Abstract:
While the combination of virtual reality (VR), industrial internet of things (IIoT) and digital twin (DT) can promote the
integration of the physical world (real) and the digital world (virtual), one of the most important challenges that companies
face is the choice of architecture. This study intends to utilize VR, IIoT, DT advantages and to reduce some adverse efects
the constituent processes produce when they are individually applied. This bridges the existing gap between the physical and
digital machines to enable near real-time monitoring control of the manufacturing process. In the realization of this paradigm
shift, we use of IIoT infrastructures by adopting a bi-directional communication protocol for conveyance of data and information
between
the
physical
and virtual
models in hardware
in the
loop or software
in loop coniguration.
This study
takes
into
account
user case industrial
application for
the
formation
of silica scale and methods
of reducing
its production.
In systems
operating
above
pH 8.5, magnesium silicate is very
likely
to
form
due to
the
presence
of magnesium hydroxide
Mg(OH)
and silicate (SiO
4
)
4−
ions. In this research work, the developed platform (VR, IIoT and DT) is used to remotely monitor and
control the process that prevents silica scale formation by maintaining an acidic solution (pH < 6.7). A supervisory control
is achieved using VR whereby instructions and commands sent to the physical station for execution. The data collected is
stored in a data lake and is used to ind the PID controller trends for pH 4 dosing and gain actionable insights. Analysis of
the data is done by utilization of visualization schemes, diagrams and infographics. Results show the achievement of near
real-time control (correlation coeicient at 99.92%) of a cyber-physical machine using VR by the adoption of bi-directional
communication between the physical and virtual models in an immersive environment.
