Revolutionizing Chemical Plant Monitoring with Private Wireless Solution

Sunset over a chemical plant

Global, Aug 11, 2023

Background

 

Our client, a leading name in the chemical manufacturing sector, operates a state-of-the-art chemical plant in the USA, renowned for producing ammunition, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide.  The client's commitment to excellence is deeply ingrained in their operations. Their pursuit of innovation led them to seek an advanced solution to optimise the monitoring and operational processes within their chemical holding tank facilities.

Challenges and Objectives

 

Navigating the stringent regulations of the manufacturing industry, our client, like many others, faced the challenge of constantly monitoring their critical chemical holding tanks spread across their site. The seamless flow of data from these tanks was not only essential for operational efficiency but also vital for ensuring safety and compliance. The site's proximity to the coast introduced wireless disruptions whenever ships passed, underscoring the need for a robust and reliable wireless solution to enhance their chemical tank environment.

Outcome

 

The successful deployment of the Private Wireless solution marked the initiation of an ongoing series of implementations for our client.  The partnership between Logicalis and Cisco was evident in the seamless integration of advanced technology solutions and the careful consideration of OT network security requirements. This collaborative effort resulted in a reliable and robust solution that effectively tackled the operational challenges faced by our client in monitoring chemical tanks. 

Solution

 

In June 2023, our client embarked on a transformative partnership with Logicalis, Cisco, and AirSpan RAN to bring a cutting-edge Private Wireless 4G solution to life. The primary objective was to establish a robust outdoor Industrial IoT (IIoT) network harnessing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum to oversee their chemical holding tanks across their facility.

The comprehensive solution encompassed:

  • Radio Network: The deployment of two AirSpan radios on strategically positioned towers at various chemical tank locations, ensuring reliable and consistent connectivity.
  • Router and Core Infrastructure: A network of ten Cisco IR1101 routers was seamlessly integrated across tank sites, forging connections with three Cisco Packet Core servers in the onsite data centre. Further bolstering the network, two Nexus 9300 (24) port switches were employed within the data centre.
  • Network Framework: Incorporating redundant IR1101 routers at each tank site guaranteed a primary and backup route between business-critical DeltaV servers and clients. Meanwhile, Cisco Packet Core servers operated in an active/standby configuration, supported by Nexus switches that enabled rapid 50ms failover. A VXLAN-based layer two domain also facilitated secure OT IP traffic transmission from DeltaV systems, featuring end-to-end encryption between tank and data centre IR1101 routers.

 

 

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