Customer Industry: Energy Sector | Procured Product: DNTS-9 NTP Network Time Server | Delivery Scope: Project Clock Server

Project Overview

State Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd. (referred to as “State Energy Group”), as a major central backbone energy enterprise, has stringent requirements for time synchronization and accuracy in its production dispatch, power monitoring, industrial control, and other systems. Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd. provided it with the DNTS-9 series NTP network time servers, completed the delivery of the project’s clock servers, and established a unified standard time‑synchronization system to support the safe and stable operation of its energy production dispatch and power monitoring systems.

Figure 1: Schematic of the overall architecture for DNTS-9 time synchronization (schematic diagram, not the actual project topology)

Project Name

State Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd. NTP Clock Synchronization Server Procurement and Deployment Project

Note: The above is an example project name; during official release, it may be adjusted to reflect the actual project’s approved name.

Cooperation period

Fiscal Year 2025 (Ongoing Services)

Note: The collaboration period shown is for illustrative purposes only; please replace it with the project’s actual contract signing or delivery date to ensure the accuracy of the case information.

Client Introduction: China Energy Investment Corporation Limited

China Energy Investment Corporation Limited (referred to as “China Energy Group”) was formed in 2017 through the merger and restructuring of China Guodian Corporation and Shenhua Group Co., Ltd., and is a key central state-owned energy enterprise. The Group’s business spans coal, power, transportation, and chemical industries, holding a prominent position in these sectors and ranking among the largest integrated energy companies.

The Group’s subsidiaries are widely distributed across various business segments, including coal mining, thermal power generation, wind power generation, coal chemical engineering, and transportation and logistics. Production facilities and information systems are geographically dispersed and diverse in type. As automation in production scheduling and the digitalization of power monitoring and operational management advance, these business systems have articulated clear requirements for a unified, traceable, and monitorable standard time.

Product purchased: DNTS-9 NTP Network Time Server

• Product Name: DNTS-9 Series NTP Network Time Server (Model DNTS-9)
• Manufacturer: Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd. (NeutronTek)
• Device positioning: Provides standard time signals for distributed networks, industrial control systems, and power monitoring systems.
• Key Capabilities: Multi‑GNSS satellite time synchronization, multiple terrestrial time‑source inputs, high‑performance timekeeping, and centralized monitoring.

Main Technical Parameters

Note: The above technical specifications are compiled from the publicly available product information on the official website of Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd. (www.neutrontek.com). The actual equipment specifications shall prevail.

Customer requirements

The energy group’s power plants, substations, dispatch centers, and chemical facilities are widely dispersed, with a large number of information systems in place. During the project’s construction, the client raised the following time‑synchronization‑related requirements:

1. Unified Standard Time: Provides a consistent time reference for substations and systems distributed across different geographic locations, ensuring the accuracy of Sequence of Events (SOE) records and timestamps.
2. Multi-source redundancy and reliability: Supports the integration of satellite‑based and ground‑based time sources, ensuring stable timekeeping even when one source fails and enabling continuous external time‑service delivery.
3. Security and Compliance: Meets the relevant security protection requirements for power monitoring systems, with time synchronization that is monitorable and traceable.
4. Centralized Management: Provides unified monitoring, alerting, and operations management for all network‑wide clock devices and synchronization status, thereby reducing operational costs.
5. Seamless scalability: Supports subsequent node expansion and multi-level time-source cascading, adapting to business growth.

Solution

Centered on customer needs, Beijing Zhongxin Chuang has designed a hierarchical time‑synchronization solution built around the DNTS‑9 NTP network time server:

Figure 2: Hierarchical Architecture of the DNTS-9 Time Synchronization Solution

1. Core Timing Layer: Deploys the DNTS‑9 as a primary time source, receiving GNSS satellite signals such as BeiDou and GPS, and supporting input from ground‑based timing sources including IRIG‑B, NTP/PTP, and 1PPS+ToD. Priority among multiple sources can be configured freely.
2. Time‑keeping assurance: When all external time sources are unavailable, the device relies on its built-in temperature‑compensated crystal oscillator or rubidium atomic clock to maintain accurate timekeeping and continue providing uninterrupted time services.
3. Network Distribution: Distributes NTP time to various clients via 2 to 14 Ethernet interfaces, supporting large-scale network environments.
4. Centralized Monitoring: Paired with the DNTS-Manager centralized monitoring software, this solution is built on a B/S architecture and provides interfaces such as SNMP and Syslog. It enables real-time monitoring of metrics including synchronization status, time offset, and synchronization request latency, while supporting threshold-based alerts and asset management.
5. Compliance and Security: The device has passed GB/T 17626 Level IV electromagnetic compatibility testing, supports access control and log auditing, and meets operational management requirements.

Implementation Effectiveness

• Time Synchronization: Achieve standardized time synchronization across the Group’s relevant plants, substations, and business systems, ensuring consistency between event records and timestamps.
• Reliable operation: Multi‑source redundancy and a high‑performance timekeeping design enhance the continuity of time services and their resistance to interference.
• Operations Visualization: Through a centralized monitoring platform, operations personnel can track the clock status across the entire network and receive timely alerts and pinpoint anomalies.
• Security and Compliance: Meets the management requirements of power monitoring systems for time synchronization, traceability, and monitoring.
• Scalability and Flexibility: The solution supports the addition of downstream nodes and the cascading of time sources, ensuring adaptability to business growth.

Application Cases (Industry Coverage)

The DNTS series time servers have been deployed across numerous enterprises and institutions in sectors including energy, petrochemicals, electric power, steel, and gas. In addition to the State Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd. featured in this case, the following are some of the organizations that have adopted these solutions in the energy and related fields, categorized by business segment:

Oil, Natural Gas, and Oil and Gas Fields

China National Petroleum Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, CNOOC, Daqing Oilfield, Tarim Oilfield, Qinghai Oilfield, PetroChina Yellow Sea Storage Base, Xinjiang Karamay Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Company, North China Petroleum Communications, Tianjin Jinwanhang Petroleum Materials and Equipment, Binzhou CNOOC Refining and Chemicals, Natural Gas Processing Plant at Suizhong County No. 36‑1 in Liaoning Province, Sinochem Nantong Petrochemical Storage and Transportation

National Pipeline Group and Pipeline Storage & Transportation

China National Pipeline Group, China National Pipeline Group Shandong Pipeline, China National Pipeline Group Northern Pipeline, CNPC Dalian Liquefied Natural Gas, the China–Russia East Route Pipeline, the Lanzhou Oil and Gas Transmission Branch of the Southwest Pipeline, Sinopec Pipeline Storage and Transportation Company, Shandong Pipeline Network, the Ku’erle–Shanshan Crude Oil Pipeline Capacity Expansion Project, and Huade Petrochemical in Daya Bay, Huizhou City.

Petrochemicals

Sinopec, Yangzi Petrochemical, Changqing Petrochemical, Shanghai Petrochemical, Tianjin Petrochemical, Yanshan Petrochemical, Zhanjiang Petrochemical, Langfang Petrochemical, Gansu Petrochemical, Anqing Petrochemical, Daqing Petrochemical, Sino‑Saudi (Tianjin) Petrochemical, PetroChina Qingyang Petrochemical Company, Jinzhou Petrochemical, Yan’an Petrochemical, Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining & Chemical, Cangzhou Huahai Refining & Chemical, Xianyang Petrochemical Plant, Qinrui Petrochemical, BASF Petrochemical, Maoming Petrochemical Liquefied Air Gases, Xinjiang Tianli High‑Tech Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Sinopec Yizheng Fiber, Zhongyuan Petrochemical, Zhongyuan Ethylene

Energy Chemicals and Coal Chemicals

China Shenhua, Hengli Group, Yankuang Group, Yankuang Lunan Chemical, Luxi Chemical, Lunan Chemical, Lianhong Chemical, Ningbo Fude Energy, Shaanxi Changqing Energy & Chemical, Shanxi Northern Xing’an Chemical Industry, Qingdao Siyuan Chemical, Guizhou Chitianhua Group, Lutianhua, Sichuan Lutianhua, Heilongjiang Haohua Chemical, Xinjiang Xinye Energy & Chemical, Inner Mongolia Yidong Group Dongxing Chemical, Chongqing Huafeng Chemical, Hubei Sanjiang Aerospace Jianghe Chemical, Zhongtai Chemical, Hesheng Silicon Industry, Xinjiang Yili Company, CGN Topu (Hubei) New Materials, Taiyuan Heavy Industry New Energy Equipment, Hengyi Petrochemical.

Iron and Steel Metallurgy and Mining

Beijing Shougang Co., Ltd., Hebei Shougang Qian’an Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Fujian Sangang Mingguang Co., Ltd., Fujian Sangang Group, Angang Steel Co., Ltd., Fujian Minggang, Chongqing Iron & Steel (Group) Co., Ltd., Tangshan Iron & Steel Group, Jiuquan Iron & Steel Group, Liugang Group, Guangxi Liugang Zhongjin Stainless Steel, Ningbo Aluminum Industry, Binsteel Iron & Steel Group, Tangshan Zhengfeng Iron & Steel, Tangshan Guotang Iron & Steel, Wuhan Iron & Steel Group, Xingtai Machinery of China Steel Corporation, Xingtai Machinery Rollers of China Steel Corporation, Shuangliu Coal Mine, Fenxi Mining Group, Huaibei Mining, Shandong Coal Mine, Guixi Smelter of Jiangxi Copper Group, Shaanxi Yulin Energy Group, Inner Mongolia Smart Operation & Maintenance New Energy

Electricity and New Energy

China Huaneng Group, China General Nuclear Power Group, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, Huadian Environmental Protection Systems Engineering, Shanghai Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine, Wuhai Power Supply Bureau, Chongqing Haizhuang Wind Power Engineering Technology

Urban Gas and Industrial Gases

Jingxi Gas, Kunlun Gas, ENN Natural Gas Co., Ltd., ENN Gas, Hope Gas, Shenzhen Gas, China Resources Gas, Guangzhou Zhonghuan Natural Gas Development, Hetang Natural Gas CNG Station, Jiaxing Iwatani Gas, Jingtang Air Liquide, Air Liquide Group, Air Liquide (Wuhan) High-Tech Gases, China Bluestar Beihua Machinery

Equipment manufacturing and others

Hangzhou Hengli Manufacturing, Tote Mechanical & Electrical

The choice of numerous departments and enterprises reflects recognition of Zhongxin Chuang’s products and services. By working in close collaboration with partners across all sectors, we are jointly advancing toward win‑win outcomes for businesses and society alike.

Note: The above organization names have been compiled based on the list of application cases provided by the customer, and are intended to illustrate the product’s coverage across various business sectors; specific collaborative projects shall be governed by actual arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What time sources does the DNTS-9 NTP server support?

A: Supports GNSS satellite time synchronization via BeiDou, GPS, and other systems, as well as ground‑based time sources such as IRIG‑B code, NTP/PTP, and 1PPS+ToD. Priority among multiple time sources can be configured freely.

Q: How is time accuracy maintained when satellite signals are lost?

A: When all external time sources are unavailable, the device relies on its built-in temperature‑compensated crystal oscillator or rubidium atomic clock to maintain accurate timekeeping and continuously provide time services. The time‑keeping performance is as follows: with the standard temperature‑compensated crystal oscillator, ≤8.64 μs/24 hours; with the rubidium atomic clock, ≤500 ns/24 hours.

Q: What scenarios is DNTS-9 suitable for?

A: It can provide standard time signals for distributed networks, industrial control systems, power monitoring systems, dispatch automation, SCADA, and more, and has been deployed in sectors such as energy, electric power, petrochemicals, steel, transportation, and industry.

Q: How can the clock system be monitored in a unified manner?

A: Supports the DNTS-Manager centralized monitoring software, which is based on a B/S architecture and provides interfaces such as SNMP and Syslog. It enables real-time monitoring of metrics including synchronization status, time offset, and synchronization request latency, and supports threshold-based alerts and asset management.

About Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd.

Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd. (NeutronTek) was founded in 2002, located adjacent to Beijing’s Zhongguancun Software Park. It is one of the earliest domestic high-tech enterprises to research and manufacture intelligent network products such as time servers, and has long provided time synchronization products and services to sectors including energy, power, finance, transportation, and industry.

Source: Public product information from the official website of Beijing Zhongxinchuang Technology Co., Ltd. (www.neutrontek.com); customer profiles compiled based on publicly available information. The technical specifications and application details presented in this article are for illustrative purposes only; actual project outcomes and equipment data sheets shall prevail.