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RFID Helps Field-Workers Inspect and Maintain Valves
With the RFID solution, the valves and seals are tagged with Texas Instruments' 13.56 MHz RF-HDT-KMAB HF tags, which comply with the ISO 15693 standard. Thus far, Score has tagged 75 to 100 valves, according to Jeff Brown, IDBlue's director of products and services. "Also, as current valves are replaced, the replacement valve will receive a tag," he states, thereby gradually providing RFID capabilities for all of the company's valves. "This was the strategy we agreed to in trying to resolve the logistics issue around tagging all valves in the field."
The valves the agents inspect can vary in size from an inch to many feet in diameter. In each case, the tag is scanned with the IDBlue reader, which fits into the agent's pocket. At the start of the inspection process, an employee uses the device to read the data already encoded to the tag, such as when the valve or seal was inspected, along with the results of that inspection. This information is then transmitted to the worker's Pocket PC via a Bluetooth connection. After finishing the inspection, the employee enters the results and date into the Pocket PC, and the IDBlue device downloads that data and writes it to the tag. The agent can then use the Pocket PC to transmit the information back to Score's office via Wi-Fi upon returning to that location.
When it comes to reading the tags in the rugged environment typical of the oil-drilling industry, Taylor says, "We've done extensive testing with dirt, grime, oil and cold, with no troubles." Score attaches the tags to the valves and seals by wrapping them down with wire to each seal or valve.
Score's team worked closely with IDBlue, Brown says, to ensure the tags were attached in such a way that they would not be damaged and could be easily read. With the RFID system, he notes, the overall servicing time is reduced by 5 to 15 percent.
The company uses the system to keep records of inspections, and is currently looking to integrate the system into its invoicing process by utilizing the data to send maintenance and service invoices to customers.
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The valves the agents inspect can vary in size from an inch to many feet in diameter. In each case, the tag is scanned with the IDBlue reader, which fits into the agent's pocket. At the start of the inspection process, an employee uses the device to read the data already encoded to the tag, such as when the valve or seal was inspected, along with the results of that inspection. This information is then transmitted to the worker's Pocket PC via a Bluetooth connection. After finishing the inspection, the employee enters the results and date into the Pocket PC, and the IDBlue device downloads that data and writes it to the tag. The agent can then use the Pocket PC to transmit the information back to Score's office via Wi-Fi upon returning to that location.
When it comes to reading the tags in the rugged environment typical of the oil-drilling industry, Taylor says, "We've done extensive testing with dirt, grime, oil and cold, with no troubles." Score attaches the tags to the valves and seals by wrapping them down with wire to each seal or valve.
The company uses the system to keep records of inspections, and is currently looking to integrate the system into its invoicing process by utilizing the data to send maintenance and service invoices to customers.
