(73e) Pervasive Sensing: New Approach to Improving Process Availability

Process units are typically built with the minimal amount of instrumentation - only that which is required to safely operate the process. However, there are other measurements that can benefit the process engineers and the maintenance and reliability departments that are often not included in many process designs, even today.  However the advent of new measurement technologies and wireless transmission techniques have greatly enhanced the process designer’s toolbox, resulting in process designs with improved process availability.  By deploying the concept of pervasive sensing, refiners can achieve greater insight to the condition of static and dynamic assets, reducing the risk of unanticipated equipment failures, and enjoying more on-stream availability.