Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-23 Thread Paddy O'Reilly
If you use a 90MHz PC, the instruction cycle time could be around 11ns and faster for higher speeds so if you use a basic DOS or Linux without Windows and something like Turbo C, which should optimise your code, you would get very rapid processing and be limited only by your transducer conve

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-23 Thread Kirk McLoren
Greetings Mr. O'Reilly The 22ns you refer to is switching time of the output chip. What would be meaningful is response time from an input to the port and the corresponding output after processing time. Of course all of it will be very quick compared to the response time of a heater. I think wh

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Doug Foskey
r, I haven't managed to get the time or useful purpose for any of > my ideas yet but I'd be delighted to give you as much info as I have on > controlling parallel ports and my limited knowledge of Turbo C. > > Paddy. > > DHAJOGLO wrote: > >>Subject: Re: [Biofuel] A

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Michael Redler
elighted to give you as much info as I have on controlling parallel ports and my limited knowledge of Turbo C. Paddy. DHAJOGLO wrote: >>Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea >> >>Hi everyone, >> >> >... > > >>I was

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Paddy O'Reilly
always a rush of adrenalin when you run your own program and wait in anticipation to see if your programming skills don't blow up your basement ;o) Kirk McLoren wrote: Computers are great. I like them. But they aren't as reliable as simple physical systems. As for the delta T a bimetal can

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Paddy O'Reilly
for any of my ideas yet but I'd be delighted to give you as much info as I have on controlling parallel ports and my limited knowledge of Turbo C. Paddy. DHAJOGLO wrote: Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea Hi everyone, ... I was think

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Michael Redler
Right on! I knew that I couldn't possibly be the first person to think of this. I just didn't know where to look. I will definitely keep you informed of any progress. Thanks. Mike DHAJOGLO <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (may

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Michael Redler
Kirk, Well, again, I don't think your logic is off base -- especially when it comes to redundancy in control systems. There are ways to approach each of the situations you described in your reply. I worked as a control engineer for a few years and wrote computer logic (typically 0 to 20 mA

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Kirk McLoren
Computers are great. I like them. But they aren't as reliable as simple physical systems. As for the delta T a bimetal can operate over it is a question of mechanical design. An electronic controller may theoretically switch over a change of a milli degree but in the real world the conductivity fr

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread DHAJOGLO
>Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea > >Hi everyone, ... >I was thinking of developing generic software (in C or assembler) for old >computers to convert them into process controllers. For example, it might make >an effective temperat

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Michael Redler
OK Kirk. Thanks for the reply. I have a couple of follow-up questions: First, Is accuracy of your temperature set points (or other I/O) a critical issue for controlling a process? Because, a PID or Smith compensator control can give you far better control of your process than a bi-metallic s

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Kirk McLoren
A temperature controller that would not upset because of lightning or other power line disturbance and would not lose its settings with power supply failure may prove superior especially if less expensive. Thus a bimetal strip may prove best in the long run. I am in favor of data logging and ala

Re: [Biofuel] Attn. Pack Rats -- (maybe) A cheap Process Control Idea

2005-02-22 Thread Michael Redler
Hi everyone, For those of you who are working on your process control for ethanol/methanol or biodiesel production, I was wondering about something. I hate to send anything to the land fill or scrap yard that I might be able to use later and I'm sure you feel the same way. This philosophy has