UNIT 3 Control and Monitoring Devices.
Control systems:-
1) Greenhouse
2) Washing machine
3) Process control
4) Refrigerator
5) Central heating system
6) Car manufacturing
7) Medical applications
8) Central cooling system
Sensors
A pH Meter is an electronic device used for measuring the pH which is either the concentration of
Hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution or the activity of the Hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution.
The pH will indicate if the solution is acidic or basic, but is not a measure of acidity or alkalinity. pH
meters work in liquids though special probes are sometimes used to
measure the pH of semi-solid substances. A typical pH meter consists of
a special measuring probe (a glass electrode) connected to an electronic
meter that measures and displays the pH reading.
Air condition system:-
Air conditioner is a closed system of copper tubes in the form of coils containing a chemical liquid, which
can easily be converted to a gas and back to liquid again. One set of coils (condensing unit or condenser)
is outside the building and other set (evaporating unit is inside). The compressor compresses cool low
pressure gas into hot high pressure gas. As the gas moves, through the condenser outside the building, it
cools down into a liquid. This liquid flows through the piping, and passes through an expansion valve,
causing it to evaporate into a cold low pressure gas. As the liquid changes to gas, and evaporates, it
absorbs heat from the inside of the building. A fan blows air across metal fins that have been chilled as a
result of the heat being absorbed. This causes the room to be cool. This gas then goes to the compressor.
Usually there are sensors which control the air condition system, mostly temperature sensor and
pressure sensor. Temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the refrigerant, slowing the system to
control the amount of heat being let out of the system. Pressure sensor that monitors the pressure of
the refrigerant so that the valve can be controlled to reduce or increase the flow of the refrigerant. There
will be touch screen to input the temperature as we ll as the Remote control. The temperature in each
room is monitored, and if it is above the pre-set value, the fans for that room are switched on by the
microprocessor if it is below the value the fan remains off.
Refrigeration:-
It works with the same principle above. The main inputs are a temperature sensor, to monitor the
temperature inside the refrigerator. A contact switches or pressure sensor for the door and a number
pad or similar device to input the required temperature. The microprocessor compares the data from the
sensor (after it has been converted to digital data by the ADC) with the pre-set value input by the user. If
the temperature value is higher than the set value, then the microprocessor activates the actuator, to
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switch the compressor on. If it is not the microprocessor switches the compressor off. Output from the
system will includes LED indicating the current temperature.
Central heating system:-
The main parts of a central heating system consist of a boiler, a hot water cylinder, a pump and some
radiators. The boiler is used to heat the water in the system. The water from the boiler flows into a hot
water cylinder and the pump then causes the hot water from the cylinder to flow around the system to
the radiators.
3 Valve
4
Evaporating unit
Condensing Unit
1 Compressor
In a microprocessor controlled sensor heating system, touchscreen can be used to input temperature.
MP reads the data from the temperature sensor and compares it with the value the user input. If it is
lower, then the MP switches the boiler and the pump on. If it is higher, the MP switches both off. Here
ADC is used to convert the data. The microprocessor controls separate actuators. One opens the gas
valve in the boiler and the other switches the pump on.
CAR MANUFACTURE
Computer controlled robots are based in various manufacturing industries. Most of them are controlled
by the use of actuators, in the form of electronic motors. A direct current DC motor spins fast if a current
is applied to it and its pins in the reverse direction if the current is made to flow in the other direction. A
more popular type used in robot is stepper motor. The industrial robots used in a car manufacture are
generally robot arms rather than a complete robot. What does it mean? Do u understand? If so what do
u mean? The most common type of robot arm consists of seven metallic sections with 6 joints, each joint
being controlled a separate stepper motor. End effectors are devices that are attached to the end of a
robot. E.g. gripper that acts like a hand. Other End Effectors are :
Cameras to inspect works.
Welding guns.
Gripper for pickup.
Vacuum cups
To pick up without obstructing sides or bottom.
Drills
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Screw drivers
Spanner
Riveters
Spray guns
Sanders
Polisher
Finisher
In a car production line, the robot arm carries out the following task.
1) Painting car bodies.
2) Putting on car wheels.
3) Drilling holes.
4) Rivet fixing on a car body.
5) Tightening bolts
6) Assembling the electric circuits in car,
7) Inserting car engines
The programme guides the arm through each step, either by physically holding, or by remote control.
Why are robots used?
Greater accuracy than human beings.
The running cost is lower, compared with paying a person.
Robotic arms dont get tired, so work is of a consistent standard.
The whole process can be continuous.
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
In medical science, intensive care and surgery computers are used. Patients in ICU are monitored 24/7 by
sensors. The sensors read the physical variable such as BP, pulse rate, temperature, respiration, etc. The
computer is pre-set with a normal range if values that are by expert system and constantly comparing the
data feedback by the sensors to these pre-set values. If any of the body functions data falls outside the
range, the computer sounds an alarm.
Advantage:-
More accurate, and can take care of several patients simultaneously, thus enabling the nurse do other tasks.
Robotic surgery is an extension of keyhole surgery that involves using robotic arms and cameras inside the
body. The end effector is usually scalpels. The surgeon wears goggles connected to the computer, is able to
see inside the patient. They control the robotic arms and cameras by putting their hands in a console. When
they move their hands, robotic arms and cameras respond exactly to the movement.
Advantage: more accurate, recover quickly, so hospital bed not use dont use for long time.
Process Control- Used in Refining, chemical processing, car manufacture, temperature control and the food
and beverage industries. Also it makes use of ADC and DAC. There are three types of process ctrl: Batch
process, Continuous process, and discreet process.
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Batch process:-
This is used to process products like pre packed meals. The correct amount of the correct ingredients are
measured and prepared for the correct time.
Continuous process.
For unending processes like controlling the temperature of a room.
Discreet process:-
This is when specific items are produced. It is a on / off or start / stop process. E.g. For processes like fitting
wheels of a car.
Actuators (Outputs)
An actuator is a piece of equipment that produces movement when given a signal. Actuators are
used in the computer for control of an environment, industrial automation and in robotics or, more
generally, actuators are the machines used for output in control applications. For example take the
situation in a computer controlled greenhouse...
When the temperature in the greenhouse is too high, the control
program makes a decision to open a ventilator, reduce the heating or
turn on a fan. A signal is sent to an actuator or motor to open the
ventilator. A valve in the greenhouse may be closed to restrict the
flow of hot water through radiators and pipes and another motor or
actuator will lower blinds to reduce the amount of direct
sunlight. Environmental control is not a major problem in small greenhouse but large commercial
glasshouses covering several acres, could not be monitored and controlled manually. These
glasshouses are very likely to be computer controlled.
For more info visit http://www.pc-control.co.uk/actuators.htm
Different types of actuators are Solenoids, Valves, DC motors, Stepper motor, Server control.
DATA LOGGING SYSTEM
The softwares used in such system to record the result and interpret them is generically called
measuring software or data logging software. These systems are therefore called data logging
systems. It will be seen in medical apps, weather, climate monitoring, environment monitoring and
scientific experiments.
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