Tank Temperature Monitoring and Control
Flexible, Affordable Process Control with dataTaker
CHESTERLAND OH - CAS DataLoggers recently supplied the industrial data logging technology for a large manufacturing plant monitoring the temperature of several water bath tanks used to maintain the temperature of a sample of material undergoing a long-term durability test. Plant management began searching for a single temperature recording system which could connect to RTDs and thermocouples for high accuracy recordings and also perform control functions whenever the tanks' temperature suddenly went outside specification.
The plant installed a dataTaker DT80 Intelligent Data Logger in its main testing area. To monitor the tanks' temperature, a K-type thermocouple probe was immersed in each bath and connected to an analog input of the data logger which was then configured to take a continuous series of readings at 10-minute intervals. The temperature was recorded using a simple command and the results were logged in memory and saved in an internal variable which was then used in 3 sets of alarms. The first 2 alarm statements provided simple on/off control of a heater connected to the dataTaker's relay channel. If the tank temperature suddenly dropped below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the heater was switched on via a programmed command, and if the temperature rose above 47 degrees, the heater was immediately switched off. Additionally, operators used a third alarm statement which provided additional notification whenever the temperature fell below 44 degrees or went above 48 degrees by activating one of the digital output channels of the logger to switch on a warning light.
With its ability to accept virtually any type of temperature sensor and featuring internal storage for up to 10 million data points, the dataTaker datalogger provided a reliable solution for maintaining historical data for all the bath tanks. The battery-powered dataTaker was fully expandable to 100 channels and provided extended operation, recording all measurements at a precise 18-bit resolution across a ±30 V input measurement range, listing current readings on its built-in display. The DT80 also featured multiple digital outputs enabling connection of multiple heaters or other temperature devices, so users were able to set up multiple control zones combining heating/cooling control and staged control.
In addition, the built-in alarm functions of the datalogger, when combined with its capability to send emails and SMS messages, or to activate digital outputs, provided many possibilities for notification of out-of-tolerance conditions. Operators could choose from several data transfer methods including Ethernet, smart serial sensor channels for interfacing with RS232, RS485, RS422 and SDI-12 sensors, Modbus sensors and devices, and to SCADA systems. The built-in web and FTP server gave users remote
access to logged data, configuration and diagnostics, and USB memory stick support offered a quick method for easy data and program transfer.
Additionally, the dataTaker included user-friendly dEX software using a preinstalled Windows Explorer-style interface for quick setup and configuration. Users configured and ran dEX directly from a web browser, accessible either locally or remotely over the Internet. Any of the logger's built-in communications ports could be used to view dEX, including Ethernet, USB and RS-232.
The versatility of the dataTaker DT80 offered the manufacturing plant several benefits over simple temperature controllers. This single solution provided measurement and control capabilities used to both monitor and regulate the temperature of the plant's tanks and baths by switching heaters or fluid control valves on and off. The datalogger accepted thermocouple, RTD, and thermistor sensors, giving users much more flexibility in selecting what sensor type to use. The dataTaker also provided up to 16 analog inputs which enabled the tanks' temperature to be monitored at multiple locations and used in the control algorithm. Additionally, the datalogger's mathematical capability performed calculations such as average, rate of change or deviation between sensors which were used in the control calculations.
For more information on the dataTaker DT80, additional dataTaker dataloggers with advanced features including built-in cellular modems, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or visit the website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
12628 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
(440) 729-2570
(800) 956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
http://www.dataloggerinc.com
