Wireless transmission of force measurement in hazardous areas

We manufacture force transducers based on strain gauges technology, with a standard output between 5 and 30 mV (power supply: 10 VDC).

As long as SENSY has been in existence, it has offered a wide range of options to allow the type of transmission to be adapted to the application, including:

• Analogue amplifiers (0-10 V, 4-20 mA, +/-10 V, etc.)
• Digital amplifiers (RS232, RS485, USB, etc.)
• Wireless transmitter/receiver for industrial environments.

We can now add to this list:

A ‘wireless ATEX-certified transmitter/receiver capable of being both battery-operated and used in hazardous areas’

• SENSY recently delivered a complete measurement solution, which included a system for measuring the force of five mooring cables operating in a hazardous area, by utilizing radio transmission.
• FINDING a solution for a customer’s problem: Our customer needed to control the forces applied on the tankers mooring lines during the discharge of their crude-oil cargo.

SENSY’s SOLUTION

• Manufacture of five ‘Exd’ certified tensiometers, submersible in case of an accident, quick release for ease-of-use, and connected to a multichannel radio;
• Development of an ‘Ex- certified’ transmitter in an explosion-proof enclosure;
• Realization of an Ex- certified receiver mounted on the outside of the ship’s bridge in an explosion-proof enclosure and connected to a computer installed in the safe area.
• Features of dedicated software:
  
  1. Display of the tension force of each mooring line in a bar graph so that the data can readily understood.
  2. Programmable alert thresholds with an audible alarm and a color changing from green to red depending on the force level.
  3. Real-time data recording.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Force transducers

• Type : Static line tensiometer, model 5560S
• Capacity : 45 t
• Certification : ‘Exd T6’ according to CEI 60079-1/EN60079-1
• Output signal : 1 mV/V
• Protection : IP67 Marine
• Cable length : 15 m
• Option : Quick release system

Conditioner / Transmitter

• Number of channels : 5
• Accuracy : ± 0.1 %
• Inputs : 5 x 2 mV/V
• Power supply : 10..24 VDC
• Range : 1.000 m with no obstructions or interference in the surrounding area
• Explosion-proof enclosure : Eexd IIB T4

Receiver

• Output : RS485 (Modbus)
• Power supply : 230 VAC
• Explosion-proof enclosure : Eexd IIB T4
• Protection : IP54

Dedicated software (on a computer outside of the hazardous area)

• Display of the five strengths on a bar graph with colours changing from green to red depending on the force level;
• Programmable alert thresholds with an audible alarm.
• Data recording

This particular application is an example of what SENSY can achieve in the field of force measurement and wireless signal transmission in ATEX zones.

It demonstrates SENSY's ability to offer a solution adapted to the field.