How It Works

Problem: Many relatively simple industrial or laboratory processes that require control of flow or pressure can be greatly improved with automation. Using a mass flow controller to control a certain gas flow rate, for instance, is far more precise and has a faster speed of response than manually adjusting a needle valve while consulting a pressure gage.

Such processes can be automated using devices called Programmed Logic Controllers (PLC’s). These are digital computers used for automation of electromechanical processes. Such devices typically have a series of digital and analog inputs and outputs, and can be used to control relatively complex processes depending upon the number of these I/O channels and the programmed logic. For simple gas processes, PLC’s are generally overkill—being too expensive due to extra capabilities that are just not required.

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