This particular installation was made in a facility comprising hundreds of beds, surgical and medical wards, with access to intensive care, coronary, ophthalmology and pathology services, and many more besides. The best part of a million patient visits are recorded each year, with the local town and much of the surrounding county being catered for. The need for a smoothly running operation, where health is at stake, and where so many employees and customers need to share resources, is at a premium.
Whilst the term 'automation network' implies systems running robotically, activated by timers, sensors or other stimulii, it can also be used by staff to remotely control devices, liaise with colleagues and control schedules. The EIB bus is a type of automation network, now largely superseded by the more recent KNX standard; Ohms and Watts Services engineers were given the task of providing a programmable heating and air-conditioning setup for the MRI Unit in the hospital, integrated with the EIB bus.
Every automation installation has its particular challenges and priorities. In this case, environmental control could hardly be more vital (in every sense of the word). Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") is a radiology technique used to scan internal structures of the body, so that the images can be used in diagnosis. To operate successfully, the equipment's superconductive magnets need to be maintained at cryogenic temperatures. Room temperature, relative humidity, and the temperature and flow rate of water used in regulating conditions, all need to be monitored extremely accurately. Furthermore, alarm signals need to be generated if even the slightest deviation from the norm is detected. An audible alarm can only be turned off by an authorised member of staff.
Not only does the extremely valuable equipment require protection, but the building itself is specially adapted for MRI purposes, leading to measures being taken to protect its occupants. To prevent unwanted leakage of radiation, the unit is specially sealed, therefore necessitating ventilation via a fan-driven air-conditioning system. This is not just a question of regulating a comfortable working environment, but renewing the oxygen in the room. Therefore, this, also, needs to be attached to an alarm system, to notify staff immediately of any failure.
The gas supply used for heating adds a further challenge to the mix. The main gas solenoid valve can be controlled over the bus. the event of fire, a signal is generated to cut this off automatically; another signal shuts down the air circulation. All the parameters displaying system status are visible on a panel in the control room, including any alarm conditions. Schedules can be set for air-handling units, and the gas boiler. Information regarding circuit states, fault signals and switching operations can be gathered together for analysis on a normal computer equipped with customised software.
This project called for multiple conditions to be carefully monitored for the purposes of efficiency, protection of systems, and safety.
The results are brought together in a digestible and attractively displayed form. This is part of a wider-scale integration of a complex institution, made possible by the automation network, capable of uniting diverse systems as well as providing its own enhancements.
These applications of the technology play some part in delivering this beneficial public service.
It then remains for the medical profession to apply their expertise to the interpretation of the images generated.
Please call on +44 (0)1727 739 739 for information regarding our automation contracting for public services.