Oilfield automation with MRD-310 industrial 3G router

Lufkin Automation has chosen the Westermo MRD-310 3G router to equip its SAM Well Manager product,  the oil industry´s most advanced technological solution for high-precision monitoring and control of rod-pumping wells. Used in a series of pilot projects, mainly for the European and Asian markets, the MRD-310 provide a very high level of connectivity, and support many mobile standards including GSM, GPRS, 3G UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA. Dedicated to harsh environments, MRD-310 is aimed to demonstrate significant cost savings in this application.

Lufkin Automation was formed by the merger of two companies, the Delta X and Nabla Corporations, pioneers in rod pump controls. Delta-X was a leader in test and analysis systems for pumping processes using new innovative and user friendly methods. Nabla was the developer of software solutions that in many ways has simplified the analysis and control of the pumping process. Today these two companies are a part of Lufkin Automation oil field division and offer analysis, security and control solutions for rod pumping wells.

Refer to pictures: Individual oil pumps can be easily be monitored and controlled from a central control room using the MRD-310. The MRD-310 is a 3G/GPRS router that allows a secure IP connection to be established using IPSec encrypted VPN tunnels.

Oil fields are often situated in remote and demanding environments where extreme variations in temperature, moisture and other environmental variables are an issue. To install the control and monitoring systems in these environments can be difficult as oil fields often consist of hundreds of pumps spread over large geographic areas.

The Lufkin-developed SAM Well Manager is the oil industry´s most advanced technological solution for high-precision monitoring and control of rod-pumping wells. The SAM Well Manager allows the operator to optimise pump performance and reliability. Pump flow can be analysed, service and maintenance requirements are calculated before the event of mechanical failure and energy consumption is optimised. The SAM Well Manager can be configured to stop the pumping process at low oil levels and when maintenance or service are required. The system also creates a complete action history that can be used for further optimisation.

The SAM Well Manager is connected to the pump´s SCADA system. To remotely control the system a variety of technologies such as copper, fibre and radio links have previously been used. Although Lufkin´s European division has further enhanced the system and new solutions using mobile networks have been developed. Lufkin have decided to use the Westermo MRD-310 3G router in a series of pilot projects, mainly for the European and Asian markets.

The MRD-310 is perfectly suited for this type of application in many ways. Its support for the wide variety of mobile standards used globally allows installations in practically the whole world. It also supports IPSec encrypted VPN tunnels which is a requirement for safety critical applications that use unsecure public networks (The Internet). Furthermore, the MRD-310 provides a serial interface and serial to IP conversion, which is necessary to connect to the controller. The routers are also developed for extreme environments and can operate in temperatures from -20C to +60C. Today, this application is installed in a number of pilot projects to demonstrate the potential for significant cost savings.

Using High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), the uplink capacity is 2 Mbit/s, together with the 7.2 Mbit/s downlink data making the unit suitable for even high data rate applications. MRD-310 also distinguish itself with a very high level of connectivity. It provides built-in two port 10/100 Ethernet switches and an RS-232 and thus easily allows devices to seamlessly connect over a vast geographical distance. To extend the life of legacy equipment there are a number of tools included in the MRD-310 that will ensure connectivity with PLCs and other RS-232-based devices. The unit supports both packet and circuit switched mode, Serial to IP conversion, Modbus Gateway, DNP3 Level 1 Outstation and Dial-Up modem emulation.

For further information e-mail: abollard@westermo.co.uk or view website: www.westermo.co.uk

FDB 12 series of IP65 housed
single phase earth leakage protection units

FDB Electrical recently announced their FDB 12 series of IP65 housed single phase earth leakage protection units. These are designed to make industrial installations simple and robust in outdoor or indoor situations and are available in 240v or 110v specification. Their simple installation features mean that the FDB 12 is suitable for permanent or temporary use in virtually any industrial application.

The single phase FDB 12 series comprise a large choice of high or medium sensitivity RCD's, featuring solid state electronic circuitry for stability and immunity from spurious tripping, together with a double pole MCB to provide overload and short circuit protection.

The FDB 12 series has variants available with Earth Continuity Monitoring & Socket outlets and adjustable RCD's, making the FDB12 series cover a vast range of single phase applications.

Where 3 phase protection is required refer to the FDB15 series. For further information on FDB Electrical products and services, view website: www.fdb.uk.com

For Scandisign AS, any bus can fit!

Scandisign, a member of Norway´s SafeRoad Group, is one of the leading suppliers of LED-based traffic signs and energy effective illuminated signs for multi-story car parks and airports. Its customers often require products which communicate in various ways. By integrating Anybus-IC from HMS Industrial networks in its traffic signs, the group has ensured a short time to market and a flexible, smooth-running solution.

Scandisign AS was charged with implementing a new system requiring a lane closing sign with Profibus communication for a tunnel project in Oslo. Scandisign AS turned to the HMS authorized distributor, AD Elektronikk of Norway, in order to help create a flexible, slim and cost efficient solution. AD Elektronikk chose to integrate Anybus-IC into the sign to handle the Profibus communication. It gave Scandisign AS signs a quick, safe, slim and flexible road to the final product.

Scandisign AS was charged with implementing a new system.

Quick implementation
Time to market is very important for Scandisign AS, as the company must provide efficient delivery that corresponds to clients´ needs. So when the need for a sign with Profibus communication came up,

Scandisign had to find a solution quickly. The final products were to be used in »Festningstunnelen», an underground tunnel in central Oslo. Scandisign initiated a co-operation with AD Elektronikk. AD Elektronikk had quickly developed and designed a solution including Anybus-IC, a regulator, switch and a micro controller. The elements were then integrated in Scandisign´s already existing printed circuit board. The board was then sent to Scandisign´s own manufacturer for final production. More than 500 circuit boards with Anybus-IC have now been implemented in the tunnel.

Flexible change between two communication systems
A few months later Scandisign AS had a new request from the customer: they now needed connectivity over Ethernet/Modbus TCP instead of Profibus. Scandisign AS was able to fully understand the flexibility of the Anybus solution. Within a few weeks they were up and running with the new connectivity. AD Elektronikk solved this new way of communicating by designing a second circuit board that was placed on top of the existing board, a so-called piggy back. The Anybus-IC and the Ethernet RJ45 connector were placed on the carrier and then connected to the main board. They also made minor updates of the firmware to handle both Profibus and Ethernet. In this way the same main board is used for both communication solutions. Today inorder to make the product even cheaper to produce AD Elektronikk works on re-designing the circuit board which will give a better solution and give more flexibility to the signs.

The Anybus-IC is a family of complete interchangeable single chip interfaces for industrial networks. It is optimized for field devices, where small size and multiple network connectivity are important. Everything is integrated into a single board solution that fits perfectly into a standard DIL32 chip socket consuming only 9 cm² in size. The Anybus-IC contains all the digital and analog hardware as well as all necessary software to communicate with the selected network. It is a proven solution that has been tested and approved for fieldbus/Ethernet conformity. Anybus-IC is available as Profibus-DP slave, DeviceNet adapter, CANopen slave, Profinet slave and a combined EtherNet/ IP adapter/Modbus-TCP slave. All Ethernet versions of the Anybus-IC contain industrial IT functions in addition to the real-time Ethernet protocol. The IT functions include a dynamic embedded web server, FTP server and Email client.

Scandisign AS is a member of the SafeRoad Group. Scandisign AS was established in 1998 and has today become one of Norway´s largest suppliers of LED-based traffic signs and illuminated signs for multi-story car parks and airports. All products are developed in-house and then externally produced by co-operation partners. The company´s patented technology offers superior features for customers: Consistent lighting over big formats (width of up to 2,4m), low consumption and small plate thickness.

SafeRoad Group is a leading supplier of products and solutions for traffic safety. The group has 1.500 employees in 10 countries. The businesses comprise many solutions - such as road signs, technical products, road marking, roadway illumination, road railings and rock and tunnel securing. SafeRoad is also a supplier of marine systems, balcony systems and street furniture.

For further information, contact  Michela Nalin, e-mail: min@hms.se or view website: www.anybus.com   Refer to page 123