ISSN 1068�3712, Russian Electrical Engineering, 2012, Vol. 83, No. 11, pp. 596–598. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2012.Original Russian Text © Yu.F. Rubtsov, 2012, published in Elektrotekhnika, 2012, No. 11, pp. 15–18.

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Researchers of National Polytechnic ResearchUniversity in Perm, Russia, are carrying out researchin the field of automation of integrated tests of newmachinery in the Privod heavy engineering factory inLysva, Perm krai. Automation of scientific researchenables us to build more accurate and complete mod�els of objects and phenomena under investigation andmake the research less time� and labor�consuming.

Use of automated systems of scientific research(ASSR) when carrying out integrated tests of techno�logical innovations is most effective when large bodiesof information are processed [1]. Such cases include

(i) research and developments in heavy electricalmachine industry; and

(ii) verification nature and bench tests of compli�cated engineering installations, such as electricmachines, generators, and other kinds of technologi�cal innovations.

As a rule, automation of integrated tests is based onusing production�run computer aids with a wide rangeof application. However, the automation systems ofscientific research can also comprise special�purposedevices for linking computers with the objects underinvestigation. These devices must ensure the perfor�mance of various functions of preliminary informationprocessing, have a flexible structure, and consist ofmaximally interchangeable modules and a unit.Therefore, the creation of interfaces between the com�puters and the objects is one of the most significantareas for research and will ensure effective develop�ment of various ASSRs.

THE PURPOSES OF CREATING AUTOMATED SYSTEMS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

ASSRs for testing electrical machinery are appliedat the plant for the following purposes:

(i) to achieve high rates of creating new products atthe enterprise;

(ii) to enhance the efficiency and the quality ofresearch on the basis of constructing or refining math�ematical models of the objects under investigation andapplying the obtained models to designing, predic�tions, and control.

(iii) to increase the effectiveness of testing electricmachinery and reduce their production costs;

(iv) to obtain qualitatively new scientific results,the achievement of which is impossible without usingASSRs in principle; and

(v) to reduce the times and decrease the laborious�ness of research work and integrated tests of new prod�uct samples such as electric machines and generators.

The automation objects are the workplaces of thetest�bench operators and the testers of the machine�room equipment in the plant’s test stations [2]. Theworkplaces are designed to perform acceptance andhandover tests of induction motors of 160–2000 kWand 0.4–10 kV, in�process tests of electric machines ofthe TTK�110�2UZ�G type, and investigation tests.The existing installations did not guarantee the automa�tion of the necessary functions and the fulfillment oftasks when testing newly developed cutting�edge prod�ucts, such as TTK�110 generators and DAVZD�7100,DAVZD�8000, and EDU�133P motors, which wereproduced at that time in lots.

The set goals are achieved when using the ASSRsfor testing equipment [1] by

(i) systematizing and improving research and test�ing processes applying mathematical models and up�to�date computer aids;

(ii) integrated automation of research and develop�ment work;

(iii) improving the quality of research manage�ment;

Development of Automated Systems of Scientific Research for Control and Testing of Electrical Machinery

Yu. F. RubtsovReceived October 22, 2012

Abstract—Theoretical and practical aspects of conducting research and integrated tests of electric motors bybuilding models of objects and processes are considered. The structure of an automated system for controland testing of electrical machinery is described. The paper also presents the results of introduction ofresearch�automation systems.

Keywords: electric motors, test bench, tests, research, system

DOI: 10.3103/S1068371212110120

RUSSIAN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Vol. 83 No. 11 2012

DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATED SYSTEMS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 597

(iv) using efficient mathematical methods for plan�ning and engineering the experiments;

(v) using processing methods and presenting theresults of research and tests as mathematical models ofthe prescribed form [3];

(vi) automation of labor�consuming operations;and

(vii) replacing verification nature tests and proto�typing by mathematical simulation.

An automated testing system (ATS) is an integralpart of the ASSRs.

FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF AN ATS

The main function of an ATS is to obtain the results ofthe integrated tests by automatically processing theexperimental data and other information, building andstudying the object and process models using mathemat�ical methods [3] and computer�aided procedures andplanning and engineering the experiments.

Automation of the procedures in an ATS consists ofstudying or testing the objects and processes, as well asbuilding and analyzing the mathematical models byonline interaction of the user with the ATS.

An ATS can perform such automated procedureswhen the processing of the data and the identificationand constructing of mathematical models can be per�formed without human participation. The functionalstructure of an automated system for testing electricalmachinery is presented in the figure.

An ATS can also apply procedures for planning andengineering experiments in which the experimentalconditions are adjusted by simulation and experimen�tal information is used to select a mathematical modelfrom a given set of such models.

As a result of functioning of an ASSR, hypothesesor a set of complete mathematical models can beeither verified and confirmed, provided that they meetthe input requirements, or rejected; this is also the casewith the processed results of investigations, observa�tions, and measurements.

An ASSR ensures that the output documents aredone in the required form and contain the results ofscientific research or tests, as well as recommenda�tions for use of these results in management or design,and to make predictions.

The main structural elements of an ATS are sub�systems, i.e., parts of the system singled out accordingto some characteristics that ensure the fulfillment ofcertain automated investigating or testing proceduresand the execution of corresponding output documents(see figure).

The structural integrity of the ATS’s subsystems in theOAO Privod plant is guaranteed by the links between thecomponents of different supportive tools comprising acertain subsystem. The structural integration of theATS’s subsystems into a system is implemented by thelinks between the subsystems’ components.

The subsequent expansion of the application fieldof the automated scientific research in the Privod plantinvolves

(i) application of computer�aided facilities in newspheres of scientific research, in the first place, in thedevelopment of innovative products in which it isimpossible to obtain essentially new results withoutintroducing automation facilities;

(ii) expansion of the user network of automatedsystems for scientific research, from researchers,experimentalists, and test�bench operators to manag�ers of scientific and production divisions; and

Control subsystem for the Test dispatcherSubsystem of the

Subsystem for Testing subsystem Thermal test Vibroacoustic

Subsystem for metrological Subsystem for processing Accident�protection

Subsystem for

machine�room equipment normative and reference

information

measuring the resistance

for transient states subsystem test subsystem

certification and calibration

the test results subsystem

archiving the test results

Functional structure of an ATS for electric machinery.

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RUBTSOV

(iii) automation of all stages of scientific research,from planning and engineering of the experiments toanalysis and long�term planning of the main direc�tions for research.

The thematic, functional, and territorial integra�tion of the ATS in the Privod plant is oriented, in thefirst place, toward creation of multiple�access systemsintended for

(i) major experimental, research, and pilot plantsand complex production test benches for testing vari�ous engineering objects in testing stations; and

(ii) the OAO NIIUMS enterprise, which carries outcomplex investigations of complicated engineeringobjects.

Special�purpose measuring and computing com�plexes (MCCs) that comprise commercial instrumen�tation, as well as standard software, were used to buildthe Privod ATS.

At the design stage and when putting the systeminto operation, special attention was paid to the stan�dard conditioning facilities for linking computers withthe investigated objects and to creation of standardsoftware�programmable modular systems for infor�mation acquisition and control of complex objects.The requirements for the equipment are based on thecorresponding state and international standards inorder that they might ensure the highest possible com�patibility of the ATS’ hard� and software produced bydifferent manufacturers in different countries. Stan�dards that guarantee the hard� and software compati�bility of the ATS’ subsystems and components wereapplied. In addition to this, proposals by the plant’sdesigners and production engineers were considered.

When developing new elements for the PrivodATS, hardware implementation of the most typicalfunctions of data processing and of operational sys�tems and other functions of controlling the opera�tional environment was extensively used.

The replication of the ATS’ standard subsystemsand elements is based on type design practice, unifica�tion, and standardization of design solutions whendeveloping the system’s subsystems and elements,which creates conditions for mass production of suchcomponents.

The use of a distributed control system based onup�to�date Simoreg DS Master Converters, SimatigS7�300 microprocessor�based controllers, andimproved software considerably increased the auto�mation level of the tests.

The system approach to design suggests designingon the basis of system analysis involving the solution ofthe entire complex of engineering, economic, andmanagerial issues, which, in aggregate, will ensurecreation of an ATS in an optimal way.

The flexibility of the Privod ATS suggests its easyadaptability to varying problems that can be solved by it.

Working out the criteria for estimating the ATSefficiency allowed an objective evaluation of economic

or any other effects resulting from production applica�tion of the Privod ATS.

When producing or borrowing any components ofthe ATS, requirements for these components wereworked out that result from the general�system princi�ples stated above.

CONCLUIONS

The ATSs for integrated tests of technologicalinnovations carried out by the NIIUMS using the pro�duction capacities of the Privod ensure a considerableeconomic effect. This effect results from increasingthe labor productivity of research and testing divi�sions, improving the technical and economic charac�teristics of developed objects on the basis of refinedmodels of these objects, reducing the expensive verifi�cation nature tests, and excluding certain stages ofdevelopment work, which, in the end, leads to reducedinnovative activity costs.

The Privod ATS yields processed and summarizedexperimental data, but the main point is the mathe�matical models of the objects or processes under inves�tigation constructed on the basis of these data. Thevalidity and accuracy of the models are achieved dueto the whole complex of methods, software tools, andother facilities of the system. This ATS can also applyalready�existing complete models to studying thebehavior of one or another object or process or forrefining the models themselves. Therefore, ATSs aresystems designed to obtain, revise, or investigate mod�els that are afterward used in automated systems ofother types for control, prediction, or design.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by the Ministry ofEducation and Science of the Russian Federation(project no. 13.G25.31.0093) in the framework of Res�olution of the Government of the Russian Federationno. 218 “On Measures to Provide State Support forDevelopment of Cooperation between Russian Insti�tutions of Higher Education That Implement Com�plex Projects Aimed at Creation of High�TechnologyProduction.”

REFERENCES

1. Rubtsov, Yu.F., Generalized Approaches for Optimiz�ing the Module Structure for Information Processing inAutomated Control Systems, Vestn. IzhGTU, 2011,no. 4, pp. 152–155.

2. Rubtsov, Yu.F., Automated System for ElectricMachine Rotors Testing and Balancing, Avtomatiz.Prom., 2010, no. 6, pp. 41–44.

3. Lyubimov, E.V., Mathematical Simulation of Auto�matic Control System for Accelerating�BalancingEquipment, in Sb. nauchnykh trudov NIIUMS (Collec�tion of Scientific Works of State Control SystemsResearch Institute), Perm, 2004, pp. 71–75.