Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders

• Data for When It is Needed the Most

Stephen M. Donnermeyer Mercury Instruments,
Inc. 3940 Virginia Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45227
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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Introduction

• Electronic Recorder implementation is being
  driven by several forces both internal and
  external to most utilities.
• Federal and State Governing Bodies
• DOT
• PUC
• Safety and Environmental Concerns
• Operational Efficiencies
• Optimize Distribution Systems
• Cost Reduction
• Capital Investment
• OM

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Specifications

• Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorder
• For our discussion the EPTR shall encompass the
  sensor, instrumentation, memory, communications
  and power.
• Sensor
• Pressure Transducer a device that converts
  pressure to an electronic signal
• Signal level typically in the mV range
• Characterized for Ambient Temperature Changes
• Low Power
• Pressure Transmitter
• Similar to the Pressure Transducer
• Signal level is typically 4-20 ma or 1-5v

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Specifications cont.

• Sensor
• RTD Probe - a device that converts temperature to
  an electronic signal
• As the temperature changes, so does the
  resistance
• Thermocouple
• Similar to the RTD
• As the temperature changes, the mill volt signal
  output changes
• Transducer Characterization
• Transducers are characterized by plotting the
  mV output at various pressures and temperatures
• Unique to each transducer
• Required to achieve reliable and accurate
  pressure measurement

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Specifications cont.

• Sampling Frequency
• Rate at which the Pressure and Temperature
  signals are read
• Logging Interval
• Rate at which data is stored into memory
• Hyper-Logging
• Increased rate of data logging
• Typically during an alarm condition
• Power Supply
• AC
• Solar
• Battery

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
ApplicationsDistribution Pressure Monitoring
System

• Combination of Real-Time and Near Real-Time
  Monitored Sites
• Stand Alone and communications enabled deployment
• Data used by/for
• Gas Control
• Regulator stations
• Real-Time / Near Real-Time Monitoring
• End of Line / Low Pressure Point Monitoring
• Remote Alarm Notification
• Notify key personnel before system outages occur

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
ApplicationsDistribution Pressure Monitoring
System

• Data used by/for
• System Planning
• Identify systems that need upgrading
• Data in electronic format which allows for easy
  data integration
• System Optimization
• Preventative maintenance procedures
• Personnel

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
ApplicationsDistribution Pressure Monitoring
System

• Data used by/for
• Regulatory Requirements
• DOT
• Public Utility Commissions

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
BenefitsDistribution Pressure Monitoring System

• Reduce Costs for Pressure Monitoring
• Eliminate paper chart handling
• Free-up key personnel
• Improve maintenance procedures
• Improved System Security and Public Safety
• Real-time alarm notification
• Peak period monitoring
• Improved Regulatory Compliance

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
BenefitsDistribution Pressure Monitoring System

• Improved Timeliness and Accuracy of Data
• Gas Control
• Optimize system demands
• Manage real-time supply and curtailment
• Access to critical data when needed
• System Planning
• High resolution pressure data to improve system
  models
• Data in electronic format
• All data Date/Time stamped

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
BenefitsDistribution Pressure Monitoring System

• Data Accessible across corporate network
• Easier access to data
• Other departments can now access valuable data

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• There is an abundance of communication options
  available. The range of suitable methods include
  Standard Dial-up or Leased Line Modems, Circuit
  Switched Analog Cellular Modems, Internet
  Protocol Digital Cellular Modems, Radio,
  Satellite and Frame Relay.
• Most monitoring systems will use a hybrid of
  communication technologies since no single
  communication option will meet 100 of your
  requirements.

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• POTS Plain Old Telephone Service
• Dial-up telephone service
• Service Level Varies
• New connection established on each call
• Most deployed communication network
• 2400 BPS Data Rates

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Leased Line
• Permanent connection between two points
• Assured Service Level
• Connection is always on between these 2 points
• Costly
• Mainly determined by distance between points
• 9600 BPS Data Rates
• Being phased out by most providers
• Being replaced by Frame Relay

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Analog Cellular
• Advance Mobile Phone Service AMPS
• Utilizes the analog cell network to transmit data
• Same Modems as POTS
• Charges are based on the connection time
• 2400 BPS Data Rates
• Being phased out by providers in favor of Digital
  Cellular

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Digital Cellular
• GSM/GPRS
• Global System for Mobile Communications
• Utilizes General Packet Radio Service for data
  service
• Carriers include
• Cingular/ATT
• T-Mobile
• Deployed more than CDMA
• CDMA/1X RTT
• Code-Division Multiple Access
• Utilizes Single Carrier Radio Transmission
  Technology for data service

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Digital Cellular
• CDMA/1X RTT
• Carriers include
• Verizon
• Sprint
• Charges based on the amount of data transmitted
• IP (Internet Protocol) Based Communications
• 56K BPS Data Rates

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Unlicensed Radio
• Spread Spectrum
• What is Spread Spectrum?
• All Radios use the same Frequency Bandwidth
• Signals are encoded to eliminate cross-over
• 56K BPS Data Rates
• Limited Communication distances
• Approx. 20 Miles
• Greatly influenced be terrain, vegetation, etc.
• Site Survey must be completed to determine
• Antenna heights
• Location of Repeaters
• Additional System Parameters

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Control Channel
• Sometimes referred to as Cellemetry
• Utilizes the Control Channel of the Cell System
  to transmit data
• The Control Channel is responsible for keeping
  track of all cell-phones within a particular
  cell.
• Unused Bandwidth is utilized for Data
  Transmission
• Limited Data Transmissions
• Typically a few items of information per day from
  each site
• Inexpensive
• 6.00 per month for 2 readings per day

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Satellite
• Data Transmitted via Satellite
• Excellent Coverage Area
• Can be costly
• Upfront Costs Radios, Antennas, etc.
• Monthly Costs
• Costs are starting to come down

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Communication Technologies

• Frame Relay
• A permanent virtual circuit through the providers
  existing network
• Extends your companies computer network to
  various locations
• IP Based Communications
• Fixed Monthly Costs - 100 to 150 per Month
• 100 Plus Mega-BPS Data Rates

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Trends

• Polled Over 40 of the Top 100 Gas Utilities in
  the US
• Over 30,000 mechanical recorders in operation
• 74 indicate that they have a plan in place or
  are planning to replace mechanical recorders with
  electronic recorders
• Reasons for this change-out
• Reduce Cost to Collect Pressure Data
• Reduce Burden on limited personnel resources
• System Optimization
• System Modeling
• Alarm Notification

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Summary

• Abundance of options/strategies
• Electronic Recorders
• Communications
• Evaluate Your Needs
• What data is required
• Locations
• How often is the data to be gathered/polled
• Develop Corporate objectives and functional
  requirements
• Prevents project from growing and becoming
  unmanageable
• Let this be your guide for successful
  implementation

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Electronic Pressure and Temperature Recorders
Questions