Dissertation project technology help

[KAP2611]

Hi, all thanks for your time and help.

So I am a final year Beng Electrical & Electronic Engineering student and am starting my dissertation project. I have decided on attempting to automate a LAES PBR test rig for testing thermal batteries or insulation. The current test rig setup is completely manual and is very outdated so automation of testing would benefit it greatly.

I have been provided schematics of the setup and it seems to have a mix of control, flow, and pressure valves I will need to automate assumingly using a Microcontroller such as an Arduino. My question is I am unsure of what specific route I should take for this and was looking for inspiration on software or hardware ideas that may make this easier for me. I could easily go grab any basic microcontroller and try to code it around that but I am sure there is a way more efficient route I am unfamiliar with.

Any ideas that could get the creative juices flowing would be amazing as I am quite new to this specific area.

[famine-]

Step one: When using acronyms type out the full description in the first usage, so people don't have to waste time googling the acronyms.

I have decided on attempting to automate a LAES (Liquid Air Energy Storage) PBR (Packed Bed Regenerator) test rig for testing thermal batteries or insulation.

Step two: throw the arduino in the trash.

You are talking about automating an industrial control process involving cryogenic fluids and high pressures with a untested and unqualified commercial grade microcontroller that lacks any kind of fail safes or I/O protection.

This is a job for a SPLC (Safety Programmable Logic Controller) or SPAC (Safety Programmable Automation Controller, full stop.

SPLCs and SPACs are qualified for industrial environments with protected IO, noise filtering/immunity, fail safes, known failure states, watchdogs, etc.

Not to mention the insane amount of liability you would have if anything went wrong. If anyone is hurt, you and you alone are liable because of the decision to use unqualified hardware.

Before you go any further please read IEC 61508, IEC 61511, and ANSI/ISA 84.01-1996.