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UNIT-1 Basic Elements of Automation

The document discusses the basic elements of an automated system including power, a program of instructions, and a control system. It describes different types of work cycle programs including set-point control, logic control, sequence control, interactive programs, and intelligent programs. It also discusses open loop and closed loop control systems and different levels of factory automation.

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Sudhanshu Patel
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2K views

UNIT-1 Basic Elements of Automation

The document discusses the basic elements of an automated system including power, a program of instructions, and a control system. It describes different types of work cycle programs including set-point control, logic control, sequence control, interactive programs, and intelligent programs. It also discusses open loop and closed loop control systems and different levels of factory automation.

Uploaded by

Sudhanshu Patel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Industrial Automation

Neeraj Mishra
Assistant Professor
Department of mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
[email protected]
Basic Elements of Automated System
Automation can be defined as the technology by which a process or procedure is
accomplished without human assistance.

An automated system consists of three basic elements:

(1) power to accomplish the process and operate the system.

(2) a program of instructions to direct the process, and

(3) a control system to actuate the instructions


(1)Power to accomplish the automated process
Electrical power is widely available at moderate cost.
 Electrical power can be readily converted to alternative energy forms: mechanical, thermal,
light, acoustic, hydraulic, and pneumatic.
 Electrical power at low levels can be used to accomplish functions such as signal,
transmission, information processing, and data storage and communication.
 Electrical energy can be stored in long-life batteries for use in locations where an external
source of electrical power is not conveniently available.

Power is required in automation for the followings:


 Processing operations
 Loading and unloading the work unit
 Material transport between operations
 Controller unit
 Power to activate the control signals
 Data acquisition and information processing
(2) Program of Instructions
The actions performed by an automated process are defined by a program of instructions.
Whether the manufacturing operation involves low, medium, or high production, each part
or product requires one or more processing steps that are unique to that part or product.
These processing steps are performed during a work cycle.

In the simplest automated processes, the work cycle consists of essentially one step, which is to
maintain a single process parameter at a defined level,

for example, maintain the temperature of a furnace at a designated value for the duration of a heat-
treatment cycle. (It is assumed that loading and unloading of the work units into and from the furnace is
performed manually and is therefore not part of the automatic cycle, so technically this is not a fully
automated process.) In this case, programming simply involves setting the temperature dial on the furnace.
This type of program is set-point control, in which the set point is the value of the process parameter or
desired value of the controlled variable in the process (furnace temperature in this example).

A process parameter is an input to the process, such as the temperature dial setting,
whereas a process variable is the corresponding output of the process, which is the actual temperature of
the furnace.
Work cycle programs are usually much more complicated than in the furnace example described.

Following are five categories of work cycle programs,

Set-point control, in which the process parameter value is constant during the work
cycle (as in the furnace example).
Logic control, in which the process parameter value depends on the values of other
variables in the process.
Sequence control, in which the value of the process parameter changes as a
function of time. The process parameter values can be either discrete (a sequence of
step values) or continuously variable. Sequence control, also called sequencing
Interactive program, in which interaction occurs between a human operator and the
control system during the work cycle.
Intelligent program, in which the control system exhibits aspects of human
intelligence (e.g., logic, decision making, cognition, learning) as a result of the work
cycle program.
(3) Control System
The control element of the automated system executes the program of instructions. The control
system causes the process to accomplish its defined function, which is to perform some
manufacturing operation.
The controls in an automated system can be either closed loop or open loop.
Open Loop Control System
LEVELS OF AUTOMATION
The concept of automated systems can be applied to
various levels of factory operations.

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