SCADA

Modcon Systems offers a diverse range of pipeline automation services utilizing the latest proven technologies. Modcon SCADA provides robust, scalable, user friendly and nonproprietary solutions that seamlessly can be integrated into existing platforms and systems. The solution focuses on all the crucial factors like pipeline product quality, control system flexibility and leak detection traceability, low system maintenance and pipelines performance, and regulatory compliance during all the phases of a project - from the initial design development to the installation and to future expansions.

Pipelines transport all kinds of liquids and gases such as: gasoline, crude oil, diesel fuel, natural gas, water, sewage, and hazardous materials. There are a very exact definitions and needs to control the pipeline process specification, which includes transferred product quantity and quality, to guarantee the delivery agreements are exactly observed.

A leak or spill from these pipelines could threaten neighborhoods, contaminate water supplies, or pollute environmentally-sensitive land. Pipeline companies are faced with the growing need to protect their assets from different kinds of malicious activities, ranging from simple theft to terrorism. The system is designed to allow their pipeline controllers, in a centralized control room, to efficiently and effectively monitor and control pipeline operations in real time.

The system includes the following main components:

• Field instrumentation for quantitative measurements and control
• Pipeline security system for real-time control of activities around the perimeter and on the pipelines
• Radio, satellite, fiberoptic or cellular communication network to acquire field data to control room SCADA master station which allows operator to view current or historical data, alarm messages, and issue controls to field equipment.
• On-line Analyzers for petroleum products quality determination and control.

Pipeline companies use Modcon SCADA systems to allow their pipeline controllers, in a centralized control room, to efficiently and effectively monitor and control pipelines, pump stations, filling terminals operations in real time. Data is collected from field instrumentation and Product Quality Modules by remote terminal units (RTUs), flow computers, and/or programmable logic controllers (PLCs) which then relay the information to the SCADA master station via the deferments field communication networks.

The SCADA operator station performs any required data conversions, intermediate calculations, checks for unusual conditions which should be brought to the attention of a pipeline controller, and stores data for viewing, long-term archiving, and for use by advanced applications and open Field Bus protocols. Pipeline controllers interface with the SCADA operator/monitoring station through the graphical user interface (HMI) which allows them to view current or historical data, alarm messages, and issue controls to field equipment.

Modcon Pipeline SCADA systems cover a broad range from small to huge, relatively simple to very complex, and important to extremely critical for both financial and safety reasons. A small SCADA system may be comprised of a local control/monitoring station, which also supports the HMI Station, to handle a few hundred points in a non-critical environment. A large SCADA system may be comprised of triple-redundant sets of servers and Hybrid-Controllers, in a distributed configuration, spread out over multiple geographic locations along with numerous multi-headed HMI workstations, support staff, and management. Factors such as point count, data acquisition rates, and availability (up-time) requirements determine the size, complexity, and redundancy of the pipeline control system.