Pipeline Telemetry System
The RUP Pipeline Telemetry System features the following components:
- Industrial PC Hardware
- RUPDB Software Package
- Communication Links
- Live Memory-resident Database
- Disk-based Historic Database
- Client PC Software
Pipeline Telemetry System Operation
The Pipeline Telemetry System is based upon the RUPDB SCADA software package. It can run on a number of different operating systems such as QNX, LINUX, UNIX and MS-Windows.
A typical RUP Telemetry System acquires field data via 3rd-party hardware using standard or custom protocols. The disk-based historic database is typically configured to hold 5 years of historic data in a cyclic fashion - the oldest data is deleted first when the data-space is full. The database can cache up to two months of historic data making data access fast. A sequence of events log is also kept by the system. The RUP Pipeline Telemetry System supports both serial and network communications links. Multiply redundant data links can be supported to implement robust data nets.
Communication Protocols
The RUP Pipeline Telemetry System currently support the following industry standard communication protocols:
- MODBUS ASCII/RTU/TCP
- MODBUS RTU Over TCP
- NMEA 0183
RUP has also developed custom, highly-reliable and highly efficient communication protocols that are encrypted by default. These protocols are used between RUP Telementry Systems and Data Servers.
User Interface
Though the Pipeline Telemetry System runs headless in most applications, a user interface is provided for diagnostics. The system displays information in a familiar window based graphical user interface. Most of the normal user interface functions such as display navigation can be performed using a mouse. The user interface is secure and the system ensures that the user cannot launch multiple copies of the same window display (the previous instance of the window is found and brought to the foreground).
Start-up and Shutdown
The system is tolerant of power failure. However, if a controlled shutdown and power off is required then a System Shutdown button is available on the Main Menu of the User Interface.
After power is re-applied, the system will automatically boot into the application software; no user intervention is required.
Client PC Software
Client PC software is typically supplied with the RUP Pipeline Telemetry System for remote monitoring. The Client PC software enables users to view live data, view historic data, view logs and display graphs of required data tags.
The communication between the Client PC Software and the RUP Server is via optimised UDP that behaves well in the corporate network environment.
The software is written to the WIN32 API and has been tested on a variety of MS-Windows versions including 95, NT4, 2000, XP and Vista. The software is very fast to load and is designed to be reliable and easy to use.
Pipeline Integrity System
Pipeline Integrity Monitoring is a feature built on top of the Pipeline Telemetry System. The Pipeline Integrity System (PLIS) monitors the pipeline conditions and carries out calculations to determine if there is a leak in the pipeline.
This is achieve by the PLIS algorithm developed and implemented by RUP Limited.
The PLIS computer monitors the pipeline integrity using a volume balance method. In simple terms, the standard volume flow into the pipeline is compared with the standard volume flow arriving at the other end of the pipeline. A significant flow discrepancy indicates a leak.
Both flow totals are available as Live Database tags and are also logged in the Historic Database at one minute intervals. Two copies of the PLIS volume balance algorithm are run simultaneously; one computes the Short Term Flow Discrepancy and the other computes the Long Term Flow Discrepancy.
The Short Term Flow Discrepancy is calculated as the difference between the input and output flows compared over a rolling 1 hour period. It is computed every minute and output in three forms; discrepancy flow rate, discrepancy quantity and discrepancy flow as a percentage of the input flow rate.
The Long Term Flow Discrepancy is the calculated over a 24 hour period, computed every minute.
Client List
Our Pipeline Telemetry System is currently used by :
**Talisman Energy also deploys our Pipeline Integrity System.
More Information
For more information please contact RUP Limited.