BP, a leading energy and Fortune 10 company, is required to continuously monitor vibrations of its equipment for insurance purposes and to maintain equipment longevity. The company is presently investigating how wireless sensor networks could replace the laborious process used today with one that is more efficient and accurate. Intel and BP are collaborating on a joint research project using a wireless sensor network to provide continuous vibration monitoring of the engines on one of BP's oil tankers off the Shetland Islands in northern Scotland.
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The Players:
Intel Research Berkeley, BP, Rockwell Automation, Crossbow Technology
The Old Way:
At present, vibration data is collected using manual methods and tools that are labor intensive and error prone.
Objectives
Stress test sensor nets in harshest BP environment to qualify for broader use across the company.
Test energy harvesting for powering sensors
The Sensor Solution:
Aboard the Loch Ronnoch, one of BP‘s crude oil tankers currently residing in the harsh waters of Ireland’s North Shetland Islands, Intel is working with other researchers to perform a test pilot in which sensors affixed to equipment in the engine room monitor vibration and relay the data back to the main network. Early results from the test deployment show that the wireless sensors are able to effectively communicate with each other in a shipboard environment, given extreme temperatures, heavy vibration and some radio frequency noise.
Technical Solution
Rockwell sensors attached to engine equipment
Intel designed Crossbow™ motes and Stargate gateways connect to engine vibration sensors
Intel Sensor monitoring, data gathering application
Rockwell data analysis application
Potential Impact:
By outfitting its test vessel with wireless sensor networks, BP is able to save time and money, while also capturing more real-time data than ever before.
Benefits
Better data for determining preventive maintenance schedules
