INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
TECHNOLOGY PARK MALAYSIA
EE038-3-2-ESA
ENGINEERING SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS
APU2F2008 INTAKE
HAND OUT DATE: 29 MARCH 2021
HAND IN DATE:
30 APRIL 2021
WEIGHTAGE:
50%
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1
Submit your assignment at the administrative counter.
2
Students are advised to underpin their answers with the use of references
(cited using the Harvard Name System of Referencing).
3
Late submission will be awarded zero (0) unless Extenuating
Circumstances (EC) are upheld.
4
Cases of plagiarism will be penalized.
5
The assignment should be bound in an appropriate style (comb bound or
stapled).
6
Where the assignment should be submitted in both hardcopy and softcopy,
the softcopy of the written assignment and source code (where
appropriate) should be on a CD in an envelope / CD cover and attached to
the hardcopy.
7
You must obtain 50% overall to pass this module.
EE038-3-2-ESA-ENGINEERING
APPLICATIONS
SOFTWARE
TITLE
:
ASSIGNMENT
NAME
: Syed Ahmed Suleman Mustafa
ID.
: TP056727
INTAKE
: APU2F2008ME
LECTURER
: Dr. Chitturi Venkatratnam
SUBMISSION DATE: 17th May 2021
AND
Abstract
LabView is an essential tool in an engineer’s arsenal. With how simple it is to use, LabView
provides us the ability to visualize ideas and imaginations into a more virtually tangible form,
something that can be manipulated and tested before committing to its creation. Modern
companies and manufactories require the ability to play and experiment with such ideas. Safety
and a backup plan is the very thing that needs to be assessed before the implementation and thus
LabVIEW comes in handy.
Contents
Abstract
3
Introduction
5
LabVIEW Front Panel and Block Diagram
5
The Data Log
8
Discussion
10
Collected Data
10
Successful operation of the alarms
11
Conclusion
12
References
12
Table of figures
Figure 1 fire safety is an important thing to consider.
5
Figure 2 codes1
5
Figure 3 Front panel
6
Figure 4 Smoke sensor block diagram
7
Figure 5 temperature sensor and alarm
7
Figure 6 shift register.
8
Figure 7 string array
8
Figure 8
8
Figure 9 signal merger and integer to decimal function
9
Figure 10 date and time with build arrays
9
Figure 11 insert to array function and write to delimited…
9
Figure 12 The final Block Diagram
10
Figure 13
10
Figure 14 data collected of events.
11
Figure 15 alarm shows temperatures are too high and a fire may have started.
11
Figure 16 alarm indicating sulfur levels are too high and the environment is now toxic.
12
Figure 17 alarm indicating temperatures are too low.
12
Introduction
Safety is and will always be at the forefront of any manufactory’s priorities. To protect your
employees/engineers and the equipment is of utmost value and because of this people invest a
lot into fire and hazard prevention and alarm systems. Lab View VI is a Fire and Smoke
alarm sensor and detector that is used to detect emergencies and hazards related to fire and
smoke. This Lab View VI can be used diversely in household spaces, commercial spaces, and
industrial spaces. Since fire emergencies are a serious and probable hazard in all such areas,
their application is necessary and undoubtedly useful especially much so in industrial areas.
Fire and Smoke detectors are of much importance in industrial areas to protect materials,
human life, and property whose damage depending on the kind of industry could amount to
up to millions.
Lab View VI is an essential part of this and can potentially save people and a lot of resources.
LabVIEW Front Panel and Block Diagram
The VI creation process was an interesting one. It allowed the understanding of the innards of
an alarm system that normally is not achievable. The process of its construction is as below.
The most important thing in an alarm system is the sensor. Hence this was the initiating
addition to the VI.
So, the approach to the construction of this fire alarm is based on temperature (The smoke
sensor is explained later). If the temperature of the surrounding area is abnormally high, in
this case over 45℃ the alarm is triggered. This temperature makes sense since it was assumed
that the alarm will exist in an environment that does not get very hot (Temperatures averaging
between 15-25℃) but is susceptible to great amounts of heat loss. This equipment is not only
a fire alarm though, but It also possesses the ability to indicate temperatures that are
abnormally low as well since the environment is meant to exist at a very consistent
temperature.
The other sensor that was a part of this was the Sulfur sensor that would based on the sample
of the air inside, judge the ppm (parts per million) of SO2. SO2 levels are an excellent
indicator of smoke. However, this environment already has a sustained level of SO2 indoors
due to small combustion cycles that exist within the manufactory. So, the threshold for the
triggering of the alarm was set at 75 ppm in the air.
Both the alarms have audio and visual indicators of the events that go beyond the limit set.
The construction of this part begins with adding a slider to the front panel and naming it a
temperature sensor.
This is to simulate a sensor since due to the pandemic that exists in the world a real sensor
was not employed and all data is from the said “sensor”. Thus, the slider replaces the sensor
in the virtual realm of LabVIEW.
The Data Log
The other tasks were recording the events and the date and time they occurred at. This was
achieved by using the string array and devices to save the file in an Excel-compatible format.
1. The whole block Diagram was encapsulated by a while loop that allows the process to
repeat and refresh the sensory data every interval. The interval also allowed to record
the data. The loop is selected to add a shift register….
A constant is added outside the loop and an increment inside the loop which is all then
connected.
2. Secondly, a string array is created to collect the data needed i.e., time and
temperature.
3.
Since there are two sensors the signal from both needed to be merged into one
through a merge signals function and an integer to decimal function. The VI would
not run successfully without the addition of these.
4.
To get the time a “get Date and time” function is added and then connected to two
build arrays one connected to each port (one is for date and one for time).
5. Now that we have a way to extract data into an array, it is time to compile all of it into
a spreadsheet. All outlets are to be closed with wires that lead to the insert to array
function and eventually to the string array that allows the excel sheet to be populated
with the relevant data.
Finally, this is what the block diagram looked like for the VI…
Discussion
The VI was able to project the following.
Collected Data
The Data was collected onto an excel spreadsheet and successfully logged along with time
and the other inputs. Each entry records the time, date, temperature, and sulfur content in the
air. Obviously, the collection of sensory data is important and can be of great use when trying
to analyze and understand patterns in an environment. A way to improve this system
would’ve been to have a seconds slot as well, which would’ve allowed a greater opportunity
to comprehend the more minute changes and differences in said environment.
Successful operation of the alarms
The alarm systems worked as expected and were without fail. The temperature sensor and the
dial indicated the values were in sync. It is important for any sensor to be accurate more than
anything else and although this setup is working without any variables such as atmosphere
and humidity the main goal of being true to the environment was achieved. Other than that it
was essential that the system have the ability to notify the user of extreme circumstances such
as high temperature and or high sulfur content in the air.
Along with the visual indicators the sound from the beeping devices was also audible. In
cases such as the presence of sulfur in the air (which is toxic to humans), an event could take
place where the user is not in front or is not directly observing the readings on the dial. It is
important they be notified as soon as possible. This is where audio cues such as the beeping
alarm come into play.
In the case of temperature, where an immediate change can be felt by the user themselves an alarm
isn’t necessary at all. In some cases, it can be a nuisance, especially if the change in temperature is
intentional. Thus the alarm system was redacted from the temperature sensor.
Conclusion
Conclusively with the environment being what it was, the objective was achieved and the
relevant data was acquired from the project without fail. This opportunity gave a deeper
insight into the potential of LabVIEW and other related programs. Their properties allowed a
great understanding of technical processes. This is especially true when it comes to
simulating certain procedures or environments. Resources can be scarce and it is always safer
to have an idea of what results from a possible event might be. LabView has proven to be a
great tool in that regard.
References
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, December 1998, TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR
SULFUR DIOXIDE.