Where's Your Opto? Contest
Where's Your Opto 22?
Where's Your Opto? Contest
Cardinals
04-29-2005, 6:31 PM
Very little studies have been conducted to develop a system to measure the emissions of non-road irrigation engines under operating conditions. The ability to collect normal operating engine data was needed to verify manufacturer’s data or foster changes to reflect the differences in laboratory and in real-world engine applications. Through the use of Opto 22 hardware and software, a 12 VDC remote multi-engine hydraulic powered center pivot irrigation system test bed was created to measure gas emissions and possible anomalies from operating conditions, control and monitor the hydraulic system, gas analyzer, multi-engine gas selection solenoid, enclosure temperature, and system power. The test bed was used in scientific research to collect data on the performance and emissions of non-road engines. Remote control of the system is possible through an Ethernet hub mounted inside the enclosure that allows users to control and monitor the system at different locations. The engines were loaded by hydraulic pumps that were mounted on to two engines that pumped hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic piping configuration that allowed both engines to be operating at once. Valves hardwired together controlled two valves that energized opposite of one another to allow fluid to travel to either a bypass or to a third valve that controlled the hydraulic motor. A SNAP-ODC5SNK, digital output controlled the two valves and split the control signal to two Opto 22 DC60S5, normally open, solid state relay to supply the inrush current for the solenoids. A third valve diverter controlled by another digital output, forced the hydraulic fluid to either bypass or when energized, to the hydraulic motor that drove the centrifugal pump. All valves were monitored by SNAP-IDC5D, digital input modules to monitor the states of the valves. Three aluminum hydraulic blocks each measured hydraulic flow, pressure and temperature were positioned at various points on the hydraulic system. Analog input modules, SNAP-AIV-4 and SNAP-AIRATE were used to collect the analog signals through wire harness to monitor the hydraulic fluid status. An Opto 22 ICTD probe was used to measure the hydraulic oil temperature at the reservoir. The Opto 22 SNAP analog and digital input modules collected atmospheric weather conditions that monitored, barometric pressure, relative humidity, ambient temperature, precipitation, wind direction and wind speed. A digital output on the main Opto 22 rack controlled the power of the 3 other Opto 22 racks, that controlled or monitored the system, to reduce power consumption when the racks were not being used. This was accomplished by using a SNAP-ODC5SNK, wired to an Opto 22 DC60S5 relay that controlled a 12 to 5 VDC converter that supplied the power to the racks. All Opto 22 rack amperage was measured using SNAP-AIARMS, analog input modules. Opto 22 rack input voltage was also measured with SNAP-AIV2-I, analog inputs. Temperature control was important since the data acquisition equipment was going to be in remote areas. Recessed lighting was controlled through a digital output, wired to an Opto 22 relay. An Opto 22 ICTD probe was installed inside the enclosure to monitor temperature. Programming of temperature control is underway. Emissions with excess moisture saturated the gas analyzer filter so an automated water trap was built by using Opto 22 control and monitoring. An Opto 22 digital output controlled a three-way solenoid that allowed the user to select which engine emissions the gas analyzer would measure. The solenoid was powered through an Opto relay and monitored with an Opto 22, digital input. The water trap used a proximity sensor hardwired to an Opto relay to automatically energize a solenoid to allow water to escape the water trap. Both the proximity sensor and solenoid was hardwired to an Opto digital input to monitor the circuits. The gas analyzer power was controlled by a SNAP digital output that controls an Opto relay. The five-gas analyzer outputs analog signals that are collected by SNAP-AIV-4, analog input modules then scaled to engineering units. These engineering units are then collected and stored for emission analyses. Wiring and programming using Opto 22 equipment for the remote starting of the engines to operate and to charge the system batteries is underway.