifth sensor device 16, 18 and 20 in the second zone Zl. Due to the risk of explosions in these zones, the sensor devices are wireless sensor devices, i.e. they communicate with other parts of the process control system wirelessly. For this reason they may be wireless field devices and they may communicate using a standard such as for instance the standard Wireless Hart. They may here be able to set up an ad hoc
wireless network or to set up such a wireless network on demand.
Because these sensor devices are provided in an
explosive atmosphere they are provided with various types of atmosphere protection means in order to avoid the atmosphere from being ignited as well as in order to ensure their own proper functionality. These
protection means are furthermore adapted to protection requirements of the region or regions in which they are deployed.
One such atmosphere protection means in the two zones ZO and Zl is the use of explosion proof encapsulations, i.e. encapsulations that prevent explosions occurring in the interior of the device from igniting the
atmosphere outside of the device. Such an encapsulation may be made of steel, aluminum or in some instances plastic. Here the design of parts of the sensor devices having to be provided outside of the encapsulation, such as glands and antennas, have to be designed in such a way that flames cannot escape from the device and ignite the atmosphere. This type of atmosphere protection means is often called flameproof protection. Another atmosphere protection means include energy limitation means for limiting the energy of the sensor devices to levels below which the probability of igniting the atmosphere is low. This means that
currents and voltages are kept at levels where the likelihood that sparks or temperatures of the device will cause an igniting of the atmosphere is low. This is often termed intrinsic safety. There are other types of protection that are possible here, such as
encapsulation of the device in a compound, a powder or oil. It is also possible to use a protective gas between sensor device components and the atmosphere. In order to actually communicate with other equipment in the process control system, these sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 are communicating wirelessly with a gateway device 22. This gateway device 22 is in this first embodiment of the invention placed in the third zone Z2, provided with an antenna for such wireless communication and also with a connector 24 for
connection to a mains power system at premises where the process is being controlled. This mains power system is equipped with one or more interfaces, such as sockets or outlets. In order to simplify the
description of the invention, this mains power system is here represented by a single power line 26 provided with one interface 28. The connector 24 of the gateway device 22 is here provided for connection to this interface 28 of the mains power system 26. The mains power system may here extend out from the third zone Z2 and into the safe fourth zone Z3 and lead to a power delivery network 30, which power delivery network may include a power distribution network and possibly also a power transmission network. To this power delivery network 30 another piece of process control equipment 34, such as a control or protection computer, is connected via a further power line 32. Fig. 2 schematically shows an operator room 36
including an operator terminal 37 as well as the mains power system interface 28, in the form of an electrical power outlet. A local operator room is suitable since
it is close to the actual process and therefore the gateway device can communicate with the various sensor devices. Since such a local operator room is separated from the actual process, the atmosphere in this room is rarely explosive. Here it should be mentioned that the mains power system interface 28 may be equipped with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of the region in which it is placed. In this example this region is the medium to low risk region and then more particularly the low risk region made up of the third zone Z2. Here the atmosphere protection means includes improved insulation and increased connection reliability for avoiding
generation of sparks, arcs or high temperatures caused by for instance broken conductors or short circuiting. This type of protection means is often termed increased safety.
Fig. 3 schematically shows the gateway device 22 according to the invention. It is also provided with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of the region in which it is placed. In this example this region is also the medium to low risk region and then more particularly the low risk region made up of the third zone Z2. In the first embodiment the atmosphere protection means includes an
encapsulation 44, through which only the antenna and the connector 24 protrude. The encapsulation may here be an explosion proof encapsulation, for instance made of steel, aluminum or plastic. Inside this
encapsulation there is provided a wireless
communication unit 38 connected to the antenna for wirelessly exchanging data with the sensor devices.
This wireless communication unit 38 is in turn
connected to a modulating unit 40. The modulating unit 40 is connected to the connector 24. Thus the
modulating unit 40 is connected between the connector 24 and the wireless communication unit 38. The
connector 24, which may be provided through the use of a gland, can also be provided with atmosphere
protection means in the form of improved insulation and increased connection reliability for avoiding
generation of sparks, arcs or high temperatures caused by for instance broken conductors or short circuiting.
Finally there is a power supply unit 42 in the gateway device 22 that is also connected to the connector 24 as well as to the wireless communicating unit 38 and the modulating unit 40 for power supply to these units. The power supply unit 42 receives energy in the form of electrical power, for instance electrical AC power at 220V and 50 Hz from the mains power system and converts this power to a type and a level suitable for powering the wireless communicating unit 38 and the modulating unit 40.
The sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 and gateway device 22 may together form a communication system that is to be deployed in an already existing process control system. For this reason the sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be able to may form a wireless ad hoc or on-demand network and communicate with the process control equipment 34 via the wireless gateway device 22. The reason for providing such an ad hoc network may be in order to obtain an improved diagnosis of existing equipment. For this reason they may
communicate wirelessly according to a wireless
communication standard, for instance Wireless Hart. The wireless communication unit 38 of the gateway device 22 receives this communication via its antenna and
converts the data into a format suitable for the process control equipment 34, such as an Ethernet based structure, and forwards the converted data to the modulating unit 40. The modulating unit 40 then
performs power line modulation of the converted data, i.e. it modulates the converted data onto a "signal", for instance the voltage of the mains power system. This voltage therefore becomes a carrier of the
converted data. The modulating unit 40 may here use the HomePlug standard for this modulation. Modulated data is then sent via the mains power system 26 and power delivery system 30 to the remote equipment 34 which performs demodulation using a corresponding modulating unit. In the same manner data may of course be received by the modulating unit 40 via the mains power system 26 and then transferred to the sensor devices 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 via the wireless communication unit 38.
The invention has a number of advantages. The gateway device does first of all not need any extra conductors for communication. It uses the cables of the mains power system that already exists for powering various pieces of equipment in the area where the process is controlled. There is thus no need for any wired
communication infrastructure. This provides flexibility in setting up communication regarding the process or process control equipment to be monitored. This is also of advantage when monitoring is performed of remote areas and ad hoc or on-demand networks are being set
up. Since for instance petrochemical processes may be partly provided on oil rigs at sea that may be placed far from a control site on land, this advantage is important. If a monitoring system is to be placed on an oil rig that is already in operation, it can easily be understood that the problems and costs associated with the provision of an extra communication cable are significant. A retrofitting of such a process control system with a communication system according to the invention is thus easy to implement. Since the gateway device does not need any openings for these extra communication connections, the enclosure is furthermore simple and cheap to make. This also lowers the risk of explosions compared with having an extra gland for such a communication cable. The use of power lines for communication has the further advantage of being reliable and lacking the typical fluctuations
associated with wireless networks. There are a number of variations that may be made of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the invention the mains power system interface and the gateway device were provided in the third zone. It should be realized that they may both also be placed in the second zone. The sensor devices were also shown as being placed in the first and second zones. They may also be placed in the third zone. It should also be realized that it is possible to provide more gateway devices than the one described. This may for instance be done in order to provide communication in relation to sensor devices in two different wireless networks. It is thus possible that the sensor devices in two such networks can communicate with each other or other
process control equipment either locally or remotely using these gateway devices. It is thus clear that communication via a gateway device is not limited to remotely located process control and monitoring equipment, but can also be performed with locally placed process control equipment, i.e. with equipment pplaced in the zones ZO - Z3.
From the foregoing discussion it is evident that the present invention can be varied in a multitude of ways It shall consequently be realized that the present invention is only to be limited by the following claims .
Claims
1. A gateway device (22) for wireless
communication with sensor devices (14, 16, 18, 20) in a process control system (10) for a process being
controlled at least partly in an explosive atmosphere, said gateway device comprising:
a wireless communication unit (38) for wirelessly exchanging data with said sensor devices,
a connector (24) for connection to an interface (28) of a mains power system (26),
a modulating unit (40) connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to communicate with other process control equipment (34), and
atmosphere protection means comprising an explosion proof encapsulation (44).
2. A gateway device according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation is made of steel, aluminum or
plastics .
3. A gateway device according to claim 2, said atmosphere protection means being adapted for use in a medium to low explosion risk region of the process control system.
4. A gateway device according to any previous claim, wherein the atmosphere protection means includes improved insulation and increased electrical connection reliability of the connector (24).
5. A gateway device according to any previous claim, further comprising a power supply unit (42) for powering of the wireless communication unit and the modulation unit and being connected to said mains power system for receiving energy for said powering.
6. A gateway device according to any previous claim, wherein the mains power system interface is provided with atmosphere protection means in the form of improved insulation and increased electrical connection reliability.
7. A communication system for a process control system (10) at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the communication system comprising:
sensor devices (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for sensing
properties of the process and/or process control equipment, and
a gateway device comprising:
a wireless communication unit (38) for wirelessly exchanging data with said sensor devices,
a connector (24) for connection to an interface (28) of a mains power system (26),
a modulating unit (40) connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to
communicate with other process control equipment (34), and
atmosphere protection means comprising an
explosion proof encapsulation (44).
8. A process control system (10) for controlling a process, said control being at least partly provided in an explosive atmosphere, the process control system comprising :
sensor devices (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for sensing properties of the process and/or process control equipment,
a mains power system (26) with an interface (28), and a gateway device (22) comprising
a wireless communication unit (38) for wirelessly exchanging data with said sensor devices, a connector (24) connected to said mains power system interface,
a modulating unit (40) connected between the connector and the wireless communication unit for power line modulation of data in order to
communicate with other process control equipment (34) of the process control system, and
atmosphere protection means comprising an
explosion proof encapsulation (44).
9. A process control system according to claim 8, wherein said gateway device encapsulation is made of steel, aluminum or plastics.
10. A process control system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said sensor devices are located in a high to medium explosion risk region and provided with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of this region.
11. A process control system according to claim 10, wherein the atmosphere protection means of the sensor devices include explosion proof encapsulations.
12. A process control system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the atmosphere protection means of the sensor devices include energy limitation means for limiting the energy of the sensor devices to levels below which the probability of igniting the atmosphere is low.
13. A process control system according to any of claims 10 - 12, wherein the mains power system
interface is provided in a medium to low risk region and the atmosphere protection means of the gateway device is adapted to protection requirements of this region .
14. A process control system according to claim 13, wherein the mains power system interface is
provided in a low risk region.
15. A process control system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the atmosphere protection means of the gateway device includes improved insulation and
increased electrical connection reliability of the connector (24) .
16. A process control system according to any of claims 13 - 15, wherein the mains power system
interface is provided with atmosphere protection means adapted to protection requirements of said region.
17. A process control system according to claim
16, wherein the atmosphere protection means of the mains power system interface includes improved insulation and increased electrical connection
reliability.
18. A process control system according to any of claims 8 - 17, wherein the sensor devices have ad hoc network forming capabilities.
19. A process control system according to any of claims 8 - 18, further comprising process control equipment (34) connected to the gateway device via the mains power system.
20. A process control device according to claim 19, said process control equipment (24) being connected to the mains power system via a power delivery network (30) .
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2009/060379 WO2011018106A1 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2009-08-11 | Gateway device and communication system in a process control system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2009/060379 WO2011018106A1 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2009-08-11 | Gateway device and communication system in a process control system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2011018106A1 true WO2011018106A1 (en) | 2011-02-17 |
Family
ID=42169615
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2009/060379 WO2011018106A1 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2009-08-11 | Gateway device and communication system in a process control system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2011018106A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR101256947B1 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2013-04-25 | 주식회사 맥스포 | Ubiquitous sensor networks system |
| US11183800B2 (en) | 2018-08-29 | 2021-11-23 | Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Pin and sleeve device with indication |
| US11682889B2 (en) | 2019-01-07 | 2023-06-20 | Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Electrical device with built-in sensors and/or communications |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1552876A (en) * | 1976-10-27 | 1979-09-19 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Arrangement for semiconductor power components |
| US6260426B1 (en) * | 1998-06-15 | 2001-07-17 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Test stand for fuel components using low viscosity/high flashpoint fuel look-alike |
| US20030167919A1 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2003-09-11 | Automatika, Inc. | Conduit network system |
| US20080220535A1 (en) * | 2007-01-11 | 2008-09-11 | Valencell, Inc. | Photoelectrocatalytic fluid analyte sensors and methods of fabricating and using same |
| US20090045925A1 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2009-02-19 | Franklin Fueling Systems, Inc. | System, Apparatus, and Method for Communicating Sensor Information of a System Component that is Disposed in a Hazardous Location |
| GB2452951A (en) * | 2007-09-20 | 2009-03-25 | Mecon Ltd | Control station receives condensed data from wirelessly linked sensing units which store raw data for transmission on receipt of raw data request signal |
| US20090138128A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | Leonardo Fusi | Local digital valve controller unit |
-
2009
- 2009-08-11 WO PCT/EP2009/060379 patent/WO2011018106A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1552876A (en) * | 1976-10-27 | 1979-09-19 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | Arrangement for semiconductor power components |
| US6260426B1 (en) * | 1998-06-15 | 2001-07-17 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Test stand for fuel components using low viscosity/high flashpoint fuel look-alike |
| US20030167919A1 (en) * | 2002-03-06 | 2003-09-11 | Automatika, Inc. | Conduit network system |
| US20080220535A1 (en) * | 2007-01-11 | 2008-09-11 | Valencell, Inc. | Photoelectrocatalytic fluid analyte sensors and methods of fabricating and using same |
| US20090045925A1 (en) * | 2007-08-17 | 2009-02-19 | Franklin Fueling Systems, Inc. | System, Apparatus, and Method for Communicating Sensor Information of a System Component that is Disposed in a Hazardous Location |
| GB2452951A (en) * | 2007-09-20 | 2009-03-25 | Mecon Ltd | Control station receives condensed data from wirelessly linked sensing units which store raw data for transmission on receipt of raw data request signal |
| US20090138128A1 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | Leonardo Fusi | Local digital valve controller unit |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR101256947B1 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2013-04-25 | 주식회사 맥스포 | Ubiquitous sensor networks system |
| US11183800B2 (en) | 2018-08-29 | 2021-11-23 | Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Pin and sleeve device with indication |
| US11682889B2 (en) | 2019-01-07 | 2023-06-20 | Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Electrical device with built-in sensors and/or communications |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7312716B2 (en) | Wireless communication using an intrinsically safe design for use in a hazardous area | |
| US9760853B2 (en) | Low-power wirelessly-linked RFID tracking system | |
| US6885949B2 (en) | System and method for measuring system parameters and process variables using multiple sensors which are isolated by an intrinsically safe barrier | |
| US20100159823A1 (en) | Explosion Proof Communications Relay and Communications System | |
| EP2751534B1 (en) | System for monitoring electric supply lines | |
| CN101636659A (en) | Electrical power system control communications network | |
| US11802920B2 (en) | Safety ground wire monitoring and alarm systems | |
| JP2009178027A (en) | Dc power distribution system | |
| US9236908B2 (en) | Obstruction lighting and power line communication system | |
| WO2011018106A1 (en) | Gateway device and communication system in a process control system | |
| CN101772893B (en) | Link coupled antenna system on a field device having a grounded housing | |
| CA2855832A1 (en) | Overheat suppression systems and methods for an electrical housing | |
| US5930099A (en) | Grounding arrangement for a powerline system | |
| CN103718121A (en) | Wireless monitoring systems for use with pressure safety devices | |
| AU2011346644B2 (en) | Appliance and arrangement for optical signal transmission by means of optical waveguides | |
| CN106129952A (en) | A kind of high-voltage cable joint flameproof protection method | |
| US8797050B2 (en) | IEC 61158-2 electrical circuit with water detection means comprising a physical layer attribute modifier | |
| JP2000295792A (en) | Terminal apparatus and tunnel monitoring system | |
| AU2019247198A1 (en) | Intrinsically safe modular sensor devices and systems for use in hazardous locations | |
| JP4838050B2 (en) | Wireless LAN explosion-proof repeater, explosion-proof switching hub, explosion-proof wireless communication means, switching hub with explosion-proof wireless communication means, and communication system in hazardous areas | |
| US10735049B2 (en) | Power-line communications | |
| EP3812849B1 (en) | Power-line control of a hazardous-environment-located machine from a safe environment | |
| US6597282B2 (en) | Spread spectrum transmission system | |
| WO2015014535A1 (en) | Subsea data communication interface unit | |
| LU503048B1 (en) | Automatic communication system for local suppression of rising temperature or fire extinguishing in electrical equipment connected to a power supply |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 09781700 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
| DPE1 | Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101) | ||
| NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
| 122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 09781700 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |