Reliability Analysis and Field Measurements for Industrial Wireless Networks

电子仪表和控制网络广泛应用于石油精炼设施中，传统上，这些网络使用有线通信。然而，由于运行长度和所需的安全屏蔽，运行这些电线是昂贵的。使用无线通信显著降低了成本，但挑战在于确保无线网络提供与有线网络相同的可靠性，实现这一点的一种方法是使用网状网络技术，靠近网络接入点的节点中继来自更远节点的数据包. Spartan Controls提供了一系列符合WirelessHART标准的无线仪表和控制产品，这些产品具有这种网状网络功能。这些网络可以部署在复杂的设施，如炼油厂或用于连接远程位于现场wellsites。该赠款的目的是首先支持一项活动，将利用软件定义的无线电来测量无线HART链接的质量在远程现场sights。使用统计方法来分析这些测量结果将开发模型，更准确地预测远程现场位置的WirelessHART覆盖范围。该基金还将支持使用图论基本原理来确定如何最好地设计meshWirelessHART网络。这些设计方法将转化为经验法则类型的指导方针，便于现场技术人员遵循。

Electronic instrumentation and control networks are used extensively at petroleum refining facilities.Traditionally, these networks have used wired communications. However, running these wires is expensiveboth due to the run lengths and safety shielding required. Using wireless communications significantly reducesthis cost but the challenge is ensuring that the wireless network provides the same reliability as a wired one.One way to achieve this is to use mesh networking techniques where nodes close to the network access pointrelay packets from nodes that are further away. Spartan Controls offers a portfolio of WirelessHARTcompliant wireless instrumentation and control products that have this mesh networking capability. Thesenetworks can be deployed within complex facilities like refineries or used to connect remotely located wellsites in the field.The purpose of this grant is to first support a campaign that will utilize software defined radios to measure thequality of WirelessHART links at remote field sights. Using statistical methods to analyze these measurementswill develop models that will more accurately predict WirelessHART coverage in remote field locations. Thisgrant will also support the use of graph theory fundamentals to determine how best to design a meshWirelessHART network. These design methods will be translated in to rule-of-thumb type guidelines that areeasy for field technicians to follow.