Antennas In Industrial Wireless

explosion proof antenna for industrial wireless communications in hazardous areas
Explosion proof antenna for industrial wireless
communications in hazardous locations
Analynk Wireless
Wireless field instrumentation has played a growing role in the process control industry since its introduction. Digital instrumentation has become the industry standard thanks to advantages in communicability, durability, cost effectiveness, and integration. WirelessHART maintains, and even exceeds, the operating efficiency of wired systems without sacrificing security. Other protocols for industrial communications also operate in the process control space, each providing an operable solution for wireless connectivity. All utilize a common signal path that is worth understanding, if you are involved in process measurement and control…radio

Communicating information over long distances through open space is achieved by radio systems using electromagnetic fields. The common radio wave comprises oscillating electric and magnetic fields to generate electromagnetic radiation. The three most common antenna designs are the half-wave dipole antenna, the quarter-wave whip antenna, and the five element yagi antenna. The dipole and whip antennas are engineered to adeptly receive electromagnetic waves from all directions perpendicularly aligned with their axes. The yagi antenna, on the other hand, boasts director and reflector elements to increase its directionality. Thanks to this directionality, the yagi is best applicable in radar and point-to-point communications. The dipole and whip, also known as omnidirectional antennas, are better in situations where equal sensitivity is required in multiple directions instead of a pinpoint system.

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems find uses for both yagi and dipole antennas. The dimensions of particular antennas are directly related to signal wavelength because radio antennas work at maximum efficiency when in conditions of electrical resonance. The actual size of the antenna allows for a certain electrical resonance frequency. Low frequency antennas are larger, and higher frequency antennas are smaller. A quarter-wave whip antenna designed as part of a 900 MHz transceiver application, in industry, would be around 8.3 centimeters. The same antenna design for an AM radio broadcast transmission operating at 550 KHz would be around 136 meters. These antenna parameters are specific to both the conditions the antenna operates under and the related frequency being measured.

Industrially designed yagi antennas are built to preserve the reliability of wireless monitoring, even in harsh environments. Oil and gas companies, water districts and progressive utilities can monitor Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) from a centralized location. The major challenge facing radio wireless monitoring today is the maximization of uptime in difficult environments. The challenge is being addressed by the development of antennas which can pair with National Electrical Manufacturers Association RTU enclosures. Protecting against dust and rain, wind, splashing water, and hose-directed water are some of the ways product developers are responding to industry reported client concerns. Additionally, industrial environments can present hazards that require the use of specially enclosed antennas to eliminate the potential for ignition of flammable atmosphere. Similarly, dipole antenna manufacturers are adapting to challenging environments by designing antennas specific to the application needs of industry customers.

Analynk Wireless provides solutions for establishing wireless connections in industrial settings. You can learn more about the company at their website.