Technical Computing Magazine - Issue 40

Delphin: Industrial DAQ

Henrique Silva,
Data Acqusition Sales Manager

Measurement data acquisition within an industrial environment is addressed by a range of devices just introduced to the UK by Adept Scientific.

Test bench automation, vibration monitoring and analysis, the monitoring of remote plant or machinery – these are just some of the industrial applications that our new range of data acquisition products is ideal for. They come from Delphin Technology, a German-based company that has developed a highly capable, flexible range of solutions for process and control measurement – now available from, and supported by, Adept Scientific.

Delphin’s measurement data acquisition systems are tried, tested and trusted. They’re being used in testing technology and process engineering, including the energy and foodstuffs industries, and in research and development too. Areas of application range from the monitoring of gas turbines, to the management of luminaire test stands and monitoring a pharmaceutical production process. Delphin also develops software for measurement technology, enabling measurement data and processes to be monitored, assessed and analysed. Processes can be automated and machinery controlled via remote monitoring.

Delphin’s range of Message devices combine measurement data acquisition and automation capabilities within an easily configured, modular design. You can choose a configuration based on the number of channels you need and from a range of I/O modules. Each analogue input can be separately connected to RTD, thermocouple, voltage or 20mA signals, with signal conditioning built-in. This eliminates the need for expensive measuring transducers, while potential isolation means there is no need for isolating amplifiers either. They’re ideal for SCADA applications: for preventive maintenance and process control on the factory floor, for acquiring and processing measurement data, for automating processes. They can be linked into your systems via Ethernet, although onboard calculation and processing capabilities mean you don’t have to use a PC for some processing and control tasks. Integrating control, calculation and monitoring units, new ProfiMessageuses a master/slave concept

A single master device can be connected to up to 20 slave devices, each of which can collect data from two I/O devices of any type. Connection to PLC control systems via Profibus-DP, Modbus or CAN-bus to enable data exchange is simple. Every input and output is differential, high-precision and galvanically isolated. Functions such as threshold value monitoring, integration and online computations are easy to configure, so even users with no programming expertise can easily generate and implement their own monitoring and record-keeping tasks. TopMessage is a modular, rail mounted device to which you can attach a variety of measurement devices. I/O modules can be combined in any way required, and extensions can be connected to the basic device, each providing another two I/O modules.

LogMessage is a standalone operating device, equipped with 1GB memory for logging up to 128 million measurement values and an LCD display so it can be used independently of a PC. As well as a built-in network interface and two serial ports, you can also connect, for example, a GPS sensor or 3G/UMTS router for wireless remote access. Delphin’s Expert Key devices are equipped with both USB and network interfaces, with measurement data acquired directly at a local PC or remotely via a LAN. Within a stylish, space-saving design is the capability to process large numbers of analogue and digital I/O, and automate experiments and test stands. Scalable even for large applications, and with signal conditioning built in, Expert Key models offer a choice of analogue and digital inputs/outputs, and versions for laboratory, industrial and mobile applications.

Delphin has also developed its own software, ProfiSignal. ProfiSignal Go, included with ProfiMessage and Expert Key systems, offers much more than you'd expect from a "free", bundled package. It's a powerful application that needs just a few mouse clicks to graphically portray your measurement data online as well as offline. It can be upgraded to ProfiSignal BASIC, a comprehensive package combining measurement data analysis with extensive control and monitoring functions; or to the top-of-the-range ProfiSignal Klicks. This uses a block diagram interface and an intuitive object-oriented programming language.

Download the Delphin Product Guide, or visit the Delphin home page