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Hexatec software is used in a wide variety of applications including complex, multi SCADA based systems. Often, products from several different suppliers need to be integrated into one unified monitoring and control system. The following Case Study is an example of how Hexatec software can be used in this environment.
Case Study Manx Electricity Authority Central Control Desk System |
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HEXATEC PROVIDES CENTRALISED OPERATIONAL CONTROL FOR MANX ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY
The
Manx Electricity Authority (MEA) has sole responsibility for the
generation and transmission of electricity on the Isle of Man. Its main diesel power stations are at Pulrose and Peel, with
a diesel generating station at Ramsey and a small hydro station at Sulby.
It is expanding rapidly with a current project to build a new gas
station at Pulrose and consideration for a wind farm and incinerator to
generate additional power. With
such a diverse infrastructure, it has been necessary for MEA to use a
number of different types of industrial software from a variety of
suppliers. Jim Crombie, director of Generation at MEA explains, “Over
the years, a number of different vendors have been used to provide
industrial software solutions for turnkey projects.
As we grew, it became increasingly clear that all the information
being collected from these individual sites needed integrating onto single
screens.” |
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As a
result, Hexatec Systems Limited, an established provider of high quality
advanced industrial software, with which MEA already had a relationship,
were approached. Jim
Crombie adds, “Hexatec has a product called Saturn for Process Control,
which uses the OPC standard to link software and draw data from it.
It was perfect for MEA as it allowed us to integrate historical
information as well as provide a route for new data.
Operators now have a single screen showing them the performance of
the various plants.” Saturn
is a PC-SCADA solution which links seamlessly with other core business
software such as Back Office, providing a powerful management tool that
will view and report on production processes effortlessly.
It includes a flexible set of intuitive drawing tools that enables
the user to create dynamic real-time displays from on-line data.
These displays can include library pictures, web pages and a wide
range of control and data entry tools.
Phase
one of the integration project was so successful using Saturn that MEA
approached Hexatec again. This
time they wanted to extend the reach of the information to a number of
different audiences, including engineers within the power stations,
management and directors at head office, the electricity distribution
department and the cable electricity trading team.
They needed employees at all levels to be able to access relevant
information over their corporate intranet. Jim
Crombie says, “Extending the solution was simple because Saturn has the
ability to generate web pages. MEA
now places the information from the operators’ screens onto a corporate
intranet, so that other teams can view the data.
It is more cost effective to do as a web page because we are using
standard Microsoft Windows Explorer to view the process software.
As a result, it’s easy for our IT department to maintain.” “We are delighted with the Saturn software that Hexatec has installed. By using the OPC standard it allows us to link all our systems, providing centralised operational control. What’s more, the solution has evolved as MEA’s requirements have become more sophisticated. It seems the more questions we ask of Saturn, the more it provides the answers. I look forward to seeing it grow with us in the future.” |
