Remote, autonomous, environmental data recorder and controller

Introduction

The Renesy Ltd Remote, autonomous, environmental data recorder and controller, the system which operates without being dependent on power and communications links.

It is ideal for monitoring environmental variables in remote locations and as an option can provide external control based on these variables. Whereas typical systems require a power source and communications grid access, the system is able to be installed without the cost of laying the power and communications lines, significantly decreasing the cost of a permanent installation or making a short-term installation in a remote location more viable. The ability for the system to operate in these environments therefore makes it possible to monitor in situations where previously it would have been cost prohibitive.

Overview of system components

The system is comprises 5 primary modules, any one of which can be altered to suit specific requirements for an installation or, in the unlikely case of failure can easily be replaced so that downtime is minimised. The system can be reconfigured after purchasing for a different application as the requirements change in the future, eliminating the need to purchase whole new systems to meet new demands. The five modules comprise:

Sensors

Solar power system

The standard power source is a battery backed up solar system; this negates the need for the installation to have access to external power. The solar array is designed to provide nearly twice the required amount of power, even during the most severe of UK weather conditions. This is backed up by a solar controller and battery system that ensures that the installation is able to function for up to a week in an absolute blackout situation, a condition that does not occur unless damage has been caused to the solar array. Both the solar array and the battery system are monitored for the current system state; if either are deemed to be malfunctioning then the machine will issue an SOS to the base station stating that it needs maintenance. In such a situation the installation still has 3 or 4 days of runtime, meaning that a service engineer can get to the installation and fix the fault with minimal system downtime.
Where necessary or preferable, the system can be powered from the grid or can be adapted to connect to a wide array of power sources.

Computer

The computer and control unit is designed for industrial applications, meaning that it can withstand large ranges of temperature and is therefore suited to field installations in a wide variety of environments. Depending on the exact monitoring requirements we are able to configure most systems to be functional over a wide temperature range. As the system is designed for remote installation the computer is specifically chosen to be reliable and also for remote update and control.

With a fully adaptable computer system the installation can be modified to take additional sensors for a wide range of environmental monitoring, all tied into the same base configuration. These can be fitted retro-actively so the system is able to cope with expanding legislation for monitoring without needing to be completely replaced, leading to a long life-cycle that is not dependent on potential future requirements.

Data storage and transmission

Data can either be stored indefinitely on the in-field monitoring system, storage options are capable of dealing with virtually any storage requirement, ie 1 sample a second for one year, with the data then either being picked up manually from the system or, more conveniently, then monitored remotely. In such a situation data can either be sampled from the system in real-time, or the system instructed to build a series of data files over a specified time-period and sample rate. These can then either be retrieved from the system manually, or the system be instructed to transmit the data files to another computer. Additionally, the sampling parameters can be altered remotely and the health and system status can be queried to check if any preventative maintenance needs to be carried out.
The system communicates via the standard mobile telecoms system, meaning that it can be deployed anywhere that has a reliable signal. In case of signal interruption the system keeps all the data until the signal is restored so that no data samples are lost, these are then transmitted when the communications link is restored.

System process control

The system is adaptable to control a large range of external devices , ie pneumatic valves, gates and turbines, the control of which can be linked to any of the monitored parameters. Alternatively these can be controlled manually from the base station. The system is further able to receive data from custom external devices to monitor conditions in operational parameters. If required the control system can be made to provide power to any such external device.

Last updated on: February 10, 2016