July 2003PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
RKC, a controller specialist, has designed and developed a flexible, compact multizone temperature controller. The Farex-SR Mini system offers a flexible multizone PID temperature control that serves as a building block for factory automation. This new modular control system provides high performance temperature control that is normally associated with advanced, dedicated discrete controllers. The mini system is compact, because it is designed with low profile modules that measure only 96 x 24 x 100 mm, which is approximately the same length and width of a 3,5" floppy disk. With this size, users can add multizone PID temperature control to new equipment, or retrofit existing control panels.
Up to 16 units (max 320 loops) are available when connected to a PLC or a host computer
Up to eight units (max 160 loops) are available when connected to an RKC touch screen operation panel
Another advantage of this advanced system is that it combines a power supply, CPU module and up to 10 I/O modules. Each of these I/O modules offers two zones of PID temperature control, one zone is offered for the heat/cool module. Up to 10 analog and digital input/output modules can be connected to the power or CPU module of one Farex-SR Mini System.
Specific installation requirements are met because of the design and flexibility and the fact that the Farex system can be configured. Within these 10 modules, 20 temperature control zones (two zones per module) can be arranged in a space of only 96 x 288 x 100 mm. This system is compact, so it can be stacked to offer a maximum capacity of 320 zones of temperature control, which can be linked to a single operation panel or PC as one system.
A versatile 'mother-block' mounting system allows for easy mounting, with quick results. The Farex-SR Mini System can be mounted inside a machine control panel or positioned to suit individual equipment requirements. The system has a unique touch screen operational panel that can easily access all setting functions. This touch screen display provides a convenient setting interface for the system, which makes it easy to use.
RS232C, RS485 or RS422A communication links are available to connect the Farex-SR Mini system to PC or external PLC. PID temperature loops are efficiently processed and controlled. The system is ideal for factory automation, data acquisition and SPC/SQC analysis because of the PC accessibility. The Farex-SR Mini System offers optional 7-segment programmer, advanced control algorithms and optional fuzzy logic.
For more information contact Andy Brown, Temperature Controls, 011 791 6000, [email protected]
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