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The example above shows an example of a
remote pumping station and how an NDACS 6000 instrument can be configured to
provide automatic reporting of the machinery status. The NDACS instrumentation
provides a host of features to enable the status of remote systems to be
monitored in real-time or to provide automatic reports when ever a specified
event has occurred.
The above example will be used to
demonstrate the settings available for the E-mail alarms, Automatic data
reports and instrument status messages for a dial-up system using a data link
to an Internet service provider. |
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The NDACS 6000 above is to be configured to
accept 4-20 mA signals from the Fuel level sensor, the Outlet Flow and
generator fuel meters. An RTD device is used to monitor the fuel temperature as
it enters the heat exchanger used to warm up the fuel to the diesel generator.
The E-mail alarm system is used to indicate when the generator is switched on,
when the temperature of the fuel is close to freezing and when the fuel in the
tank is at low and requires to be re-filled.
All of the NDACS 6000 series instruments
contain two independent data loggers that can be set to record data at
different rates. A permanent data logger called the Flash Logger stores
information even when the instrument is powered off. A General Logger
stores information into RAM memory and this logger loses information once power
is removed.
The Flash logger has pre-set list of data
recording rates while the General logger can have any user define
rates. |
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Each of the sensor inputs can be monitored
to check if they exceed preset limits. When the limits are exceeded the
instruments sends an alarm E-mail message to specified user or users that
contains a sample of data used to trigger the alarm.
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Figures 2 and 3 show typical traces of data
from the logger that are stored at different rates. Fig 2 shows data stored
using a 1 minute logging period and Fig 3 shows fuel temperatures recorded at a
1 hour logging intervals
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The NDACS 6000 utilises a standard E-mail
format for sending alarm and automatic report data. It is possible to send
E-mail messages from the instrument to a maximum of 4 users simultaneously. The
Automatic report data files are CSV format (Comma Separated Variable) and can
be read directly by most Windows packages such as Microsoft Excel, Word etc..
Each E-mail alarm or record in the data files are time stamped and use the
following data format:
Date,HH:MM:SS,Chan-0,Chan-1,Chan-2,Chan-3,.....
All of the NDACS 6000 instruments enable recorded data to be
e-mailed to multiple users under the following events:
- At a specified time on each day, week, or month
- After a specified number of number of records
- After a specified event has occurred
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The NDACS supports a series of status messages that can be
used to indicate how any instrument is functioning.
IsAlive: Sends a message to indicate
that an instrument is still active at a predetermined time. Useful if waiting
for a random event to occur to know that a system is still functioning.
Bootup: Sends a message each time an
instrument is powered on and is used to indicate if a power supply failure has
occurred or a remote system has been activated. |
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Operations
The NDACS continually scans the inputs and
converts the sensor signals into Engineering units. When the bore hole water
level exceeds a preset level a trigger signal from the NDACS can switch on the
Generator. Only when the output voltage exceeds 12V does the pump start. On
starting the Generator voltage is used to trigger an Alarm E-mail to an
operator that indicates the time and date upon which the event occurred. Ideal
when the event to be monitored is random. |
The logger Setup shows the data recording for the pump
station instrument to record permanent data at 1 reading per hour and the RAM
memory configured to store data at 1 reading each minute as long as alarm
conditions exist on an analogue input channel
The NDACS systems can be configured to send
E-mail messages messages using a dial-up Internet accounts. It is also possible
to transfer data using standard land- line and satellite modems and data link
mobile phones.
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The above Window shows a typical automatic
data reporting possible for the pump monitoring system. The system is setup to
report data after each successive blocks of 100 records for the General logger
and on the 26th day of each month for the Flash data logger. Both the General
logger and Flash logger can be set to acquire data at different sample rates.
On the 21st day of each month the instrument
is shown configured to send an IsAlive E-mail message in order to indicate that
the instrument is still functioning. |
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Engineering Units Configuration.
Example of an Analogue input channel
configured to show alarm conditions when the input goes outside specified
bounds. In this case when the fuel tank level drops below 100 litres.
Scaled Current input from a level meter
offering a 4-20 mA signal for full scale measurement. The instrument will show
5000L at 20 mA and 100L at 4mA. An alarm message being sent when the fuel level
drops below 200 |
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E-mail Alarms & Automatic Reporting for Local
Networks
All of the NDACS 6000 series models enable
automatic reporting and E-mail alarm operations. The instruments can be
deployed on a local network, see above or configured as dial-up systems. When
operating on a local network the E-mail alarms and E-mail attached data files
from the instruments are processed by the local network E-mail server. The
E-mail server can send the alarms on to users via the Internet or to local
users via the network |
