By Molly Burgess
Published in gasworld US Edition, pages 48-50, December 2024 | gasworld.com
Telemetry is spreading fast in industrial gases, but getting it installed can be a challenge – in some markets, there simply aren’t enough installers to go around.
Otodata has been doing installations for liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for almost two years. It has completed over 150,000 installations, with most of them in the US.
“There’s strong interest in telemetry, but gas distributors are looking for help with installation,” Eric Wise, Otodata’s Vice-President of Industrial Solutions tells gasworld. “They’re often facing technician shortages, so taking telemetry installations off of their plate provides a huge value.”
In the US, especially, there aren’t enough technicians to install all the telemetry units the industrial gas market wants. And it’s likely a similar scenario in Europe, says Wise.
In a parallel space, Otodata has been doing installations for liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for almost two years. It has completed over 150,000 installations, with most of them in the US.
The comparison is notable as LPG installations are more straightforward due to market standardization. Nearly all LPG tanks have the same type of equipment, so telemetry installation can also be standardized. It is something that Wise hopes to see replicated in industrial gases.
“There is an even better business case for installation services in the food and beverage market, because there are a variety of CO2 tank formats in service, each with different pieces of equipment. This means there are five or six different ways CO2 tanks can be monitored. Having an expert telemetry installer eliminates the need for customers to account for each of these tank variations,” he explains.
“Often, a customer will know the tank size and perhaps the manufacturer, but they might not have more records than that,” Wise says.
When carrying out an installation, Otodata aims to take the burden of asking for exactly what a customer wants from their technology and instead be able to decide and present on the best solution, and why it works.
“Each installation requires flexibility. We can adapt to details like tank models and site-specific setups, so customers don’t have to worry about fine-tuning. Over time, we’ve picked up practical insights, like adjusting telemetry or valve settings for more accurate readings – it’s the kind of expertise that makes a difference on-site.”
Wise says harmonization is under way in the space, but there is a way to go.
“A lot of the main tank manufacturers are now using capacitance probes as standard, for example,” he says. “This is a much better technology than some of the alternatives, as it is more accurate.”
Capacitive probes measure liquid levels by detecting changes in capacitance caused by the fluid’s dielectric constant. Two parallel metal pieces in a tank carry a small electric charge so as fluid rises, reducing the air between them, capacitance increases.
“Standardization is especially crucial in technology, as we all know. Over time, I see capacitance probes becoming an industry standard for our market. That will make things easier. With a single standard, the rate of telemetry adoption will be that much faster.”
Food and beverage in focus
Although it is making new strides in the food and beverage market today, Otodata has been engaged with the industry for many years.
“Our very first order was for beverage CO2 monitoring with the original Rotarex C-Stics. After that, we moved into CO2 and nitrogen manifold monitoring for the food and beverage space, even before we got involved in more traditional bulk gas monitoring.”
The drivers for telemetry adoption have since developed further. They include having homogeneous gas assets across food and beverage, the need for efficiency due to lower margins on food and beverage gases, and the need to wirelessly monitor many different environmental assets in what are often complex environments.
“I think a lot of food and beverage gas companies see telemetry as a way of winning new business, too,” Wise adds. “If they can provide data that other gas companies don’t, that gives them an edge.”
Wise notes, too, that it’s no longer just the gas distributors that are interested in the technology. The end-users, the owners of the restaurants and bars, are as well.
“Consider a McDonald’s branch, for example. The managers are not worried about gas delivery costs – they see that as the distributor’s problem – but they have other reasons for wanting the data. In these environments, there is high turnover of people who are working different shift patterns which increases the chance of a runout.
“By having a telemetry unit installed, they can always see when they are nearly out, without having to rely on someone physically checking. Telemetry can also flag a leak, for example, saving money and time. More and more people are now interested in the data.”
No matter the user, telemetries benefits are clear: reduced deliveries, less risk of disruption, cost savings, and better customer service.
Ongoing support in telemetry
Certain customers require ongoing support after an installation, which is another offering Otodata has mirrored from its work in the LPG space. In addition to the standard aftercare services, the Canadian business also offers installation services and tank monitoring as a service.
“The tank monitoring service includes everything from installation to data management, providing the tank location and site access, and we manage setup, maintenance, and any necessary repairs. The data appears on a dashboard, removing the need for manual entry,” says Wise.
Operating under a leasing model, this service eliminates up-front capital costs, installation, and maintenance costs. Instead, there’s a regular monthly fee, which allows access to tank data without any additional commitments. To support this, a network of installers and service teams are on hand to meet any needs.
Source
Comments