Wireless Process Control Networks

In order to promote data sharing and analysis in embedded control networks, industrial plants, factories and process automation systems are increasingly deploying information and communications technologies. Despite the severe process control environment, as well as loss of signal propagation and interference with radio frequency (RF), wireless connections provide quick and simple access to a multitude of field tools, reducing network installation expenses and continuing maintenance outlays. This serves as an incentive to adopt industrial wireless networks depending on industry norms such as ISA100.11a, a wireless networking technology standard established by ISA (International Automation Society) and WirelessHART, a wireless sensor networking technology based on the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer Protocol (HART). 

However, wide-ranging acceptance is tentative, as industrial environments differ extensively and process control systems have a variety of critical demands for wireless networking, such as:

• Long-term durability.
• Low-cost operation.
• High reliability in the harsh radio propagation environment.
• Deterministic transmissions in shared wireless bandwidth.

Wired connections have proved efficient in promoting reliable, point-to-point communication between controller and field tools. Wired links, however, have a difficult restriction - they are unable to meet the increasing demands and future requirements to support adaptive network topology and fast reconfiguration found in new process control systems. 

Instead of setting miles of wires to connect hundreds of field tools, industrial wireless communication networks provide tailored network topology wireless links, enable plug-and-play setup, and provide reduced installation and maintenance costs.

Compared to the demands of conventional Internet data services, the requirements of wireless service quality (QoS) in the process control environment are more stringent. In mobile use cases, these include more extremely reliable transmissions as well as centralized data analytics, tighter message latency, and reduced power consumption.

For more information about wireless networking in the industrial space, contact Analynk Wireless. Visit their website at https://analynk.com, or call them at 614-755-5091.

Top 6 Reasons to Deploy Wireless Networking in Industrial Facilities

Wireless technologies offer great value over wired solutions. A reduction in cost is just one of the many benefits of switching to the wireless networking system. There are many benefits, including enhanced management of legacy systems that were previously not possible with a wired networking connection. Here is an overview of some of the value-added benefits of adopting wireless networking in industrial plants.

#6 - Efficient Information Transfer

A significant advantage over wired networks is that the time required to reach a device is reduced. This results in a more efficient transfer of information between network segments that are geographically separated. The industry wireless networking standards use IP addresses to allow remote access to data from field devices.

#5 - Operational Efficiencies

Migrating to wireless networking can help in improving operational efficiencies as well. Plant managers can troubleshoot and diagnose issues more easily. The system facilitates predictive maintenance by allowing the monitoring of remote assets.

#4  - Enhanced Flexibility 

Enhanced flexibility is another reason for deploying wireless networking solutions in an industrial setting. Additional points can be awarded easily in an incremental manner. The wireless system can also integrate with legacy systems without any issues.

#3 - Improved Information Accuracy 

Adopting wireless networking also results in improved accuracy of information. The wireless system is not prone to interferences. As a result, the system ensures consistent and timely transfer of information from one node to another.

#2 - Reduced Installation Costs

Savings in installation costs is the key benefit of a wireless networking system. The cost of installing a wireless solution is significantly lower as compared to its wired counterpart. Installing a wireless network requires less planning. Extensive surveys are not required to route the wires to control rooms. This reduced installation cost is the main reason industrial setups should consider going wireless instead of having a wired networking system.

#1 - Human Safety 

The most significant factor that should influence the decision to migrate to wireless networking is the human safety factor. Wireless technologies allow safer operations, reducing exposure to harmful environments. For instance, a wireless system can be used in taking a reading and adjusting valves without having to go to the problematic area to take measurements.

Analynk Wireless, LLC

https://analynk.com

(614) 755-5091

Industrial Wireless Networks

Industrial wireless networks (IWNs) are a key enabler of many aspects of advanced manufacturing. IWNs promise lower installation costs compared with wired alternatives, increased operational flexibility, improved factory visibility, and enhanced mobility. Wireless networks are not dissimilar to wired networks with the key exception being the transmission medium. Wired networks typically operate over copper wires, coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable depending on the network type. Wireless networks operate without wires or cables using the electromagnetic propagation. As such, wireless networks operate within a shared medium that is publicly accessible. A listing of wireless technologies is listed below:

Home and Office
This includes standards-based communications system typically found in the office environment but may be useful for the factory. Includes IEEE 802.11 variants and Wi-Fi compliant devices. Bluetooth also falls into this category.

Instrumentation
Includes systems specifically designed for factory operation. IEEE 802.15.4 standards such as International Society of Automation (ISA) 100.11a, WirelessHART (IEC 62591:2016), IEC 62601, and ZigBee fall into this category. High-performance standards built on IEEE 802.11 include the Wireless Networks for Industrial Automation - Factory Automation (WIA-FA) IEC 62948. Many exceptional proprietary options exist as well.

Wide Area Sensing
Some applications require the ability to transmit over long distances with minimal power to conserve battery life for sensing and control over wide geographical distances. Examples include LoRaWAN and Sigfox as well as modes of 4G and 5G cellular radio standards.

Other commercial
This category includes systems such as satellite, cellular, directional microwave data links, optical (visible light), and land-mobile radio. This category includes technologies supporting video and voice communication.

Why Wireless Instrumentation for Industrial Process Control?

Reasons why wireless instrumentation is the right choice for industrial process control.

Analynk Wireless
https://analynk.com
(614) 755-5091

Manufacturer of HazaLynk™ Wireless Products for Hazardous Areas and Sensalynk™ Single & Multi-point Wireless Transmitters, Receivers, Repeaters

Wireless Process Instrumentation and Cloud-based Solutions

Wireless technologies and cloud computing systems are changing industrial communications. Industrial wireless networks and cloud-based tools, simply stated, allow manufacturing plants to do more with fewer people.

This two-part article delves into the recent trends in the use of cloud-based tools and wireless networks to help plant operators improve their application validation, improve their diagnostic selection of instrumentation, and improve device commissioning.

The benefits of wireless and mobile communications is clear. Engineers and other factory personnel can input data wirelessly via a smart phone, or a laptop computer so they can have their specific requirements recorded. Collaboration with other team members is possible, through the cloud, to determine the optimum set up for the project devices to streamline engineering decisions (and to avoid expensive mistakes upfront in the project). Information in the cloud may also be equipped for instant duplication, so projects that have many identical device configurations can be rapidly repeated.

Using a cloud-based and wireless network approach improves success in installing large numbers of new field instruments, which is common for unit expansion. Other benefits of adapting cloud-based services and wireless networks for prices control include:

• A convenient way to share and collaborate in real-time. Multiple users can visualize the transmitter configuration though a link. This saves staff time and reduces travel time for support people. 
• If a beginning user has an underdeveloped knowledge of the application, the cloud can provide readily accessible information such as compatibility charts, specification sheets, code requirements, etc … . 
• Generation of a standard data sheet so engineers don't have to spend as much time on data entry. The data sheet can be stored to support the user's necessary documentation and audit trail. 

The paradigm for instrumentation setup is changing dramatically. Cloud-based tools and wireless communications are optimizing manufacturing operations and delivering capital projects cost effectively, efficiently, and as rapidly as possible.

Under increasing pressure for improved quality, safety, and profits companies are migrating toward cloud-based application, data storage and wireless networking. These new technologies are playing a key role in improving safety, lowering operating costs, providing real-time performance data, and continuously monitor processes.

Checklists for Industrial Wireless Systems Deployments

The document "Guide to Industrial Wireless Checklists", developed by the National Institute for Standards and Technology, is intended to be a practical guide used by engineers and managers facilitating them to go through the process of defining the objectives of their wireless systems and examining the environments where the wireless systems are to be deployed, then helping them in selecting, designing, deploying, and monitoring the wireless systems using existing technology in a factory.

Checklists from the above referenced document have been culled and available here for download.

Wireless Instrumentation for the Process Control Industry

Analynk wireless instruments have been successfully implemented in process control applications including temperature measurements, 4 to 20mA bridges, discrete inputs/outputs, pulse inputs, lighting and pump controls. Contact Analynk Wireless today to discuss your plant's wireless requirements.

https://analynk.com

614-755-6091

Business Case for Industrial Wireless

One of the key enablers of factory automation is the availability of wireless radio frequency devices. Some applications of radio frequency devices include process control, oil and gas refineries, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) control, slotted microwave guides, pendants to control cranes and machine tools, active and passive radio frequency identifier (RFID) for tracking parts, tools and consumables, wireless barcode readers, remote sensing of critical process parameters, mobile telephony, door openers, emergency communication, and general factory Wi-Fi for internet connectivity. In addition, devices not directly associated with the manufacturing process such as microwave ovens and mobile telephone hot spots must be included when designing a factory wireless system. As useful as wireless communications is, it must be recognized that spectrum is limited and there must be judicious choices about when it should be used, and when wired connections are preferable.

In general terms, wireless (as with any upgrade to a factory or enterprise system) should satisfy a requirement related to quality, reliability, efficiency, safety, regulation, or environment as shown in Table 4. The requirements pertain to the business enterprise which in the case of a manufacturing operation means the plant or factory. A wireless deployment should be designed to satisfy one of the key business concerns listed.

Table 4. Purposes for initiating a wireless systems deployment

• Functionality - Is wireless required to achieve an aspect of function within the factory operation? For example, does the factory require a mobility to achieve a goal?
• Reliability - Is reliability of the production line improved? The ability to manufacture products, parts or assemblies which conform to the engineering definition, and can demonstrate conformity.
• Safety - Are people or equipment made safer? The ability of employees to perform their jobs free from recognized hazards including falls, hazardous energy, confined space, ergonomics, and hazardous materials, and being able to demonstrate compliance with all safety regulations.
• Efficiency - The ability to meet target costs and continue forever to reduce unit production costs.
• Quality - The ability to manufacture parts and assemblies which conform to the engineering definition, and be able to demonstrate conformity.
• Environment - The ability to demonstrate compliance with applicable government regulations at the city, county, state, and federal level.

Reprinted from "Guide to Industrial Wireless Systems Deployments" by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Get your copy here.

Glossary of Terms in Wireless Networks in Process Control

Below is a list of terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms used in wireless network technology applied to process control.

• 6LoWPAN
• IPv6 Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks
• ARPA 
• Advanced Research Projects Agency 
• ARUBA
• Refers to Aruba Wireless Networks, now a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.
• BLIP 
• Berkeley Low-power IP stack
• CAP 
• Contention Access Period
• CFP 
• Contention Free Period
• CISCO
• A company that develops, manufactures and sells networking equipment.
• CSMA-CA 
• Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance
• DAO 
• Destination Advertisement Objects
• DIO 
• DAG Information Object
• DIS 
• DAG Information Solicitation
• DODAG 
• Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph 
• DSN 
• Distributed Sensor Network
• ETX 
• Expected Transmission count
• GTS 
• Guaranteed Time Slot
• HBN 
• Hydrobionet
• ICMP 
• Internet Control Message Protocol
• LLN 
• Low power Lossy Networks
• MAC 
• Media Access Control
• MBR 
• Membrane Bioreactor
• MEM 
• Micro electromechanical
• MERU
• Refers to Meru Networks, a supplier of wireless local area networks (WLANs).
• MOTOROLA
• A company that designed and sold wireless network equipment.
• MRHOF 
• Minimum Rank Objective Function with Hysteresis
• NCS 
• Network Controlled System 
• OF 
• Objective Functions
• OS 
• Operating System
• PID 
• Proportional-integral-derivative controller
• PRR 
• Packet Reception Ratio
• REPEATER
• Device that takes an existing signal from a wireless router or wireless access point for rebroadcasting.
• RPL 
• Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks 
• RSSI 
• Received Signal Strength Indication
• WBN 
• Wireless Biosensor & Actuator Network 
• WIFI
• Technology for radio wireless local area networking of devices based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.
• WINS 
• Wireless Integrated Network Sensors
• WIRELESS ACCESS POINT
•  A networking device that allows a Wi-Fi device to connect to a wired network to create a second network.
• WSN 
• Wireless Sensor Network
• ZIGBEE 
• Popular, low-cost, low-power wireless mesh networking standard.
• Z-WAVE 
• Tightly controlled mesh network that caters to the smart home and smart building space.

Process Control and Wireless Networks

Industrial plants, factories and process automation systems are increasingly deploying information and communications technologies to facilitate data sharing and analysis in integrated control networks. Despite the harsh process control environment, signal propagation loss and radio frequency (RF) interference, wireless connections provide fast and easy access to a variety of field instruments and reduce network installation costs and ongoing maintenance outlays. This serves as an incentive for the adoption of industrial wireless networks based on industry standards such as ISA100.11a, a wireless networking technology standard developed by the ISA (International Society of Automation) and the WirelessHART, a wireless sensor networking technology based on the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer Protocol (known as HART). Wide-scale adoption proceeds cautiously though, as industrial environments vary widely and process control systems exhibit a multitude of critical wireless networking requirements, such as:

• Deterministic transmissions in shared wireless bandwidth.
• Low-cost operation.
• Long-term durability.
• High reliability in the harsh radio propagation environment.

Wired connections have proven themselves effective in supporting reliable, point-to-point communications between the controller and the field instruments. A problematic limitation exists with wired connections though - they are unable to accommodate the growing demands and future requirements to support adaptive network topology and rapid reconfiguration encountered in new process control systems.

In lieu of laying down miles of cables to connect hundreds of field instruments, industrial wireless communication networks provide wireless connections with customized network topology, allow for plug-and-play configuration, and offer lower installation and maintenance costs.

Compared with the requirements of standard Internet data services, wireless in the process control environment has stricter quality of service (QoS) requirements. These include more highly reliable transmissions in mobile use cases as well as centralized data analytics, tighter message latency, and lower power consumption.

Analynk Wireless: Instrumentation for the Process Control Industry

Analynk Wireless is an innovative designer and supplier of wireless instrumentation for the process control industry. Our instruments have been successfully implemented in several applications including temperature measurements 4 to 20mA bridges, discrete inputs/outputs, pulse inputs, lighting and pump controls. These products have been used in both hazardous and non-hazardous locations. Analynk Wireless also manufactures a line of traditional wired instrumentation; see Telmar Instruments for details.

Prefabricated Wireless Communications Solution

Wireless transmission of process measurement and control signals has not been new technology for quite some time. In many cases, wireless connection is the installation method of choice over cabled. The benefits in speed of implementation and cost are substantial. That said, as the technology continues to permeate industrial installations of every size, there still remain 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, coupled with growth in the knowledge base throughout the market with increased penetration, costs tend 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 stakeholder at any level of a processing operation, you should confidently consider wireless connections between measurement and control or recording devices as part of any new installation or upgrading of existing facilities.

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.

An additional use of the prefabricated transmitter and receiver stations is as a temporary portable means of establishing a connection between measurement and control points. The units can even be solar or battery powered, if no power source is available.

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.

Wireless Process Connections - DIY May Not Be Your Best Option

Analynk can design and fabricate complete systems for
establishing wireless process connections.

Implementing in-house projects takes time, something you may not have enough of on a good day. Establishing wireless connections between remote sensors and control or monitoring equipment can be accomplished with a minimum investment of scarce in-house human resources using Analynk's design and build services. With an extensive range of standard products, accessories and options, Analynk will assemble ready-to-run panels for the transmitting and receiving ends of your wireless link. This saves a substantial amount in resources that would otherwise be devoted to design, layout, assembly and operational testing of each panel needed. Smart outsourcing.

The Analynk application team can design and fabricate a complete package solution for your process measurement or wireless connectivity requirement. Share your ideas and challenges with the wireless and process measurement experts, leveraging your own knowledge and experience for a successful project outcome.

Use Signal Repeaters to Overcome Industrial Wireless Transmission Barriers

A repeater can be used to overcome barriers to signal
transmission, such as distance and structures.

Many process measurement and control wireless connections are accomplished using networks, with routers and access points. Other connections are established across longer distances, conceivably outdoors. In many of those cases, there are barriers or obstructions that will attenuate the wireless signal sufficiently to prevent reliable data transfer. Hills, wooded areas, walls, tanks and other structures and natural features can present real challenges to wireless signal transmission. Another transmission challenge is the distance between transmission and receiving stations.

One, though not the only, solution to overcoming the challenge that can arise due to extended distance or substantial obstacles between the transmitter and receiver is the placement of a repeater. Analynk provides a repeater that can be strategically located between transmitter and receiver to extend the overall transmission distance, or route the signal around obstacles that may otherwise degrade the transmission. The data sheet included below describes how easy it is to apply and provides all the technical details.

Wireless connectivity is an incredibly flexible option for delivery of process data from measurement point to control point. Contact Analynk with your wireless communication challenges and get solid practical solutions.

Analynk Model A759 Wireless Repeater from Analynk Wireless, LLC

Fresnel Zones and Industrial Wireless Connections

Industrial wireless connections established outdoors across
long distances have to consider transmission path geometry.

A Fresnel zone, of which there an infinite theoretical number, is an ellipsoid shaped area extending between radio signal transmission and receiving antennas. Having a basic understanding of their impact on successful implementation of a lengthy wireless process signal connection will prove useful.

Wireless transmission of process signals in industrial settings becomes more prevalent every year, and should continue to do so for quite some time. Many installations are part of networks operating similarly to the wifi you may have in your home, with multiple points communicating via a network control scheme of some sort. The facility is flooded with signal coverage through multiple access points, so there may not be much need to consider signal propagation. This is an oversimplification, but as an operator or implementer, making the actual signal connection is probably not going to be an issue in most cases.

What about the other cases?

Antennas with three Fresnel zones depicted and
obstruction that is outside the primary Fresnel zone
Courtesy Wikipedia

An extended transmission distance across an outdoor area requires more understanding of signal propagation and factors that impede successful delivery of process data from transmitter to receiver. One concept that comes into play is the Fresnel zone.

Let's avoid an overly technical approach to Fresnel zones. The purpose of this post is to provide those with limited radio expertise familiarity with the subject of Fresnel zones at a level enabling visualization of the concept, and also to recognize its potential impact on achieving a successful wireless process connection.

We often consider the transmission path between two points to be the familiar "line of sight", an unobstructed straight line between transmitter and receiver. In practice, radio frequency transmission is more accurately characterized by Fresnel zones. Being aware of the shape of the first, or primary, Fresnel zone for your application is an important element in identifying potential obstructions. A general practice is to keep the primary Fresnel zone at least 60% clear of signal obstructions, in order to maintain high wireless link performance.

There are numerous sources of Fresnel zone calculators online, but a strong recommendation to consult with your selected wireless equipment provider is in order here. Combine their expertise at applying their products with your application knowledge to leverage an effective solution.

Expand Industrial Wireless I/O Capacity With A16000

The A16000 increases the I/O capacity of a dedicated
transmitter and receiver.

Modern industrial radio frequency (RF) communications gear enables the establishment of process signal connections across very small or very large distances. The advantages of implementing cost effective connections within a very short time frame makes wireless connections a popular option in industrial settings. A misconception arises, from time to time, that it is necessary to have a dedicated transmitter and receiver for each process signal. Analynk has a solution that provides for delivery of up to sixteen process signals over a single transmission path.

Analynk provides hardware that easily allows the transmission and reception of up to 16 I/O points using single transmission and reception point devices. The A16000 Expansion Module can be configured with up to four internal cards that accommodate various types of input and output signals. The configuration process is similar to setting up the I/O on a PLC. Connect the process signals to the A16000, and the A16000 to one of Analynk's transmitter or receiver devices. Setup is straight forward and allows the installation to be operable in a very short time frame. The A16000 can also be used to expand existing installations as process I/O points increase.

Share your wireless communications and signal transmission challenges with the experts at Analynk and get recommendations on how to best implement workable solutions.

Analynk Model A16000 RF Expansion Module from Analynk Wireless, LLC

Analynk Completes 15 Years of Product Innovation

Analynk completed 15 years of successful wireless equipment
innovation and manufacture.

Analynk Wireless, LLC just completed its fifteenth year of operations, designing and manufacturing wireless comunications devices for use in the process control arena. Their simple to use and effective wireless devices can be combined with the company's Telmar line of wired process measurement and control instruments, or combined with instruments and equipment of the customer's choosing, to establish process connections across almost any distance.

Steady innovation and improvement, coupled with curiosity and a genuine desire to help customers meet the challenges of process measurement and control, have contributed greatly to the success of the company. New product versions, as well as expanded options, come in an almost continuous stream as Analynk innovates to meet customer application requests.

Share your process connectivity challenges with the experts at Analynk Wireless, leveraging your own process knowledge and experience with their industrial wireless expertise.

Off The Grid Wireless Communication for Process Measurement and Control

The Analynk preconfigured combination solar and battery
power unit enables simple off the grid implementation.

Remote process stations of almost any type requiring monitoring and transmission of measurement data can be accommodated easily with Analynk's solar power unit. The compact preconfigured unit needs just a selection of process measurement gear and a wireless transmitter to enable simple installation. Analynk has already done the design and assembly. The user installs their measurement gear and an Analynk transmitter, performs a quick setup operation, and the station is up and running.

In addition to the obvious advantage of enabling process measurement and transmission where power is not available, there may be instances where a wireless solution saves time and expense of extending a power circuit to the instrument location. The power supply unit comes complete with solar panel, battery, charge controller, and NEMA 4 enclosure. Options are available to accommodate specific installation requirements and custom units can be assembled for larger power requirements and other special applications.

The data sheet below provides more detail. Share your wireless process measurement and control connectivity challenges with Analynk for effective solutions.

Solar power supply for industrial wireless transmitters from Analynk Wireless, LLC

Tools for Process Improvement and Troubleshooting

All processes should be well understood and evaluated for
maximum performance.

In the process control and engineering world, professionals are constantly seeking ways to optimize their systems and particular process strategies. Quality-related issues and systems provide chances for process operators to not only identify potential areas for improvement or correction, but also employ troubleshooting techniques to make systems perform at the highest level possible. Traditionally, seven basic tools have been utilized in order to troubleshoot quality related issues, and serve as simple, yet extremely effective ways to find solutions.

The cause and effect diagram is used to investigate and systematically list potential causes which contribute to an identified effect. Grouping the causes into different categories visually when attempting to determine the root cause of a process issue allows the controller to view every component of a system, and then subsequently investigate how the individual parts act together. This can be extremely useful when attempting to troubleshoot process control systems.

Check sheets allow for real-time data collection, either quantitative or qualitative. A multitude of potential issues, such as dimensions being incorrect in a product or malfunctions in system technology, are trackable via the check sheet. The data collected by these sheets allows for an operator to make sequential decisions regarding the process based on hard data, from which decisions for optimization can be derived and executed.

The control chart is a process control tool based on statistics. The basic function of the chart is to determine whether or not an industrial process is correctly operating in a state of control, or if the process should be evaluated for quality-related problems. Basically, the goal of this chart is to determine the efficacy of the process system and its associated control limits. If the variation of the process system deviates too much from the expected behavior of the system, an investigation into the system is required. These charts can be essential to monitoring process health.

Histograms are a basic quality tool due to their ability to allow controllers a rough estimation of probability distributions related to the process in question. If the variable in question being assessed by the histogram matches the expected behavior, then the histogram will show said correlation – likewise, if the process is behaving in an unexpected manner, the histogram will reflect these details. The Pareto chart is a chart specifically helpful in tracking defects, by category, which occur most frequently in a certain process. In a process where the resulting product is defective, the Pareto chart will highlight the defect of highest occurrence or the most frequent deviation from the expected result.

The scatter diagram is a tool which allows process controllers to identify whether a relationship exists between two different quantitative variables and, if there is a relationship, to help identify what kind of relationship exists between said variables. The control parameters are established on one axis, while the dependent variables are established on the other. If the plot can correctly show the relationship between the variables, then any alterations in said relationship are identifiable and the related processes can be immediately examined for cause.

The last basic tool for process control and quality-related troubleshooting is the flow chart, which allows for the diagramming of relationships in the process to track and examine the workflow of the process in question. Together, these seven items constitute a basic toolbox for optimization and correction of processes, where their simplicity correlates to effectiveness in understanding particular process systems.

Analynk Wireless manufactures wireless communications equipment for process measurement and control.

Wireless Communications in Hazardous Areas - Special Antennas

Industrial wireless communications in hazardous areas is
made possible by the Analynk CTM and CTX series antennas.

Wireless communication has seen increasing prevalence in the industrial process measurement and control field for a number of years. Many industrial process control operations can benefit from wireless connections between measurement and control devices. The absence of cables saves space, reduces potential for damage, and simplifies modifications to the process equipment layout. Implementing wireless communications in hazardous areas, whether through WiFi or other radio frequency channels, presents a particular set of challenges to successful implementation. Points of network access and other transmission and receiving equipment can require a level of isolation and hardening appropriate for the hazardous environment. Vendors, in response to customers' desire to incorporate the technology across an ever widening array of application scenarios, continue to develop and release new products and technologies that expand the potential for industrial wireless communication. Analynk Wireless, is now shipping the latest version of their patented wireless antenna for hazardous areas.

The newest Analynk Hazardous Area Antenna provides remote data links for customers using 900MHz, 2.4GHz, Cellular, GPS, Iridium, GLONASS and dual bands. The Analynk antennas are operable across a very wide temperature range and provide substantial impact resistance, signal output, and third party ratings for hazardous environments. These rugged antennas are intended for global application in the industrial process control field. Analynk hazardous area antennas are UL listed for Class 1, Groups C & D and have ATEX/IECEx Certification. The company's entire line of hazardous area antenna products are RoHS compliant and carry a NEMA 4X rating.

Analynk Wireless provides patented hazardous area explosion proof antennas for industrial installations. Their CTX and CTM series antennas carry an array of third party approvals and are suitable for use in a broad range of hazardous environments. Models can accommodate WiFi and other RF communications across frequency bands commonly utilized in industrial settings, as well as cellular and satellite communications.

Share your industrial wireless connectivity challenges with the experts at Analynk, combining your own knowledge and experience with their expertise to develop effective solutions.

Industrial Wireless Communications - Hazardous Area Antennas from Analynk Wireless, LLC