Key Software Features
Our development approach has allowed for a core set of refrigeration functions to be designed for use throughout our production family. Some of the key features and refrigeration component controls are as follows:
- Consistent User Interface
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Compressor Sequencer Control
Compressor Sequencer Control
Standard
- Stages multiple compressors on one or more common suction lines.
- Use of a common suction pressure sensor or one of the screw compressor sensors.
- One set of common control parameters on the master sequencer is used for all compressors to eliminate sensor differences and piping loss.
- Separate control parameters for compressor capacity control and compressor starts/stops
- Adjustable staging parameters for both staging up and down compressors
- Starting of next compressor inhibited until trim compressor is fully loaded or limited.
- Re-configurable lead lists allows easy addition or removal of swing compressors.
- Multiple lead lists to allow different compressor configurations to be stored and scheduled (Standard is two with more available on request)
- Ability to select maximum compressors allow to run for each lead list
- When lead lists are changed, compressors start and stop in a controlled manner to smooth out transitions.
- Starting of skipped compressors using a standby monitor timer to maintain lead list order, as those compressors become available.
- Hot standby feature reduces starting and stopping of trim compressor.
- Support for screw, rotary, and reciprocating compressors.
- Automatic interlocks between booster and high stage systems
- Setpoint and lead list scheduling:
- Four (4) programmable setpoint groups (control setpoint, deadband, low alarm, and low failure).
- Seven (7) daily schedules each with eight time slots.
- Each time slot contains a desired lead list and a desired setpoint group
- Manual override provided for schedule number, setpoint group and lead list.
Options
- Support for control parameters being changeable by the end user between suction pressure and process temperature.
- Ability to force a compressor on in anticipation of a load
- Support for disable ling sequencer based on conditions ( i.e. All zones are satisfied) stopping all compressors
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Condenser Control
Condenser Control
Standard
- Programmable pressure setpoint, deadband, and bandwidth.
- User configurable lead list for the fans and pumps may be modified at any time.
- Hot lead list change allows for smooth transitions when changes are required
- Stages may be temporarily removed from the lead list at any time.
- Programmable normal and fast staging delays for quick response.
- Support for two-speed fans. Lead list for two-speed fans is operator selectable to allow staging of all low speed fans first followed by the high speed fans.
Options
- Support for variable speed fans or pumps using Auto tuning PID control. Each fan is started as needed at user defined minimum speed. The speed of all of the fans is then varied as required.
- Wet bulb control option.
- Non-condensable calculation and alarm monitoring.
- Summer/Winter lead lists which can be automatically selected based on ambient air temperature or at a scheduled time.
- Condenser pump shutdown based on user defined conditions
- Shell-and-tube condenser control.
- Condenser scheduling with defrost setpoints.
- Condenser shutdown based on user defined conditions.
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Pump Package Control
Pump Package Control
Standard
- Up to five (6) discrete liquid level float switches (LLCO, LLA, OP1, OP2, HLA, and HLS).
and/or
- Analog continuous liquid level sensor with programmable setpoints for HLS, HLA, OP1, OP2, LLA, and LLCO levels and their individually programmable deadbands.
- Up to two (2) liquid feed solenoid valves with one or two independent level control setpoints.
- Operation of liquid feed solenoid valves based on liquid level.
- Up to five (5) pumps with auxiliary contacts.
- Automatic starting of back-up pumps based on lead pump failure.
- When no compressors are available, the pumps may be set to stop and the liquid feed solenoid may be closed.
- Pumps can be set to restart automatically after a power fail reset with a user programmable maximum down time.
- Pumps can be set to stop when no liquid is required by the zones.
- Pumps are always stopped during a low level cut-out condition and only allowed to re-start after the operating level is reached.
Options
- Modulating liquid solenoid using auto tuning PID algorithm
- Optional liquid temperature sensor.
- Optional pump suction and discharge pressure sensors.
- Anti-cavitation logic based on pump discharge pressure
- Compressors can be stopped via communications when a HLS condition occurs.
- Transfer System
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Evaporator Control
Evaporator Control
Standard
- Setpoint scheduling (zone independent):
- Four programmable setpoint groups (cooling setpoint, deadband, high alarm, low alarm, and heating setpoint option).
- Three daily schedules each with eight time slots.
- Manual override provided for schedule number and setpoint group.
- Air unit fans may be individually set to cycle with temperature or remain running. A programmable fan cycle off-time delay and/or on-time delay is also provided.
- When the fans for a zone are cycled off due to temperature, the fans may be cycled on for a short period of time to sample the room air before resuming normal operation.
- Support for various zone defrost types (hot gas, water, air, etc.)
- Zone high temperature alarms are inhibited during defrost cycle and for a user programmable delay after defrost completion.
- Manual override control of zone state (cooling, stop, manual, defrost, pump-out).
- Adaptable to match each zones specific valve station configuration.
- Defrost scheduling:
- Defrost based on liquid feed runtime or fixed time schedules.
- Programmable defrost times using three daily schedules with eight time slots.
- Power fail staging to slowly bring zones on-line after power failures based on user defined staging time and zone priorities.
- User-programmable setpoints to enable and disable defrosting based on head pressure
- Ability to inhibit defrosting of zones when no compressors are available.
- Ability to terminate defrost manually to force zone back to cooling state.
- Ability to separate zones into different defrost queues to select number of zones which can defrost at a time
Options
- Zone shutdown due to NH3 detection or other user defined conditions.
- Demand defrost based on discrete input, temperature differential across the coil or fan motor current.
- Priority defrost of pre-defined zones or based on user issued command.
- Heating option allows zone to maintain a heating setpoint. Optional ability to disable heating based on user-defined conditions.
- Variable speed fan control using PID control loop based on user defined weighted average between room air and return air temperature sensors
- Two speed fans, variable speed fans, or variable suction regulator control.
- Setpoint scheduling (zone independent):
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Blast Freezer Control
Blast Freezer Control
Standard
- User programmable blast runtime length.
- Manual start or automatic start based on user programmed start time and day of week.
- Blast freezer can be set to stop, defrost then stop, or hold at end of blast runtime.
- Priority defrost allows a blast zone to be the next zone allowed to defrost.
- Blast operating state can be overridden by the user.
- Blast staging to provide a programmable delay between multiple blast cell starts
Options
- Demand defrost based on temperature differential across coils or fan motor current.
- Ability to display blast runtime either counting up or down.
- Priority defrost of zones based on user issued command.
- Blast termination based on product probes
- VFD fan control based on user defined fan speed profile/schedule
- Spiral Freezer
- Floor Warming
- Purger
- Exhaust Fan
- Emergency Shutdown
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Chiller Control
Chiller Control
Standard
- Up to five (6) discrete liquid level float switches (LLCO, LLA, OP1, OP2, HLA, and HLS).
and/or
- Analog continuous liquid level sensor with programmable setpoints for HLS, HLA, OP, LLA, and LLCO levels and their individual deadbands.
- Up to two (2) liquid feed solenoid valves.
- Operation of liquid feed solenoid valves based on liquid level.
- Back Pressure Regulator (BPR) support to control product temperature. BPR may be either a dual-pressure or continuously regulating valve using auto tuning PID control.
- Temperature monitoring and safety control of liquid
Options
- Customized to the specific requirements of the customer.
- Shutdown of compressors based on high level shutdown (HLS).
- Optional pump control to maintain a liquid flow rate or liquid pressure.
- Flow rate monitoring by either flow switch or GPM flow meter.
- Support for closing liquid feed valves when no compressors are running.
- Support for shutdown when no compressors are available or on other user defined conditions.
- Leak Detection
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Data Logging
Data Logging
Standard
- Operation log which displays a list of the system’s operating conditions for the last hour, at 30 second intervals.
- Trend log which displays the same system operating conditions as the operation log but allows the user to define the recording interval value (default is 15 minutes) and has a limit of approximately 200 recorded data entries.
- Alarm log which is a record of the last 100 system alarms.
- Failure log which is a record of the last 100 system failures.
- User log which is a record of the last 50 users logged onto the system including location of log on.
- Any system alarms or failures are also inserted into the operation and trend log at the time they occur regardless of the log’s recording interval.
Options
- User defined custom logs to store data on anything from number of times a valve opened to the KW electric cost over a period of time.
- System logging maintains all system status information and can be down loaded to the PC for viewing
- System Diagnostics
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KW Monitoring/Load Shedding
KW Monitoring/Load Shedding
KW Monitoring
Standard
- KW monitoring using either KW pulse meters, KW meters or current transformers.
- Calculation of total energy used and current demand. The following KW calculations are performed and displayed: KW/hour, KW/day, KW/week, and KW/year.
- Tracks highest demand for the day with time of occurrence.
- High Demand Alarm
- KW log records daily totals.
Options
- Multiple circuits and separate control to match facility
- Communications to power meters for additional power parameters
Load Shedding
Standard
- Uses KW monitoring data.
- Shutdown evaporators to maintain demand KW below user defined limits.
- User programmable normal and fast response delays
- Setpoint scheduling:
- Four programmable setpoint groups (demand KW setpoint, normal bandwidth, control deadband, normal stage delay, and fast stage delay).
- Three daily schedules each with eight time slots.
- Manual override provided for schedule number and setpoint group.
- Ability to enable/disable each zone for load shed and prioritize enabled zones.
- Looks at zone temperature compared to setpoint and shuts down closest zones first
- If a zone warms up to user defined limits it will be restarted.
Options
- Ability to add non-refrigeration equipment to the shed list and prioritize.
Control Hardware
Our industrial refrigeration control systems can be delivered using either of our hardware platforms: microprocessor-based control panels or PLC control panels.
Microprocessor Hardware
This approach utilizes one or more microprocessor-based control panels to perform all system functions. A system can be housed in a single control panel to form a centralized system or distributed among several panels based on customer needs, thus reducing wiring cost. Another feature is expandability: Every system we install is fully expandable, which allows for cost-effective expansion as your business grows.
The following are some of the key advantages of the Microprocessor-based Hardware Features
Microprocessor-based Hardware Features
- Microprocessor based controller.
- Expandable architecture for distributed or centralized control systems.
- Standard Small Panel (24wX30hX8d):
- 16 Analog Inputs, 16 Analog Outputs
- 64 Discrete Inputs or Outputs (2 I/O Racks).
- Standard Large Panel (36wX60hX8d):
- 64 Analog Inputs, 16 Analog Outputs
- 160 Discrete Inputs or Outputs (5 I/O Racks).
- Special-Order Floor-Mount Panel:
- 64 Analog Inputs, 16 Analog Outputs
- 224 Discrete Inputs or Outputs (7 I/O Racks).
- Network and communications:
- Four fully-independent serial ports (two RS-422/485, one RS-232/422/485, one modem/RS-232).
- RS-422/485 differential serial network provides noise immunity.
- Error detection and automatic link failure recovery.
- On board modem with auto answer capability. Optional auto-dial out feature also available.
- Optional open communications protocols including Modbus RTU, Allen-Bradley DF1, BACnet, and FrickTalk.
- User interface:
- Simple menu structure for easy access to all features.
- Fast “Hot Key” menu access.
- Alarm highlighting using reverse video characters.
- Extensive status monitoring and data logging.
- Standardized data entry.
- Password control for both viewing and updating of screen data. Customizable by the end-user.
- Self-diagnostics:
- “Watch Dog” timer detects power loss, power droop, or microcontroller malfunction.
- Binary error detection communications protocol insures accurate high speed transfer of data in harsh industrial environments.
- “Self Test” software periodically checks controller for integrity and notifies user of any problems.
- “Internal Panel Temperature” sensor is located on the microcontroller and is used to monitor and log panel temperature (Option).
- Cost-Effective Solution
- Standalone Design Independent of PC Software
- Interchangeable Parts
- Expandable
- Backward Compatible Hardware Design
- Open Communications Protocols
PLC Hardware
We also offer a PLC line of control systems which utilize either Allen-Bradley or Eaton PLC hardware depending on customer requirements and budget constraints. The systems are designed using the M&M approach, which involved a complete porting of all microprocessor-based control algorithms into the PLC hardware.