Real-time monitoring of Machines using Open Platform Communication

Open Platform Communication (OPC) also known as Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for Process Control (OPC) is the platform for communication in automation and manufacturing fields among the group of networked devices. OPC standard supports the group of specifications known as OPC-Data Access (OPC-DA), OPC-Historical Data Access (OPC-HDA) and OPC-Unified Architecture (OPC-UA). In this paper, the vibration and acoustic data of an air-compressor have been recorded through accelerometer and microphone, respectively. The data is continuously monitored and archived through OPC. The sensing units are placed on predefined sensitive positions of air-compressor to record the data. The MATLAB based platform interacts with OPC server for reading and writing of data acquired from field devices. The recorded data is used for real-time monitoring and fault recognition in air-compressor. The National Instruments (NI) based four channel Data Acquisition (DAQ) module, channel input module: NI9234 and USB chassis: NIcDAQ-9171, is used for connection of sensing units. For experimental analysis, a Matrikon OPC server (2.0.0.5529) is used. MATLAB and OPC server with necessary features have been installed on the operating system to monitor the air-compressor.