Bronkhorst Labview-Flowbus System Integration

[Exchanging7878]

Hello Dear All,

I have 4 different mass flow rate controllers from BronkHorst. All of my mass flow rate controllers have RS232+Flowbus system.

Each of mass flow rate controllers has 2 solenoid valves behind and front in the flow line to activate/deactivate the worked line. ( as can be seen from attached document.)

The problem is that all my mass flow rate controllers connected with flow-bus system to each other and I have 8 solenoid valves. I checked Labview manuel of flow-bus system and example of bronkhorst flow-bus for labview. However, I could not understand how I should design and continue for my experiments.

Would you kindly help me about this problem bacuse I have to start my experiments as soon as possible?

[rolfk]

I'm not sure I understand. Controlling the Bronkhorst Flow Controllers through the LabVIEW library provided by Bronkhorst should be quite possible. One of the controllers will have to be connected to the computer through the serial port and all controllers are connected through the Flowbus with each other with the according Bronkhorst cables, adapters and terminator plugs.

What is your problem exactly? Accessing the Bronkhorsts? Controlling the solenoids? How have you connected the solenoids to your computer?

If you want to control the solenoids from your Massflow controllers you certainly have a problem. Depending on the type and configuration of your device, you can order it with a custom function on pin 5 of the main DSUB-9 connector. This can be an analog or digital input or output. As digital output you have either the option to have it be active on alarm or a below a certain flow. But the controller has to be configured at factory for this and you have only at most 1 output per controller. I also don't think you have any possibility to control that output yourself arbitrarily but simply have it work as alarm or below certain level output.

[Exchanging7878]

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I will use flow bus system and yes I connected them through serial port. The problem is how I can control them via LabView. Because, I will use only 1 mass flow rate controller out of 4, sometimes I will use 2-3 of them simultaneously to reach my required mass flow.

Since I am quite new on Labiew, I would want to ask how I can design this on LabView

[rolfk]

There is a LibVIEW library from Bronkhorst that lets you communicate with Bronkhort flow meters and controllers

https://www.bronkhorst.com/int/products/accessories-and-software/flowware/labview/

It works for basic requirements quite well!

You connect one Bronkhorst device through serial to your computer and the others are connected over Flowbus to this first device. This requires the Bronkhorst devices to have Flowbus interface (a RJ-45 type connector on the top) and the according Flowbus connecting cables and terminators.

When you commission the system you have to assign each controller a unique Flowbus nodeID and then you use that nodeID to communicate with the device(s) from LabVIEW.

[Exchanging7878]

Hello Dear Rolfk,

Yes, I have this folder which includes an example for flow-bus Labview system. However, this folder does not explain how it works. Since I am new on LabView, I could not understand it.

My questions are:

1-) I have 4 different mass flow rate controller connected via flow-bus system. How can I control them independently and simultaneously? Because, I will use maybe one of them or maybe 2-3 of them at the same time.

2-) How can I monitor what the mass flow rate is in the system?

3-) This Labview folder given by Bronkhorst is for only controlling 1 Mass flow Rate Controller or what?

4-) How can I define node or required numbers like (IP) to define my mass flow rate controller to the Labview?

I am very confused on those actually.

[LVNinja]

According to the manual, there is a parameter (NODE ADDRESS) that you can use to address each individual valve in the network.