ATEX / CSA Wireless load pin

Since most systems use electrical cables for signal transmission, including hazardous zones, a new trend for wireless communication is appearing in several activity sectors, including the oil and gas industry. Wireless networks have been deployed for several years in natural gas plants downstream from the wells for different types of sensors. More recently, oil and gas upstream (drilling, coiled tubing, slick line, etc.) has started to show interest in wireless instrumentation for rigging operations to gain time, and thus save money, as well as suppressing the risk of severed communication cables.

Based on our ATEX, IECEx or CSA (C/US) certifications on all load-pin models, we can supply wireless solutions for use in zones 0 and 20 (and thus also for zones 1, 21, 2 and 22) with transmitter housing ATEX certified Ex ia IIC T4/Ex iaD20 IP68 T82°C and CSA Class 1 Div 1.

Our solution is based on an mV/V output load pin with a transmitter in the housing, including a battery, plus Ex antenna – up to ingress protection IP67. The transmitter has two channels. You could thus connect two load pins with strain gauge bridge output. On the receiver side, the choice is between an IP67 version with two channels (0-20 mA) for installation in a safe zone or mounted inside an Ex d enclosure with external Ex antenna for installation in hazardous zones (zones 1, 21, 2 or 22 referring to the Ex d enclosure certification).

Wireless automatically raises questions about battery lifespan. In order to be able to provide accurate data on this topic, we have performed live tests and obtained the following results: in average temperatures (15-20°C / +59-77°F) with constant transmission on both channels at full capacity, the battery went dead afterfour-months of use. This means that with one channel in live operations, with constant transmission, the battery lifespan will be more than four months and even more if the receiver is powered down when the system is not in operation (transmitter goes into sleep mode to save the battery). In cold weather (-5 to -30°C / -23 to -22°F), with two channels at full capacity and constant transmission, the battery still lasted one month.

The battery model (non-rechargeable) is industrial type D, available at industrial equipment retailers, anywhere in the world, avoiding costly special air-freight delivery and especially the inconvenience of all regulations in terms of batteries transport in case of air-freight delivery