New wireless solutions abound in the Smart Wireless Pavilion at the 2009 Emerson Global Users Exchange in Orlando, Fla. "We have a complete wireless portfolio," said Dan Carlson, wireless marketing manager at Emerson. "People are solving problems, not just collecting data."
The pavilion separates the technology into solutions for plant operations and field network solutions. "Our wireless field network is based on the WirelessHART standard," said Greg Huey, Emerson wireless product specialist. "Not one radio can do everything you want. The wireless plant network is based on 802.11. With these applications you can have mobile workers who can walk in the plant environment with a handheld, or you can have wireless video or infrared cameras."
While PlantWeb allows engineers to detect process and equipment problems even before they occur, Smart Wireless solutions extend PlantWeb's predictive intelligence into areas previously out of physical or economic reach, opening the door for new possibilities in process improvement by extending the life of assets, optimizing process unit efficiency, minimizing maintenance and meeting safety and environmental goals.
The products featured in the pavilion include a full spectrum of tools to fulfill all wireless network needs. The AMS Suite asset management solution allows for intelligent management of devices. It streamlines wireless device configuration and calibration management, automatically documents all device activities and provides real-time information for predictive diagnostics.
The new Smart Wireless THUM Adapter makes any HART device wireless to enable transmission of formerly isolated diagnostic data. "There are over 26 millions HART devices installed out there," said Huey. "A lot of that information is trapped. The THUM Adapter allows you to get all of the information out of them."
The Rosemount 3051S wireless series is a scalable platform that provides a foundation for integrated pressure, flow and level solutions, allowing customized maintenance-free performance, functionality and process connections.
CSI 9420 wireless vibration transmitters enable vibration monitoring on fans, pumps, compressors, gearboxes and motors. "It provides 24/7 monitoring," said Carlson. "A million-dollar motor can fail just like the $10,000 motor."
Rosemount 6081 pH transmitter can be mounted in hazardous areas for cooling water, environmental or effluent/wastewater monitoring.
The TopWorx 4310 wireless position monitor can detect linear and rotary movement using non-contact technology with limit-switch feedback. It can be used to monitor the on/off status of equipment such as valves, sliding stem regulators, displacement and float level sensors and relief valves.
The pavilion also featured a brief presentation of the use of wireless control, enhanced by Emerson's enhanced PID algorithm, in a distillation column at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus at University of Texas and in a bioreactor at Broadley James.
"A customer is not going to change its business just because it's included wireless control," said Carlson. "But there's no application that isn't represented by measurement."
