Industrial companies around the world face a host of technical and commercial challenges: skills shortages, supply chain disruption, artificial intelligence, geo-political uncertainties, climate change and many more. Yet, for large numbers of companies operating in mature markets and with aging workforces, one of the biggest challenges is simply to capture and utilize the knowledge and skills that are being lost as long-standing employees retire or react to the after-effects of Covid by making lifestyle changes.
Meanwhile, the exponential growth in digitization offers considerable opportunities to entrain knowledge and information into ever more industrial systems and components. This can be achieved easily at low cost and, in many instances, by relatively unskilled employees using intelligent automated devices.
In recent blog posts, we’ve explored the growth in smart digital moisture sensors and considered their widespread use in gas generation equipment. We’ve also looked at the importance of effective maintenance and calibration of smart devices, as part of ISO 8573, to ensure that standards of accuracy, reliability and safety are met.
In addition, we’ve explained the calibration options available. Although these normally depend on the use of sophisticated reference devices and skilled knowledge, or the support of specialized external services, the advantage of digital technology introduces a further option for programming many of the features of modern transmitters: localized configuration using communication kits. These are designed to be used successfully by engineers with minimal knowledge or training in the field of sensor use and application.
Digital moisture or dew-point sensors offer a number of advantages over older analog devices. In particular, they can be:
This subsequently makes it straightforward to present top-level sensor data in a way that is easy for less skilled engineers to understand, while providing the depth and detail of information required by process or production specialists. Just as importantly, it allows user-friendly yet powerful software programs to be created so that sensors can be monitored and adjusted safely without specialized knowledge.
Our latest universal sensor communication kits, for example, are designed for use with all Easidew and Pura dew-point transmitters. They combine standard USB cables with transmitter interface hardware and product application software, are quick and easy to set up and allow engineers to:
Each communication kit is driven directly via the USB connection, so no external power source is required. Kits are supplied in protective cases and conform to the latest EMC and Electrical Equipment standards.
Although these communications kits do not eliminate the need for regular maintenance and recalibration of dew-point sensors, especially in safety-critical or demanding applications, they do offer considerable advantages for day-to-day operations. Ultimately, they can simplify operational procedures and help to overcome gaps in process knowledge, while improving efficiency and traceability.
Learn more about the Diagnostic Communication Tool for Michell Easidew and Pura.
With 50 years’ experience in the development of moisture, humidity and dew-point technology, we are the application experts for all industrial applications. If you would like to discuss your requirements, please contact our team today.
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