Hi,
I am looking for a bit of advice on where to start architecture wise with a controller project I have been given to run a GeoSciences rock confining cell. My experience is limit but I have previously designed a basic pump controller with the QMH architecture. This project is a lot more complicated and requires the option of manual control or pre set timed stages to run for each system with the ability to pause/hold the timer haunting the stage and holding set points while pause. I already have the hardware in the form of a cRIO and all the necessary IO modules.
The controller consists of 3 main connected systems which all have IO
Hydraulic Confining x 8
Outputs - 5V Motor start stop, 24V Solenoid valves, 0-10V Servo Amp Command
Inputs - 5V Limit switches, 5V rotary hall sensor, 4-20ma Pressure sensors, 4-20ma Servo Amp Feedback.
The motor will run when the pressure is below target driving a pressure generator forward. Limit switches and position sensors will stop the motor and reset position (reversing the motor). Stages can be set with different pressures.
Fluid Injection
Outputs - RS232 Pump Control
Inputs - RS232 Pump Flow and Pressure, 4-20ma Pressure Sensors
Pump controlled manually/pre programmed set of stages for flow and pressure
Heating
Outputs - 5V heating on to heating bands
Inputs - Thermocouples
PID controlled heating with pre defined stages for ramp up, hold and ramp down.
The stages might work something like this
Stage 1 - Confining system hold pressure for 10 mins, Pump Hold flow for 5 minute then increase to higher set point for 5 minute, heating system hold temperature with PID.
Stage 2 - Confining system hold pressure for 20 minute, Pump switch to pressure set and hold for 20 minute, Heating system increase temperature by 2C.
I am pretty sure this can be done with some combination of QMH and state machine but not entirely sure how this will work with timed stages specifically with holding the timer and set points.
Can anyone please point me in the right direction or link me to a similar example?
Many thanks,
Xander
