DIII-D neutral beam control system operator interface

The problem of constructing a HIL simulation stand for researching a technological process using programmable logic controller (PLC) "Baget" is described in this article. Issues of modeling technological processes are currently extremely relevant, since modeling is a mandatory stage in the automated process control systems development. An adequate model of the technological process allows debugging and verification of automated process control system algorithms without using real equipment, reducing financial costs and the probability of emergency situations. The HIL modeling method involves partial use of real equipment as part of the model. The inclusion of standard components of the original object in the model does not require detailed mathematical model and at the same time provides a more complete correspondence to the original. Due to using a computer from the original object, the stand software operates under conditions close to the real technological process, which improves the quality of the simulation results. The HIL modeling stand includes the following components: control computer of automated process control system; programmable logic controller PLC "Baget"; simulation computer. The stand for the basic element of an automated process control system allows to speed up the process of prototyping and debugging even in the case of complex systems, because it will be easier to build the entire system from correctly functioning elements. Another advantage of this approach is that the stand is not tied to a specific type of technological process or to a narrow area of production — the stand allows the use of ready-made models, the development of new models, and the inclusion of various function libraries. The simplicity of the stand design with this approach is combined with a full range of functionality. By connecting additional software, you can create more complicated and detaild model. This stand is also capable of serving both for debugging PLC algorithms and as a simulator for maintenance personnel of a real control object, because the stand operator can simulate failures and errors of standard equipment, emergency situations at the control object. Using C and JavaScript programming languages for development ensures portability and ease of expanding the capabilities of the modeling software. The development of complex systems based on HIL modeling allows saving resources and effectively solving assigned problems, therefore the proposed approach to building stands will be in demand in the process of developing an automated process control system based on the PLC "Baget".

The various software systems developed for the DIII-D tokamak have played a highly visible and important role in tokamak operations and fusion research. Because of the heavy reliance on in-house developed software encompassing all aspects of operating the tokamak, much attention has been given to the careful design, development and maintenance of these software systems. Software systems responsible for tokamak control and monitoring, neutral beam injection, and data acquisition demand the highest level of reliability during plasma operations. These systems made up of hundreds of programs totaling thousands of lines of code have presented a wide variety of software design and development issues ranging from low level hardware communications, database management, and distributed process control, to man machine interfaces. The focus of this paper will be to describe how software is developed and managed for the DIII-D control and data acquisition computers. It will include an overview and status of software systems implemented for tokamak control, neutral beam control, and data acquisition. The issues and challenges faced developing and managing the large amounts of software in support of the dynamic and everchanging needs of the DIII-D experimental program will be addressed.

This work details a methodology of design and test of a new prototype emergency mechanical ventilator called Fenix for the COVID-19 crisis in Peru. This equipment was manufactured with industrial equipment for the embedded and pneumatic systems, such as a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), proportional flow valves, sensors, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), industrial panel HMI 15" and other electrical and pneumatic parts from Festo and Schneider Electric. This selection was in accordance with safety requirements based on ISO 80601-2-12: 2020-02. This study included two ventilatory modes, pressure- controlled in continuous mandatory ventilation (PC-CMV) and volume-controlled in continuous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV), these control algorithms were evaluated analytically and experimentally in a FLUKE VT-650 Gas Flow Analyzer and an Acculung Fluke connected with a computer for comparing 9 ventilatory parameters in 4 different states as μ, simulation of the variation of the pressure control in a patient, and ϴ, simulation of alveolar recruitment in an intensive care patient, both states to PC-CMV, and also β, simulation of the variation of the flow control in a patient, and α, simulation of alveolar recruitment in an intensive care patient, both last states to VC-CMV. Additionally, we study the pressure, volume, and flow graphs in the Fenix user interface for comparison with data recovered from Fluke Medical VT650 Gas Flow Analyzer. The results demonstrate an error in the flow measurement for the 4 states due to the peaks that are not detected by the low-pass filter of the sensor, however, a similar trend is seen in the control ventilatory graphs of the calibrator. Finally, the ventilator prototype provides ventilatory support, with a maximum tidal volume error of 12.93 % and inspiratory pressure of -20.15 % with respect to the set value; and it allows to monitor the main ventilation parameters with a calculation error between -6 to 25 %.Clinical Relevance - Established the design of emergency mechanical ventilator using PLC and industrial components.

For the past several decades, the programmable logic controller has been one of the major driving forces in industrial automation. Affected by COVID19 since spring 2020, teaching a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) course has become a difficult task for both faculty and students since it involves many labs. Access to labs has been limited by campus closures and capacity limits to maintain social distancing. To overcome this problem, we developed a Virtual PLC Lab simulation software, which consists of four major components – a Soft PLC – the Runtime Engine, a Ladder Diagram Program Editor and Monitor, a Data/Tag Editor and Monitor, and an I/O Device Simulator, aimed at getting a working prototype together in the shortest period of time possible to allow us to continue to offer this course in the coming semesters. The software was designed to have a graphic user interface (GUI) similar in look and feel to those of the Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC software RSLogix 5000 that were installed in our lab and the Lab Console (I/O Devices) Simulator was designed to mimic our lab I/O device console. Object Oriented Programming and formal model-based design methods were adopted to keep the maximum possible level of data abstraction. This software was experimentally used in our 2020 and 2021 online PLC classes and student performance and brief statistics were satisfactory and presented herein.

The original DIII-D cryogenic system was commissioned in 1981 and was used to cool the cryopanel arrays for three hydrogen neutral beam injectors. Since then, new demands for liquid helium have arisen including: a fourth neutral beam injector, ten superconducting magnets for the electron cyclotron heating gyrotrons, and more recently, the advanced divertor cryopump which resides inside the tokamak vacuum vessel. The original cryosystem could not meet these demands. Consequently, the cryosystem was upgraded in several phases to increase capacity, improve reliability, and reduce maintenance. The majority of the original system has been replaced with superior equipment. The capacity now exists to support present as well as future demands for liquid helium at DIII-D including a hydrogen pellet injector, which is being constructed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Upgrades to the cryosystem include: a recently commissioned 150 l/hr helium liquefier, two 55 g/sec helium screw compressors, a fully automated 20-valve cryogen distribution box, a high efficiency helium wet expander, and the conversion of equipment from manual or pneumatic to programmable logic controller (PLC) control. The distribution box was designed and constructed for compactness due to limited space availability. Overall system efficiency was significantly improved by replacing the existing neutral beam reliquefier Joule-Thomson valve with a reciprocating wet expander. The implementation of a PLC-based automatic control system has resulted in increased efficiency and reliability. This paper will describe the cryosystem design with emphasis on newly added equipment. In addition, performance and operational experience will be discussed.

For a football player to perform well in football, it is necessary to improve his technical and tactical skills. Improving these skills is enabled with repetition of the same positions that the football player has the ball. The repetitions of these same positions can be performed with the aid of a machine. In this study, a football throwing machine design which can provide direction and velocity for the ball in a repeatable and controllable manner is generated in order for fully educational evaluation. Ball loading canister on the ball throwing machine enabled to use many balls. There are a couple of ball throwing wheels both are made of polyurethane material and have concave surface. These wheels are mounted on a body for axial rotation on a common ground. Each wheel’s rotation speed can be adjusted individually. In order to determine horizontal-vertical direction of movement of the ball, two linear actuator are used. Ball’s velocity, direction, orbit and throwing laps are controlled electronically. All controls concerning ball throwing are carried out via Delta PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human Machine Interface) panel. A user interface is developed for controls made via PLC. Owing to interface, different training plans are designed by handler or trainer via operator panel and footballer is provided to train in various density. In order to prevent toppling tripod system, and to carry easily a towing arm is used. Machine can work with an accumulator or feed directly from grid circuit.

Diseño e implementación de un sistema de control y monitoreo basado en HMI-PLC para un pozo de agua potable

Comparison between commercial and open-source SCADA packages—A case study

In production automation, field level control software is executed on programmable logic controllers and implemented according to the IEC 61131-3 standard. In contrast to sophisticated architectural capabilities in business software and high level programming languages, the IEC 61131 standard provides only limited support for architectural designs. Nevertheless, architectural decisions are made during implementation. Within this paper, a novel approach to discover implemented architectural designs within existing field level automation software is proposed and a framework for analyzing field level automation software, following a sophisticated viewpoint-based software engineering paradigm, is presented.

A gas injection system is currently being designed to supply the neutral beam (NB) long pulse ion sources (LPIS) in support of the tritium phase of TFTR (Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor) operation. Each NB source will be supplied by a dual gas injection system. Separate deuterium and tritium gas injection subsystems provide the greatest gas isolation as well as providing redundancy. A single programmable logic controller will provide central control of the D-T gas injection subsystems of all 12 NB sources. To maintain accurate T/sub 2/ inventory control, the PLC will accurately monitor the NB T/sub 2/ usage. The usage will be correlated with the Tritium Gas Delivery System's (TGDS's) information on the quantity of T/sub 2/ delivered. Central control will enable an operator to quickly respond to any event affecting the NB tritium subsystems. Individual closed-loop controllers will maintain precise flow control for each LPIS during beam extraction. T/sub 2/ or D/sub 2/ will be delivered in small batches, to a local plenum on each individual LPIS. A piezoelectric valve, coupled with pressure feedback from the local LPIS gas storage plenum, will be used to establish a controlled bleeddown of the individual gas plenums during injection. >

Traditional programmable logic controllers (PLCs) remain central to industrial automation but are often expensive due to stringent compliance requirements. To address this challenge, this work proposes a low-cost and customizable framework for automation systems built upon open-source hardware and software components. The proposed solution integrates Linux-capable boards with an intermediate hardware module for input/output (I/O) management. A graphical user interface (GUI) based on the function block diagram (FBD) paradigm enables intuitive, visual logic programming, making the system accessible to users with different levels of expertise. Control logic is executed dynamically using a directed acyclic graph approach, which facilitates flexible processing and supports real-time updates without interrupting operation. The open-source design promotes flexibility and customization, positioning the framework as a versatile alternative to traditional PLCs. It is particularly suited for research laboratories, educational environments, small-scale industrial automation, and other cost-sensitive applications. Two case studies demonstrate its effectiveness in real-time control tasks, highlighting its practicality and ease of use. Given its open and modular nature, the framework is intended for educational use, research laboratories, and non-critical automation scenarios.

Background: In recent years, the rising demand for high-performance radar systems in aeronautics, astronautics, national defense, and civil communication has driven the widespread application of phased-array technology. The design of beam controllers, the core of phased-array systems, faces many challenges. Traditional implementation schemes are usually based on application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) or discrete components, which have a long development cycle, poor flexibility, and limited adaptability. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), with their high parallelism, reconfigurability, and powerful signal processing capabilities, offer a new way to implement phased-array control systems. But FPGA design has traditionally relied on register transfer level (RTL) description, which is inefficient and struggles to keep up with the rapid iteration of complex algorithms. With the development of high-level synthesis (HLS) technology, it has become possible to develop FPGAs using high-level languages such as C/C++. However, improving development efficiency while ensuring hardware performance remains a key issue in the design of phased-array beam controllers. Materials and Methods: This study employs an HLS - RTL co - design method to build a phased - array beam controller. This approach combines the strengths of HLS's efficient algorithm implementation and RTL's precise hardware interface control. The system architecture consists of three parts: the host - machine control layer, FPGA processing layer, and phase - control output layer. In the FPGA processing layer, the core beam - forming algorithm is implemented via HLS. Based on phased - array principles, this algorithm converts target angles to wave vectors and calculates phase - compensation values for each element in an 8×8 array. Pipelining and parallel processing techniques are used in the HLS design to optimize algorithm throughput and latency. The phase - control output layer, designed with RTL, repackages 64 calculated phase values and distributes them to 16 physical phase - shifter chips. Each phase - shifter manages four elements and receives control data through an SPI interface. Results: The proposed FPGA-based phased-array beam controller design in this paper has successfully achieved high - speed, high - precision beam control. By using the HLS - RTL co - design method, it has solved the problem of low algorithm implementation efficiency in traditional FPGA development and ensured the high performance and reliability of hardware interfaces. Experimental results indicate that the system meets or surpasses design targets on key performance indicators. Its end - to - end latency is kept within 130μs, it supports an angle update rate of over 5,000 times per second, and can satisfy the requirements for tracking highly dynamic targets in practical applications. Conclusion: The major contributions of this research are as follows: presenting an HLS - RTL co - design methodology for complex FPGA system development; designing an efficient phased - array beam - forming algorithm and its hardware implementation; and developing a flexible and scalable phased - array control system architecture that supports different array configurations. These findings are highly significant for beamforming technologies in phased - array radar and 5G communication systems, as well as for other FPGA applications requiring high - speed signal processing.

A high-quality, friendly user interface can and does affect how users perceive a producT's quality. Human-factors specialists have been using a variety of methods to bring behavioral data into the process of specifying and evaluating user-interface design. Empirical studies are often used to evaluate design issues for a specific product, but we have found that more generic studies can influence a wider variety of products. In this paper, we describe three such generic user-interface studies whose results led to new product-specific user interfaces. Although each of these studies was done for a specific product, the findings have also proved useful for a wide variety of telecommunications products.

Reliable, high-intensity operation of the Fermilab Accelerator Complex is critical to the success of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. We describe the requirements and infrastructure necessary to support routine use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in the accelerator control system. Three capabilities are identified: a machine learning operations (MLOps) framework standardizing the lifecycle of AI/ML automation from data management through deployment and monitoring; a data quality framework defining and enforcing standards required to build trustworthy AI/ML applications; and workflow integration with large language models to assist physicists, engineers, and operators with information retrieval, code development, and routine analysis. Use cases spanning beam diagnostics, beam control, and support system automation illustrate the technical requirements across the complex.

In this paper new goals for particle beam diagnostics are discussed in contrast to traditional applications. New accelerator design ideas to produce particle beams of high performance characteristics require a redefinition of beam diagnostics toward more sophisticated beam control and more automation in beam measurements and analysis. New accelerator design concepts are more and more based on the ability to match the actual accelerator to the theoretical model in order to allow the adjustment of parameters which are not directly controllable. Scenarios of possible developments in beam diagnostics in support of future particle accelerators will be discussed with the goal to envision beam diagnostics and control systems which can greatly reduce the involvement of accelerator operators by performing and analyzing well known and repetitive beam measurements faster, more accurate, and consistent.