Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_021 | |
| Title | SMART Pressure Sensor device | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Wales and West Utilities |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 May 2015 | |
| End Date | 01 May 2017 | |
| Duration | 24 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £258,416 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Information Technologies | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (100.000%) |
| Web Site | http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_WWU_021 |
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| Objectives | To evaluate, produce and test a smart pressure sensing device that will allow accurate measurement of test and installation pressures across the Wales & West Utilities distribution network and provide a digital record for storage within the back office records system as evidence that a pressure test has been undertaken. Develop a fully functional pressure sensing device that will provide a digital record for storage within the back office records system as evidence that a pressure test has been undertaken, where, when and its success result. | |
| Abstract | Given the very nature of the gas industry, the safety challenge for the business is significant and constantly under scrutiny. However, Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has, since the initial launch of the business, built and developed a first class reputation within the utilities industry. With a deployed workforce of more than 2,000 people, a multi-million pound replacement programme and the company’s core role of managing the safe and secure delivery of gas - we continue our strong safety focus by having a comprehensive management system in place, designed and certified to standards including ISO 14001. Once a new service supply has been fitted to a property, procedure states a pressure test mustbe carried out to confirm a gas tight seal exists prior to commissioning or re-commissioning. Currently Wales & West Utilities and other UK Gas Distribution Networks use water gauges to test the pressure of domestic installations, non-domestic installations, services and mains to ensure the installation is sound and there is no loss of gas (leakage) within the installation. The accuracy of the pressure test reading using the water gauges is dependent on the individual reading the position of the water level as this is a manual process. In order to provide an enhanced and demonstrable level of testing a new innovative method is needed to overcome and reduce any risk of inaccuracies and overcome the difficulties of demonstrating historical readings through our back office systems. The traceability and auditability of these records will not only ensure compliance but allow for any discrepancies to be highlighted at the earliest opportunity; thereby ensuring and improving the safety and reliability of the network. By requiring that all service pressure tests, complete with the date, time, location and details of the tester, are logged automatically and recorded directly into the asset repository, WWU is able to evidence their compliance with the testing and commissioning requirements to a level that has not previously been possible. This project will develop a pressure sensing device that will allow a test pressure at any service installation to be recorded and transmitted to a receiving device (almost certainly a Smart device such as an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S (but not exclusively). The data to be transmitted will include pressure and GPS location details with time and date stamp. The technical solution must operate using Natural Gas and Nitrogen and meet the following requirements- The device must be able to test pressures of 0 - 350 mbar and display measurements in mbar. - The device must be able to export data collected during a pressure test. - Consideration should be given to whole life cost, life expectancy and the calibration requirements of the device. - The device should be of a robust build to ensure any accidental damage does not affect the integrity of the device or its use. - The device should be water repellent. - Expected accuracy to be 1 mbar or less. - The unit must be lightweight, portable and battery powered. - The unit must be able to date stamp and record the location of the pressure testNote : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 11/12/18 | |
