This blog presents 4 real-world applications of Bluetooth-integrated & backlit LCD features that present pressure and temperature transmitters across various industries, focusing on improvements in safety, efficiency, and accessibility.

Case Study 1: Ammonia Production Facilities

Ammonia plants present several safety challenges, including extreme heat, toxic vapors, and confined operational zones. Technicians often operate in cumbersome protective gear, which limits visibility and mobility.

Bluetooth-enabled transmitters paired with explosion-proof certified devices allow remote configuration and monitoring of HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) field instruments. This setup eliminates the need for direct physical interaction with devices located in hazardous areas.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced Safety: Technicians can perform diagnostics and adjustments from a safe distance, reducing the need for exposure to dangerous environments.
• Operational Efficiency: Remote access capabilities streamline preventive and corrective maintenance procedures.
• System Compatibility: The solution is fully compatible with existing HART-based instrumentation networks.

Figure 1: Ammonia Plant Illustration

Case Study 2: Oil Refining and Production Environments

In Oil refineries, transmitters are often installed outdoors, exposed, or at elevated locations. Physical access requires climbing structures or entering tight spaces, posing safety and ergonomic risks.

Emerson’s Rosemount™ 3051 pressure transmitter, integrated with Bluetooth functionality, enables data access via secure smartphone or tablet interfaces using the AMS Device Configurator application.

Key Benefits:

• Improved Safety and Accessibility: Minimizes the need for technicians to physically access difficult or dangerous areas.
• User-Friendly Interface: The mobile application mimics existing HART communicator interfaces, reducing the learning curve.
• Security Features: Each device includes a unique identifier and encryption-based access control through role-based passwords.

Figure 2: Night Lighting in an Oil Field Complex

Case Study 3: Hydrogen Production and Carbon Capture (CCUS)

Hydrogen production systems, including Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) and Autothermal Reforming (ATR), operate under extremely high temperatures (up to 1200 °C) and pressures. Real-time monitoring across multiple sensors is essential for both safety and efficiency, yet physical access is often restricted.

Bluetooth-enabled pressure and temperature transmitters from Emerson, rated for use in Control loops, monitoring loops, and Safety Integrity Level (SIL) loops, allow for secure local setup and diagnostics without opening the housing or contacting live process equipment.

Key Benefits:

• Remote Configuration and Diagnostics: Enables wireless access to device parameters, even in extreme environments.
• Device Durability: Instruments are engineered for high-temperature and high-pressure environments while maintaining compliance with SIL safety standards.
• Process Integrity: Continuous pressure and temperature measurement enables early detection of thermal deviations, supporting safe catalyst performance and stable reactor operation.
• Improving Visibility: Enhanced Graphical Displays work in variable lighting—bright sunlight, confined spaces, or low-visibility night shifts. Conventional, low-contrast displays increase the risk of configuration errors and operational delays.

Figure 3: H2 and CCUS Complex

The Rosemount™ 3051 pressure transmitter now features a backlit graphical display with multilingual support and enhanced visual cues.

Key Features: 

• Universal Readability: Display remains readable in both full sunlight and dim environments.
• Multilingual Interface: Reduces misinterpretation and supports global field operations.
• Dynamic Data Display: Presents key variables, percentage span readings, decimal places (or commas) for units, and menu access.
• Improved Workflow: Quick Service Buttons enable key tasks—such as zero trim, loop testing, and display rotation—without requiring handheld communicators.

Benefits:

• Error Reduction: Clearer displays minimize misreadings and incorrect inputs.
• Faster Maintenance: Tasks are completed more quickly, reducing process downtime.
• Improved Safety: Field operators spend less time interacting with instruments under potentially hazardous conditions.

Figure 4: A Rosemount 3051 Pressure Transmitter with a backlit LCD connected to a mobile device for

Case Study 4: Process Indication in Low-Visibility Conditions

In both outdoor and enclosed installations, such as pump skids or remote measurement panels, readability of display systems is often hindered by environmental factors, including sunlight and shadows. Standard, unlit displays can impede the swift verification of system status, especially under challenging lighting conditions.

The Rosemount 3051 Pressure Transmitter from Emerson is designed to overcome these challenges with advanced features such as high-contrast, backlit displays and real-time process measurement capabilities. This transmitter supports a variety of communication protocols, including 4-20mA, HART, and Foundation Fieldbus, and integrates advanced diagnostic and control functionalities for enhanced operational efficiency.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced Field Visibility: Operators can monitor process data under varying lighting conditions without the need for auxiliary tools or external lighting sources, ensuring consistent visibility.
• Operational Efficiency: Real-time access to critical pressure data at the measurement point enables immediate decision-making and facilitates faster response times.
• Integrated Control and Diagnostics: The Rosemount 3051 transmitter provides local control functions, including limit monitoring, and offers built-in diagnostics for optimal performance and reliability.

Figure 5: A Rosemount 3051 Pressure Transmitter with a backlit LCD mounted at a 90-degree angle, with a further 90-degree counterclockwise rotated display for easy operator visibility in night conditions

Conclusion

Bluetooth-enabled instrumentation is reshaping process automation by enabling ease of use, improving efficiency, and expanding access to real-time data in challenging environments. Coupled with enhanced graphical displays and secure mobile connectivity, modern transmitters reduce risk, optimize workflows, and improve decision-making in the field. As process industries continue to evolve toward digital transformation, wireless technologies like Bluetooth offer scalable, compatible, and field-proven solutions.