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Innovation and safety: IoT for hydraulic testing

Published 16.10.2024

Techint Engineering & Construction carried out a pilot test of the Internet of Things (IoT) network to measure water pressure, temperature, and flow during hydraulic tests.

 

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is revolutionizing various industries, and engineering and construction are no exceptions. For this reason, during the hydraulic tests of one of our projects, a pilot test of this technology was conducted. It involved measuring water pressure, temperature, and flow at both ends of the test section where the launch and reception heads are located.

Initially, a Proof of Concept (POC) was carried out. After confirming the system’s reliability, the technology was implemented in the actual hydraulic testing process. We worked with the provider Datco, which supplied an IoT Sigfox network for telemetric instrumentation. This network is also being used in the C20+ project in Chile to monitor the location and use of non-operated equipment.

“Two sensors are used, one for temperature and one for pressure, which are attached to the pipes and capture information wirelessly. These sensors communicate with the Sigfox antenna, which sends the data to the cloud. Collaborators can access the data from a mobile phone or computer,” explains Carlos Payra, IT Business Applications Specialist.

Hydraulic testing protocols involve rigorous logging of pressure, flow, and temperature during the tests. In this case, digital measurement with telemetry automatically generates and stores these logs without the need for traditional manual collection.

More safety

Alejandro Aguirre, Applied Innovation Sr. Manager, says that IoT is not just an operational tool; it is highly valuable for safety because it prevents the transmission of data by radio and the physical reading of instruments like conventional dial gauges, which requires personnel to be near the instrument in pressurized areas when needed.

It is important to note that the pressures handled during such a hydraulic test are comparable to those experienced at depths of between 1,000 and 1,500 meters below sea level.

Additionally, Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Area (QHSE) collaborators can access the portal and monitor the pressure being applied to that test section, thus managing their access permits or alerts.

“Having this sensitive information represents a significant advance in safety, as the entire project team can see when pressure is being applied during tests and receive notifications in the event of sudden depressurization, allowing for necessary precautions to be taken,” adds Aguirre.

The path of innovation

This initiative originated at IDay 2023, an event on innovation topics organized annually by the company, when Sergio Boretini, Hydraulic Test Supervisor, and Mariana Zalazar, Hydraulic Test Supervisor, presented the topic, and the Innovation team began to manage it within the project.

“Together with IT, we proposed the technology to improve these tasks in the field. We then assembled a working team with the PH specialist provider, funded the purchase of IoT telemetry instruments, and presented the results to the Management,” Aguirre concludes.

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