Hydrocarbon Processing - June 2021 - 72

Digitalization
high-throughput data, voice and video applications.
An effective mesh network can reduce the total cost of ownership
and simplify the work demands of employees by allowing
them to centralize their communications to a single device.
This is because, as a secure and converged solution for plants,
the right mesh network can reduce the need to maintain multiple
networks by supporting data, voice and video. Furthermore,
depending on the mesh network provider, certain nodes can be
deployed in any corner of a petrochemical plant without the
need for mounting in explosion boxes.
Wireless network nodes can be attached to both fixed and
mobile assets, including equipment, vehicles and facility infrastructure.
They can maintain multiple immediate connections
between peers while sending and receiving data on multiple frequency
bands. They need never break connections to form new
ones, meaning the connections are maintained until they are no
longer required. With high-bandwidth speeds across multiple
mesh node hops, a mesh network offers extremely low-latency
for real-time, plant-wide connectivity, even at the network edge,
making it the perfect solution for mission-critical operations
that require ubiquitous connectivity.
Mesh networking software can direct traffic by dynamically
load-balancing and routing data around signal blockages from
moving assets and potential interferences. This ensures that
data packets get to their destination via the fastest path available.
It also eliminates the need for a controller node, meaning
that the network will have no single point of failure.
As petrochemical plants are spread out over vast areas, they
are forced to add new bandwidth-intensive applications to support
continued growth. A superior mesh network topology can
rapidly evolve as the plant does. As more nodes are added, more
paths to direct mission-critical data are naturally formed. With
more paths, the network becomes more resilient.
A mesh network can also protect plants, which are potential
targets for high-risk network security attacks. The multi-layered,
military-grade security for network traffic of a mesh network
makes it incredibly difficult to penetrate. It boasts multiple
cryptographic options, configurable data and MAC-address encryption,
and configurable per-hop, per-packet authentication
between nodes.
A trail to operational enhancement. Novel proprietary wireless
network nodesa
are built for hazardous locations where ignitable
concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids can exist
all or some of the time under normal operating conditions. The
author's company enables plants to deploy these nodes on fixedand
mobile-plant infrastructure and equipment to enable the
maintaining of multiple immediate connections between peers
while sending and receiving data on multiple frequency bands.
The author's company's kinetic mesh networksb
, built with
proprietary wireless network nodes, can dynamically connect
the people, assets and devices that comprise every aspect of a
plant's current and future operations. The network offers benefits,
which include reducing the total cost of ownership and
simplifying the work demands of employees by allowing them to
centralize their communications to a single device.
These self-healing, peer-to-peer industrial wireless networks
NEW VERSION
InstruCalc
CONTROL VALVES * FLOW ELEMENTS * RELIEF DEVICES * PROCESS DATA
InstruCalc 9.0 calculates the size of control valves, fl ow
elements and relief devices and calculates fl uid properties,
pipe pressure loss and liquid waterhammer fl ow. Easy to
use and accurate, it is the only sizing program you need,
enabling you to: size more than 50 diff erent instruments;
calculate process data at fl ow conditions for 54 fl uids,
in either mixtures or single components, and 66 gases;
and calculate the orifi ce size, fl owrate or diff erential
range, which enables the user to select the fl owrate with
optimum accuracy.
Updates include Engineering Standard
Upgrades and Operational Improvements
in InstruCalc Version 9.0
Please contact J'Nette Davis-Nichols
for more information at
Jnette.Davis-Nichols@GulfEnergyInfo.com
give petrochemical plant operators the communication flexibility,
reliability, high performance and scalability they need to maximize
productivity and innovation. In turn, risk is minimized,
downtime and costs are decreased, and security is increased to
keep them ahead of the competition.
The way forward for petrochemical plants. To tackle competitiveness
and move with the changing digital environment,
utilizing mesh-based, IIoT networks is essential. With more significant
pressure on the industry, ensuring cost-effectiveness and
safety is even more vital. These networks can provide plant-wide
connectivity to manage, monitor and optimize assets critical to
efficient, safe and competitive petrochemical operations. In addition,
a complete IIoT solution can be deployed in a matter of
days or weeks as opposed to months. This means petrochemical
plants can quickly maximize this sector of industrialization.
NOTES
a Rajant Corp.'s BreadCrumbs® wireless network nodes
b Rajant Corp.'s Kinetic Mesh® networks
AL J. RIVERO is Vice President of Global Energy at Rajant and is
responsible for working and engaging with clients who seek to
implement a secure, reliable IIoT and mobility strategy for their
oil and gas operations. He works closely with clients to develop a
strategic technology transition plan that ensures a reliable and
secure migration of technologies. Mr. Rivero has more than 30 yr
of experience in various roles, ranging from staff engineer and
project manager to operations management and technology management within
Chevron companies. He also has extensive IT/OT integration project experience
having worked with SAP, JDE, ESRI and a variety of automation and SCADA/DCS
solutions within the upstream, midstream, refining and petrochemical segments.
72 JUNE 2021 | HydrocarbonProcessing.com
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Hydrocarbon Processing - June 2021

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