Mimic Panels in Industrial Control Systems
Control systems are an important part of any industrial facility, but in industries that deal with critical infrastructure such as power distribution, or even gas networks, there’s a lot more going on than just buttons and digital displays. Users also need to be able to understand and manage the processes as a whole. That’s where mimic panels are useful.
A mimic panel displays a process or an industrial system in a control panel, where all the lights and indicators show actual equipment and processes. The control panel, ‘mimics’ the real-world system, and provides a simple way of understanding the system layout. This also increases the response time of the operators to quickly deal with the process at hand.
These panels use a special design and try and use a design to try and make it easy to understand what the panel represents. Instead of making the operator read the panel and try to decipher what each number means, and try to click through the panel to try and find menus, the mimic panel displays the actual configuration of the system right on the panel. Pumps, valves, and pipes are all shown on the mimic panel in the same place they are in real life.
The status lights on the panel indicate the status of the equipment. A green light means a pump is running, and a red light means a fault condition exists. Because of the geographic layout of the mimic panel, the operator can see which part of the facility needs attention. This can be particularly important in emergency scenarios.
Where Mimic Panels are Used
Are critical in the water treatment industry, and are used widely to monitor the filtration process, the pumping stations, the distribution networks, and the entire treatment process. With mimic panels, operators can traverse the stages of treatment and detect the fault(s) before it affects the water supply.
Large buildings and industrial sites usually have fire protection systems with mimic panels that show where detectors and alarm zones, as well as suppression systems, are located. Operators can see where the problem is when an alarm sounds and adjust their response accordingly.
These panels are also used at power generation and distribution facilities to supervise their electrical systems as well as the substations and switching devices. From the visual representation, the operator understands the load and is able to isolate certain sections during maintenance or when there is a fault.
Are beneficial to gas distribution systems, mining, and manufacturing. In any industry where there is need to monitor and control large areas, distributed systems or complex processes, mimic panel technology is applicable.
Material and Manufacturing Considerations
Constructed of anodised aluminium and there are good reasons for this. Anodised panels have a durable surface that is resistant to scratching and chemical damage. This will matter in industrial environments where panels undergo cleaning, are impacted, and become exposed to chemicals.
The graphics and labels on quality mimic panels are not printed on stickers or labels, but are actually covered on the surface and embedded during anodizing. This means they will not wear off or fade with use, and will last much longer than adhesive stickers or surface printing, which can wear off in tough environments.
Panel manufacturers use CNC machining, and design and fabricate specific cutouts for switches and indicators. This means everything fits seamlessly, and looks good. The panels can also house complicated circuit boards with multi-colored wires, symbols, and text, and can be easily identifiable by the operators.
The biggest benefit mimic panels provide operators is the time saved by not having to use any other method to determine system status. Experienced operators are able to see and understand the status of the panels without any other informational boards or screens.
When issues arise, visual clarity becomes even more critical. Operators can see which zone has activated an alarm, trace the relevant systems, and decide the best course of action to take. This can involve fire safety applications where operators need to pinpoint the zone where smoke has been detected. For the water systems, pinpointing which pump has failed and activating the backup equipment can also prove useful.
In addition to other uses, the Mimic Panels offer a means to industrial control that provides visual clarity. They provide a bridge to visual simplicity and the reliability of complex systems to help with the management and monitoring of critical infrastructure.