The remote control of technical systems localised in confined areas (industrial areas such as refineries, chemical plants or reservoirs, city areas etc.) involving the acquisition, elaboration and transmission of data is a sufficiently developed technique. In the field of Cathodic Protection of buried pipelines, some specific systems have already been developed. Various research projects are in course of development in Europe and all over the world for applying the remote control to CP systems. The huge development of transmission networks via GSM or satellites (Stationary Satellites, not stationary Low Orbit Satellites) during the last years allows now an easy application of this technology. Remote measuring and control of Cathodic Protection Stations and other sensitive points (e.g. railway crossings, characteristic test points) along a pipeline allows monitoring the efficiency, working conditions and effectiveness of cathodic protection systems. Due to the huge influence of stray currents on 80 percent of Snam Rete Gas pipeline network (29.000 km), the control and verification of CP Systems efficiency and effectiveness assumes an important size in terms of costs and manpower. In 1998 the remote control of Cathodic Protection Systems was conceived in Snam Rete Gas that covers Cathodic Protection Stations, railway crossings and characteristic test points. The remote unit, named AEMT (Acquisition, Elaboration, Memorisation and Transmission of data) is able to pick up a reading per second with a smooth elaboration of data per minutes, hours, days, and months. Some other function is also included for long term or trend elaboration (i.e. the mean square deviation, ground-bed behaviour etc.). Each Maintenance Centre (74 in total) is provided with computer software that performs a weekly automatic polling of all the Remotely Controlled Units. If something goes wrong (i.e. lack of main electrical grid, lack of CP current, potentials out of the pre-fixed range), the remote controlled units emit alarm signals via the Short Message System of GSM. This allows intervention of the personnel "on condition", by using the information already gathered on the type of failure and the position of the plant where the intervention is needed. The technicians can also remotely perform a complete recording of the data from any unit for a maximum duration of 72 hours (maximum storage duration of potential or current with acquisition time of every second). After the completion of the system, substantial advantages are expected regarding the control of the efficiency and the effectiveness of CP systems. Due to the virtually continuous monitoring of CP systems, the remote control of CP will allow maintenance interventions "on condition"; increasing the overall reliability and safety of pipelines from the anti-corrosion point of view. A huge quantity of routine maintenance operation, measurements and controls will be replaced by the remote control system, with a noticeable reduction of costs relevant to missions, dedicated cars and instrumentation.
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