Controlstar Systems has developed an add-on to provide remote condition monitoring for Rotork’s EH actuator range. The project was undertaken to provide BP with performance information for 11 ESD actuators to be installed on its North Sea Unity platform. Each actuator provides position and pressure data, along with 48 other digital status channels, at a rate of 100 updates per second. A single Controlstar unit on the platform continuously monitors the data from each actuator. The Controlstar detects when one or more actuators are performing an open or close operation, and performs a high-speed capture of the data from the actuator. Once the open-close operation has completed, this captured file is transmitted to a PC running Controlstar’s Scada software, where the data can be viewed. The software shows a live update of all the analogue and digital data, updated once per second. Operating times and performance are logged to provide preventative maintenance data. Position and movement monitoring includes operating pressure and status. Remote monitoring of operating commands includes local and remote, ESD and pressure stroke.
