Davis Inotek picked Advint to provide a Bell Prover upgrade to automate their current process and increase throughput of their lab for airflow sensor calibration. Assistance was provided in selecting hardware and developing software to not only automate and control the process but interface with a Fortran based Reference Properties (Ref Prop) program from NIST. The solution is modular to support future updates, expandable for additional Bells and comprehensive to cover the many different sensors (Critical Flow Venturi, Sonic Nozzle, Mass Flow Meter, etc) that are calibrated by Davis Inotek.
The current system is based on a Bell Prover for volumetric flow measurements. Bell Prover measurements (Displacement, laser pulses, encoder counts, etc) along with applicable gas flow properties and parameters (temperature, absolute pressure, etc) are acquired and analyzed and compared to standards, based on the specific sensor and gas, to provide volumetric flow rate measurements such as Volume, Volume Time, Volume Displacement, etc.
The system is based on a SCXI/PXI combo chassis controlled by a remote PC via a PXI-MXI bridge. The remote PC hosts a PCI-6527 Digital I/O card for UUT and valve control via limit switches. The PXI 6608 & 6602 System Reference Clock and Counter Timers are used to interface the Bell Laser and Encoders. Two SCXI 1121 Isolated Analog In modules measure the Bell, Oil and UUT temperatures. The SCXI 1102 measures the UUT Voltage and Current outputs while the SCXI 1124 drives the UUT and provides upstream pressure control. The system environment and interface were developed in Visual Basic while National Instruments LabVIEW controls the hardware.
The major benefits of this upgrade are to provide increased throughput of the calibration lab, allow enhanced operator control and data access, provide mechanism to interface with existing calibration algorithms and improve the operator interface. These improvements allow Davis Inotek to expand and enhance their calibration capabilities while providing more comprehensive and customized calibration reports.
Davis Inotek Instruments, LLC is a leading distributor of Test, Measurement, Control and Calibration Instruments --- and the premiere calibration services provider in North America. Davis Inotek Instruments has proudly distributed industrial equipment for over 90 years. As technological demands have increased, so have the company's capabilities. Their extensive inventory representing leading-brand manufacturers enables them to respond to product requirements. Davis Inotek offers Calibration Services for instruments from hundreds of manufacturers. They can supply varying levels of certification to meet quality requirements, performed in one of their many North American laboratory facilities or on-site.
Advint is a rapidly growing system integrator of automated test systems located in Columbus, OH. The company is an NI Alliance Member, a member of the Teradyne Support Network, and part of the Huntron Integration Service Network. Advint provides hardware/software development and systems integration services in support of the test & measurement, and industrial automation industries.
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