Controller -- Events
From SysCAD Documentation
Navigation: Main Page -> Models -> Process Control Models
Contents |
General Description
- This unit operation reads a CSV file and uses the SysCAD tags and values in the file to change unit conditions at set times.
- The Events Control model is an orphan model; it cannot be connected to any other unit operation.
- The Events model is for dynamic simulation only with the purpose of changing parameters in the model at set times.
Similar Models
- The Profile Controller sets SysCAD tags at regular intervals using a profile that is read in from a CSV file.
- The Scheduled Events model will set a single SysCAD tag to a required value at regular intervals.
- The Downtime model is used to simulate downtime of a piece of equipment due to a regular event (such as maintenance) and/or failure or other causes.
Diagram
The diagram shows the default drawing of the Events control unit.
Inputs and Outputs
There are no connections to this unit.
Events Profile Format
- The first row in the Events Profile may contain headings.
- The first column in the Events Profile must contain time in seconds.
- It is recommended that the user select time settings that are divisible by the planned iteration size.
- The second column contains the SysCAD tag that must be changed at the specified time.
- The third column contains the value that must be set into the SysCAD tag at the specified time.
Example Events Profile
The data below shows how the change in volume of TNK_1 from 50 to 100m^3 after 1 day (86400 seconds) is entered into for the events controller.
| Time | Tag | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | TNK_1.Content.Volume (m^3) | 50 |
| 86400 | TNK_1.Content.Volume (m^3) | 100 |
How to use an Events Profile
The easiest way to create an events profile is by using MS Excel. The profile format and example is given above. Once the events profile is created, save it as a csv file. SysCAD ignores the first row so use this for headings.
Switch to SysCAD; use the browse button to load the file into the model. Select the various options as required, these are explained in the next heading. An example of a working events profile loaded into SysCAD based on the data provided in the previous section is given below:
Data Sections
The default sections and variable names are described in detail in the following tables. The default Events Controller access window consists of 2 sections:
- The first section, which has the same name Events, contains general information relating to the unit.
- The second section, Info, contains general settings for the unit and allows the user to include documentation about the unit and create Hyperlinks to external documents. This is fully described in Common Data Sections.
Class: Events - The first tab page in the access window will have this name.
|
Tag / Symbol |
Input / Calc |
Description/Calculated Variables / Options |
| On | Tick Box | Enables or disables the Events Profile Blocks. |
| Status | Display | Shows errors if any, otherwise shows OK and displays number of rows of data and total time period. |
| Folder | Display | The full path of the events profile. |
| File | Input | The file name of the events profile. Note: this file must be created first. File can be txt or csv format. |
| Edit | Button | Allow the user to edit the file. |
| Browse | Button | Use this button to Browse for the file. |
| LogTagSets | List | None - No log of changes will be made. |
| Messages - When tags are set, a message will be displayed in the message window. | ||
| EventLog - When tags are set, an entry will be made in the event log. | ||
| Messages and EventLog - When tags are set, a message will be displayed in the message window and an entry will be made in the event log. | ||
| Reload_ Restart | Button | Reloads and Restarts the Profile from time 0. |
| Restart | Button | Restarts the Profile from time 0. |
| TimePassed | Display | Amount of time passed since model was last restarted. |
| EventIndex | Display | Current event number. This corresponds to the row in the csv file, starting from the second row (ie. row 2 = 1). |
| EventCount | Display | The total number of events in the csv file. This corresponds to the total number of rows in the csv file, not including the header row. |
| LastEventTime | Display | The time of the last event in the csv file. |
| NextTime | Display | The next time that an event is due to occur. |
| NextTag | Display | The next tag that is due to be set. |
| NextOutput | Display | The value that the next tag will be set to. |
Adding this Model to a Project
Insert into Configuration file
Sort either by DLL or Group.
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DLL: |
Control1.dll |
→ |
Units/Links |
→ |
Control: Events |
|
or |
Group: |
General |
→ |
Units/Links |
→ |
Control: Events |
See Project Configuration for more information on adding models to the configuration file.
Insert into Project
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Insert Unit |
→ |
Control |
→ |
Events |
See Insert Unit for general information on inserting units.
