Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor DTSX

Advantages of the Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor DTSX

Failure to detect equipment abnormalities, such as unusual temperature rises, can lead to fire or malfunctions if left undetected. The DTSX provides efficient predictive maintenance by constantly monitoring temperature changes without omission, thereby preventing problems before they occur.

Constant Monitoring 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year

Patrols and other labor-intensive monitoring methods involve a heavy workload and the risk of danger. If a problem occurs outside of patrolling hours, detection may be delayed and damage may spread.

By installing the DTSX on the object to be measured, it can be remotely monitored 24 hours a day. Problems can be detected quickly and their location identified, thus minimizing damage. This also reduces human labor, thereby avoiding hazards and reducing costs.

Reliable Temperature Monitoring Over Long Distances and Wide Areas

Conventional fixed-point temperature sensors, thermal cameras, and patrols are extremely expensive and do not provide reliable, omission-free temperature monitoring over long distances or wide areas. To start with, there are areas that cannot be measured or monitored on points or surfaces, and areas that are not easily accessible to people.

The DTSX can provide uninterrupted, highly accurate measurements over long distances of up to 50 km using fiber optic cables, allowing real-time monitoring of temperature changes. Predictive maintenance is achieved through comprehensive temperature monitoring of the entire plant.

Flexible and Simple Installation

Multi-point measurement using fixed-point temperature sensors requires cables for each point, complicating the system configuration and installation work.

Conversely, system configuration for the DTSX is extremely simple. It can be laid out flexibly along the path and shape of the object to be measured, and measurement is performed with a single fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cables are themselves conductors, so they do not require compensating lead wires. In addition, compared to long-distance and wide-area temperature monitoring using other kinds of temperature sensors, installation and operation costs are low.

High Compatibility With Production Control Systems

A temperature monitoring solution is only truly effective when it is coupled with a production control system or monitoring system that provides integrated management of the entire system lifecycle.

DTSX is highly compatible with Yokogawa Electric’s signature integrated production control system DCS (Distributed Control System) and wide-area distributed monitoring system SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), making it easy to build integrated management and monitoring systems. As such, it contributes not only to measurement but also to optimal management and operation of the entire facility.

Example of linkage with production control system

Excellent Environmental Resistance

Fiber optic sensors do not use electrical or electronic components in the sensor section, and therefore offer superior environmental resistance compared to other temperature sensors.

They are not affected by electromagnetic noise, whether in environments where electromagnetic waves are generated, such as near power sources, or if there are lightning strikes. Moreover, because they do not use electricity, they can be used in explosion-proof areas. They also have the advantage of high durability, enabling stable measurement over a long period of time and reducing the overall running costs of the monitoring system.

Expected Benefits

• By quickly detecting equipment abnormalities that could lead to fires and other problems and identifying their location, accidents can be prevented and stable operation achieved.
• Long-distance, wide-area, 24-hour remote monitoring solves the challenges of personnel shortages and monitoring costs.
• Switching from periodic preventive maintenance (TBM) to predictive maintenance performed according to conditions (CBM) improves the efficiency and quality of maintenance operations.

Industries/Applications Served by DTSX

The economic and social losses incurred when a production line is shut down due to a major fire or equipment failure are immeasurable. DTSX helps maintain stable plant operations, protecting customer assets and public confidence.

Continuous Temperature Monitoring of Bus Ducts (Bus Bars)

Bus bars, which stably supply large amounts of current to manufacturing facilities, are often covered with bus ducts for safety reasons. Since bus bars are often installed in dangerous and harsh locations such as underside of the ceilings, high places and under floors, it is difficult to detect promptly abnormal thermal patterns such as abnormal temperature.

As a benefit of continuous temperature monitoring of bus ducts (bus　bars) by DTSX, it enables not only prompt detection of abnormal temperature, but also enables preventive maintenance of facilities, stable operation, and BCP (Business Continuity Plan).

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Manufacture of In-vehicle Lithium-ion Batteries

In some cases, lithium-ion batteries can experience sudden rises in temperature, resulting in thermal runaway. In factories that manufacture large quantities of lithium-ion batteries, it is essential to monitor temperatures in manufacturing process shelves, storage shelves, and exhaust ducts.

Just by laying cables, DTSX can provide thorough comprehensive monitoring of large shelves, and can also monitor ducts in ceiling cavities that are out of human sight. This allows supply chain disruptions resulting from unforeseen shutdowns to be avoided.

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Conveyor Belt Rollers

Fires caused by roller failure on long-distance conveyor belts in large mining facilities can lead to unexpected shutdowns. For example, a mere one-hour shutdown at a major mine can result in production losses of approximately 50 million yen.

DTSX enables constant remote monitoring of all conveyor belt rollers, something that is difficult to achieve with human inspection and fixed-point sensors, thereby helping to avoid stoppages and maintain stable operations.

High-Temperature Furnaces

The manufacturing industry operates a wide variety of high-temperature furnaces. If the firebricks attached to the inside of a furnace deteriorate or fall off due to aging or other factors, not only will this cause increased heat dissipation and reduced combustion efficiency, but it may also lead to accidents such as a rupture of the outer steel shell or an emergency shutdown of the process.

DTSX monitors changes in the temperature of the furnace wall surface to quickly detect abnormalities in the inner wall and prevent problems before they occur.

Applications Matrix

IPP: Independent Power Producer

Superior Solutions in CAPEX and OPEX

Because a fiber optic cable serves as the temperature sensor, the cable can be simply laid at the site, and no power supply or other installation work is required. In addition, because there are no mechanical components in the fiber optic sensor cable, it is not susceptible to failures. When used to monitor temperatures across wide areas, it optimizes disaster prevention and maintenance costs through lower CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operating expenses) than other temperature sensors.

Applications and Compatible Models