Remote
Monitoring and Control at your
Fingertips from Anywhere in the World |
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In a matter of seconds, equipment or
production engineers can access critical data and monitor the operation
of rotating equipment systems from anywhere in the world. Whether it is
for equipment on an oil platform in the North Sea, a process plant in
Asia, or a pipeline station on the North Slope, your Dresser-Rand control system can be accessed easily and quickly from
remote locations.
This instant access to turbo and
reciprocating machinery is now possible through Dresser-Rand's Global
Access MCTM
system via the Internet, direct phone line or by satellite link in
remote locations.
"This system allows any one with a
PC and proper authorization to monitor any number of installations
worldwide without having to leave the comfort of his or her own
office," said Ken Rigoni, product engineering manager at
Dresser-Rand Control Systems in Houston. "Because the system can be
accessed by the Internet, by telephone line or via satellite, the
engineer or technician can be connected to a control system at his desk,
in a meeting, or even in an airport. And using the system is as easy as
using an Internet browser."
Global Access MC brings
control data to the user instead of forcing the user to go to the data.
The system can be used to monitor any type of machinery and provides a
tremendous cost savings in terms of travel time, maintenance and repair
costs. Increased revenues are also realized because of downtime
reductions.
The Global Access MC system, was
developed by Dresser-Rand, for use by clients as well as by Dresser-Rand
control and machinery experts. Once installed, Dresser-Rand technical
support personnel will be able to view machinery and control data at a
client's site within minutes instead of days when there is an issue
requiring OEM support. The system allows the fastest means possible for
engineers, service technicians and equipment manufacturers to view
on-line displays of control system data from the field.
Flexibility is Key
While other remote monitoring systems are
available, some require the client to have special hardware and software
to use them; some don't allow the client to connect to his own control
systems but instead force the client to contact the OEM to get the data
in the form of verbal or written reports; some don't operate over the
Internet; some only provide the user with limited control system data.
With Dresser-Rand's Global Access MC system,
no control system specific hardware or software is required, the client
can connect to any equipped control system, the system operates via the
Internet, dedicated phone line or satellite.
In the past, many control systems have
been linked to plant-wide data collection, or SCADA systems, that gather
supervisory data and make it available for plant-wide calculations,
overall operational status measurements, and for displays and reports.
Systems of this type are typically limited in the content of control
system data and are often difficult if not impossible to access
remotely. Global Access MC allows the client to view data on his
remote PC just as if he were standing at the control system.
Since Global Access MC uses Internet
technology, it is easy to think of each control system as a Web site
with several Web pages. Each site has a specific Internet address or
phone number to which the remote PC connects. When the user connects to
the site with his Internet browser, he is presented with a Main Page
that allows him to branch to a variety of Secondary Pages. Text pages
containing analog levels, timer values, status listings, alarms and
shutdowns, and graphic pages containing, compressor maps, PID faceplates
as well as graphic representations of machinery and auxiliary systems
are available to the remote user.
On-line and historical trends of analog signals are also available to
the user. All screens can be printed on demand.
Global Access MC System Makes
Troubleshooting Easier "Machinery and controls experts from both
the client and Dresser-Rand can be connected to a particular site within
minutes to diagnose a minor problem before it turns into a major
problem" said Rigoni. "For instance; a local operator, who is
standing in front of a control system in Asia can establish a telephone
conference call with a Dresser-Rand machinery engineer in Olean, New
York and a client machinery engineer in Houston, Texas, who are both
simultaneously connected via the Internet to the control system. All
three individuals are able to look at
the same control system data, diagnose problems and implement solutions
in minutes instead of the days it would take to have all three on site to do the same thing. The savings of time
and expenses and the reduction in downtime can be very
significant."
As part of the continuous acquisition of
data, users and technicians have access to temperature and vibration
displays; comprehensive analog summaries and status lists; surge control
displays; current and historical alarms, as well as current and
historical trends of all analog signals.
System Requirements
The Global Access MC server on the
control system is equipped with Windows NT(r) with remote
access enabled; web server software; and a 56K modem. The remote PC
requires Windows 95/98 or NT(r); Netscape Navigator(r)
4.07 or higher, or Microsoft Explorer(r) 4.01 or higher, and
a 56K modem. Connection between the server and the remote PC is provided
by the client and can be via the Internet, satellite or direct phone
line.
"The simplicity of the system, and
the ability to monitor equipment from anywhere in the world will greatly
improve the ability of Dresser-Rand and our clients to work together to
keep their machinery running at optimum levels with minimum
downtime" said Rigoni.
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