Realtime Automatic Monitoring and Control System Analysis - Assignment Example

Title: REALTIME AUTOMATIC MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BOTTLED WATER COMPANY Student Name Course: A real time system is defined as that whose response is dependent upon a fixed frame of time. The input to the system affects the output within a defined range of time outside of which it becomes obsolete. On the converse, a normal system, which is non real time is that whose response is not depended upon a fixed range of time and hence the output is a function of both the current input and any previous inputs.[Ken08] For the Muddy springs bottled water company, the proposed system would incorporate operator’s input at the control panel and a system of automated process. Since it is composed of two subsystems, the plant would be said to be having a complex system. Thus it is preferred that the software be developed with split specifications for the two subsystems.[Mat] The Automated Monitoring and Control System(AMAC) would integrate the two subsystems via the common terminal, the operator console to relay both the inputs and fire the appropriate events to control the plant, both the water pumping sub system and the bottle cleaning, storage and filling system. Whereas the water pumping sub system has only a few input and output parameters and sort of direct dataflow, the bottling system is quite diverse with further section and subsystems that need more data flows and process controls. The system development process for the integrated system would thus follow the design process which is enlisted as: System requirement System Analysis System design System implementation System Review. The assignment only covers the first three processes of requirement, analysis and design as described in the proceeding chapters. System Requirement The System consists of two broad subsystems as earlier mentioned: the water supply system and the bottle washing, storing and filling system. The water supply system consist of the pumping station and the header tank. The bottle washing, storing and filling system comprise of the valves and the conveyors. The individual entities for the water supply system can then be listed as: Pump A Pump B Operator console Header tank The various components interlink with data flowing in the directions shown in the diagram below: In the diagram above, both pump A and B supply the Header tank at different instances of time Pump A is the primary tank which starts the filling process, and in case the water level keeps dropping to the second cut in level, tank B is then started. The operator console is linked to both pumps A and B in the start/stop operations and the alarm alert. For the bottle washing, storage and filling subsystem, the established entities include Bottle plant Header tank Washing plant Filler plant AMAC Valves Data Storage component The relationships established between the AMAC and the external entities can be drawn below as follows, and showing cardinality of 1 with modalities, which also make up the ERD: The entities relate in the following ER diagram as shown The entity diagram above, illustrates the relationship that exists between the control panel and the washing and filling plant, and also the relationship between the control panel and the control valves. The AMAC running on the control panel actuates the valves when there is need for their opening and closing, as well as when to wash or move the conveyors between the two processes. System Analysis. This is the second stage of system development process. In the analysis section, the constraints are defined and the flow of data and information is noted. The required parameters are also measured and outlined. In addition, the data flow diagrams are used to analyze system operations. The process specifications (PSPECs) and the control specifications (CSPECs) are also analysed at this stage of system development.[Ext16] As for the case of the Muddy Springs bottled water company, the PSPECs include the following: The pumping station: Automatic on / off switching with manual override built into the AMAC system. Header tank: Receive data via telemetry on the state of the water level in the tank every 30 seconds. Store the sampled data values in a database Record the on and off instances and the flow rate every 30 seconds timeframe. Turning on the alarm in case of emergency. The control CSPECs analysed for the proposed AMAC system are as detailed below: During the normal automatic running of the system, a manual override creates an interrupt in the flow suspending the automatic system until it is restarted. If the water level, a key system parameter, falls below a head long of 2.2 meters, pump A is turned on. If the water level falls to head long under 1.5meters, pump B is put on and they continue to work in tandem with pump A until a Full Supply Level (FSL) of 3.0 meters is reached. Incase of maintenance procedure, the whole system is turned off and the water is directed to the drain by closing valves A,C and E while opening valves B,D and F. Data flow diagrams for the water pumping subsystem in the AMAC system design: Other than the processes 1.1 and 1.3, others that determine data flow in the system are as listed below: 1.3 Excess water level: Stop pump A and open valves BCEF 1.4 Critical water level reached:start pump A and B 1.5 Tank cleaning/maintenance 1.6 complete batch of dirty bottles 1.7 Filled storage container The resultant DFDs are as shown in the following diagram: The process flow and control is wellanalysed using pseudo code which illustrate the system flow. A pseudo code is a type of algorithm that explains in simplicity the system flow and the parameters that need to be passed. It describes the complete operation of the system in a structured way such that it is broken down for ease of understanding. The following describe the operation of the water supply system: Start Start AMAC If manual override IS TRUE; Switch operation to manual; Else If tank_water_level< 2.2m Turn pump A ON; Else if tank_water_level 3.1 m Turn Alarm system ON End if End if Loop; Stop PROCESSES SPECIFICATIONS ALGORITHMS: PSPEC 1.3 Start If Limit_levels ==3.1 If Head level>Limit_levels Pump A==OFF Valve B,C,E,F ==Close Else Pump A = ON Valve BCEF = Open End if End if Stop PSPEC 1.4 Start If Limit_levels ==0.25 If Head level Read More