Case study
Government & Defence
Secure, resilient timing for mission-critical communications, radar, UAVs and C4ISR.
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Case studyIndustrial
Petrochemicals
Process safety, incident response and cybersecurity through precision timing.
The petrochemical industry is a cornerstone of Taiwan's economy, requiring highly reliable and precise timing solutions to ensure operational efficiency, safety, and compliance with global standards. Despite the critical nature of time synchronisation, many petrochemical plants in Taiwan still rely on outdated timing methods. A leading Taiwanese petrochemical refinery integrated TimeBeat Open TimeCard technology to enhance operational safety, process efficiency and incident response.
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.”
The challenge
Industry challenges
The petrochemical industry faces unique challenges that demand precise time synchronisation. A major Taiwanese refinery faced inconsistencies in process control due to time drift in legacy timing systems, resulting in inefficiencies in chemical reaction monitoring and safety system coordination.
Operational safety risks
Timing discrepancies can lead to process control failures, increasing the risk of hazardous incidents.
Regulatory compliance
International safety and environmental regulations require accurate logging and traceability across all process control events.
Process optimisation
Many chemical processes rely on time-sensitive coordination between sensors, actuators, and control systems — drift compromises the entire feedback loop.
Cybersecurity threats
Petrochemical facilities are high-value targets for cyberattacks; desynchronised logs make it difficult to detect and respond to security breaches effectively.
The solution
TimeBeat Open TimeCard technology
TimeBeat's Open TimeCard offers a high-precision, secure, and scalable time synchronisation solution tailored to the petrochemical industry. Implementation followed a structured four-phase approach.
Step 01
System assessment
A comprehensive review identified synchronisation weaknesses across the existing control infrastructure.
Step 02
Open TimeCard deployment
Installed at control centres and key processing units throughout the refinery.
Step 03
Industrial control system integration
Ensured compatibility with existing DCS (Distributed Control Systems) and ICS (Industrial Control Systems) automation infrastructure.
Step 04
Validation & optimisation
Achieved consistent sub-microsecond accuracy through real-time monitoring and continuous validation.
The results
By the numbers
Sub-µs
Process control accuracy
100%
DCS/ICS compatibility
Tamper-resistant
Event logging
Open
Standards-based architecture
Outcomes
01
Enhanced process safety
Improved synchronisation prevented critical process failures and reduced operational hazards across the refinery's safety systems.
02
Regulatory compliance
Accurate time-stamping ensured compliance with international safety and environmental regulations, providing a verifiable audit trail.
03
Increased operational efficiency
Time-aligned process monitoring led to optimised reaction control and minimised downtime.
04
Stronger cybersecurity
Authenticated timestamps and tamper-resistant logging improved forensic analysis capabilities, mitigating spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Conclusion
The successful deployment of TimeBeat Open TimeCard technology at a leading Taiwanese petrochemical refinery underscores the critical role of precise time synchronisation in ensuring safety, efficiency and compliance. This case study demonstrates how modern timing solutions can enhance industry-wide reliability, setting a new standard for petrochemical facilities in Taiwan.
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In their words
Hear it from the team that built it
Three short clips from the engineers who deployed and operate this timing fabric — what worked, what surprised them, what they'd do differently.
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Holdover that works
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Lessons learned
What we'd do differently next time.
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