Connecting With Remote Oil Field Installations

Oil derrick
Wireless communications can connect remote oil field
equipment monitoring to a central control point
Oil is sought all across the globe, from the tropics to the Arctic. It is the king of commodities, chattered about endlessly on news channels and touching facets of our lives without our ever being aware. Oil is big and serious business, with tremendous sums of money at risk on the prospect of reaping even greater returns.

Like all raw materials derived from the Earth, oil is often discovered in very remote areas with no transportation, communication, or other infrastructure nearby. It is common for producing wells to operate unattended, which saves cost and increases operational risk due to failure or malfunction that may occur on the site. Maintaining efficient and safe operation at the site is not a luxury, but a necessity. Delivering real time data from remote sites to monitoring and decision making centers is crucial to achieving profitable and safe operation at remote sites.

Analynk manufactures transmission and receiving equipment that builds the bridge between remote sites and the home office. From elemental componentry to integrated, ready to run systems, Analynk specializes in wireless communications for industrial process control. Contact us with your wireless challenges. Whether an expansive multipoint, or a single point application, the specialists at Analynk can combine standard or customized products into a practical solution for you.

Schematic of industrial wireless communications to remote sites

Outlook for 2016

Industrial wireless antenna for hazardous area
At Analynk, we are wrapping up a very good year, and extend our sincere thanks to our customers, vendors, and others that have supported our continued growth and success in the industrial wireless communications field.

We brought several new products to the market this year, including some new versions of the Hazardous Area Wireless Access Point Enclosure and our patented Explosion Proof Antenna. The coming months will see the release of some new products we have been working on this past year. Stay connected with us and you will be among the first to know about them.

We hope your year was as good as ours, and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and prosperous New Year.

Installing Wireless Access Point in Hazardous Area

Industrial wireless network access point
Model AP320 Wireless Access Point
Courtesy Aruba Networks
In many technical endeavors, industrial process control being one, there are often collisions between what is necessary and what is desired. The incursion of wireless communications into the process measurement and control field has created such a collision between process engineers and IT managers. Granted, it's a cooperative and amicable collision, but a situation that can require the resolution of some incompatible interests.

For a number of reasons, it may be advantageous for the wireless network gear in the process section of a facility to conform to certain standards established for the larger scope of the organization. There can be real benefits to standardizing on particular brands or types of hardware. The tasks involved with back end management of network infrastructure are less complex when all the equipment is of the same vendor and product family. Provisioning, which includes initial setup, long term management, and unit loss management, is simplified when all the units are the same. Process engineers and operators pursue the same goal in standardizing on particular transmitters, valves, or other components that have multiple installations throughout a facility.
Industrial wireless access point explosion proof enclosure
Analynk Wireless Access Point Enclosure for
Hazardous Locations
The difficulty arises when the IT team's chosen wireless access point needs to be installed in an area classified as hazardous due to the potential for ignition of flammable or explosive gases and vapors. There is a solution, actually a fairly simple one.

Analynk manufactures enclosures for industrial wireless access points installed in hazardous locations. The current offering accommodates a range of units from Symbol, Cisco, Meru, Aruba, HP, and Motorola, with more models added regularly to accommodate additional wireless access points. Each access point enclosure is provided with UL listed explosion proof antennas, a mounting bracket designed for the target access point, and RF cables to make the antenna connections. Enclosures have penetrations specifically located to accommodate the target access point.
This arrangement allows for the deployment of the organization's preferred wireless access point in the hazardous process area.
Analynk Wireless specializes in industrial wireless communications. Your wireless communication challenges are welcome at Analynk, so make contact and share your application requirements. Combining your process expertise with Analynk's product specialization will produce a positive solution.

Wireless Linkup For Hazardous Gas Monitor

Hazardous Area Gas Monitoring Stations
Hazardous Area Gas
Detection Units on Assembly Line
Courtesy Starcom Solar
Analynk Wireless manufactures industrial wireless signal transmitters and receivers to accommodate a broad array of industrial process control applications. The company was selected by Starcom Solar, Inc. as the provider of the wireless communications section for their innovative portable and fixed installation hazardous gas monitoring stations. In addition to transmitter modules, the Starcom monitoring station utilizes Analynk's patented antenna for use in hazardous areas.

The wireless communication capability enables deployment of the monitoring system on mobile units or remote installations. Analynk's standard transmitter range extends up to 20 miles. New versions will soon be available with Iridium, GPS, and GLONASS satellite linkups enabling worldwide signal transmission and reception. Variants include capabilities to transmit a variety of inputs,
including 4-20 ma, switch closure, thermocouple, and RTD.

The Analynk product line of wireless transmitters, receivers, and antennas provides broad capability and is easy to apply and integrate into any installation. You can find out more about the A753 Transmitter in the data sheet included below. Share your signal connectivity challenges with a product specialist and see how easy and effective a wireless solution can be.


Will Wireless Work For My Process Control Application?

Industrial Wireless Receiver demonstration unit
Model A750/753 Wireless Demonstration Unit
Wireless transmission of process measurement and control signals has not been new technology for quite some time. That said, there still remain many facilities where it has not made any inroads yet. When technology is new to the industrial market, especially if it challenges the current way things are done, early adopters with larger scale, higher dollar operations are needed to put the technology into practical use and generate manufacturing volume for the technology producers. If deployment of the technology proves beneficial, the market grows on the consumer and producer sides. With greater efficiency and scale, the trend for the technology costs tends to decrease, while the range of feasible applications and projects grows.

Wireless communication for industrial applications is well beyond the point of early technology adoption. Protocols are in place, products for the transmitting and receiving of wireless process signals are mature. As a designer, engineer, manager, or operator of a process, you should confidently consider wireless connections between measurement and control or recording devices as part of any new installation or upgrading of existing facilities.

Regardless of what I have just written, sometimes we just need to see things work before we can make the leap of adoption. New ways of doing things bring the promise of reward, but also the concern of the unfamiliar.
Analynk has a solution for you.
Analynk's wireless demo kit includes a model A750 receiver and A753 transmitter both housed in NEMA 4 enclosures. The kit operates at 900 MHz with full 1W power. Locate the transmitter and receiver at points where you wish to establish a wireless connection. You can provide your own input signal, or use the provided simulator to show that a wireless connection can be established and function in a manner that will give you confidence to move forward with implementation. The kit is useful for testing out possible new locations for distance and signal strength. You will use it as wireless communications expand through your facility. Test the location first, then order the needed wireless equipment. It's a solid and low risk solution.

Analynk is a manufacturer of both wireless and wired devices for process measurement and control. The company's offering includes a wide array of standard products, as well as integration and customization to meet specific project requirements. Contact the specialists at Analynk to discuss your industrial wireless application requirements.


New Hazardous Area Wireless Antenna for GLONASS, Iridium, and GPS

Industrial Wireless Antenna for Hazardous Area
CTX Series Industrial Wireless Antenna
for Hazardous Areas

Operators in the industrial process control field increasingly rely on wireless communication as a key element of their infrastructure. The ability to connect measurement locations, even mobile ones, to data logging and control centers has enhanced operation efficiency and enabled procedures and monitoring that were cumbersome or impractical in a totally wired environment. Analynk Wireless continues with their response to demand within the process measurement and control field to utilize wireless technology across an increasing array of application scenarios by releasing their latest Hazardous Area Explosion Proof Antenna

The latest version of the company's CTX/CTM series enables remote data links for customers using Iridium, GPS, and GLONASS. This new product adds to the company's already expansive line of wireless communication products specifically designed for industrial applications, providing wireless data links to mobile or remote locations.

Analynk's antennas are operable across a very wide temperature range and provide substantial impact resistance, signal output, and ratings for hazardous environments. A data sheet for the new CTX/CTM antenna is included below. You can always contact Analynk directly to discuss your application ideas and get recommendations for product and complete system configuration.

Analynk Expands Offering of Wireless Access Point Enclosures For Hazardous Areas

industrial wireless access point enclosure
Industrial Wireless Access Point Enclosure For
Hazardous Area
Analynk Wireless has developed a range of industrial wireless communications products suitable for use in hazardous areas. One product line, Hazalynk, includes enclosures for wireless access points that can be installed in hazardous areas. The company has recognized the special adaptations needed for installing wireless access points within hazardous areas in industrial process settings, and tailored the products to show their recognition of the needs of those responsible for providing industrial wireless communications in these specialized zones.

The Hazardous Area Access Point Enclosures are designed to accommodate the customer's selected access point device. Preconfigured models accommodate units from Cisco, Symbol, Meru, Aruba, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, and other brands. Custom arrangements are possible to accommodate most brands and models.

The matching enclosure for an access point will have:
  • Custom mounting bracket mating to the customer's access point.
  • UL listed enclosure for subject hazardous area, including antenna locations coordinated with access point device arrangement.
  • UL listed explosion proof antenna, one or more as need for the subject access point.
  • All hardware, mounting plate, and RF cables to simplify installation and startup
A product specialist can help you with the latest available information. Contact them to discuss your application and how to best fulfill your hazardous area wireless communication requirement. Watch the short video.


Out of the Box Thinking Delivers Benefits with Industrial Wireless Test Station

Industrial Tire
Tire manufacturer used wireless technology
to improve output
Wireless network communication has enjoyed continuously increasing rates of adoption in the industrial process control field for a number of years. Protocols and methodologies are generally well established and a wide range of products are available, making it less challenging to configure an application solution. As the manufacturers of industrial wireless devices have gained production efficiency and responded to an increasingly competitive market, the cost of implementing a wireless solution has become less of a barrier. Truly, industry is now in a phase where creativity and ingenuity will bring changes to traditional process and production operations to take full advantage of the untethering of many common measurement and control devices.

Traditionally, most measurement and control instrumentation was fixed in place by piping or cabling. While that is still the case throughout much of the industrial sector, opportunities are continuously emerging for wireless technology to provide improvement in performance and efficiency. I came across an example of how one manufacturer of tubeless tires devised a wireless test station to replace their existing wired version to:

  • Reduce maintenance by eliminating signal cables and power cables. No more cable damage from moving wired transmitters around the tire test area. 
  • Replace manual data logging with remote automatic data logging. 
  • Maintain or increase the accuracy of each measurement point. 
  • Allow a single test station to be employed easily at multiple locations throughout the factory. 

This was accomplished using readily available pressure transmitters, wireless transmitters, access points, receivers, and related hardware to provide a complete measurement system delivering test and measurement data to a remotely located data logger.

Use your creativity, your ingenuity. Get outside the box and examine your industrial process or production operation. Look for opportunities to sharpen your efficiency and improve outcomes. The prospects are good that there may be more gained from a wireless installation than the mere absence of cabling. Discuss your ideas with a wireless product manufacturer, solicit their recommendations, and evaluate the potential benefits to your operation.

Explanation of Explosion Proof Enclosures

Explosion Proof Access Point Enclosure
Explosion Proof
Access Point
Enclosure
This is a short video that explains what an explosion-proof enclosure is, what defines it as “explosion-proof”, and the principle behind why its safe to use in explosive or combustible atmospheres.

“Explosion-proof" doesn't mean the enclosure can withstand the forces of an external explosion. It means that the enclosure is designed to cool any escaping hot gases (caused by an internal ignition) sufficiently enough as to prevent the ignition of combustible gases or dusts in the surrounding area.





Analynk provides hazardous area wireless access point enclosures are designed and certified for use in hazardous locations. For more information, contact:

Analynk Wireless, LLC
790 Cross Pointe Road
Columbus, OH 43230
614-755-5091 phone
614 -755-5093 fax

Hazardous Area Access Point Enclosures for Explosive Atmospheres

Hazardous area wireless access point enclosures are designed and certified for use in hazardous locations such as chemical plants, refineries, oil & gas platforms, mining facilities, grain processing, and plastics processing. These enclosures also provide an additional level of security for your wireless access point by preventing tampering, vandalism, and theft.

Industrial wireless access point enclosures designed for Class 1, Division 1, Hazardous Locations, Groups C & D, ATEX Zone 1. Available for Symbol, Cisco, Meru, Aruba, HP, and Motorola access points.
  • Designed for Class 1, Division 1,  Hazardous Locations 
  • 802.11 b/g 
  • Available for Symbol, Cisco, Meru, Aruba, HP, and Motorola access points 
  • Explosion proof antennas 
  • ATEX certification for Explosion Proof enclosure and antennas available 

Welcome to the Analynk Blog

We hope you find this support site helpful and informative. We plan on posting technical, application, and support information here on a weekly basis. We'll attempt to raise awareness of today's industrial wireless solutions for broader use and more efficient application.