Host computer software has many important functions in industrial automation, including:
Data acquisition and monitoring:
Real-time data acquisition: communicate with various industrial equipment such as sensors, PLCs, instruments, etc. to obtain real-time information such as the operating status, process parameters, and production data of the equipment. For example, in the petrochemical industry, the host computer software can collect parameters such as the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of the reactor so that operators can grasp the key data of the production process in real time.
Status monitoring: Display the collected data on the monitoring interface in an intuitive way, such as numbers, charts, and graphics, so that operators can clearly understand the current status of the equipment. Through the monitoring interface, you can also set the data threshold. When the data exceeds the normal range, the host computer software will automatically issue an alarm prompt so that timely measures can be taken.
Equipment control and operation:
Remote control: Operators can send control instructions to industrial equipment through the host computer software to realize remote start, stop, adjustment and other operations of the equipment. For example, in a sewage treatment plant, operators can remotely control the start and stop of water pumps and the opening and closing of valves through the host computer software, thereby realizing the control of the sewage treatment process13.
Logic control programming: The host computer software can write complex logic control programs according to the requirements of the production process to realize the automatic control of the equipment. For example, in an automated production line, the host computer software can control the coordinated work of various equipment according to the production process of the product to improve production efficiency and product quality.
Data analysis and processing:
Data storage and management: The collected historical data is stored in the database for subsequent query, analysis and statistics. The host computer software can classify, archive and back up the data to ensure the security and integrity of the data. For example, in the power industry, the host computer software can store the operation data of the substation to provide data support for equipment maintenance and fault diagnosis.
Data analysis and mining: Analyze and mine the stored historical data to extract valuable information, such as the operation trend of the equipment, fault patterns, etc. Through data analysis, we can provide a basis for production decisions, optimize the production process, and improve the reliability and production efficiency of equipment. For example, by analyzing the vibration data of the equipment, we can predict the failure time of the equipment, perform maintenance in advance, and avoid the impact of equipment failure on production.
Graphical interface design:
Visual display: Provide a friendly graphical user interface (GUI) to display the industrial production process to operators in an intuitive and visual way. The graphical interface can include flow charts, equipment layout diagrams, monitoring screens, etc., which are convenient for operators to quickly understand the overall situation of the production system.
Interactive operation: Operators can interact with the host computer software through buttons, menus, sliders and other controls on the graphical interface to achieve functions such as equipment control, data query and parameter setting. Good graphical interface design can improve the work efficiency of operators and reduce the incidence of operational errors.
Alarm and event management:
Alarm function: When the equipment fails, the data is abnormal or other emergencies occur, the host computer software will immediately send an alarm signal to remind the operator to deal with it in time. The alarm method can include sound, light, SMS, email, etc. to ensure that the operator can receive the alarm information in time3.
Event recording: record the operation events, alarm events, operation events, etc. of the equipment to form an event log. Event logs can be used for fault analysis, responsibility tracing and production management, helping enterprises improve their production management level.
System configuration and management:
Equipment parameter configuration: The host computer software can configure and modify the parameters of the connected industrial equipment, such as the communication parameters, control parameters, alarm parameters, etc. of the equipment. Through parameter configuration, the requirements of different production processes can be met and the flexibility and adaptability of the system can be improved.
User management: manage users who use the host computer software, including user addition, deletion, modification and permission setting. Different users can have different operation permissions to ensure the security and reliability of the system.
Communication and interface management:
Communication protocol support: support multiple communication protocols, such as serial communication (RS232, RS485, etc.), Ethernet communication (TCP/IP, UDP, etc.), fieldbus communication (Modbus, Profibus, etc.), so as to communicate with different types of industrial equipment3.
Interface management: Provides unified interface management functions to facilitate integration with other systems, such as the enterprise’s management information system (MIS), manufacturing execution system (MES), etc. Through integration with other systems, information sharing and collaborative work can be achieved, improving the management level and production efficiency of the enterprise.
