When it comes to cathodic protection of critical pipeline infrastructure, information is the key. Traditional yearly test point surveys are typically labour intensive and inefficient, providing only a small snapshot of the cathodic protection at that one moment in time.
The GreenAmp® remote monitoring system provides a much deeper insight into the state of a pipeline, providing hourly measurements of pipeline protection levels transmitted daily to an intuitive online portal or to an asset owner’s own systems.
GreenAmp is the patented technology of Anode Engineering – experts in corrosion control engineering. This product has been developed and manufactured in Australia, with a potential worldwide addressable market.
There are two variants of GreenAmp: the single-channel unit and the 4 Plus model. The GreenAmp single-channel unit is designed for installation in a test point box, recording a reading of pipe potential (cathodic protection level) once every hour and transmitting those 24 readings once per day.
The GreenAmp 4 Plus unit compliments the single channel units in locations that have sacrificial anode beds, cathodic protection units (CPUs) or foreign structures. It has the following additional features:
- Four channels of data such as CPU output of Volts, Current, Pipe potential and a foreign structure for interference monitoring purposes.
- Accepts active 4-20mA signals from sensors such as soil moisture meters, A.C. current transducers and other custom applications.
- A contactor output for synchronous switching of CPU or sacrificial systems to generate instant off potentials. Removing the “IR” drop to indicate the true polarised potential (protection level) of the pipe.
All units feature a variety of communication protocols to accommodate many scenarios. GreenAmp primarily uses LTE internet of things (IoT) protocols of Cat M1 and Narrow Band IoT (NB IOT), Sigfox, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
In areas that lack IoT coverage or Wi-Fi, the Daisy Chain Data (DCD) protocol wirelessly shares data from GreenAmp to GreenAmp along a pipeline. Each unit has a range of 5 km to the next and can link up to 10 units, offering 50 km of daisy chain coverage in such areas.
GreenAmp is also compatible with the latest low earth orbit satellite systems, which are specifically designed for IoT applications allowing economical and reliable coverage in the most remote locations.
The GreenAmp portal is an intuitive web-based interface featuring graphs of test point pipe potential data; configurable alarm states for out-of-range readings; scheduling of current interruptions with high resolution logging; geographic maps of a pipeline with the ability to interrogate individual points; and a range of easily interpreted customisable info-graphics.
A fully documented API allows GreenAmp data to be seamlessly integrated into existing I.T. systems if required. There have been a number of other non-pipeline implementations including monitoring of anode systems on marine structures, commercial ships and pontoons covering both steel or aluminium.
GreenAmp patented technology brought to you by Anode Engineering – experts in corrosion control design, installation, reporting and material supply.
For more information visit the Green Amp Systems website.