RoTF Connected Worker and Asset Management

[AndyBryant]

Guest post from Stan Galanski, SVP Customer Success at CB Technologies

CB Technologies is thrilled to be presenting our work at Texmark Chemicals’ Refinery of the Future (RotF) at HPE’s Discover 2019, Las Vegas. Along with numerous other engagements at this year’s conference, we will be demonstrating our Connected Worker and Asset Management solutions in two 30-minute show floor theater sessions (Wed 10am Theater 5, and Wed 4pm Theater 3). Below you can find an introduction to the RotF project and a description of our planned theater demonstrations.

Background on RotF:

Changing demand patterns, complex initiatives and exponentially increasing data volumes are just a few of the challenges facing the highly competitive oil and gas industry. To overcome these complicated issues, companies like Texmark (a Texas toll manufacturer) are turning to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies to modernize their business.

The RotF project set out to develop, test and deploy the latest in IIoT technologies to enhance the most important operational functions within Texmark’s process manufacturing environment. It brings together a robust team of industry-leading partners (including HPE, Aruba, Deloitte, PTC, National Instruments, OSIsoft, RealWear and more) who have made an investment in solving real, pressing business problems and proving why IIoT matters. Together, we are building and integrating five solutions to achieve next-generation innovation, efficiency, and safety:

• Predictive Maintenance and Analytics
• Video as a Sensor
• Worker Safety and Security
• Connected Worker
• Full Asset Management

Discover Session 1/2: Asset Management - T9722 Wed 10am Theater 5

The Asset Management solution builds upon the work being done at Texmark around mechanical integrity (with the Palladio application), condition monitoring and predictive analytics. It adds asset tracking using Wi-Fi-driven, location-based services and can interface with back-end ERP systems. Together, all of this will provide full asset management services throughout Texmark’s petrochemical plant.

In our Discover theater session, we will demonstrate the solution’s graphic projection flexibility, risk-based inspection activities, and anomaly investigation/resolution procedures. This functionality is achieved utilizing Palladio software running on an HPE EL4000 with an HPE NVIDIA graphics processor. Additionally, we will discuss the data exchange and conversion process with the Digital Twin, as well as the integration of all associated, unstructured asset files.

Discover Session 2/2: Connected Worker - IF9669 Wed 4pm Theater 3

The Connected Worker solution provides the ability to deliver critical information and diagnostics to plant personnel utilizing location-based services, mobile devices, augmented reality (AR) visualization, and security authentication. This information is role, location and context-aware based.

Additionally, Connected Worker enables visual remote guidance. This means on-site plant workers can collaborate with remote Subject Matter Experts (SME) in Texmark’s Operations Control Room. The SME is then able to guide the on-site worker through complex/delicate processes such as adjusting the process attributes on critical pump equipment. The RealWear HMT-1 smart hardhat is used to provide the collaboration experience between the on-site worker and the SME, using HPE’s MyRoom VRG.

At Discover our theater session will summarize the requirements, challenges and outcome of the Connected Worker solution. We will conduct a demonstration utilizing HPE’s Edgeline Platforms, HPE Aruba Network and Access Points, RealWear’s HMT-1, PTC’s Vuforia, and HPE’s MyRoom VRG software.

Note:  Future enhancements, e.g., use of BLE beacons/RFID (radio-frequency identification), and 5G Cellular networks will be discussed accordingly.