Process Controller
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Description
The spring 2009 plate settler spacing experiments were run using the process controller software developed by Dr. Weber-Shirk. Our experimental apparatus consisted of four peristaltic pumps, two electric stirrers, one stir-plate, two turbidimeters, one pressure sensor, one solenoid valve, and one pinch valve: all of which were directly controlled by process controller.
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To do this, we used increment and counting functions. The increment function toggled between consecutive flow rates and a reset state; while the counting function regulated the number of flow rates incremented and directed the path of the system appropriately. For example, once the counting function identified that the reset state had been employed four times, the system was sent to a new state after the fifth flow rate.
Data Analysis
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Method
The data for this experiment was analyzed using a series of Matcad data processing code written and developed by Ian Tse and Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk. Three mathcad files were used along with a excel spreadsheet called Meta File. The Mathcad code has the capability to consolidate and filter data collected in process controller over a period of several days. The Meta file contains all of vital information that must be inputted into the mathcad file by the user, including the dates over which the experiment occurred, the particular process controller state that indicates the beginning of an experiment, the location of the files, and an ID tag which allows the user to easily access processed data. After entering First enter the ID tag, date, and experiment start state into to the Meta file and Data Preprocessor file, indicating .This indicates the location of the files, and by running the preprocessor the user can extract the statelog start row and number of runs from the Data Preprocessor file and input the values into the Meta file. After the Meta file is complete the Meta Data Processor can be run by entering the metaID and the statID.
The output is a graph of the effluent turbidity vs. time and a graph of average effluent turbidity vs. critical velocity as seen in the results section.
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