X-Ray Calibration Facility (XRCF)
XRCF Control Systems
 The
XRCF control room acts like the central nerve-center of the XRCF,
controlling and monitoring all of the operations within the facility.
The control room contains the following subsystems:
- Facility Control System
- Data System
- Communication System
- Power System
1. Facility Control System
The facility control system uses an industrial-rated programmable
logic controller (PLC) system which contains the software logic
for the facility operations. The overall facility control system
consists of dual operating PLC systems; one for thermal control
and one for vacuum operations. Each of these systems utilize a redundant
on-line backup PLC for system reliability. The vacuum operation
PLC system uses numerous remote rack drops due to the large size
of the facility. The operator interface point for the PLC system
is the control panel in the control room which consists of a graphic
illustration of every component and five computer monitors. The
control panel gives the operator the required feedback status for
every component and animated graphic illustrations on the monitors.
The PLC system was manufactured by the Square D company
2. Data System
The facility data system consists of a PC-based data acquisition
computer system that acquires data from numerous scanners and the
vacuum/thermal information from the PLC systems. The data system
displays and monitors the data and will store the data for the short
term. Using this system, limited data reduction and analysis work
is possible along with graphics plotting capabilities. For permanent
storage, the data system is networked to the Master Control Computer
system (MCC). This system allows high- volume permanent storage
of all facility data. All data utilized from the facility can be
time tagged using an IRIG-B timing signal for data synchronization
and cross reference.
3. Communications System
 The
facility communication system consists of an interfaculty intercom
system, walkie-talkies, and wireless headsets. This integrated system
allows communication from any point in the facility to any other
point including the cleanroom and inside the instrument chamber.
The communication system also has an integrated camera system in
the clean room, a VCR for video recording, and numerous monitors.
This total communication system not only allows operators to talk
to every area, but also to view and record critical operations in
the facility clean room.
4. Power System
The facility power system consists of the standard commercial power
and an emergency power system The emergency power system includes
two diesel generators, a 150 kW and a 800 kW, and a uninterruptable
power supply (UPS) rated at 40kW. All critical facility operation
equipment and computer hardware is connected to UPS circuits which
covers the "power bump" between commercial power and generator
power. The emergency power system is not designed to operate the
facility throughout a power outage, but to allow operations to safely
terminate without losing valuable test data.
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