ADAM Industrial Data Acquisition
Success Story Collection

Factory Automation
Environmental Monitoring
Urban Infrastructure
Agriculture
Oil and Gas
Power and Energy

www.advantech.com

About ADAM
Advantech’s ADAM series of remote I/O modules have been a consistent and reliable figure in the industrial
automation field for over 25 years. Whether dealing with large or small systems, ADAM modules can always befound embedded somewhere as an integral keystone. They can be used in a great variety of applications acrossdifferent industries. From factory and infrastructure to environmental applications, ADAM modules offer support
with reliable functions and diverse features. Here, in this collection of application stories, we would like to take amoment to share some of the successes that these small devices have had in big applications.

Factory Automation

Environmental Monitoring

Factory Automation Solution for Existing Machines

01

Water Industry & Smart Water

Precise Data traceability Reduces Time and Cost

03

Data Collection and Analysis for Water Management

07

Monitoring Real-time Operation Status for Quality
Assurance

05

Real-time Monitoring Improves Water Project Safety

09

River Flow Monitoring to Reduce Damaged Impact

11

Air Emissions

Agriculture

Environmental Protection Supportive for Seamless Data
Transmission

13

CEMS Solution Meets National Environmental Requirements

15

Oil and Gas

Monitoring the Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone in
Real-time

21

Remote Monitoring and Control on Web-based Devices

23

On-site Data Collection in Harsh Offshore Environment

25

About Advantech

Urban InfrastructureLighting Monitoring Improves Energy Conservation andEfficiency

17

Parking Facility Kiosk

19

Power and Energy
Power
Stable and Reliable Equipment Operation Improves Overall
Safety27

Solar
Remote Automatic Data Transmission Achieves Efficient
Human-Computer Interaction

29

Wind
Real-time Monitoring Solution Simplifies the Field Operation

31

Founded in 1983, Advantech is a leader inproviding trusted innovative embedded
and automation products and solutions.
The company offers comprehensive system
integration, hardware, software, customercentric design services, and global logistics
support, all backed by industry-leading
front and back office e-business solutions.
We cooperate closely with our partners to
help provide complete solutions for a wide
variety of applications across a diverse
range of industries. Advantech has always
been an innovator in the development
and manufacturing of high-quality, highperformance computing platforms, and our
mission is to drive innovation by offering
trustworthy automation products and services.
With Advantech, there is no limit to theapplications and innovations our products
make possible.

INDUSTRY

Factory Automation

LOCATION

China

Increasingly more enterprises need to transformand upgrade their production lines to intelligent
manufacturing. The biggest problem for enterpriseequipment monitoring is how to complete signal
acquisition and establish communication between
devices from different brands and of different types.
This customer required the status of each of theirmachines to be monitored, including power on/off
times, production quantities, and stack lights. Without
the additional cost of purchasing new machines,
Advantech offers an integrated solution that achievesfactory automation with existing machines.

Factory Automation Solution for
Existing Machine Equipments
System Requirements
This customer mainly produces precision molds, mold standard parts, and related injection products. Theirproduction line has a total of 19 machine tools from three different brands, and several of these machines
have been in service for more than 20 years. The following issues required consideration:• Machines made by different brand manufacturers use different communication protocols, thus
necessitating protocol conversion;• Some old machines do not support communication interfaces, meaning that external sensors must be
used;• The workshop has many metal items that can cause signal interference, and its cramped space isinconvenient for wiring; therefore, the new system must have simple and convenient wiring.
The new system was required to monitor the status of different brands and generations of machine tools
while also generating daily production reports, intuitively displaying the utilization of production line
equipment, and providing information for shift handover.

Project Implementation

1

ADAM-6250

EKI-2525

UNO-2184G

15-ch Isolated Digital I/O
Modbus TCP Module

5-port Unmanaged
Industrial Ethernet Switch

Intel® Core™ i7 Automation
Computer with 4 x GbE, 2 x
Mini PCIe, DVI/DP/HDMI

System Description
Factory Automation

The customer wanted to monitor the machines’ operating status. However, most old machines do not havecommunication ports, and for those that do, it is difficult to obtain the communication protocols from suppliers.
Therefore, various sensors were installed in the machines for signal acquisition, with the ADAM-6250 utilized toobtain the status of the machines (e.g., running, shut down, idle, breakdown) and stack lights.
• ADAM-6250 modules were installed on each machine. A daisy chain configuration was adopted toconnect neighboring modules in order to minimize on-site wiring. Collected data were then aggregatedon a local UNO-2184G automation computer.
• Because the workshop was far from the control center, an EKI-2525 switch was adopted to forward thedata to the control room.
• Advantech's professional service integrators were able to refit machines so that signal data could becollected via sensors. The machines’ operating status can then be collated into reports in order to viewthe efficiency of on-site equipment.

Control Room

EKI-2525

Unmanaged Industrial
Ethernet Switch

UNO-2184G

Automation Computer

ADAM-6250

ADAM-6250

Digital I/O Module

ADAM-6250

Digital I/O Module

Digital I/O Module

Ethernet
MachineMachineMachine

I/O, Device

Conclusion
Advantech can provide rugged, stable, and cost-effective total solutions that include remote I/O modules,
switches, and industrial-grade computers. For this customer, the system enhanced production efficiency bymore than 30%. Furthermore, the system has an alarm mechanism and fault button so that the health of theequipment can be monitored; this has facilitated timely repair and maintenance planning, thus improving theequipment life span, reducing the number of equipment failures, and saving more than 20% on hardware costs.

2

INDUSTRY Factory Automation

LOCATION

China

China’s booming automobile market has increased
demand for car safety. One system aimed at this end
provides a total solution for detecting automotive water
intrusion from rainfall. This customer required solution
for their vehicle rainfall testing workshop, which did
not have a procedure in place for setting the rainfall
intensity. Given the importance of data traceability inthe automotive industry, automakers have realized thenecessity of using consistently measureable rainfall
detection systems.

Precise Data Traceability Reduces Time and Cost
System Requirements
Rain collection units were connected to a TPC-1282T host computer with WebAccess software installed for
configuration, wireless data aggregation, and solenoid valve control. The computer provided easy access todata such as rainfall intensity and solenoid valve status. The customer required high-hardness PC to perform
simple processing while being waterproof, lightweight, robust, and yet attractive in appearance. At the project
design stage, however, the customer encountered many problems, including product size, signal stability, onsite wiring, cost control, and the accuracy being influenced by environmental/external conditions.

Project Implementation

3

ADAM-6024

EKI-6332GN

TPC-1282T

WebAccess12-ch Isolated Universal
Input/Output Modbus
TCP Module

IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
AP/Client12.1" XGA TFT LED LCDIntel® 5th. Gen.Core™ i3
Touch Panel Computer

Brower-based HMI/SCADA
SoftwareSystem Description
Factory Automation

Advantech proposed a cost-effective solution to address the customer's problems. The system included an ADAM6024 universal I/O module, which integrates high-precision analog signal acquisition and digital control in a single
unit. Because the rain collection unit had to be easy to move, the ADAM-6024’s compact size made it the ideal for
selection for capturing sensor data, which were then uploaded to the TPC-1282T via an EKI-6332GN wireless AP/
client, which is also rated IP55 (dustproof and waterproof) and offers stable wireless transmission.

TPC-1282H

Touch Panel Computer

EKI-6332GN

Ethernet

Wireless AP/Client

I/O, Device

EKI-6332GN

EKI-6332GN

ADAM-6024

ADAM-6024

Wireless AP/Client

Wireless AP/Client

Universal Input/Output Module

Load Cell

Universal Input/Output Module

Solenoid Valve

Rain Gauge #1

Load Cell

Solenoid Valve

Rain Gauge #2

Conclusion
Modern systems are becoming increasingly more miniaturized. Advantech ADAM I/O modules are in line with thistrend with their compact size, efficient operation, and low power consumption, all of which are advantageous forcustomers. Furthermore, Advantech offers a one-stop shopping service for its hardware and software solutions,from data acquisition and transmission to storage and analysis. Advantech's ability to provide complete solutions
saves customers time and money.

4

INDUSTRY

Factory Automation

LOCATION

China

The informatization of automaker factories is driving
parts manufacturers to upgrade the extent to which
they digitalize their own factories. Parts manufacturers
are required to enhance their design capacity anddegree of digitalization in order to provide effective
quality assurance measures. When parts manufacturers
seek to improve their management and production
efficiency, production must be reformed with a focus
on IT integration and managerial transparency, so as tocreate an intelligent factory with effective equipment
automation and information management systems.

Monitoring Real-Time Operation Status
for Quality Assurance
System Requirements
The production workshop of an automobile parts
manufacturer with a typical layout for automobile
parts production, including equipment for melting,casting, mechanical processing, surface treatment,
and other key processes, had equipment that
had been supplied by various suppliers, resulting
in different machines having different technicalstandards and control systems. In the process offactory informatization, it had become difficult toconnect all of the devices and collect data due to thecomplexity of device data unification.
To conduct quality management, traceability
analysis, material loss calculation, allocation tracking,and inventory management, this customer required

real-time information on the operating status of equipmentin each process, including the product model, number ofmachines, manufacturing processing information, and WIP
status. The customer also required a system that could
provide several key functions: production scheduling forwork order management; customer order-tracking to ensure
timely shipments; real-time alarm notifications for production
exceptions; equipment maintenance/management for
automatic reminders for maintenance; production indicatoranalysis to maximize equipment efficiency; automatic dataacquisition for instant, accurate, objective information;
automatic report generation to realize a paperless factory;
and employee productivity-tracking to provide an objective
basis for assessment.

Project Implementation

5

ADAM-6017

ADAM-6250

UNO-2473G

WebAccess8-ch Isolated Analog
Input Modbus TCP
Module with 2-ch DO

15-ch Isolated Digital I/O
Modbus TCP ModuleIntel® Atom/ Celeron
Processor Regular-Size
Automation Computerwith 4 x GbE, 3 x mPCIe,
HDMI/VGA

Brower-based HMI/SCADA
SoftwareSystem Description
Factory Automation

The whole system comprised four levels: low-level equipment collection layer, workshop information layer,
network layer, and the management layer (information center). These are described as follows:• Equipment collection layer: ADAM-6000 series Ethernet I/O modules were used to acquire production
equipment data (e.g., melting furnace temperature, CNC machining tool processing data, and equipment
status) throughout the entire manufacturing process.
• Workshop information layer: A UNO-2473G embedded with WebAccess/MDC/DNC/third-party driverinterface software was adopted for collection applications. With this, the workshop information stationacts as a data gateway for collecting and temporarily storing NC data.
• Network layer: This layer provides a communication link for transmitting workshop information data fromthe workshop to the information center.
• Management layer: At this layer, all data are aggregated for analysis and decision-making.

Database Server

Ethernet

UNO-2473G

Embedded Automation
Computer

ADAM-6017

ADAM-6250

AI Module

Digital I/O Module

X-Ray Inspection
MachineCNC

Robot
Ethernet

CNC
I/O, Device

Conclusion
The proposed system provided a total solution, from equipment monitoring/data collection to gateway
integration and installation/monitoring of network communication devices.
This system included ADAM-6017 and ADAM-6025 modules, which were adopted to unify the management ofdevices and directly collect I/O data, and the UNO-2473G, which was utilized to integrated data and communicate
with the management system. The system can also aggregate CNC data and robot information, thus providing aneffective platform for factory informatization.

6

INDUSTRY

Water Industry & Smart Water

LOCATION

China

Natural disasters are relatively frequent in China.
Developments in real-time hydrological data collection
have had a significant impact on improving hydrologicalalarm systems and flash flood warning systems. Collected
data have also provided a scientific basis for improving
management systems for flood prevention, hydropower
dispatching, and water resource development/utilization.
Thus, accelerating the development of hydrologicalforecasting systems with data analysis is a major task in
China's national socioeconomic development planning
outline.

Data Collection and Analysis for
Smart Water Management
System Requirements
This customer needs to utilize data on several water
environments to develop a forecasting system for rainfall/river conditions in order to assist with decision-making
pertaining to flood control.
The system was required to record real-time data on
rainfall and river conditions in river basins for real-time
dynamic flood forecasting, dispatching reservoir water
resources in a reasonable manner, improving water
resource utilization, balancing water supply and demand,and minimizing losses from floods. The design also had
to facilitate managing the water environment, preventing

water pollution, minimizing losses from water pollution
disasters, and ensuring water resource sustainability.
A further requirement was that it had to enhance thenon-engineering effect by issuing an early warning forstaff to implement appropriate measures. For this, itneeded a geographic information system (GIS) for datavisualization to decision-making, and it had to allow
users to query specific information to derive scientificbasis for measures aimed at flood, drought, andpollution prevention, as well as emergency rescue anddisaster relief operations.

Project Implementation

7

ADAM-4117

EKI-7659CI

UNO-2473G

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

8+2G Combo Port Gigabit
Managed Redundant Industrial
Ethernet Switch with Wide
Temp

Intel® Atom/ Celeron Processor
Regular-Size Automation
Computer with 4 x GbE, 3 x
mPCIe, HDMI/VGA

Environmental Monitoring

System Description
To acquire accurate data in real time, the system required four key components: a central information
monitoring platform, a fiber optic Ethernet communication network, a front-end monitoring terminal with adata acquisition module, and on-site sensing devices.
• Central information monitoring platform: A combination of monitoring computers and data servers for decoding,storing, displaying, and processing remotely acquired data
• Communication network: Fiber optic Ethernet communication to ensure reliable network redundancy• Front-end monitoring terminal with remote I/O modules: ADAM-4100 modules to collect data from sensing
devices for transmission to the information monitoring center via a wired network• On-site sensing devices: Including rainfall sensors, water level meters, and other meter transmitters

Water Industry & Smart Water

Control Room

Ethernet

Ethernet
I/O, Device

EKI-7659CI

Industrial Ethernet Switch

Serial (RS-232/422/485)
Fiber Optics

UNO-2473G

UNO-2473G

Automation Computer

Automation Computer

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4117

AI Module

IP Camera

Flow
Meter

Rainfall
Meter

Water Level
Meter

AI Module

IP Camera

Flow
Meter

Rainfall
Meter

Water Level
Meter

Conclusion
Advantech's industrial-grade product offerings played a key role in the project. The solution was selected because
the system must be able to operate in harsh environments, with on-site temperatures ranging from -10°C in
winter to more than 40°C in summer. To ensure stable system operation, the customer adopted an Advantech
embedded fanless computer, ADAM-4117 remote I/O module, and EKI-7659CI industrial-grade communication
devices, which support wide operating temperatures, thus ensuring high reliability in outdoor applications.

8

INDUSTRY

Water Industry & Smart Water

LOCATION

China

The Chinese Government initiated the South-to-North
Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) to upgrade water
infrastructure in Northern China. The security systeminstalled along the central diversion route, which extends
from Henan in the south to Beijing in the north, includes
a video surveillance system, an intelligent electronic fence
system, a comprehensive monitoring and information
service system, and other support systems.

Real-Time Monitoring Improves Water
Project Safety
System Requirements
The overall security system was designed tomonitor the entire area with a particular focus on
critical facilities. The video surveillance system wasconnected with the electronic fence system andother systems to realize intelligent video security
management for the central diversion route. The
video surveillance system also needed to enhance
the three safety preventive measures for thisproject—namely engineering safety, water supply
safety, and personnel safety—while improving
both project security and management standards.

The video system mainly comprised cameras,
audio capture devices, optical switches, and othercommunication devices, all of which had to beof industrial grade to be suitable for the on-siteenvironment. In addition, various supporting
devices and equipment were required, including
power cables, solar power equipment, camera
poles, mounting accessories, fiber optic splitters,
and lightning/surge protection devices.

Project Implementation

9

ADAM-6052

EKI-7629C

16-ch Source-type Isolated
Digital I/O Modbus TCP Module

8+2G Combo Port Gigabit Unmanaged
Industrial Ethernet Switch

The security system for the central diversion route focuses generally on improving engineering safety. Throughthe utilization of IoT, digital video, communication, computers, networks, and various technologies to create athree-dimensional structure, the intelligent security system can be integrated with an automated schedulingmanagement system to ensure that technical devices, material resources, and staff are dispatched as required.

Video monitoring and sound alarm system

An audible alarm device installed at the site automatically issues a warning in the event of an emergency. Whenthe field alarm sounds, the monitoring software transmits an audible warning via the video server and the onsite
ADAM-6052 I/O module issues an alert through outdoor horn speakers according to the corresponding logicalrelationship of the different zones. The ADAM-6052 plays a critical role by sending an alert so that immediate
action can be taken to improve project safety.

Water Industry & Smart Water

The front-end control box, which has a built-in fiber switch, enables the video monitoring system to connect tothe security system's fiber optic network via the fiber optic splitter, which adopts 6-core single-mode fiber optic
cable. The control box uses fiber jumper wire to connect to the fiber optic splitter. The video monitoring systemand security system switch are located at a local communication station and are linked by optical fiber in a star
topology.

Environmental Monitoring

System Description

EKI-7629C
ServerAggregation Switch

Unmanaged Industrial
Ethernet Switch

Audio Controller

Amplifier

Ethernet

ADAM-6052

I/O, Device
Fiber Optics

Digital I/O Module
SpeakerConclusion
Advantech is a well-known enterprise in China’s industrial control industry and is also the first choice of supplierfor its strict quality standards. The security system improved project safety, safety management standards, andefficiency, thus fully supporting the three safety preventative measures.

10

INDUSTRY

Water Industry & Smart Water

LOCATION

Spain

In mountainous regions around the world, heavy rainfall
can cause downstream river flooding, resulting in major
problems for residents and businesses in such areas. Many
governments around the world have taken steps to actively
protect people’s livelihoods and property with the expansionof early warning systems and emergency response systems
to reduce the impact of natural climate changes.

River Flow Monitoring for
Damage Mitigation
System Requirements
In Spain, the government is trying to protect its citizens from rising river levels flowing down from the Pyrenees,with water level sensors installed along every kilometer of the rivers. The ability to track rainfall, water level, andflow rate data means that early flood warnings can be issued and that further action be taken when necessary. This
customer required a system that had proven reliability and would be capable of withstanding harsh environmental
conditions in remote locations. Thus, implementing a system that can function at high humidity and handle acutechanges in temperature was priority. In addition, the system had to provide timely reporting on environmental
conditions to ensure a quick response in order to minimize any potential damage.

Project Implementation

11

ADAM-5017

ADAM-5051D

ADAM-5056D

ADAM-5560

8-ch Analog Input Module

16-ch Digital Input
Modules

16-ch Digital Output
Modules7-slot PC-based Intel®
Atom™ CPU soft logic
Controller

Advantech provided a total solution with advanced technology and robust equipment for monitoring sensors
in remote locations. In addition to data monitoring, the whole system was able to function reliably in harshenvironments.
From the sensors installed along the sides of the rivers, data are relayed to a cabinet in which are installed
four ADAM modules, and these analyze the data before transmission to the central control room. The ADAM5560 is a programmable automation controller that can be utilized to access sensor data and visualize thedata on a monitor. These modules can also be used to analyze the data before sending them to a remote
server.

LAN

ADAM-5560

VGA

Water Industry & Smart Water

With 16 digital input channels with LED indicators, the ADAM-5051D and ADAM-5056D were employed tomonitor the sensors’ working condition. The ADAM-5017 was also adopted for its ability to accept multiple
voltage and current inputs, making it particularly useful for measuring the water height.

Environmental Monitoring

System Description

Micro Programmable
Automation Controller

Monitor

ADAM-5051D

ADAM-5056D

Digital Input Module

Digital Output Module

Flow Rate
SensorPerssure Meter

ADAM-5017

Analog Input Module

Water Level
SensorEthernet
I/O, Device, VGA

Conclusion
The features of the ADAM-5560 were one of the key factors in winning this bid. Advantech offers this control
system to ensure reliable operation in such harsh environments, thus providing the means to mitigate any
potential impact from flood damage. Advantech’s total solution not only fit the requirements but also won thecustomer’s trust. Moreover, the customer has been using Advantech products in other projects and is familiar
with the ADAM series’ reliability.

12

INDUSTRY

Air Emissions

LOCATION

China

In recent years, China's Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) has implemented new national environmental
protection standards and regulations that requirecompanies to upload their environmental data to an
EPA database. To meet the new standards, companies
must make certain hardware changes; for instance,
products that previously adopted the Arm architecture
must be changed to X86 data platforms for on-site dataprocessing and temporary data storage.

Environmental Protection Support for
Seamless Data Transmission
System Requirements
With rising public awareness on energy conservationand emission reduction, the contribution of China's
environmental protection industry to GDP is growing.
Concurrently, the level of clean coal technology has
improved substantially. Flue-gas desulfurization
technology has been an international leader in thisregard. Numerous major breakthroughs have been
also made in ultralow emission coal-fired technology,
and the utilization efficiency of clean coal processing
has been improved considerably.

This customer had been using locally produced
hardware and software to integrate environmental
protection and management systems. However, thecustomer was dissatisfied with the service qualityof the local producer and the performance of theirproducts. Therefore, they sought a solution that canacquire data related to environmental protection,transmit the data via GPRS, and link to the local EPA
through the special protocol.

Project Implementation

ADAM-4017+
8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

13

BBUR5IV2F485USSWH
3G UMTS/HSPA router UR5i v2

UNO-2473G

WebAccessIntel® Atom/ Celeron Processor
Regular-Size Automation Computerw/ 4 x GbE, 3 x mPCIe, HDMI/VGA

Browser-based HMI/SCADA Software

FPM-2150
15" XGA Industrial Monitor
with Resistive Touchscreen
and Direct-VGA Port

For this project, each monitoring node had to collect various data, including flue gas temperature, pressure,humidity, moisture, and dust. In addition to needing to be uploaded to the EPA platform, the data also had
to be visualized on a monitoring platform and used to generate a series of reports. To this end, Advantech’s
ADAM-4017+ remote I/O module was used to collect the field data, a BB-UR5IV2F485USSWH 3G UMTS/HSPA
router was employed to upload the data to the EPA platform, and a UNO-2473G automation computerwith embedded WebAccess software was adopted to interpret/analyze the data and generate the report.
Because WebAccess supports the environmental protection 212/660 protocol, it is able to upload the data to
the EPA platform.

Environmental Monitoring

System Description

FPM-2150

Industrial Monitor

UNO-2473G

National Environmental
Monitoring Center

Embedded Automation Computer

BB-UR5IV2F485USSWH
Cellular Router

ADAM-4017+
AI Module

Ethernet
I/O, Device
Smoke Sensor

Water Quality
SensorParticle Sensor

Serial (RS-232/422/485)

Conclusion
Advantech offers a full range of products for data collection and transmission. The ADAM series of I/O modules
is able to acquire environmental protection data to meet customer’s requirement. Additionally, all of Advantech’s
products are of industrial-grade quality, from I/O data acquisition modules and data gateways to Ethernet
communication modules, industrial PCs, and SCADA remote-monitoring software. Because the provided solution
supports the dedicated EPA protocols (flue gas 212 and water quality 660), other local environmental protection
enterprises can also use it to seamlessly link to the EPA platform and benefit from the efficiency and reliability of
Advantech’s total solution.

14

INDUSTRY

Air Emissions

LOCATIONChina

As the Chinese government continues to improve thecountry’s environmental management systems, its policy
has shifted from establishing pollutant concentration
limits to controlling the total amount of emissions.
Accordingly, critical environmental quality indicators
have also gradually changed to reflect this shift. In thistransformation, the most urgent problem requiring asolution is to quickly establish an emission monitoring
system as a means of management supervision.
In particular, the system must meet requirements
pertaining to controlling the total amount of emissions.

CEMS Solution Meets National
Environmental Requirements
System Requirements
This project was mainly aimed at monitoring flue gas
emissions at iron, steel, and chemical plants. In thepast, the monitoring of pollutant emissions in China
was focused on their concentrations. However, themonitoring frequency was very low, and the results
seemed random given that they were based on
estimates. Advantech’s ADAM remote I/O modules
and fanless host computers were thus ideal forindependent data analysis and storage.

An automatic flue gas monitoring system wasdesigned to target gas pollutants and particulatematter in the atmosphere by continuously monitoring
their concentration and total emissions. The data
were then to be transmitted to the relevant authority.
This monitoring system comprised subsystems formonitoring gaseous pollutants, particulate matter,and flue gas parameters, as well as subsystems fordata processing and transmission.

Project Implementation

15

ADAM-4055

ADAM-4117

TPC-1251T

16-ch Isolated Digital I/O
Module with Modbus

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

12.1" TFT LED LCD Intel®
Atom™ Thin Client TerminalGiven the significance of both data collection and transmission in this project, Advantech offered a total CEMS
solution that would bring system performance into line with national environmental regulations. ADAM-4000
series modules were employed to acquire data from dust meters and other devices for measuring pollutant
concentrations (including SO2, NOx, HCL, CO, CO2, etc.) and total emissions. The data can then be directly
uploaded to a host computer for analysis. This enabled the customer to make a quick action to improve theoverall air quality.
• Data Acquisition: ADAM-4117 and ADAM-4055 digital/analog I/O modules• Host PC: Embedded fanless all-in-one computer

Environmental Monitoring

System Description

Air Emission

TPC-1251T

Thin Client Terminal
Ethernet
I/O, Device
Serial (RS-232/422/485)

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4055

AI Module

Smoke
Detector

Temperature
Senor

Digital I/O Module

Pressure
SensorSolenoid Valve

Pump

Relay

Conclusion
Advantech can offer total hardware solutions that improve system automation, stability, and reliability.
ADAM-4000 series modules are compact, versatile sensor-to-computer interface units designed specificallyfor reliable operation in harsh environments. Thus Advantech's brand awareness and high-quality services
give customers peace of mind in using system. Furthermore, the provided solution not only reduced costs
for this customer but also met national environment requirements.

16

INDUSTRY

Urban Infrastructure

LOCATION

China

Rapid urbanization in China has improved the social
economy and people’s living standards. Without
exception, such developments bring greater demand forcity street lighting, which, in addition to enhancing theimage of the city and improving the urban environment,
results in a substantial increase in energy consumption.
Current developments in urbanization—particularly
those for urban street lighting—focus strongly on energy
conservation. To achieve efficiency, closely monitoring
the lighting and the measurement system are necessary.

Lighting Monitoring Improves Energy
Conservation and Efficiency
System Requirements
In China, Shenyang City’s renovation project for energy-efficient road lighting adopted a contract energy
management model. This green lighting project was aimed at replacing high energy-consumption lamps with
LED lamps on selected roads and plazas. For this, a city street lighting monitoring and energy consumption
measurement system was needed to detect and analyze changes in active power. This would allow for the statusof lights in a given area to be detected and for relevant personnel to be alerted for on-site processing.

Project Implementation

17

ADAM-4024

ADAM-4055

ADAM-4117

4-ch Analog Output
Module with Modbus

16-ch Isolated Digital I/O
Module with Modbus

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

EKI-1361

SRP-EEM351

WebAccess1-port RS-232/422/485 to802.11b/g/n WLAN Serial
Device Server

Factory Energy
Management Solution

Browser-based HMI/SCADA SoftwareSystem Description

To reduce energy consumption, street lights were fitted with ADAM-4024 remote I/O modules to control thelamp intensity according to current lighting conditions. Related data were collected using ADAM-4117 and
ADAM-4055 remote I/O modules and uploaded to a monitoring center via a wireless LAN serial device server.
WebAccess was customized specifically for this urban street lighting project in order to facilitate measuring,visualizing, and analyzing the overall amount of energy consumed.

EMS

Urban Infrastructure

Advantech’s solution saves on energy costs and reduces maintenance by providing the hardware and software
needed to establish an efficient energy management system (EMS). With data acquisition gateways that support
multiple protocols and network connections, Advantech’s WebAccess software, and high-performance industrial
computers, the system can perform remote real-time monitoring and intelligent analysis to help managers
identify abnormal energy consumption and areas requiring improvement.

Control RoomGPRS

Internet

EKI-1361

WLAN Serial Device Server

ADAM-4024

ADAM-4117

AO Module

ADAM-4055

AI Module

Digital I/O Module

I/O, Device
DimmerCurrent &Voltage Meter

Alarm

Serial (RS-232/422/485)

Conclusion
Advantech’s city street lighting monitoring and energy consumption measurement system has been applied to
selected roads and plazas in Shenyang City. The ADAM modules in particular have been instrumental for collecting
current and voltage data to determine the status of lights and for controlling illumination sensors for the lamp
intensity. These modules allow the EMS solution to provide real-time information to inform management of thecurrent status of street lighting infrastructure.

18

INDUSTRY

Urban Infrastructure

LOCATION

TaiwanIn parking facility equipment implementation, other than theinfrastructure of gate control, facility monitoring, and safety
alarm monitoring, parking facility kiosks are critical equipmentthat require a rugged and weather-resistant design to fulfil
their roll in industrial automation. An obvious benefit of thesekiosks is that they can reduce the need for multiple attendants
and security guards by automating tasks such as collecting
payment and lifting the gate, or even more complex needs suchas storing credit card information.

Parking Facility Kiosk
System Requirements
For automated payment systems, Advantech hasdeveloped a concept that utilizes an industrial
computer as the user interface. The computer isideal due to its wide operating temperature range
and ability to handle XP Embedded (or later) foreasy application development. The computer
also has several USB ports for connecting to suchdevices as RFID readers, swipe card readers, billvalidators, and thermal printers.
For different varieties of relay and digital I/O control,
the computer can be expanded to include compact I/O
cards such as the PC/104 or PCI-104. To accommodate
installation in outdoor and semi-outdoor environments,
Advantech recommends a 1200-nit high-brightness
display.

Project Implementation

19

ADAM-6060

FPM-7151T

UNO-2178A

6-ch Digital Input and 6-ch
Relay Modbus TCP Module

15" XGA Industrial Monitor with
Resistive Touchscreen,
Direct-VGA/DP and Wide
Operating Temperature Range

Intel® Atom™ D510 Automation
Computers with 6 x USB, 8 x COM,
2 x Mini PCIe

System Description

A UNO-2178A embedded automation computer was selected for this project because it has EnergyStar certification, IP40 anti-dust ingress protection, and a wide operating temperature, providing highperformance and high versatility with low power consumption. An ADAM-6060 Ethernet-based I/O module
was used to enable remote monitoring and control of the gate lift. An FPM-7151T industrial monitor was
also selected for its robust and true-flat touch screen design, including its IP66-rated front for protection
against dust and water ingress. For further enhanced durability, the system also features an auto dimming
function and supports high-brightness display (up to 1200 nits), and the high-brightness LCD plus opticalbonding increases visibility while reducing reflections under direct/indirect sunlight.

Urban InfrastructureThis customer was seeking an automated payment system as a total solution from data acquisition to
management. The customer requested a touchscreen system to be installed in the parking facility, so thatclients could simply select options for payment and access. The system would analyze inputs and theninteract with the corresponding subsystems such as the control room, gate lift, security camera, and so on.

Control Room

UNO-2178A

Industrial Computer

ADAM-6060

FPM-7151T

DI/Relay Module

Industrial Monitor

IP Camera

Panel Mount
Thermal PrinterEthernet
I/O, Device

Bill Validator

RFID Reader

Serial (RS-232/422/485)

Conclusion
The system has delivered reliable performance and has resulted in a significant reduction in total maintenancecosts, and this has largely been attributed to the rugged design of Advantech’s system. The ease of use andhuman hours saved have ensured that the system has been well-received. The overall savings and flexibility andfunctionality of the kiosk are the future of managing parking facilities.

20

INDUSTRY

Agriculture

LOCATION

ChinaIntelligent agriculture combines intelligent monitoring,
IoT control, and product safety/traceability systems. It
involves using network platform technology and cloudcomputing to realize the digitization of information,
automation of production, and intelligent managementof farming operations in order to establish a modern
energy-saving agriculture system with a small carbon
footprint, high yield, and green ecological orientation.

Monitoring the Modern Agricultural
Demonstration Zone in Real-time
System Requirements
The Modern Agriculture Demonstration Zone in Qinghai
Province, China, was founded in 2009. The zone wassoon recognized as a National Agricultural Science andTechnology Park by China's Ministry of Science andTechnology in 2010, and it was then identified as a
National Modern Agricultural Demonstration Zone by
the Ministry of Agriculture in 2012.
The science and technology park covers an area ofapproximately 28 hectares. Its primary purpose isscientific research and innovation, but it also focuseson R&D on hybrids for highland rapeseed oil, potato

breeding and tissue cultures, and modern agricultural
technology, as well as demonstrations of new species varieties,
agriculture technologies and facilities, and farming culture.
Related constructions include a high-tech R&D base forhighland farming, a new rural development institute, and ascientific research and innovation base.
To establish an intelligent agriculture system, data acquisition
needed to be in place to enable remote control of thebases, thus realizing the digitization of information andimplementation of IoT technology in agriculture.

Project Implementation

21

ADAM-4068

ADAM-4117

WebAccess

WebOP-2070T

8-ch Relay Output
Module with Modbus

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

Browser-based HMI/SCADA Software[RTOS] 7" WVGA Operator
Panel with WebAccess/
HMI SoftwareSystem Description
Integrated Control System

Outdoor Weather Station Monitoring System

Agriculture

The project for the modern agricultural science and technology park was implemented in a core region with
10 sub-bases. IoT technology was installed to enable the remote monitoring of the environment and soil
moisture from a central control room. Data were transmitted to the control center in real time via an opticalfiber network. In the control center, system software analyzes the data and automatically controls the hardwarein the greenhouses to ensure that the greenhouse environment is optimal for crop growth. This approach isefficient for maximizing crop yield and quality while managing the ecology and ensuring the safety of personnel.

This system collects data on the temperature, humidity, sunlight intensity, soil moisture, wind direction, windspeed, rainfall, and other meteorological information. Through analysis, the system’s automatic monitoring
function enables users to visualize crop growth, moisture levels, seedling health, and insect and pest problems.
Furthermore, it provides real-time, objective information for guiding agricultural production.

Cloud

Control Room

Main Base

Network Camera

Remote Service Center

WebOP-2070T

Operator Panel
Digital Video
ServerTouchscreen Monitor

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4068

AI Module

Light Intensity

Management
Server

Relay Output Module

CO2
Concentration

Air Humidity

Fan

Water Pump

I/O, Device
Soil Temperature

Soil Conductivity

Soil Humidity

Rolling Curtain
Controller

Serial (RS-232/422/485)
Fiber Optics

Conclusion
Advantech provides total solutions for greenhouse environment monitoring applications, thus helping system
integrators avoid communication problems during project implementation. Advantech’s professional configuration
software is convenient for customers to develop future applications aimed at agriculture informatization. The
system enabled the customer to visualize greenhouse data on a large LCD screen in order to show Haidong
National Science Park’s latest scientific and technological achievements, demonstrate the agricultural bases,
and monitor the park in real time. Meanwhile, the installed IoT devices enable remote control of the bases, thus
realizing the IoT function of new technology in agriculture.
22

INDUSTRY

Agriculture

LOCATION

TaiwanFor people who live and work in big cities, growing theirown fruits and vegetables is a dream that is often difficult torealize. But how about renting a greenhouse, and being able
to remotely plant seeds, spray water and apply fertilizers
through a web page, and then watching how your crops are
growing via streaming video from an IP camera? A group ofyoung Taiwanese entrepreneurs are making dreams cometrue by establishing greenhouse plots for rent with the latest
Advantech technologies. These entrepreneurs have created agreenhouse automation and remote monitoring solution thatallows users to control and monitor the environment via a
virtual dashboard on a computer, smartphone, or other webbased device in real time.

Remote Monitoring andControl on Web-Based Devices
System Requirements
The customer divided their greenhouses into smaller
compartments for rent, which meant that each sectionneeded an independent set of agro-controller systems,
including sensors (for temperature, humidity, soil pH,
and more), IP cameras, automatic water sprays, fans,and so on. What they needed from Advantech included
relay modules for remote control over actuators ofequipment (e.g., water sprayers and fans), remote I/
O modules for reading and transmitting sensor data,and HMISCADA software for remote monitoring andcontrol and to produce user interfaces.

In the past, industrial automation control used special
protocols such as Modbus for field communications. Now,
however, with products like Advantech’s ADAM-6200 seriesof I/O modules, which have a built-in Ethernet switch andsupport HTTPS and client devices and can communicate
with I/O modules directly without the need for a data
converters or routing from the SCADA system, systemdevelopers or service providers who are unfamiliar withtraditional automation technologies will find it easier toconfigure or develop their applications in an IT-based andweb-enabled environment.

Project Implementation

23

ADAM-6217

ADAM-6266

WebAccess8-ch Isolated Analog Input
Modbus TCP Module

4-ch Relay Output
Modbus TCP Modulewith 4-ch DI

Browser-based HMI/SCADA SoftwareSystem Description
About 40 Advantech ADAM-6266 modules were deployed for relay controls and nearly 20 ADAM-6217
modules were deployed for sensor data acquisition. Because these modules are multi-channel modules,
each of them can be used to simultaneously monitor several compartments operated by different persons.

Agriculture

The ADAM-6200 has integrated Ethernet switches and can connect to each other in a daisy chain topology
without the need for additional Ethernet switches. This topology is a particularly useful configuration
because it can save on the expense of physical wires. To enable their clients to monitor the exact statusof their gardens, the customer installed the latest version of WebAccess HMI/SCADA software, which
incorporates Advantech’s hardware monitoring and diagnosis firmware/software package WebAccess/RMM. Thus, they can remotely monitor the CPU temperature, fan speed, and other hardware parameters
via a low-cost system management that allows for easy maintenance.
Since the ADAM-6200 series and WebAccess 8.0 support HTML5 and the RESTful webpage architecture,
the customer can use the Advantech-designed Widget Library and Dashboard Editor to easily customize
their desired cross-platform dashboard page, thus allowing them to display dynamic data on end user
devices (e.g., PC, iPad, smartphone). ADAM-6200 series modules with WebAccess 8.0 were an extraordinary
combination for the customer because of their easy installation and quick configuration, which saved a
considerable amount of development and deployment time.

IP Camera

ADAM-6217

ADAM-6266

AI Module

Relay Output Module

Ethernet
Humidity Sensor

Soil pH Sensor

Water SprayFan

I/O, Device

Conclusion
Advantech's data acquisition solution is remarkable for its scalability, availability, and manageability, derived fromits multiple and easy-to-use remote control and maintenance functions. Advantech was chosen as a solution
provider in this case because of the company’s experience with remote greenhouse monitoring solutions,
including one for Taiwan’s largest biggest orchid flower grower. As such, the company has a proven reputation inproviding state-of-the-art greenhouse applications.

24

INDUSTRY

Oil & Gas

LOCATIONSouth China Sea

The real-time information system of this offshore oil wellplatform uses data acquisition technology and satellite-aidedtransmission to deliver data between the well site and central
command. It allows on-site supervisors, base technicians, andexperts to remain up-to-date on well site information without
having to visit the site, while facilitating rapid and remotedecision-making and command of operations. The features ofthis completely integrated service system ensure operational
timeliness, stability, and simplicity by providing instant datadelivery and analysis capabilities.

On-Site Data Collection in
Harsh Offshore Environments
System Requirements
The predecessor of the offshore oil well platform was an offshore drilling platform, which used a real-time dataacquisition system to collect information on the drilling well and rod. This information would then be compiled
into drilling depth reports, which the management center would inspect to verify whether drilling was on schedule.
When drilling was completed, the data acquisition system had to be upgraded so that it could acquire and upload
oil well data (e.g., temperature, pressure, and flow) in real time.

Project Implementation

25

ADAM-6217

EKI-2525I

UNO-2174

WebAccess8-ch Isolated Analog Input
Modbus TCP Module

5-port Unmanaged
Industrial Ethernet
Switch w/ Wide Temp

Intel® Atom™ N450
Automation Computerswith 6 x USB, 8 x COM,
2 x Mini PCIeBrower-based HMI/SCADA
Software

The customer required on-site data collection with network communication capability. The ADAM-6217 Ethernet
I/O module and UNO-2174 embedded automation computer with WebAccess were selected because of theirsynergy in providing a complete system for data collection, processing, and uploading.
The ADAM-6217 has low power consumption and low heat dissipation, making it perfect for installation inclosed environments. They also allow for a daisy chain topology, providing a simple and convenient means forconnecting multiple devices while conserving space inside the control box and reducing installation costs. For
these reasons, the ADAM-6217 was selected to connect to high-precision meters that also offered waterproofingand explosion protection.
Each drilling platform had four sealed ADAM-6217 units connected to a UNO-2174 computer via an EKI-2525I
Ethernet switch. The UNO-2174 was installed in the oil well control room and is responsible for processing thecollected data using WebAccess. After processing, the data are transmitted to a shore monitoring center via theInternational Maritime Satellite.

Environmental Monitoring

System Description

Maritime Satellite

Control Room

Satellite Transceiver

Ethernet
I/O, Device
Serial (RS-232/422/485)

UNO-2174

Automation Computer

EKI-2525I

EKI-2525I

Unmanaged Industrial
Ethernet Switch

Unmanaged Industrial
Ethernet Switch

ADAM-6217

ADAM-6217...

AI Module

AI Module

Unit #4

Unit #1
Flow Meter

Pressure
SensorTemperature
SensorFlow Meter

Pressure
SensorTemperature
SensorConclusion
In addition to providing both reliability and convenience, the system functions made the customer’s current
system structure more rigorous than the previous system, which comprised RS-485 data acquisition modules.
Moreover, successfully upgrading to the new system was relatively inexpensive.

26

INDUSTRY

Power

LOCATION

China

To promote education in the field of electrical engineering, aZhejiang University cooperated with a private enterprise tobuild an experimental platform that simulates high-voltage
cable tunnel monitoring systems. The platform utilizes a
combination of simulation and practice applications aboutcable tunnel monitoring, such as the monitoring of toxic
gas concentrations, tunnel water levels, and manholes. By
monitoring data in real time, the system can provide an early
warning in the event of an emergency in order to improve
the safety of tunnel staff and the stability of equipment.

Stable and Reliable Equipment Operation
Improves Overall Safety
System Requirements
High-voltage cable tunnel environments expose tunnel
staff to a certain degree of risk. Thus, it is necessary toprotect their safety in addition to ensuring the long-term
stability and reliability of power supply equipment. Thisemphasizes the need to accurately judge and quickly
respond to changes in on-site conditions pertaining to
the equipment and tunnel environment.
Given that cable tunnels are prone to high concentrationsof toxic flammable gases and low levels of oxygen, thereal-time monitoring of gas levels (e.g., carbon monoxide,
methane, hydrogen sulfide, and oxygen) can prevent
accidents and avoid fire hazards while providing security

for high-voltage cable operations.
Water level monitoring is also crucial to ensuringthat tunnel drainage systems are operating normallyand that there are no potential dangers. It can also
prevent tunnels from becoming flooded, which would
pose a security risk and potentially cause equipment
shutdowns, resulting in unnecessary economic losses.
The monitoring of manholes is also critical to prevent
unauthorized access to cable tunnels, and this security
measure further ensures system reliability.

Project Implementation

27

ADAM-6217

ADAM-6250

IPC-610

WebAccess8-ch Isolated Analog Input
Modbus TCP Module

15-ch Isolated Digital I/O
Modbus TCP Module

4U Rackmount Chassis
with Visual Alarm
Notification

Browser-based HMI/SCADA SoftwareSystem Description

The monitoring system for the cable tunnels was a combination of software and hardware. This integrated
system enables the acquisition, uploading, visualization, and storage of tunnel data and images (e.g., cabletemperature, gas concentration, water level, and manhole status) via a single platform interface, thus facilitatingsupervision, management, early warning, and historical data traceability.

Power

The platform utilized Advantech ADAM-6217 and ADAM-6250 Ethernet I/O modules to connect to smoke
sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and other sensors for data acquisition. For the real-timetransmission and storage of data and alarm information, WebAccess HMI/SCADA with 75 tags was adopted forsecondary development so that the platform could be made more intuitive and complete.

Power & Energy

Because of the potentially harmful risk factors in high-voltage cable tunnels, field work has to be minimized asmuch as possible. Thus, this customer’s tunnels were often left unattended. To ensure stable, reliable, and safe
operation, the customer required that the condition of high-voltage cables, power transmission equipment, andon-site environment be monitored in real time so that preventive measures could be taken in the event of an
imminent emergency.

This integrated monitoring system aggregates real-time data from cable temperature and tunnel environment
monitoring subsystems. To ensure safety, the system now analyzes equipment data to predict potential cable
failures, manage the fire warning and alarm status, and detect the gas concentration, water level, and othersituations in the tunnels.

Control Room

Ethernet

IPC-610

Industrial Panel PC

ADAM-6250

ADAM-6217

Digital I/O Module

Door Closer /Fire DoorAI Module

ManholeGas Detector

Water Level
Gauge

Ethernet
I/O, Device

Conclusion
The platform is easy to operate and comprehensively simulates actual field operations in the monitoring of tunnel
environments. Furthermore, the stable and reliable equipment operation has improved overall system safetywith a shorten system development time. Finally, maintaining system stability has enhanced security and reduced
maintenance costs in the long run.

28

INDUSTRY

Solar

LOCATION

TaiwanElectricity generation capacity is one of the most important
operational indicators of this large-scale PV grid-connected
power plant. In addition to the wear and tear of inverters,
transformers, cables, and other equipment, solar panels
becoming dirty from dust, bird droppings, or other debris
affect the capacity of electricity generation. In severe
situations, buildup of dirt and debris can even induce thehot-spot effect. When the surface of a solar panel is coveredin grime, the PV components cannot work properly, which
lowers the equipment’s power generation efficiency. Thus,
the implementation of automated cleaning system issignificant for the solar industry.

Remote Automatic Data Transmission Achieves
Efficient Human–Computer Interaction
System Requirements
This customer’s 1-MW PV power station mostly adopted
a manual cleaning method to clean its solar panels.
According to statistics, a cleaner can wash approximately
100 m2 of solar panels per day; considering that this PV
plant covers an area of approximately 6,600 m2, it would
take approximately 66 days to clean the entire plant. At
an estimated cost of 80 RMB per person per day, theannual cleaning cost would be approximately 190,000
RMB if cleaning was performed on a monthly basis.
Moreover, differences in cleaning quality between staff

make the cleaning process inefficient and difficult tocontrol. Cleaning can also cause wear on glass surfaces,
affecting the light transmission ability and lifespan of PV
components. Thus, determining how to solve the problemof dust and debris degrading the performance of the
PV panels in addition to determining how to implement
an automated cleaning system to reduce operationaland maintenance costs were issues of common concern
among the power station owners as well as engineering,procurement, and construction contractors.

Project Implementation

29

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4150

EKI-1334

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

Robust 15-ch Digital I/O
Module with Modbus

Industrial Ethernet/Serial
Router

UNO-2174A

WebAccessIntel® Atom™ N450
Automation Computers with
6 x USB, 8 x COM, 2 x Mini PCIeBrowser-based HMI/SCADA SoftwareSystem Description
Using IoT technology and an industrial-grade computer, the operations/maintenance center of the PV power
plant employs an on-site intelligent robot for the cleaning and fault diagnosis of PV components when the
power generation efficiency of panels diminishes.

Solar

The intelligent robot can clear 99% of dust and debris from PV components. Furthermore, it can operate atnight, thus substantially improving the efficiency compared to manual cleaning.

Power & Energy

Collection of temperature and meteorological data information and control of the cleaning robot are achieved
using the ADAM-4117 remote I/O module. The module transmits data via RS-485 network to the UNO-2174A
embedded industrial computer, which also has built-in monitoring software. Data communication with theoperations/maintenance center is realized using the EKI-1334 Ethernet/serial router, which operates via 3G.
By combining these data with the component power generation efficiency curve, the operations/maintenancecenter can determine when cleaning should be performed.

Control Room

EKI-1334

Industrial Ethernet/Serial Router

UNO-2174A

Embedded Automation Computer

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4150

AI Module

Lighting /Illumination

Digital I/O Module

Wind
Direction

Wind
Speed

Temperature
SensorLimit Switch

Ethernet
I/O, Device
Serial (RS-232/422/485)

Robot

Conclusion
The customer’s dust and weather monitoring system was integrated into a single machine to maximize resource
use efficiency. Through Advantech’s extensive experience, we were able to provide professional system
integration, communication, and remote automatic data transmission via Internet and cellular interconnection
to achieve smooth and efficient human–computer interaction.

30

INDUSTRYWind

LOCATION

China

Wind energy is a ubiquitous and inexhaustible clean
renewable energy source that does not produce
greenhouse gases during power generation. Large wind
power plants comprise hundreds of turbines and tend tobe located in sparsely populated, natural environmentsthat are prone to dust and gale-force winds. Thus, ensuring
the safe and reliable operation of wind power plants is
critical. The ability to collect and upload meteorological
data in real time at wind farms has become integral to windfarm management systems.

Real-Time Monitoring Solution
Simplifies Field Operations
System Requirements
At a wind power generation plant in the grasslands ofInner Mongolia, temperatures reach as low as -40°C
during winter and exhibit a wide diurnal pattern. At thiscustomer’s plant, meteorological instrument shelters
are situated 200 m from the wind turbines. Dispatching
staff to each shelter to record weather information isinefficient and costly, resulting in a lack of immediacy inapplying the data.
Any PC with a fan could not be used as a host platformin this environment because fan failure—and eventuallysystem failure—would occur. Thus, the plant required afanless monitoring system that would also be compatible
with the currently used wind turbine vibration monitoring
system so that the control center could remotely accessweather and turbine vibration data without requiring
a major upgrade. For this, an industrial-grade wireless
Ethernet network was constructed to save on wiring costs
and the installation time.

Project Implementation

31

ADAM-4117

ADAM-4118

EKI-1521

Robust 8-ch Analog Input
Module with Modbus

Robust 8-ch Thermocouple Input
Module with Modbus

1-port RS-232/422/485
Serial Device Server

EKI-6332GN

UNO-3083G

WebAccessWireless AP/ClientIntel Core i7/Celeron 800 series Automation
Computers with 3/5 PCI(e) expansion slots,
2 Mini PCIe slots and 2 CFast sockets

Brower-based HMI/SCADA SoftwareSystem Description

Advantech’s UNO-3083G embedded industrial computer, which comes with embedded WebAccess configuration
software, was used to visualize and analyze the long-term operating condition of the wind turbines (for periods
up to 20 years). In addition, SCADA software provides real-time data monitoring, fault alarms, and custom
reports while supporting PCs, tablet PCs, and other mobile devices, thus allowing decision-makers to obtainfield information.

Power & Energy

At the device end, Advantech’s robust ADAM-4117 and ADAM-4118 remote I/O modules were employed for the
real-time acquisition of various meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, andwind direction. For communication, the ADAM modules were connected using an EKI-1521 serial device server,
enabling the seamless integration of on-site sensors via an Ethernet connection.

Wind

Cloud
UNO-3083G

Embedded Automation
Computer
Control Room

Database Server

EKI-1521

Device Server

ADAM-4118
Thermocouple
Input Module

EKI-6332GN

Wireless AP/Client

EKI-6332GN

Wireless AP/Client

ADAM-4117
AI Module

Ethernet
I/O, Device
Temperature Sensor

Wind Sensor

Humidity Sensor

Serial (RS-232/422/485)

Conclusion
Advantech’s real-time monitoring solution for this wind farm provided complete functionality that maximized theplant’s operational efficiency. The intelligent gateway performed suitably in obtaining on-site data, the wirelesscommunication configuration meant that complex wiring difficulties were avoided, and the cloud server enabled
big data processing and fault feature extraction. The wind power monitoring solution has helped the plant rapidly
implement the project and save time by not having to perform compatibility testing and debugging.

32Regional Service & Customization Centers
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Please verify specifications before ordering. This guide is intended for reference purposes only.
All product specifications are subject to change without notice.
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© Advantech Co., Ltd. 2018