Showing posts with label Industry 4.0. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Industry 4.0. Show all posts

Industry 4.0 and Hazardous Environments: How Wireless Access Point Enclosures Ensure Safe Data Transmission


Industry 4.0 and Hazardous Environments: How Wireless Access Point Enclosures Ensure Safe Data Transmission

Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is a term used to describe the integration of smart technologies into the manufacturing and industrial sectors. This revolution includes big data analytics, automation, robotics, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies to create smarter, more efficient, and more connected industrial systems.

In many industrial environments, there can be hazardous areas with a risk of fire or explosion due to flammable gases, vapors, dust, or fibers. Classification of the sites is according to their risk level, and special precautions are critical when deploying electronic equipment in these areas to prevent the risk of ignition. One important aspect of Industry 4.0 is the ability to collect and transmit data wirelessly, which requires deploying wireless access points within the industrial environment, including in hazardous areas.

The solution to safely deploying wireless access points in hazardous areas is to use specially-designed enclosures engineered to prevent ignition. These enclosures are "hazardous area wireless access point enclosures" and meet specific safety standards for hazardous locations. Several key factors make these enclosures suitable for use in hazardous areas:
  • Explosion-proof design: These enclosures contain an internal explosion and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding environment. They are constructed from robust materials that can withstand the pressures generated by an internal explosion.
  • Ingress protection: The enclosures are designed to prevent the ingress of dust, water, and other contaminants, which is essential for ensuring the reliable operation of the wireless access point and for preventing the buildup of flammable dust within the enclosure.
  • Temperature regulation: The enclosures often include features to regulate the internal temperature, such as heat sinks, cooling fans, or air conditioning units, which are important for preventing the wireless access point from overheating and potentially becoming an ignition source.
  • Intrinsically safe components: Some enclosures are designed to accommodate intrinsically safe components, which operate at energy levels below the threshold required for ignition, and provide an additional layer of safety when deploying wireless access points in hazardous areas.
  • Certification: Hazardous area enclosures are typically certified by recognized testing organizations to confirm that they meet the relevant safety standards for use in hazardous areas. The certification process involves rigorous testing to ensure the enclosures can safely perform in real-world hazardous environments.
In Industry 4.0 applications, these enclosures are used to safely deploy wireless access points within hazardous areas, enabling the collection and transmission of data from sensors, actuators, and other devices within the industrial environment., helpful for real-time monitoring, process control, predictive maintenance, and other Industry 4.0 applications that rely on the availability of timely and accurate data. By using hazardous area enclosures, industrial facilities can take advantage of the benefits of Industry 4.0 while maintaining high safety in their operations.

Analynk Wireless
(614) 755-5091

New Analynk 4G LTE Hazardous Area Antenna Nears Release


Analynk will soon release a new 4G LTE hazardous area antenna to compliment its existing line of rugged, industrial hazardous area antennas.  For details, call (614) 755-5091 or email info@analynk.com.

Why 4G?

Sure, everyone's talking about 5G and it's impact on industrial networks. By broadening the scope of applications possible with cellular technologies, there's no doubt 5G will connect industry like never before. However, it won't be soon.

The unfortunate truth is that features specific for industrial 5G use are not expected to be part of the 5G standard until 2021.  If you then consider the years it will take to introduce production runs of 5G chips, smooth out production processes, and stabilize their performance in varying applications, you're at least 4-5 years away from meaningful industrial 5G implementation.

In the meantime, non-public networks, owned and managed by large organizations or service providers, will be the most logical and efficient way to solve the challenges of availability, data privacy, reliability, and quick rollouts. This, coupled with backward compatibility from 4G LTE to 5G being a core strategy of the 3GPP consortium, presents a strong argument toward the adoption of 4G LTE networks as the most logical and effcient path forward.

Considering that 4G LTE's momentum continues, and forecasts predict it will continue to grow its user base for years to come, it stands to reason that "4G now" is the perfect bridge for adoption as you move toward Industry 4.0 and 5G.