Pressure Measurement & Control


Pressure monitoring with alarm trip and event logging

August 2003 Pressure Measurement & Control Surveillance Integrated Solutions

OmniWatch from Omniflex is a monitoring system that keeps an eye on 16 current loop pressure signals simultaneously. No multiplexing or rotary switches are required. Both two-wire and four-wire pressure transducers may be accommodated. The ability to display 4 to 20 mA signals represented in engineering units on the display is a standard feature.

Each input has an alarm and trip set-point allocated to it, the set-points are configurable via the front panel keypad. Each set-point is represented by an LED indicator, which can be configured with an optional enunciator sequence forcing an operator to silence the audible alarm by acknowledging the alarm condition. An auto or manual reset option can be chosen to trap alarms.

Each pressure channel may be viewed in turn on the front panel LCD display with its set-points by using a scroll button. OmniWatch has an option to automate the display so that the display automatically scrolls through the channels at a specified time interval.

Regarding alarms and set-points; each set-point can have a relay or open collector output for the alarm status, these can be used to drive external devices when the set-points are reached. Protection systems can be implemented in this fashion providing alarm annunciation or shutting down the process.

To save on relay outputs, group alarm functions are used to bring up alarm for the attention of operators. There are four group alarms. One each for all set-point 1's and set-point 2's. And one group alarm each to function as a high-high or low-low common alarm. Every input is mapped to the group alarms. The 4-20 mA inputs can be re-transmitted to another device as isolated 4-20 mA outputs by fitting an analog output module to the OmniWatch.

Every alarm or trip is date and time stamped as it occurs. This is useful for stringent quality control systems where recording of alarm and trips are required. These events are available to the Conet local area network which can then route them to a scada database system.

Networked OmniWatches to SCADA
Networked OmniWatches to SCADA

OmniWatch has a history log, which captures the last 64 trips and alarms with their dates and time stamps. This log can be viewed via the front panel of the device. Operators thus have access to the latest information.

Up to 127 OmniWatch devices may be connected to a single twisted pair cable running the Omniflex local area network - Conet. Conet is supported by most scada packages and can thus acquire the information from OmniWatch devices including all date and time stamped information.

Building upon the 30 plus years of experience in the field of alarm and events monitoring instrumentation for industry, Omniflex continues to provide solutions for many plant applications such as temperature monitoring.

For more information contact Ian Loudon, Omniflex Automation Products, 031 207 7466, [email protected], www.omniflex.com



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