DEVELOPMENT OF A NORIA SYNCHRONIZER PROTOTYPE: DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

Abstract

In abattoir refrigeration systems, animals are transported using "nórias," devices typically composed of chains and hooks responsible for suspending them by their feet. With the presence of large-scale abattoirs, there arises a need to divide these nórias, remove the animals, and subsequently transition them to the next nória. This project originated from a requirement identified by equipment manufacturers in the agro-industry sector in the Chapecó/SC region. Its aim is to develop a machine capable of synchronously transitioning animals without necessitating modifications to existing third-party machinery. Given the prototype nature of the project and the challenges associated with conducting tests involving live animals, the design was simplified for testing using 500 ml PET bottles, serving as simulated hanging poultry. This article focuses on the design and analysis of instrumentation and control systems for speed synchronization, omitting discussions on mechanical developments. The prototype employs an AVR microcontroller on an Arduino Mega platform to control two frequency inverters that drive three-phase gear motors. Additionally, it reads signals from two incremental encoders. The article will present the development of an amplifier circuit to enhance the output PWM signal from the Arduino for the analog input of the frequency inverter. The control strategy utilized for the reference segment, zero error in steady-state, and disturbance rejection will also be outlined.