IIoT-Based Approach to Industrial Equipment Condition Monitoring: Wireless Technology and Use Cases

A modern approach to MRO at an industrial enterprise will undoubtedly call for implementation of a fully functional predictive strategy. The data for predictive algorithms may be sourced from wireless sensors. These sensors need to be installed on critical pieces of equipment to be then integrated into the sensor network. The IIoT is the technology used to run this as a system. Analysis of the existing wireless data transmission technologies undertaken as part of this research has shown that the solutions commercially available nowadays do not fully meet the requirements set for data acquisition in predictive MRO management systems. South Ural State University experts, in conjunction with the University's partner companies, have developed a proprietary wireless communication technology, as well as some industrial field devices intended for operation with this technology at the core. This paper describes the concept of this technology, results of the transmission and coverage range tests performed in a real-life industrial environment. Some of the technology use cases are also covered here - one at the University campus and another at an industrial enterprise. The results of the use cases described in this paper demonstrate successful application of the novel design solutions, and may weigh heavily towards possibility of implementation of these new solutions in steelmaking and other industries as well.