Remote-Access Real-Time Laboratory: Process Monitoring and Control through the Internet Protocol

Abstract

The development of a remote-access real-time laboratory (RART-Lab) is described, and a case study is presented of its application to a real-time mechanical engineering experiment, namely a study of thermo-hydrodynamics of flow through mini-channels. (The study of such flows is vital for many applications, ranging from electronics thermal management to fuel cells.) The RART-Lab concept encompasses data acquisition during the experiment, storage, post-processing and online transmission of data to multiple users logged on to their respective web browsers. Control of the experimental process parameters (e.g. liquid mass flow rate and heater power level) from one (or more) remote stations over the web in real time is also incorporated. Online video images of the experimental facility, visualization modules and color-indexed temperature data can be transmitted by webcam. The system developed has a friendly graphical user interface. It also allows transmission of process parameter alarm signals via an e-mail client server or via an SMS text message to a mobile telephone. Simultaneously, conventional chatting has also been incorporated to add vibrancy to inter-user communication. In addition, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations have also been done simultaneously with the real-time laboratory to mimic the experiments. Such an integrated development greatly widens the possibilities of collaborative research, development, simulation and experimentation, to overcome the need for the physical proximity of the experimental hardware and experimenters. Such generic tools not only make academic interactions and real-time data sharing more fruitful but also greatly facilitate joint research and development activities between academia and the industrial community.