Development of a low-cost permanently installed microelectronic wireless monitoring system for process plant inspection

摘要

The prime industry goal is to achieve zero loss of containment in a process plant. The SensIT project has focused on non-intrusive, low-cost, global, and rapid screening techniques for Permanently Installed Monitoring (PIM). This will enable real-time, on-line monitoring and assessment of large areas of plant, with the objective of eliminating loss of containment and drastically reducing downtime attributable to existing inspection and monitoring philosophies. The key issues surrounding the technology are the ability to sense defects, process information, and transmit this data via wireless methods to the plant operator, such that the operator can monitor and react to issues of plant integrity. The SensIT system provides a completely autonomous wireless sensor system that has been developed through the exploration of advances in materials, sensing techniques, microelectronics, data processing, and use of wireless communication methods. Battery and wireless technology have been exploited to provide a system that can operate for up to two years and transmit over a range of 300 m to a network access point. The system is also designed and manufactured for intrinsically safe operation in hazardous areas.