Project Year: 2024
EPC Consortium Lead: SUNWISEGLOBLE CORPORATION (SUNWISEGLOBLE)
Location: Erbil Refinery, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Project Overview
KAR Group’s Erbil Refinery is a mission‑critical petrochemical complex operating in a high‑temperature, dusty, and potentially explosive atmosphere. The client required a plant‑wide PAGA system that would guarantee clear voice and alarm coverage, comply with ATEX/IECEx and EN 54‑16 safety standards, and integrate seamlessly with the Distributed Control System (DCS), telephony, and security subsystems. SUNWISEGLOBLE, acting as EPC Technical Supporter, delivered a full turnkey solution covering system design, equipment supply, factory integration, on‑site installation, commissioning, SAT, and operator training.
Key Technical Challenges
Hazardous & outdoor environment:Specified IP66/ATEX loudspeakers andoutdoor enclosures;implemented dual-looploudspeaker circuits with line monitoringand UPS-backed power redundancy.
High ambient noise (>85 dB A):Deployed ambient-noise-sensing controllersthat drive automatic output-levelcompensation, maintaining >10 dB S/N ratioin all zones.
Large footprint & functional diversity:
Adopted a fullyIP-based distributedarchitecture scalable to 100+ end-points,allowing flexible zoning and futureexpansion.
No single point of failure:N + 1 hot-standby amplifier configuration,dual Ethernet rings, A/B speaker loops, and1 + 1 online UPS to secure >99.98 %availability.
Solution Architecture
IP Core: 24‑bit / 48 kHz Audio‑over‑IP with AES67 media and AES70 control; dual‑NIC controller for rapid switchover.
End‑to‑End Supervision: All amplifiers, speaker lines, and field devices are continuously self‑monitored; faults are reported in real time via a web‑based GUI.
Hazard‑Rated Coverage: Combination of SWLB‑Ex30Y ATEX explosion‑proof horns and L5 30 W constant‑impedance weather‑proof horns ensures 360° intelligibility in process areas.
Interoperability: Multi‑protocol audio I/O (4‑wire/E&M, SIP) permits direct tie‑in with DCS emergency‑shutdown circuits and the existing telephone system.
Implementation Highlights
Factory‑pre‑wired 42 U cabinets accelerated on‑site installation; SAT passed on first attempt in November 2024.
Bilingual (English / Arabic) O&M manuals and hands‑on training enabled refinery staff to assume full ownership within one week.
Web dashboard reduced mean‑time‑to‑repair to<5 minutes by providing granular alarms down to speaker‑loop level.
Principal Equipment Supplied (selection, quantities withheld)
PAGA Core Controller:SWTD-50PA IP Public Address Controller.
IP Power Amplifiers:SWIPMG-600D1/600D4/600D8 Class-D redundant amplifiers.
Paging Workstations:SWPA800 Touch-screen call station; SWPA800Plusremote console.
Audio Expander /I/o:SW]B-PA09B0x/PA09BoxT multi-channel IP audio expander.
Ambient-Noise Controller:SWCMICM01/SWCMIC1 noise-sensing unit &mirophone
Indoor Loudspeakers:SWL9-A-6W fire-rated ceiling speaker, SWL12 IP55ceiling speaker
Outdoor /Hazardous Loudspeakers:L5 30 W constant-resistance weather-proof horn,SWLB-Ex30Y ATEX explosion-proof horn
Industrial Switches &Cabling:SWPB-24/SWPB-48 Gigabit switches; WDZR-RYYPSLSZH shielded twisted-pair cable
Power & Backup:PT3000 6 kVA UPS (1 + 1 hot-standby); C12-65 sealedlead-acid batteries
Client Testimonial
"The SUNWISEGLOBLE team delivered a highly reliable, easy‑to‑maintain PAGA system within a very aggressive schedule. Audio clarity, alarm immediacy and explosion‑proof performance exceeded our expectations, providing a vital safety layer for refinery operations."
— Operations & Maintenance Manager, KAR Group
Measured Outcomes
Regulatory Compliance: System certified to EN 54‑16, ISO 7240‑16, ATEX and relevant IEC standards.
Recognition: Project cited internally by KAR Group as “Best Contractor of the Year 2024,” reinforcing SUNWISEGLOBLE’s reputation in Middle‑East oil & gas EPC communications.
