Page 25 - Gi flipbook_May 2019

Phil Pett, Technical Sales Manager at EOGB Energy RFID tags can be assigned to items in
Products, discusses the advancement of PLCs and a wide range of applications including
other technologies, and the role these will play in retail supply chains and banking, such
boiler and burner applications of the future as contactless payment cards.
For heating, a typical application is on
the production of components for HVAC
oilers and burners play a key control valves and meters) and their equipment. The tag stores the history
role in providing space heating maintenance/service history. of the job materials and equipment
and hot water for commercial We will see RFID/IOT gradually in addition to spare part numbers,
buildings, as well as being a replace distributed control systems maintenance and troubleshooting
B critical component of industrial (DCS), but it is likely that traditional information, which can be extremely
process operations. However, managing master control PLC-based units will beneficial in complex structures such as
their sequencing, while running remain in place for many more years burners, boilers, and high-pressure tubing.
different operating modes and states, due to their perceived reliability and
can present complex challenges. inherent safety level (although the AR applications improve
Therefore, programmable logic connected security of such systems has
controllers (PLCs) are often used to been highlighted by malicious attacks, plant safety by eradicating the
modify the operation of a control such as Stuxnet.) need for personnel to touch
system. First introduced in the any part of the plant, such as
1960s, PLCs are used in many heat The Internet of Things high pressure/temperature
applications, helping to improve The Internet of Things (IOT) is the
operation and controllability of the collective term for equipment, gadgets apparatus, live voltage
burner or boiler system, resulting in and components that produce data equipment or rotating heavy
lower operating and maintenance costs. and can be connected to the internet, machinery, while still being able
Over the years, with the advancement allowing other devices (or humans) to acquire and identify its status
in new technology, PLCs have evolved to to share and interact with the data
offer improved features such as greater produced in real-time.
programming flexibility, smaller sizes Increasingly, many commercial Augmented reality
and integrated wireless operation. and industrial components, as well as Augmented reality (AR) is the
domestic, are starting to be connected integration of visual based graphics
The heating system of the future via the internet or a closed intranet. over real-world data.
A ‘heating system of the future’ solution Systems like Genius Hub can replace AR, in conjunction with RFID, can
starts with the Internet of Things (IOT) traditional heating control devices in be used to identify components of the
and radio-frequency identification commercial buildings or the home such boiler plant and superimpose these
(RFID) technology to collect and as thermostats and radiator valves by graphics over a live camera image on a
track heating system data via a Wi-Fi utilising wireless connections to save tablet or smartphone. By touching any
connection. This allows for a holistic energy and gather data. superimposed graphic, more detailed
system which will manage a process It has been predicted that by 2020 each information can be displayed such as
with safety, efficiency and improved human will have more than four devices part identification, an interface for
preventive maintenance on a single connected to the internet, showing ordering replacement parts, process
platform. Augmented reality (AR) the exponential growth of the internet data and service history and help in
can also enhance the management of worldwide and the evolution of IOT. maintenance troubleshooting with
complete systems. remote technical support.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) AR applications improve plant safety
RFID is the use of radio waves to by eradicating the need for personnel to
Systems such as Genius Hub identify, track and interact with touch any part of the plant, such as high
can replace traditional heating information stored on a miniature pressure/temperature apparatus, live
control devices in commercial electronic printed circuit board or ‘tag’. voltage equipment or rotating heavy
buildings or the home such
as thermostats and radiator
valves by utilising wireless
connections to save energy and
gather data

Existing operations management is
improved by using these technologies,
allowing further automation at lower
cost due to a reduction in PLC I/O
(input/output) loading and no hard
wiring. Safety and efficiency are also
enhanced by creating a plant plan that
can provide an inventory of the assets
(such as boilers, tanks and piping),
process equipment (including pumps, AN EXAMPLE OF A BESPOKE PLC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A STEAM BOILER SYSTEM

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