Fermentation Vessel Automation

Team Members:

Andrew Arndt Adam Daters

Brad DeSerano Austin Striegel

SD Team: Dec06-07

December 12, 2006

Client: Stephanie Loveland

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Advisor:Dr. Degang Chen

Presentation Outline

• Project Overview• Research Activities• Hardware Configuration• Software Development• Implementation• Resources and Scheduling• Lessons Learned• Closing Remarks• Questions

Acknowledgements

• Stephanie Loveland– Provided finances, design specifications,

and requirements for the project

• Dr. Degang Chen– Technical and practical advice

Definitions

• DAQ – Data acquisition• Flash – Animated graphics technology and format from

Macromedia• GUI – Graphical user interface• LabVIEW – Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering

Workbench• PPM – Parts per million• RPM – Rotations per minute• RS232 – Standard for serial cable interface• SCC – Signal conditioning system offered by National

Instruments• SLM – Standard liters per minute• VI (virtual instruments) – Sub-unit program in LabVIEW that

represents the appearance and function of a physical implement

Problem Statement

• A mock fermentation vessel is available for use by senior chemical engineering students

• Simple methods were used to record data (Paper and Pencil)

• An automated data collection system needed to be developed to gather the data

• Upgrade equipment as needed

Problem Solution-Approach

• Designed and installed new hardware for the mock fermentation vessel apparatus– Data acquisition card– Signal conditioning modules– Oxygen concentration meter

• Created automatic data collection software with LabVIEW

• Recorded results with software to Excel workbook

Problem Solution-Approach

Equipment Data Recorded

Intended Users

• Senior level students in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering as well as faculty in the department

• Users must have knowledge of safety procedures and requirements while conducting experiments within the lab

• Users will need to have been exposed to the concepts that the lab is designed to simulate

Intended Uses

• Automate the collection of the data from the mock fermentation vessel apparatus

• Display data in real-time• Record data into Excel workbook for

further analysis• Use of this system is not supported on

any other equipment not supported

Operating Environment

• Location in 2059 Sweeney• Temperature controlled environment

– 60°F to 80°F

Laboratory Apparatus

Assumptions (1/2)

• The end-user of this project will be someone who is familiar with the fermentation process

• Only one experiment will be conducted at a time

• Environmental stability of 2059 Sweeney will be maintained

• All new components and cables will be paid for by the client

• All laboratory components will operate within their given rated power values

Assumptions (2/2)

• A computer will be supplied by the client with LabVIEW and Excel already installed

• An extra PCI slot will be available on the computer for data acquisition card

• The data acquisition card will supply its own clock

Limitations (1/2)

• File format type is in Excel format• Software shall be written using

LabVIEW• One sample every five second must be

recorded from each specified device• Maximum flow rate for the air/nitrogen

must be less than 6 SLM• Motor speed must be kept less than

800 RPM• Safety glasses must be worn at all

times when working in 2059 Sweeney

Limitations (2/2)

• No more than 4 significant digits stored upon measurement

• The voltage signals from the stirrer motor control must be electrically isolated

• The oxygen concentration meter must read from 0 to 9.5 PPM dissolved oxygen

• The oxygen concentration meter must be a benchtop unit

• A fully automated and integrated data collection system

• A graphical user interface (GUI) designed in LabVIEW

• Instruction manual and documentation for the data collection system

End Product and Deliverables

Present Accomplishments

• Purchased and installed all hardware for automated data collection

• Collected data from each piece of lab equipment

• Tested functionality of software as a team

• Tested functionality of software with intended users, received feedback

• Delivered completed software with software feedback implemented

Future Required Activities

• Review user manual with client• Review programmer’s manual with

client

Technology Considerations (1/4)

• Data Acquisition Board

• Signal Conditioning

• Oxygen Concentration Meter

Data Acquisition Board

Technology Considerations (2/4)

USB DAQ• Inexpensive and Easy Connection• No Signal Conditioning Capability

PXI DAQ System• High Resolution/High Sampling Rate• High Cost• Signal Conditioning CapabilityPCI DAQ Board• Moderate Resolution & Sampling Rate• Moderate Cost• Signal Conditioning Capability

Technology Selected:PCI DAQ Board

Technology Considerations (3/4)Signal Conditioning

No Signal Conditioning• Less Cost• Unable to interface directly with DAQ

board

Signal Conditioning• Isolation requirements met for Stirrer

Motor Control• Easy interface with DAQ board• Extra cost of Signal Conditioning Carrier

Box

Technology Selected:Signal Conditioning

Technology Considerations (4/4)Oxygen Concentration Meter

Omega DOB-930• 100 data point logging• RS232 Interface• Limited support and availability

Thermo Electron Orion 3-Star• 200 data point logging• RS232 Interface• 3-year Extended Warranty and

availability up to 5 years

Technology Selected:Thermo Electron Orion 3-Star

Detailed Design (1/8)

Hardware Data Flow Configuration

Detailed Design (2/8)Oxygen Concentration Meter and Interface

Thermo Electron Orion 3-Star• Full Scale Measurement of Dissolved

Oxygen (0-9.5 PPM)

Interface• Onboard RS232 Connection port for data

acquisition• Meter is configured to transfer data every

5 seconds to the PC• Data is acquired using the onboard COM

port of the computer supplied

Detailed Design (3/8)Mass Gas Flow Meter and Interface

Omega FMA-5610• Full Scale Measurement of Gas Flow from

0 to 10 SLM• Analog 0-5V Output Signal

Interface • 9-Pin D Connector: Pins 2-3 voltage output• SCC-AI04 is used to isolate and condition

the 0-5V signal• SCC Module is plugged into the SCC

Carrier for interface with the DAQ board

Detailed Design (4/8)Signal Conditioning Carrier Unit

SCC Carrier SC-2345• Direct Cabling to the M-Series DAQ Board• Housing for up to 20 SCC Modules• Powered by DAQ Board with 5V Signal

Interface• Connects to the DAQ board via a 68 pin

shielded connector cable

Detailed Design (5/8)Stirrer Motor Control and Interface

Glas-Col GKH-Stir Tester • Two analog voltage outputs (0-5V)• Operates with a floating ground at 70-90V• 60V fast transient spikes on voltage lines

Interface• 4 pin terminal connection (Differential

Voltage)• SCC-AI04 is used to isolate the analog

input up to 300V• Voltages are measured differentially to

protect against transient spikes• SCC Module is plugged into the SCC

Carrier to interface with the DAQ board

Detailed Design (6/8)Data Acquisition Card

NI PCI-6221 M-Series DAQ Board• 16 Analog Inputs, 2 Analog Outputs, 24

Digital I/O Lines, 2 Counters/Timers• 16 Bit Resolution – Accuracy of 70μV• Sampling Rate: 250 kilo-samples/sec

Interface• Connects with the Signal Conditioning

Carrier via the 68 pin shielded cable• Supplies internal clock for data acquisition

of signals• 6 Channels of analog inputs are used for

acquiring mass gas flow, torque, and speed

• Automatic VI’s in LabVIEW define the operation of the DAQ card

Detailed Design (7/8)Software Design and Implementation

Detailed Design (8/8)Software Interface

Implementation Activities

• Determined scaling of devices for proper measurement

• Determined proper connection for obtaining stirrer motor control data– No documentation– Contacted manufacturer and obtained more

information– Used multimeter to determine correct wiring

• Added multiple tab data writing after obtaining beta testing feedback

Testing Activities

• Team Testing– Individual unit testing– Overall GUI functionality testing

• Beta Testing– Student testing with actual laboratory

experiments– Four groups of students tested– Surveys filled out by each group– Changes applied from feedback:

• Experiment data on a new worksheet in an Excel file

ResourcesPersonnel Hours

ResourcesOther Resources

Oxygen Concentration Meter $1500

Data Acquisition Unit $400

Signal Conditioning Unit $700

Cables $130

Project poster $20

Total $2750

ResourcesFinancial Resources

Labor Costs Oxygen Concentration Meter

Data Acquisition Unit Signal Conditioning UnitCables Project poster

Labor Costs $9156

Other Resources $2750

Total $11906

Schedule

Project Evaluation (1/2)

• Technology Research and Selection– 100% Completed

• Design– 100% Completed

• Implementation– 100% Completed

• Testing– 100% Completed

• Documentation– 100% Completed

Project Evaluation (2/2)

Legend:Greatly Exceeded (1.1) – Minimum expectations were met with the addition of several extra featuresExceeded (1.0) – Minimum expectations were met with the addition of one or more extra featuresFully Met (0.9) – Minimum expectation were metPartially Met (0.5) - Some of the minimum expectations were metNot Met (0.0) – None of the minimum expectations were met

With a score above 90%, the project has fully met and exceeded all expectations

Making the project a complete success

Commercialization

• Project was not designed to be commercialized

• With small software changes the system would be extendable to collect data from similar or newer equipment

Future Recommendations

• Total automation of the system via computer controlled laboratory equipment– Current system would allow for computer

control following software changes– Dependent upon client preference

Lessons Learned (1/4)

• Client relationship• Time management

– Project completed earlier than expected– Beta testing occurred early, allowed for

more changes

• Advisor Advice

Successes

• Incorrect SCC module purchased initially• Stirrer motor control pin out

Lessons Learned (2/4)Setbacks

• LabVIEW Programming• Data acquisition and signal conditioning• Troubleshooting problems• Client relations• Delegating responsibilities• Communication skills

Lessons Learned (3/4)Experienced Gain

• More research into each piece of equipment

• Obtain better LabVIEW reference

Lessons Learned (4/4)What we would do differently

Risk and Risk Management

• Equipment damage– Broken vessel overcome by team– Replacement ordered by client

• Wrong module purchase– Initial mass gas flow module wrong input– Used stirrer motor control module during

development

• Team member loss– No team member lost during duration of project

• Human injury– Standard safety procedures are followed by

team while working in Sweeney lab

Closing Remarks

• Students collected by pencil and paper data from each laboratory equipment every 10-15 seconds

• An automatic data collection system was successfully created using data acquisition and LabVIEW software

• Users can view real-time data, and do further analysis with electronically saved data

Demonstration

Questions?