Design and Prototyping of an Electronic Circuit Board Controller for an Outdoor Furnace

户外炉电子电路板控制器的设计和原型制作

• 批准号: 560341-2020
• 负责人: Potter, Simon
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=706891
• 关键词: Design; Prototyping; Electronic; Circuit; Board

SteelTech Incorporated is a Manitoba-based SME and the owner of the HeatMasterss brand of outdoor furnaces sold across Canada. The company manufactures biomass heating alternatives for customers seeking energy independence. The G-series of the furnace, with a capacity for an approximate heating space range of 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, is a relatively new product recognized as the flagship furnace of the industry. This furnace currently uses a digital system primarily based on Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to operate the sensors and control the furnace. However, the current electronics and PLCs are not scaled for additional sensors and future improvements in the overall control system because of the limited number of input/output (I/O) capability. Improvements in product performance for customers' convenience, ease of use and additional functionalities become limited by the current electronics design. SteelTech is seeking a robust solution for the electronics and control systems that will allow the desired product improvements at lower costs. Achieving this objective would require a significant level of research. SteelTech conducted some initial review in-house and have determined that replacing the current PLCs with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) would provide the robustness required for additional sensors, standardizing the control system and lowering the overall cost. Meanwhile, the company does not have the in-house research capacity for PCB design and programming, embedded systems and sensors integration, as required. Therefore, SteelTech is collaborating with the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) at Red River College for the development of a new electronic circuitry that will replace the current PLCs. The overall project objective is to design and manufacture a working prototype of a newly designed PCB with on-the-board controllers that will be suitable for implementing on the HeatMasterss G-series. The TACAM team will deploy capabilities and expertise in PCB design, computing languages (C++ and Python), sensors, programing of human-machine interface (HMI), fabrication techniques and systems integration to deliver this project. SteelTech is a successful Manitoba SME with a significant amount of commitment to innovation. The company has a demonstrated capacity to implement the results of this research through commercialization. Once commercialized, there is capacity for mass manufacturing the PCB locally in Manitoba through organizations such as Price Electronics and Parker Hannifin. The TACAM and SteelTech teams are looking forward to expanding knowledge in embedded systems and electronics. The knowledge gained will be of benefit to students, researchers and faculty working on the project and will be useful for further research.

SteelTech Incorporated是一家位于马尼托巴省的中小企业，是HeatMasterss品牌户外炉的所有者，该品牌在加拿大各地销售。该公司为寻求能源独立的客户生产生物质加热替代品。G系列加热炉的加热空间范围约为4，000至10，000平方英尺，是一种相对较新的产品，被公认为行业的旗舰炉。该炉目前使用主要基于可编程逻辑控制器（PLC）的数字系统来操作传感器和控制炉。然而，由于输入/输出（I/O）能力的数量有限，当前的电子设备和PLC没有针对额外的传感器和整个控制系统的未来改进进行缩放。为方便客户、易用性和附加功能而改进产品性能受到当前电子设计的限制。SteelTech正在寻求一种强大的电子和控制系统解决方案，以更低的成本实现所需的产品改进。 实现这一目标需要大量的研究。SteelTech在内部进行了一些初步审查，并确定用印刷电路板（PCB）取代当前的PLC将提供额外传感器所需的鲁棒性，使控制系统标准化并降低总体成本。与此同时，该公司没有必要的PCB设计和编程、嵌入式系统和传感器集成的内部研究能力。因此，SteelTech正在与红河学院的航空航天和制造技术访问中心（TACAM）合作，开发一种新的电子电路，以取代目前的PLC。总体项目目标是设计和制造一个新设计的PCB的工作原型，该PCB具有适合在HeatMasterss G系列上实施的板上控制器。 TACAM团队将部署PCB设计、计算语言（C++和Python）、传感器、人机界面（HMI）编程、制造技术和系统集成方面的能力和专业知识，以交付该项目。SteelTech是一家成功的马尼托巴中小企业，致力于创新。该公司已证明有能力通过商业化实施这项研究的成果。一旦商业化，就有能力通过Price Electronics和帕克Hannifin等组织在马尼托巴当地大规模生产多氯联苯。TACAM和SteelTech团队期待着扩展嵌入式系统和电子领域的知识。所获得的知识将有利于学生，研究人员和教师的项目工作，并将有助于进一步的研究。