Secure wireless infrastructure implemented

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 3, 2007

With assistance from Invensys and Apprion, LCRA has implemented a new layered WiMax/WiFi wireless infrastructure to help link two plants.

Invensys Process Systems and its strategic partner, Apprion, have successfully implemented a secure, managed wireless infrastructure plus several initial productivity-enhancing wireless applications at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Lost Pines Power Park.

The park is located near Bastrop in central Texas.

The Lost Pine Power Park houses both the LCRA-owned Sim Gideon Power Plant and the Lost Pines 1 Power Project, owned by Gen-Tex, an LCRA affiliate.

Together, the two plants can generate up to 1,165MW, or enough electricity to meet the peak demands of approximately 250,000 homes.

LCRA has recently merged these two plants under one functional management system, and with assistance from Invensys and Apprion, has implemented a new layered WiMax/WiFi wireless infrastructure to help link the two plants.

"We're always looking at new technologies that can help us maintain our competitive edge while meeting or exceeding regulatory requirements", commented David Runkle, Production Manager at LCRA's Lost Pines Power Park.

"Invensys' comprehensive managed approach to the new wireless technology has enabled us to unify both plants in the Lost Pines Power Park under a common communications system at a fraction of the cost of a wired solution, while providing an extremely flexible platform for future wireless-enabled applications, including remote equipment condition monitoring and tank farm level monitoring".

The joint Invensys/Apprion wireless communications solution for LCRA includes: a comprehensive site assessment study; wireless network design, engineering, installation, and commissioning; application qualification, implementation, and integration; and ongoing network administration, performance monitoring and tuning, security monitoring, infrastructure evaluation, scheduled upgrades, and around the clock system monitoring.

Initial wireless infrastructure-enabled applications already in place at LCRA's Lost Pines Power Park include: a common, sitewide, mobile voice over IP (VoIP) system for hands-free, "push-to-talk" personal communications and paging anywhere in the Lost Pines Power Park via a WiMax broadband umbrella; a wireless Public Address (PA) system; and wireless LAN access in the main buildings, offices spaces, and conference rooms via WiFi hotspots.

Planned Phase 2 applications under consideration include: remote wireless equipment condition monitoring; an ammonia leak detection/alarm system; wireless fuel oil tank farm tank level monitoring; wireless material transfer monitoring; remote perimeter security video monitoring; and tablet PCs that will provide process control operators with remote wireless access to the Foxboro and Westinghouse control systems currently installed in the Sim Gideon and Lost Pines power plants, respectively.

"There's certainly a lot of hype in the marketplace about wireless technology being the next game-changer in automation", said Dave Runkle.

"And while this might indeed be true, it also means that the technology is still relatively unproven in many of the types of industrial wireless applications that we are considering".

"Not only do Invensys and Apprion appear to have an excellent handle on what it takes to implement and manage a cohesive wireless network over time, based on the highly successful track record of our 10+ year strategic technology partnership with Invensys, we are highly confident that the benefits will be sustainable".