Upgrade for acquisition and reporting package

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 7, 2003

Lowe Engineering, already established in the continuous emissions monitoring systems market, has introduced the latest version of its comprehensive data acquisition and reporting package CEMData.

Lowe Engineering, already established in the continuous emissions monitoring systems market, has introduced the latest version of its comprehensive data acquisition and reporting package CEMData.

The package is a fully integrated PC-based system developed specifically for the complex requirements of continuous emissions monitoring and report generation.

Designed for maximum flexibility and ease of use CEMData is implemented via a hierarchical system to four levels: application setup; maintenance mode; supervisor mode; and operator mode.

This allows a security-controlled range of facilities from project specific assignment of measurements to real-time monitoring and report generation.

Apart from the CEMData software, systems include the following features: custom assembled PCs to suit clients' requirements running Windows NT-based operating system (NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP); onboard data acquisition cards for analogue/digital I/O; RS232/RS485 and Ethernet I/O; real-time security data archive back up on write-only second drives; watchdog timer to reboot PC and/or alert DCS or SCADA on system failure; tamper-proof binary data storage format, and NTFS filing system for file access (US Department of Defense security level C2).

Data are held in three sets of rolling archives with user-definable write times ranging from 1s to several minutes, with rollover periods of up to 30 years.

Operational functions reflect the development of a user friendly interface with a 'one-click' report generation facility using predefined formats that can be customised and fully automated for report generation and printing (print options stored with each report).

Other features include an historical data display, allowing users to view all semi-historical data over any interval up to 24 hours (typically available as 2s data held for up to 2 years).

Any number of real-time display screens may be user-configured, with an unlimited number of displays such as charts, tables, digital meters, bar graphs and annunciators.

Whilst retaining complete functional independence, CEMData can be fully integrated with new or existing DCS or Scada installations for the onward transmission of emissions parameters, or the input and processing of plant information.

CEMData includes powerful tools capable of generating real cost and labour savings during all phases of plant operation, including commissioning and maintenance.

CEMData has already proved popular among the chemical and energy markets and looks set to continue this growth as coverage of MCERTs is extended by the Environment Agency to include data acquisition and report generation for continuous emissions monitoring systems.

A vigorous programme of development ensures that CEMData remains at the cutting edge of emissions legislation, with new features continually added to meet emerging statutory and end-user requirements.

With increasing time pressures on staff and the dynamism of environmental legislation, CEMData will undoubtedly become the industry standard.