WorldWide Drilling Resource

Live for the Present, Learn from the Past, Plan for Tomorrow by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC There is a saying something like “Live for today, learn from the past, plan for tomorrow.” It’s good advice, as there is nothing we can do to change the past, but we can learn from our experiences. Like humans, computers can learn from “expe- riences” and adjust future behavior to exe- cute the “good” behavior (as the programmer defines it) and avoid the “bad” behavior. All computers have a way to remember information which, of course, is called MEMORY. If you recall from previous articles, information memory is simply voltage levels stored on silicon with a measurable voltage defined as a “logic 1” and no measurable voltage defined as a “logic 0”. Individual voltage levels are called “bits” and eight different voltage levels in a row are called “bytes”. Both the byte locations and the bit locations are numbered. Not only do we need to know WHAT the data (information) is, we need to know WHERE the data is so we can find it when we need it. The memory location gives the data meaning. Suppose 100 people attended a certain event and if I place that value (100) at memory location #10 in memory, I know location #10 in this memory represents the number who attended this event. One way we can use this capability is by “remembering” certain points where equipment malfunctions or does not function well, storing those points in memory, and avoiding them in the future. A good example of this would be water pumps and motors which often have large, heavy rotating masses which sometimes vibrate at certain rotational speeds. There is a sensor called an accelerometer which measures the vibrational “G forces” on whatever surface it is mounted (like a pump motor, in this case), and outputs a voltage signal to the microprocessor which represents these forces. When writing the computer code, we can set an “acceptable level” of vibration and note if the pump/motor vibration exceeds this level at certain speeds. We can store the “problem levels” in memory and avoid those speeds in the future by either quickly “skipping past” these speeds or not going there to begin with. Some conditions can change, like if a rotating part collects mud and dirt which alters its balance characteristics. If this value changes over time, we can perform the test periodically - like monthly - and adjust the parameters if needed. We can also initiate this “test” or “update” as a PM (Preventive Maintenance) function where the operator manually “tells” the control unit to perform this test and adjustment. Or we can execute this test automatically in addition to having a manual “trigger on” option. Whatever best suits the circumstance. The above example is one of the rea- sons why this technology is so useful. Virtually anything which can be measured and defined can be implemented. The computer can make decisions based on information obtained from sensors and physical inputs like program selections. These computers are fast, reliable, and inex- pensive. They can be as simple or sophis- ticated as needed. If correctly designed and manufactured, these computers can handle most any environmental condition l ike extreme heat, cold, moisture, and vibration and function reliability for years. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 42 AUGUST 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® 4< /*2'3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ !@ @ < < < < < Open the Doorway to all the Event Photos during the Best in the West Drill & Blast Conference. To see all the photos from this event, go to: www.worldwidedrillingresource.info/gallery/2017/BitW2017, or click here. Feel free to download at will and print the photo(s) of your choice. Compliments of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Photos are copyrighted and released for personal use only - no commercial use permitted.