Project challenge: Full test scripting & log 

To ensure the quality of the pumps our customer sold, the organisation conducts test-to-destruction tests on their pumps over several weeks or months of high-intensity workloads.

The project required the following: 
  1. Custom scripting of the tests to be run in order to stress different aspects of the pumps under test.
  2. Up to 4 pumps needed to be under test at the same time, requiring a full safety shutdown facility that had to be automated. 
  3. Detailed log information of various temperatures, pressures and electrical supply to be robustly logged to a centralised server.
WE REQUIRED SPECIFIC CONTROL AND LOGGING OF OUR PUMP
TEST-TO-DESTRUCTION QUALITY PROGRAMME

JAD solution

JAD Systems developed a comprehensive solution as follows: 
  • Power was supplied to the pumps by a variety of modbus-based ABB and 4-20mA based Yaskawa variable-speed drives.
  • Four custom-designed boxes - each measuring 3 pressures, 4 temperatures, speed and electrical supply - configure and monitor and control the variable-speed drives.
  • All relevant data is logged once per second to a CSV file which is stored locally on a Compact RIO until it is uploaded to the customer's server for analysis.
  • A custom user-interface allows the customer to quickly specify the testing parameters, after which a comprehensive control and safety script is generated and uploaded to the CompactRIO.