Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Electronic instrumentation and control networks are used extensively at petroleum refining facilities.x000D
Traditionally, these networks have used wired communications. However, running these wires is expensivex000D
both due to the run lengths and safety shielding required. Using wireless communications significantly reducesx000D
this cost but the challenge is ensuring that the wireless network provides the same reliability as a wired one.x000D
One way to achieve this is to use mesh networking techniques where nodes close to the network access pointx000D
relay packets from nodes that are further away. Spartan Controls offers a portfolio of WirelessHARTx000D
compliant wireless instrumentation and control products that have this mesh networking capability. Thesex000D
networks can be deployed within complex facilities like refineries or used to connect remotely located wellx000D
sites in the field.x000D
The purpose of this grant is to first support a campaign that will utilize software defined radios to measure thex000D
quality of WirelessHART links at remote field sights. Using statistical methods to analyze these measurementsx000D
will develop models that will more accurately predict WirelessHART coverage in remote field locations. Thisx000D
grant will also support the use of graph theory fundamentals to determine how best to design a meshx000D
WirelessHART network. These design methods will be translated in to rule-of-thumb type guidelines that arex000D
easy for field technicians to follow.