Product category:
Smaller-Sized PLCs
News Release from: United Electronic Industries | Subject: PowerPID
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 02 October 2002
Compact cube implements 64 PID loops
Combining high density with high performance, the PowerPID is a compact multiloop process controller that operates standalone or interfaces with a host in hard real time.
Combining high density with high performance, the PowerPID is a compact multiloop process controller that operates standalone or interfaces with a host in hard real time It features as many as 64 PID loops running the latest control algorithms, but thanks to its flexible analogue and digital I/O the unit can also perform sequential logic and thereby cost-effectively replace hardwired relay logic or a PLC (programmable logic controller)
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 1 Oct 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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To handle all these tasks, the unit features a RISC processor and embedded real-time kernel, giving it computational abilities far beyond any other product in its class.
This all comes in a package as small as 4 x 4 x 4in.
with a variety of communication ports including Ethernet and an IrDA port - so users can even field-configure the unit with an infra-red-enabled PDA.
"We have listened to the voice of the customer and have developed PowerPID, which packs more temperature loops and process-control functionality into an enclosure more compact than any other product we're aware of", comments Shaun Miller, president of UEI, "yet it gives users the ability to add even more I/O to meet unique requirements.
This amazingly compact module can handle virtually any sensor types or signal sources.
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Best of all, customers don't have to sacrifice one bit in terms of performance, and people in this marketplace should find our pricing extremely attractive".
The heart of PowerPID is a core module that contains a 66MHz ColdFire processor from Motorola, 16Mbyte of RAM and 4Mbyte of Flash memory.
Engineers can upgrade system firmware over a built-in serial link or the included Ethernet port.
It's possible to co-ordinate the actions of multiple PowerPID units from a supervisory computer using an Ethernet link, making for easy system expansion.
Furthermore, engineers can create a larger system that combines both PowerPIDs along with UEI's new distributed real-time automation system, PowerDNA.
This combination realises extremely complex yet flexible distributed I/O, PID control and sequential logic.
With PowerPID, users choose from two physical configurations: enclosures that have either three or six free slots for I/O layers; the final package measures either 4 x 4 x 4 or 6 x 4 x 4in, respectively.
In either case, the unit is wall and DIN-rail mountable.
Any cube also requires the Power Layer, which accepts inputs in the range 9-36V DC.
While customers can choose from several preconfigured systems, they can also select exactly those I/O capabilities they need and have them preassembled and calibrated at the factory.
These I/O capabilities are supplied in several broad categories.
Analogue inputs are available as either eight differential or 16 differential/32 single-ended multiplexed inputs at 16bit resolution, or 25 differential nonmultiplexed inputs at 24bit resolution, and a per-channel sampling rate up to 10kHz.
Other features include autocalibration, the ability to handle a mix of temperature sensors, autoscaling for all inputs, a dedicated CJC input, feedforward inputs and linearisation/offset in software.
Analogue outputs can be either eight channels with voltage or current outputs or 16 channels with voltage only.
All analogue outputs have 16bit resolution.
Digital I/O can be specified with 16 or 32 lines, with pulse-output frequency range of 0-20kHz.
These I/O capabilities implement the control algorithms users program into the core module.
Their options range from basic on/off temperature control, to PID loops with an autotuning feature that automatically maintains loop parameters for optimum thermal system performance, and the ability to run ramp and soak profiles.
While those features are available from almost any temperature controller, the PowerPID also includes built-in algorithms to perform fuzzy-logic based autotuning, feed-forward calculations and even MPC (model-predictive control).
Also useful is real-time parameter adjustment or tracking over a network, over a serial link or with an infra-red-enabled PDA.
A fully loaded system can control as many as 64 independent temperature zones and process loops with a cycle time of 100ms.
With fewer loops, the PowerPID can implement 10kHz control cycles.
Engineers can assign any I/O channel to a loop as an input or control output.
Further, the I/O lines can implement limits and controls and thereby ensure the safe operation of processes.
These lines can read input signals from a wide variety of sensors and analogue or digital sources.
Finally, because one unit handles temperature loops as well as sequential logic, it takes no effort to share data between process control and logic functions.
To allow engineers to configure their systems, the PowerPID hardware ships with the PID Configurator.
It is presently available to run under Microsoft's PocketPC operating system, and a Windows version will ship with an upgrade of the software expected this quarter.
Using PID Configurator on a PDA, operators can use a graphical environment to enter loop variables and other operating parameters and download them to the PowerPID hardware either with a serial link or with an infra-red link.
This latter option makes the combination especially attractive for field updates.
The entry-level preconfigured PowerPID controller (Model PID-8) comes with the core layer as well as two I/O layers populated with eight analogue inputs and 32 digital I/O lines, and it sells for GBP 1300.
A PowerPID preconfigured with eight I/O layers (PID-64) implements 64 control loops, supplies 128 digital I/O points and sells for GBP 3120.
The Power Layer lists for GBP 230.
In many configurations the cube has free positions to hold additional I/O layers, which sell individually in the price range from GBP 260 to GBP 390.
(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 1 October 2002).
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