Martin Engineering has launched a transformative digital system – the N2 Air Cannon Intelligence (ACI) System – that unlocks opportunities to maximize the efficiency, reliability and performance of industrial air cannons.
Part of Martin’s N2 Enhanced remote monitoring portfolio, ACI gives operators with access to continuous monitoring and detailed performance analytics through a secure web-based dashboard and interface. Fitted to each air cannon in a plant, the ACI sensor measures firing characteristics to identify underlying issues. This means maintenance issues can be fixed before they result in unscheduled downtime and, crucially, air cannon arrays can be modified for optimum performance.
“Air cannons have been around for more than 50 years, but until now, there has been no reliable way for plant operators to understand how effectively they are actually performing as a sequence,” said Brad Pronschinske, Global Air Cannon product manager for Martin Engineering.
“With ACI, we’re not just trying to tell plant operators whether a cannon fired or not. We’re helping them operate more efficiently by interpreting data from the sensors so they can improve system performance, for example, by adjusting firing sequences and improving installation positioning, as well as better manage preventive maintenance. Potential problems can be identified earlier, reducing unnecessary downtime and helping maintenance teams make smart decisions to optimize their systems.”
The system operates through wireless battery-powered nodes mounted directly to air cannons, communicating via long-range radio frequency to a single cellular gateway capable of supporting more than 1,000 sensors across a site. Because ACI operates independently of plant Wi-Fi or control networks, installation can typically be completed without requiring a plant shutdown.
Martin said the platform is also designed to support long-term reliability and optimization strategies by maintaining detailed historical records for every monitored cannon, including service events, firing trends, and component performance data.
The N2 ACI System will be introduced throughout the Martin network over the coming months and years, with further installations already underway.
Source: Martin Engineering