Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration


Advanced condition monitoring by Omniflex

August 2018 Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration

Managing the condition of remote assets is no longer a major undertaking. Equipment like pumps and motors require ongoing maintenance and valuable up-time is compromised by missed preventive maintenance interventions. Predicting when intervention is necessary is essential to enterprise performance at all levels, but, with pressure on staffing head count, the emphasis falls to effective usage of assets, be they people, machinery or finances.

Condition monitoring looks at logging typical plant status and manages things chronologically. Typical field condition parameters include pump control status, run/trip, run hours, bearing temperature, sump, suction pressure, dam levels, power consumption, flow rate and vibration.

Remote monitoring requires infrastructure to gather the information: networking, telemetry, data acquisition and scada. The more distributed the assets are, the more expensive this infrastructure gets.

Omniflex provides local condition monitoring using touch screen HMI for visual representation of the status of the asset. The HMI can also interface to almost any PLC and is connected to an Omniflex data access point (DAP), which uses GSM communications to gather the data from any outstation. Using the GSM infrastructure means low in-house cost and a reliable data acquisition service.

The Omniflex DAP is a versatile RTU. This full functionality IEC61131 PLC enables both control and wireless communications to exist in a single package with flexible I/O and sub net communication interfaces for VSDs and other serial devices including power meters. The system comprises as many DAPs as required to service each remote site, housed in a weatherproof housing with a built-in PSU and standby batteries.

Benefits include:

• Flexible engineering operation.

• Unlimited distance wirelessly.

• Low power operation with standby battery to report power outages.

• Alarm logging.

• Easy installation and maintenance.

• Option to preserve existing investment in PLCs.

• Does not interfere with existing control systems.

These benefits make the system ideally suited for any remote condition monitoring operation.

For more information contact Ian Loudon, Omniflex, +27 31 207 7466, [email protected], www.omniflex.com



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Keeping mine outstations connected
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
Remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex has helped wireless data communications systems firm, Scan RF implement site-wide monitoring systems at the 17 000-hectare Kolomela iron ore mine in South Africa.

Read more...
WearCheck leads the way in condition monitoring
Wearcheck Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Minimising maintenance costs of mining and power-generating machinery and maximising its operational efficiency – these goals form the foundation of the proactive/preventive maintenance services provided by the expert technicians at condition monitoring specialist, WearCheck.

Read more...
Simplifying battery management for remote dual-voltage systems
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Electrical Power & Protection
Ian Loudon, international marketing and sales manager at remote monitoring specialist, Omniflex outlines the advantages of dual-voltage power supply in field environments.

Read more...
Collect data three times faster
SKF South Africa Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
SKF has extended its renowned Microlog Analyzer family of data collection devices with the addition of the Microlog Analyzer dBX. Currently SKF’s most powerful diagnostic tool, this cutting-edge device redefines diagnostic capabilities, enabling users to take measurements three times faster than its predecessor.

Read more...
The role of alarm annunciators in temperature monitoring
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Temperature Measurement
Director at alarm annunciator specialist, Omniflex explores the importance of alarm annunciators in temperature monitoring applications, drawing on examples from different industrial settings.

Read more...
Keeping an eye on invisible radiation
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
At its peak in 1994, the energy generation capacity of the UK’s nuclear power stations was 12,7 GW across 16 plants. In 2024, the capacity has fallen to around 5 GW, and the number of stations is down to nine. However, this is far from the end of the story as spent nuclear fuel remains radioactive for centuries, and requires rigorous safety processes to safeguard against leaks.

Read more...
Plant signal conditioning
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Flow Measurement & Control
Often, plant managers have a deep understanding of all the key operational challenges facing their facility, and have a broad knowledge of the instrumentation that can help solve them. However, they might not always be aware of the latest innovations that can make their lives even easier.

Read more...
Integrated liners for the mining industry
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Multotec has developed a range of composite integrated mill liners in response to the needs of local and international mining clients.

Read more...
Ensuring ongoing structural integrity in wharves
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
In collaboration with engineering firm AMOG Consulting, remote monitoring specialist Omniflex has developed WharfWise. This is a holistic structural monitoring system that, for the first time, provides wharf operators and asset managers with real-time oversight of mooring operations and structural integrity.

Read more...
Upgrade your legacy alarm units
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists IS & Ex
Darren Barratt, sales manager at alarm annunciator specialist Omniflex, explains the drawbacks of leaving outdated rack-based alarm annunciator systems in place, and why an upgrade might be simpler than you would expect.

Read more...