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First of its kind visibilty and safety monitoring tunnel sensor

Published: June 20, 2016 - Updated: August 5, 2016

The twin Heysen Tunnels are located on the South Eastern Freeway between Adelaide and Crafers and have been operational since 2000. The tunnels, each 500 metres long, take around 20 seconds to drive through.

 

Until now, various types of sensors have been used within the tunnels to monitor the environmental safety and report on CO, NO, temperature and visibility levels.

In 2014, a new sensor entered the international market requiring fewer recalibrations, which require costly lane closures.

 

DPTI turned to SAGE Automation - who designed the Tunnel control system back in 2000 and have supporting DPTI to maintain it ever since - to integrate the new sensor technology with the Heysen Tunnels safety control system.

Heysen Tunnel with service vehicel

 

SAGE designed a solution that could integrate the unit into the existing Tunnel control system and ensured its installation/commissioning within the strict tunnel lane closure schedules.

 

The sensor is the first of its kind in Australia, providing a solution for monitoring visibility, CO and NO concentrations all in a single compact housing. The use of electrochemical cells in this upgrade need simply be replaced annually. This will also help in environment monitoring.

 

Adelaide Heysen Tunnels


Capabilities Demonstrated:

  • Innovation and turnkey solution
  • Risk mitigation planning and management
  • Installation and commissioning
  • Low voltage electrical design
  • SCADA system design
  • PLC system design
  • System Integration
  • Adhering to tight project time lines and lane closure restrictions
  • Site Acceptance Testing
  • Ongoing SAGE Service Support


Technology Utilised

  • Modbus RTU
  • GE RX3i PLC
  • Citect SCADA

 

Project Outcomes

  • Installation of new electrochemical cells for detecting CO and NO concentrations, that can be simply be exchanged one a year.
  • IP6K9K is completely protected against dust, water and moisture
  • Simple mounting and commissioning requirements, minimising overall cost
  • The sensor communicates over Modbus RTU back to the PLC/SCADA Ventilation Control System, providing a comprehensive suite of status and diagnostic signals, including predictive maintenance indicators that the gas sensors are nearing replacement age
  • Installation of Jet Fan Autonomous Control
  • Provision of reliable data for environmental monitoring. (Visibility, CO, NO)

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