Automation - Lecture 01
Automation - Lecture 01
Automation - Lecture 01
To automate a process, power is required both to drive the process itself & to
operate the program & control system.
1) Power:
Electric power is used in most automated system.
Advantages of electric power system are:-
a) Electric power is widely available.
b) Readily converted to other form of power such as mechanical, thermal
etc.
c) It can be stored in long life batteries.
Other power sources are solar energy, wind, water, fossil fuels etc.
(sometimes, electric power & alternative power are used together in
automation). E.g- Laser beam machining (Light & thermal energy are
used as power sources) - A high coherent light beam is used to
remove the material by melting & vaporization.
2) Program of Instruction:
The activities in an automated process are defined by a program of
instructions.
3) Control system:
The program of Instructions is executed by a control system.
Two types of control system can be distinguished as
a) Closed Loop (Feedback control system)
b) Open loop control system.
Closed loop:-
Closed loop control system is also known as feedback control system is
one in which the process variable of interest (output of process) is
compared with the corresponding process parameter(Input of the
process) & any differences between them is used to drive the output
value into agreement with input.
Open loop:-
It executes the program of instructions without a feedback loop. No
measurement of the output variable is made, so there is no comparison
between output & input in this control system.
ADVANTAGES:
1) Improve productivity.
2) Improve accuracy & precision of the products, less human error.
3) Improve quality of product.
4) Reduce direct human labor costs.
5) Replace human in works done in dangerous environment.
6) Reduce operation time or increase safety.
DISADVANTAGES:
TYPES OF AUTOMATION:
Disadvantages:-
2. Programmable automation
In this automation the product equipment is designed with the capability
to change the sequence of operations to accommodate different product
configurations. The operation sequence is controlled by a program, which
is a set of instructions coded. So, that they can be read and interpreted
by the system. New program can be prepared & entered into the
equipment to produce new product.
Advantages:-
Flexible to deal with design variations.
Suitable for batch production.
Disadvantages:-
Disadvantages:-
Shortage of labour.
High cost of labour.
Increase productivity- higher production output per hour of labour input
is possible with automation.
Competition- ultimate goal of company is to increase profits. Automation
may result in lower prices, superior products, beta labour relations and a
better Company image.
Safety- welding, spray painting and other operations can be health
hazards.
Lower costs- it may increase the scrap rate and reduce the cost of raw
materials.