Wireless Networks for Industrial Applications

工业应用无线网络

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-03697
• 负责人: Messier, Geoffrey
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=659669
• 关键词: Wireless; Networks; Industrial; Applications

The goal of this program is to remove the barriers for using wireless networks to connect the sensors and controllers used at industrial facilities. This work falls into the area of cyber-physical systems and involves finding the best ways to control physical systems over data networks. While this research is applicable to any industrial setting, the focus will be on networks for petroleum refineries due to the importance of the energy industry to Alberta and Canada.*** Wireless sensor networks have yet to achieve wide commercial deployment in spite of being a popular research topic for many years. In contrast, wired sensor and control networks have been used in industrial facilities worldwide for over 30 years. There is strong economic incentive to transition these wired networks to wireless. Since explosive vapors may be present at a refinery, safety regulations require all network cables to be encased in steel shielding. This means that the cost of installing wires to connect new sensors can range from $200/foot to $2,000/foot. Using a wireless link would eliminate most of this cost.*** The economic case for wireless industrial networks is clear but there are still technical challenges that must be overcome before wireless can be used with confidence. The purpose of this research program is to address the most critical of these challenges.*** First, there is little information on how the wireless signal behaves in a refinery environment. Compared to other industrial sites, refinery environments have a much higher concentration of metal objects such as pipes and vessels. This program will be the first to conduct a wireless field measurement campaign at an operating petroleum refinery.*** The next challenge is to use the wireless measurement data to develop more accurate models for predicting received wireless signal power in an industrial environment. Wireless reflections cause random variations in received power which lead to uncertainty when planning how much transmit power is required to maintain reliable links. This makes it difficult to predict node power consumption and lifetime. This program will utilize theory based on random distributions of scatterers with different densities to develop more accurate wireless propagation models that will reduce uncertainty during network planning.*** The final challenge is to determine if it is possible to guarantee the stability of industrial process control algorithms that are running over high reliability wireless networks. A control algorithm can become unstable when sensor and controller commands traveling over a network are delayed or lost. This can place both the facility and lives at risk. This program will utilize mathematical analysis to determine the distribution of random delays that can be expected over a wireless network. That distribution will then be used in an analysis of the stability of the industrial control algorithm that is using the network.**

该计划的目标是消除使用无线网络连接工业设施中使用的传感器和控制器的障碍。 这项工作福尔斯属于网络物理系统领域，涉及到寻找通过数据网络控制物理系统的最佳方法。 虽然这项研究适用于任何工业环境，但由于能源工业对阿尔伯塔和加拿大的重要性，重点将放在炼油厂网络上。尽管无线传感器网络是多年来的热门研究课题，但尚未实现广泛的商业部署。 相比之下，有线传感器和控制网络已在全球工业设施中使用了30多年。 将这些有线网络转换为无线网络具有很强的经济动机。 由于炼油厂可能存在爆炸性蒸汽，安全法规要求所有网络电缆都必须用钢屏蔽。 这意味着安装连接新传感器的电线的成本可以从200美元/英尺到2,000美元/英尺不等。 使用无线连接将消除大部分成本。*无线工业网络的经济理由是明确的，但在无线可以放心使用之前，仍然存在必须克服的技术挑战。 本研究计划的目的是解决这些挑战中最关键的问题。*首先，关于无线信号在炼油厂环境中如何表现的信息很少。 与其他工业场所相比，炼油厂环境中金属物体（如管道和容器）的浓度要高得多。 该计划将是第一个在运营的炼油厂进行无线现场测量活动的项目。*下一个挑战是使用无线测量数据来开发更准确的模型，用于预测工业环境中接收的无线信号功率。 无线反射引起接收功率的随机变化，这导致在规划需要多少发射功率来维持可靠链路时的不确定性。 这使得很难预测节点功耗和寿命。 该计划将利用基于不同密度散射体随机分布的理论，开发更准确的无线传播模型，以减少网络规划过程中的不确定性。最后的挑战是确定是否有可能保证在高可靠性无线网络上运行的工业过程控制算法的稳定性。 当通过网络传输的传感器和控制器命令延迟或丢失时，控制算法可能变得不稳定。 这可能会使设施和生命处于危险之中。 该程序将利用数学分析来确定在无线网络上可以预期的随机延迟的分布。 然后，该分布将用于分析使用该网络的工业控制算法的稳定性。**