Temperature Regulation Inside a Steam Power Plant Through Customised Java and WSN: A Modest Nexus

Abstract

Conventionally wired temperature sensors are used for temperature monitoring in thermal and nuclear power plants. However, recent research has shown that remote measurement techniques provide superior methods for data collection, as well as transmission of data. Wireless temperature sensors can be used in both critical and non-critical zones of the thermal and nuclear power plants. Live monitoring of temperature data from these zones is essential for the safety of the plant and the equipment. This is because the slightest change in behaviour of the system and temperature behaviour can potentially be disastrous. Live monitoring is important for safety of the plant as well as control of the day to day functioning of the plant. Commonly used configuration of Xbee in which Xbee is interfaced with microcontroller, has its own limitations and shortcomings. Data acquisition and monitoring is possible with the help of Xbee radios and Java without interfacing any microcontroller.

It has been demonstrated how thermocouples can be used in WSNs to monitor the remote temperature using Java. Java with customized API has been implemented to capture the temperature data of remotely placed nodes. No peripheral hardware is used with thermocouple while measuring the temperature.