Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor DTSX

Comprehensive Temperature Monitoring That Can Quickly Detect and Identify Abnormalities in Plant Equipment Without Omission

To date, temperature monitoring of plant equipment has often relied on spot sensor monitoring or human patrols, making it difficult to reliably monitor temperatures without blind spots resulting from technological and cost barriers. Meanwhile, deteriorating facilities, the aging of veteran employees, and a shortage of personnel continue to pose significant challenges for companies in implementing HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) policies.

Yokogawa Electric’s Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor DTSX solves these problems. Predictive maintenance using fiber optic temperature sensors is now being introduced in a wide range of fields, including steel, electric power, and chemical plants, as well as transportation infrastructure.

 

DTSX, the Fiber Optic Temperature Sensor

Using sensing technology that takes advantage of the characteristics of fiber optic cable, DTSX is a temperature sensor that can be laid out following the shape of the object to be measured. By detecting temperature changes over long distances and across wide areas in real time, equipment abnormalities can be detected at an early stage. The strength of this system is that it can measure and monitor an entire factory, including areas that are difficult to measure with conventional fixed-point temperature sensors and thermal cameras. As a complement to point and surface monitoring, constant line monitoring makes a substantial contribution to predictive maintenance of production facilities and social infrastructure.

Conventional temperature monitoring in a plantConventional temperaturemonitoring in a plant

 

The Temperature Monitoring the DTSX Provides

The temperature monitoring the DTSX provides

 

  • Monitoring distance: to 50 km
  • Monitoring temperature: -200 to 300 °C
  • Shortest monitoring cycle: Approx. 5 seconds
  • Temperature resolution: 0.03°C
  • Fire detection standard (EN 54-22) certification acquired (DTSX1)

* Each specification dependent on conditions

 

Difference Between Predictive and Preventive Maintenance

What is “predictive maintenance”?

This is a maintenance method in which plant facilities are constantly monitored to detect signs of trouble. Data collected by sensors installed on production lines, etc. is analyzed and assessed, and countermeasures are taken as appropriate for the conditions. As such, it can be considered a kind of CBM (Condition-Based Maintenance).

What is “preventative maintenance”?

This is a maintenance method that prevents problems by periodically inspecting and maintaining plant facilities. Regardless of whether the equipment is in good or bad condition, at a certain point in time, parts replacement and other maintenance will be performed. As such, it can be considered a kind of TBM (Time-Based Maintenance).

  • DTSX1 Fiber Optic Heat Detector

    DTSX1 stores the functions required for heat detection in one box. DTSX1 analyzes the temperature data with high accuracy by measuring with fiber optic sensor cable and perform high temperature heat detection.

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  • DTSX3000 Distributed Temperature Sensor

    The DTSX3000 is a distributed temperature sensor developed in response to the demand that “one unit be used to monitor temperature distribution a longer distance and a wider area”. A flagship model that meets the expectations for long-distance temperature measurement and high temperature resolution.

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  • DTSX200 Distributed Temperature Sensor

    The DTSX200 is a standard version that is ideal for temperature measurement, for medium-sized areas, and for areas where the distance of fiber optic sensor cables is short. It has excellent environmental resistance because it consumes less power and is less dependent on the temperature measurement environment.

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Details

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.

Constant monitoring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

 

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.

Reliable temperature monitoring over long distances and wide areas

 

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.

Flexible and simple installation

 

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
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.

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.

Manufacture of in-vehicle lithium-ion batteries

 

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.

Conveyor belt rollers

 

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.

High-temperature furnaces

 

Applications Matrix

Category Appli-
cation
Industry
In-vehicle
battery
Mining/
Metal
Iron/
Steel
Power/
IPP
Pulp/
Paper
Chemi-
cal
Oil/
Gas
Ceramic/
Non-ferrous
metal
Railway/
Civil
enginee-
ring
Food/
Bever-
age
Electric
and
electronic/
Machinery
Auto-
mobile
Garbage
disposal
Logi-
stic
Abnormal Temperature Detection (Accident Prevention) Shelf X*1                         X*2
Conveyor   X X*3 X*3,4 X*4     X         X  
Cable X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Duct X*5   X*6               X*7 X*5    
Tunnel/
Service
tunnel
  X X X         X          
Equipment
Maintenance
Bus bar X   X X   X   X     X X    
Conveyor
roller
  X X X X     X         X  
High-temperature furnaces   X X         X         X  
Pipeline/
Piping
      X*8   X*9 X*8              
Pasteurization                   X        
Quality/ Productivity Improvement Drying furnace/
Heat treating furnace/
Oven
X*10                 X*11 X*12 X*12    
Reactor           X                
Power line
(VSD*13)
            X              

IPP: Independent Power Producer

*1: Manufacturing Process Shelves and Storage Shelves
*2: Automatic warehouse shelf
*3: Coal conveyor
*4: Chip, biomass conveyor
*5: Metal fabricated dust collection duct
*6: Fume duct
*7: Exhaust gas duct of semiconductor cleaning system

*8: LNG pipeline
*9: Chlorine pipeline, ammonia pipeline, ethylene pipeline
*10: Electrode coating drying furnace
*11: Confectionery oven
*12: Parts heat treatment furnace
*13: Variable speed drive

 

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

Applications and compatible models

 

Resources

Overview:

What if you could detect signs of abnormalities in bus ducts (bus bars) quickly during maintenance and inspection work and respond to them at just the right time? Yokogawa DTSX monitoring solution constantly monitors connections that tend to deteriorate over time and contributes by pinpointing abnormality locations and reducing workload of maintenance personnel, helping to ensure stability in plant operations.

Overview:

A belt conveyor fire detection solution employing the DTSX distributed optical fiber temperature sensor can greatly reduce crises that can threaten a company's survival.

Application Note
Overview:

Temperature Monitoring Solution for 
Quick Detection of Fires in Fume Ducts

Industries:
Overview:

With industrial and economic development comes increasingly large and advanced power plants and factories. Nevertheless, we find many cases where the original cables, cable tunnels, and other components of the power infrastructure have languished under continuous operation.

Overview:

Reactor/Furnace Wall Healthiness Monitoring with a Fiber Optical Temperature Sensor

Application Note
Overview:

Temperature Monitoring Solution for Maximum VSD Operating Efficiency
 

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