Animal house environment control system with multiple levels of redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal house climate control systems have limited backup capabilities, leading to reduced functionality and increased production costs due to inadequate redundancy in temperature and humidity control, which can result in undesirable and dangerous conditions.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system with multiple levels of redundancy, featuring a main control unit, a standby control unit, plugin modules that can operate autonomously, and failsafe relays, ensuring continuous operation by switching between these components in case of failures to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a control system with limited backup capability is used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control units (primary and secondary), each capable of autonomous operation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality even when one unit fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely complex centralized backup system.
Solution Approach 2:
A secondary control unit is预先配置 (pre-configured) as a backup to the primary control unit. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the primary unit fails, the secondary unit can immediately take over, maintaining system reliability without adding complex real-time failover mechanisms.
2Reliability
If multiple levels of redundancy are implemented, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant control functionality is segmented into distinct control units rather than distributing it throughout the entire system. This modular segmentation allows for manageable complexity while achieving multiple levels of redundancy through hierarchical arrangement of control units.
Solution Approach 2:
Both the primary and secondary control units are designed with universal functionality, meaning either unit can independently perform all control functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized backup components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Reliability
If backup systems are separately purchased and wired, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The primary and secondary control units are merged into a single integrated control system rather than being separate independently wired systems. This combining simplifies installation and manufacturing by reducing the number of separate wiring harnesses and connection points, while still providing redundant functionality for improved reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A climate control system is operated by receiving climate information from climate control input devices at one or more plugin modules. The climate information is communicated from the plugin modules to a main control unit, which determines operating instructions for climate output devices and air inlets. When it is detected that the main control unit is not operational, the control system switches to a standby control unit if so equipped. The climate information is then communicated from the plugin modules to the standby control unit. The standby control unit determines operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets based on the climate information. When it is detected that the standby control unit is also not operational, the plugin modules switch to an autonomous mode such that operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets are determined by the plugin modules.