Innovative battery-powered controller

"First of its kind in the market!"

Telemetry and Remote SCADA Solutions, a division of Schneider Electric, has launched the VC10 Valve Controller to its Accutech wireless sensor network product line. A battery-powered wireless field device, the VC10 is used to control pneumatic valves in hazardous locations with unique functionality that offers optimized natural gas wellhead automation solutions to operators.

Using a patent pending technology called Progressive Pulse Control (PPC), the VC10 is ideal for operation of pneumatic valves in a wide range of upstream oil and gas applications.  Coupled with Accutech’s state-of-the-art power management technology, the VC10 is capable of operating in the field autonomously for over 50,000 cycles which equates to years of maintenance free operation.

“The VC10 is the last link in what we call the wireless wellhead,” says Stephen Goodman, Senior Product Manager Accutech. “Together with other Accutech field devices the VC10 enables our customers to deploy entirely wireless battery-powered wellhead automation systems without the costs of wiring, trenching, maintenance and more, all with Class 1, Div 1 certification.”

Included with the VC10 are two digital inputs, the first configured as a counter for use in plunger arrival systems and the second for use with any discreet signal.  An integrated pressure sensor is incorporated as a feedback mechanism in the PPC circuit and as a useful diagnostic for wellhead operators.  Magnetic switches and a LCD display allow for configuration settings in the field without compromising zone restrictions.

Wireless demand leads to expansion

Accutech wireless instrumentation doubles manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand

Control Microsystems has announced the manufacturing expansion of its Accutech wireless instrumentation product offering. Over the past two years the product line has grown substantially, including acoustic monitor, level, I/O, pressure, temperature, and flow instruments all targeting challenging wireless deployments in oil, gas, water and wastewater, chemical processes and areas under Class 1 Div 1 hazardous area classification.

Due to the overwhelming success of the Accutech product offering in the marketplace, the manufacturing facility has doubled the size of its workforce and increased plant capacity. With reliable supply chains, modern test and calibration equipment, and skilled quality inspectors, customers can expect accelerated delivery times and excellent product performance.

“Utility markets are facing increasing growth rates with more and more focus on critical infrastructure monitoring for improved asset management and regulatory compliance,” says Robert Ward, Director of Sales, Accutech. “The Accutech offering provides an advanced, yet simple, wireless instrumentation solution that is ready to deploy today, in minutes instead of hours or days, particularly in the oil & gas, heavy industry and water/wastewater markets. The ability to respond rapidly to immediate needs for wireless instrumentation deployment is extremely appreciated by our customers. They value the simplicity of the installation, minimum pre-engineering effort, ease of integration with their existing infrastructure, and the peace of mind our systems add to their operations.”

Accutech wireless instrumentation are self-contained, battery-powered field units designed to monitor critical parameters and send the information wirelessly to a base radio which can then be integrated with a PLC/RTU or SCADA host system via ModbusRTU. These cost-effective and easy to install instruments provide an alternative to traditional, hardwired sensor sites, eliminating the cost of trenching, cables, conduit, barriers, seals, etc., along with the associated labour and safety considerations. Accutech instruments can be installed on the plant floor or in remote locations with extreme temperatures and humidity ranges and have an industry leading 3 year warranty.

Control Microsystems is part of Schneider Electric.