MiMOMax Wireless provides efficient and secure refinery management

Refining NZ is the country’s only oil refinery and a supplier of refined petroleum products including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel to the New Zealand market.

For the past 25 years, Refining NZ used a point-to-multipoint (PMP) custom multiaccess radio system. The legacy system provided low-speed data over analog circuits. Due to the growing network demands, the company required an enhanced, more sophisticated and packet-based ethernet IP network which supported higher capacities, faster data access times and improved event management. Additionally, their intermediate pump stations and the terminal in South Auckland had satellite communication as the independent backup. This was not reliable in the advent of cloud cover or solar flaring.

The 170 km, 250 mm diameter pipeline to Auckland and the Wiri terminal known as RAP (Refinery to Auckland Pipeline) is responsible for the distribution of about half of the refinery’s production. Refining NZ can pump up to 400,000 L of finished product per hour down the RAP line. There can be more than one product in the line at once. Products are tracked and switched into special tanks at Wiri.

As a key component of the turnkey solution supplied to Refining NZ by Chorus, MiMOMax network digital Link (NDL) IP radios formed an integral part of the network.

Eleven point-to-point MiMOMax UHF narrowband IP links were deployed to support both VoIP and SCADA applications. Several radio links were installed over near-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths. Since the radios operate in UHF licensed frequencies, they have been proven to perform well over the NLOS paths.

Numerous benefits of the radio system include:

High spectral efficiency

With high spectral efficiency and low latency (typically less than 10 ms for ethernet in a 25 kHz RF channel), the NDL radios have provided high data throughput rates (up to 160 Kbps in a 25 kHz channel) with high reliability, real-time data transfer and low error rates. All of which have resulted in improved customer network efficiency. More data throughput in less RF bandwidth also meant substantial spectrum and cost savings.

High reliability

Improved response times, complete visibility of the network, minimal ongoing costs and real-time access to isolate and diagnose faults are some of the benefits in using NDL radios. In mission-critical applications like transmission pipelines, if links go down then for safety reasons, the entire system can shut down. Refining NZ network management system has also integrated alarm transport as part of the linking solution. Each time there is a fault, the alarms automatically sound, warning the system operators hence making timely remedial action possible.

Advanced diagnostics and over-the-air software upgrades

The products are not only UHF IP radios, but also have advanced remote diagnostics and optional over-the-air software upgrades. The NDL radios deployed are equipped with remote configuration, control and monitoring software (CCMS) that allows the system operators to access their network ‘over-the-air’ (web-based) without having to visit the site physically. This real-time access results in reduced travel time and lower associated costs. Advanced diagnostics make it easier to identify and locate interference issues.

Inherent flexibility

The network employs both wallmount and rackmount radio options.The radios have the capability of integrating seamlessly with other on-site IP-based equipment, for example Cisco routers etc. This flexibility means ease of implementation and further reduction in cost of ownership.

Additionally, the loop yagi antennas deployed in the network are easy to align as they have relatively wide beam width and retain functionality even when skewed up to 45°.

Ongoing technical support and hands-on training

After NDL radio systems were deployed, the team were faced with the challenge of operating one of the links on a difficult path. The MiMOMax technical team dialled into the system remotely and provided recommendations and guided the process of shifting the link to a better path. Since then, the link has been running without disruption. MiMOMax offered two to three days of ‘hands-on’ training to the Chorus staff members to provide them with a guide on how to install, operate and maintain the links.

“The MiMOMax radio links have successfully contributed to optimising the performance of our customer’s highly critical communications network. They have provided high-capacity, reliable and very low latency data transmission, while consuming very little spectrum,” said Brent Jones, radio principal delivery specialist, Chorus.