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Many of the lab experiments run by the AguaClara team use Process Controller, a LabVIEW based program, to run methodically run experiments and collect data. Users can configure sensors to control the system and collect data simultaneously. Before any experiments are run, Process Controller must be programmed correctly to control the processes of the experiment. There are four types of things that need to be defined in Process Controller in order for the program to control any process. These are Set Points, States, Rules and Sensors, Sensors, and Set Points.
For a more general guide to Process Controller (with tutorials), see the Process Controller page.
Basics
- States: States represent different control configurations. Each has different control settings and each have different rules that determine when the state ends and what state comes next. Each state has independent control settings which means that each is defined uniquely by which pumps are on or off and which valves are opened or closed. It is these states that tell Process Control what to make the system do. Not all are necessarily used in a process; states can be designed for testing pumps, to clean the system and so on. States are listed in a drop-down list and can be added or removed BUT they are place sensitive meaning each is assigned an identification number in the list of states so deleting a state will alter the number ID of the states proceeding it. When using a state you must pull it using this number. Also important to remember is that the first position is "0", not "1".
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