Rig 3-D Display |
Structural Monitoring
Offshore structural monitoring is generally considered to be
an expensive, complicated operation requiring complex equipment, dedicated
software lots of wiring and large numbers of sensors. Cabling has often to be
run all over a structure to a central control point. The installation often
diverts rig personnel away from their tasks. Structures generally move in
complicated ways and often require sensors to operate at a range of different
rates to obtain sufficient information about the object under examination. The
variation in sample rates often causes problems in the recording and management
of information. Items that require high sample rates often force recording
rates to be high for all sensors used in the project. Large amounts of
redundant data is recorded which is expensive to store and analyze.
The transmission of sensor signals through a structure can
often difficult to achieve, especially if the structure under investigation is
a working platform. Noise from rotating machinery, power switching circuits and
control equipment can often be picked up along with the desired signal which
can become difficult to distinguish Analysis of information often requires
custom application software development and expensive post processing
operations. Information is often acquired in a format that makes it difficult
for operators to understand and to examine for themselves. What can start out
as a simple measuring exercise often becomes a complex operation. Software
development is often expensive in time and financial commitment.
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Solution
The NP4000 instrumentation is a small stand-alone unit which
can read signals from a range of sensors and can pass this information directly
to packages such as Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123 etc. Information can be quickly
integrated into most applications. The NP4000 unit can acquire and process
information at different rates as required for the various sensors. The units
can be close to the source of data and will transmit information to the control
station digitally and error free. The digital transmission of data ensures that
information will be recorded noise free no matter how the signal cables linking
the NP4000 instruments are routed through the structure. Expansion of a system
to suit project changes is simple. Just plug a new unit in and press a single
key on the driver software and all changes are updated automatically. There are
no configuration files to worry about. The high dynamic range of the instrument
ensures that the smallest parameter under investigation can be seen and
recorded. |
Metrological Information Display |
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Real-time Platform Motion Display |
An important feature of the NP4000 instrumentation is that
it uses individual sample and hold circuits on each input. There are no
multiplexer units. This ensures that when data is acquired, all channels are
sampled at the same time, no matter where on the structure they are placed. The
signal filtering is undertaken digitally. The filters characteristics cannot
drift with time or by variation with temperature.
It is a simple operation to monitor:
- Vibration
- Displacement
- Voltage
- Wave Height
- Acceleration
- Wind Speed & Direction
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Strain
- Load
Keynes Controls can supply complete packages ready to
install. System Design advice, Data analysis services and complete technical
support. If you would like further information please contact us. |
