Communication Components For Extreme Ambient Conditions - Siemens SIMATIC NET System Manual

3.11

Communication components for extreme ambient conditions

Task
A mobile loading crane in a harbor needs to be supplied with data from a logistics center.
The devices used must be able to stand up to extreme environmental conditions (salt water
spray, strong vibration caused by the movement of the crane, etc.).
Solution
Communication between the crane and the logistics center takes place via Industrial
Wireless LAN. The advantage of wireless data transmission is that neither sliding contacts
nor trailing cables are necessary. Taking into account the environmental conditions, this
represents a considerable saving in costs.
①
The loading crane is equipped with a SCALANCE W786 and a PC for displaying and
entering data. The SCALANCE W786 fitted to the outside of the crane is particularly suitable
for this application due to its resistance to ultraviolet light and salt water. The device is
configured as a client. Thanks to the antennas integrated in the housing, external antennas
and the associated cabling are unnecessary.
②
A SCALANCE W786 is also mounted on a building of the logistics center and acts as the
access point.
③
The integration of the access point in the company network is achieved with a
SCALANCE XC106-2. Among other things, this switch provides two interfaces for fiber-optic
cables that can also be used for networks with a large span. This means that the server of
the logistics center
loading station.
Industrial Ethernet
System Manual, 09/2019, C79000-G8976-C242-10
3.11 Communication components for extreme ambient conditions
④
can be accessed although it is several hundred meters away from the
Examples of applications
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