August 2, 2010
The ASM–1 Smart Manifold®
The ASM–1 Smart Manifold automated air distribution manifold distributes low pressure dry air from one or more sources to one or more pressurized components. When a Smart Manifold is used as part of a system with multiple ADH NETCOM dehydrators, available features include advanced Master/Slave functionality for systems requiring a very high level of availability or Parallel Pumping functionality for systems requiring larger volumes of dry low pressure air.
As part of the ADH NETCOM product line, the ASM–1 SmartManifold automated air distribution manifold is built on the same common modules as the ADH NETCOM automatic air dehydrators. This makes it Ethernet network ready, highly configurable, and capable of being monitored remotely using either builtin SNMP support or the web interface.
A higher degree of system reliability is ensured by the ASM–1 Smart Manifold automated air distribution manifold. Each input and output line is monitored. The Smart Manifold will alert the operator of any lines that are slow to pressurize so that maintenance can be scheduled before a failure occurs. Should a line failure occur, that line is isolated from the system ensuring other components in the system remain unaffected.
Seven of the ASM–1 Smart Manifold automated air distribution manifold’s eight ports can be confi gured as input, output or unused. The eighth port is configured as a system pressure relief valve allowing the manifold to bleed off excess system pressure common with solar gain or to vent the system during certain system tests.
Master/Slave Redundancy
The ASM–1 Smart Manifold builds on the basic Master/Slave functionality included in ADH NETCOM automatic air dehydrators. The ASM–1 Smart Manifold will operate one ADH NETCOM while maintaining a second in standby. Should the active dehydrator fail for any reason, the Smart Manifold will switch to the second. In order to ensure the highest degree of availability, the Smart Manifold will regularly switch active and standby status between the dehydrators, allowing both dehydrators to be operated and monitored. This eliminates the possibility that a standby dehydrator, inactive for years, should be required but unavailable due to inactivity or damage.
High Volume Parallel Pumping
The ASM–1 Smart Manifold can operate two or more ADH NETCOM automatic air dehydrators in a parallel pumping configuration. Parallel Pumping of two or more dehydrators provides increased volumes of low pressure dry air by operating the dehydrators together as one. The output pressure is maintained by the ASM–1 Smart Manifold rather than independently by each dehydrator. Should any of the monitored lines between dehydrators and Smart Manifold fail that line can be isolated while pressurized dry air is provided by the remaining units and operators are alerted which dehydrator requires maintenance.
Why Invest in Automated Air Distribution?
Often an ADH NETCOM automatic air dehydrator provides enough volume to pressurize multiple transmission lines. In other situations two or more dehydrators may be required for redundancy in systems requiring a very high level of up-time or for parallel pumping in systems requiring higher volumes of air. In any of these situations, a simple manifold could be used.
The ASM–1 Smart Manifold automated air distribution manifold adds benefi ts beyond those available from a simple manifold. Like the ADH NETCOM, the Smart Manifold is highly confi gurable and Ethernet network ready. It allows for remote monitoring and control. During operation the Smart Manifold monitors each input and output line and should any line fail the Smart Manifold can isolate that one line without resulting in any downtime of the remaining connected equipment. Additionally, a confi gurable bleed port serves as a system pressure relief valve, allowing the manifold to bleed off excess system pressure common with solar gain. Venting this excess pressure can avoid damaged equipment and costly service.
