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Chapter 1 of the document provides an overview of automation, defining it as the use of control systems to minimize human labor in production. It discusses the hierarchy of industrial automation, detailing various levels from primary technology to administration, and categorizes automation into fixed, programmable, and flexible types. The chapter also highlights the advantages of automation, such as increased productivity and improved safety, alongside potential disadvantages like unemployment and high development costs.

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3 views

autochap1

Chapter 1 of the document provides an overview of automation, defining it as the use of control systems to minimize human labor in production. It discusses the hierarchy of industrial automation, detailing various levels from primary technology to administration, and categorizes automation into fixed, programmable, and flexible types. The chapter also highlights the advantages of automation, such as increased productivity and improved safety, alongside potential disadvantages like unemployment and high development costs.

Uploaded by

bereketbekele671621
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
ECEg5233: Industrial Automation
Chapter 1

Overview of Automation

Wubshet Ayalew
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

1.1 Automation
 Automation – use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the
need for human work in the production of goods and services.
 Automation is the use of various control system for operating equipment such as
machinery, processes in factory, boilers, heat treating ovens, switching in
telephone networks, steering and stabilization of Ships, Aircrafts and other
application by their own with minimal or reduced human intervention.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

1.2 Hierarchy of industrial automation


 Industrial automation systems are made up of large devices that synchronize
and work with other industrial automation technologies. Because of that, they
can be complex in nature.
 Industrial automation systems consist of different hierarchy levels as shown in
Fig 1.1 below:

1. Primary technology- Industrial plant's hardware.


2. Field control- Field level is in direct interaction with plant's hardware and is
made up of field devices such as actuators and sensors.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

 The field devices have a core task of transferring machines and processes data to
the next level of monitoring and analysis.
 Actuators are used to control the process parameters such as level, flow,
temperature, and pressure. Actuators include; pneumatic actuators, flow control
valves, relays, selonoid valves, and Dc motors among others could be used.
 Sensors are used to convert real time process parameters into electrical signals.
Data collected from the sensors is transferred to the controller for further
monitoring and analysis of the real time parameters
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fig1.1 Hierarchy of automation


University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

3. Control level- This level contains both individual and group controls.
Individual control controls single part of a group while group control controls
well defined part of a plant.
 This level is made up of automation devices such as PLCs that derive ideal
process parameters from different sensors.
4. Supervision (SCADA=Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)- At this
level, automatic monitoring systems and devices are used to facilitate the
intervention and control of functions such as; setting of production targets,
supervising different parameters, setting machine start and stop periods, and
human machine interface.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

5. Manufacturing execution level- This level ensures effective execution of the


manufacturing operation and improve production output.
6. Enterprise level- Tasks excuted at this level include; market and customer
analysis, sales, orders, and production planning.
7. Administration level- This level is tasked to control Finances, human resources,
documentation, long-term planning.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

1.3 Types of Automation


 Automated production systems can be classified into three basic types
1. Fixed Automation
2. Programmable Automation
3. Flexible Automation
1. Fixed Automation - In a fixed Automation system, the production equipment
is fixed with a fixed set of operations or tasks and there are rarely any changes to
this operations.
 This system is usually used in continuous flow processes like conveyors and
mass production systems.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer

2. Programmable Automation- In programmable Automation system, the


sequence of operation as well as the configuration of the machinery can be
changed using electronic controls (Reprogramming).
 This system requires a significant amount of time and effort to reprogram the
machines and usually used in batch process production.
3. Flexible Automation- This type of Automation system is implemented where
the product varies frequently.
 This system is capable of changing over from one job to the next with little lost
time between jobs.
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer

Types of automation and their merits and demerits


University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer

Reasons for Automating


1. To increase labor productivity
2. To reduce labor cost
3. To mitigate the effects of labor shortages
4. To reduce or remove routine manual tasks
5. To improve worker safety
6. To improve product quality
7. To reduce manufacturing time
8. To accomplish what cannot be done manually
9. To avoid the high cost of not automating
University of Gondar
Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer

1.4 Disadvantages of Automation


 Causing unemployment and poverty by replacing human labor.
 Security Threats/Vulnerability: An automated system may have a limited level of
intelligence, and is therefore more susceptible to committing errors outside of its
immediate scope of knowledge
 Unpredictable/excessive development costs: The research and development cost
of automating a process may exceed the cost saved by the automation itself.
END OF CHAPTER ONE

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