Distributed control architecture for dispensing particulate material into a fluid medium

摘要

A system for controlling a networked array of dispensing devices for dispensing particulate matter may include local controllers connected to a parent controller. The parent controller may control an array of local controllers configured according to a network architecture. Each local controller may control one or more local dry chemical dispensing machines. In this way, the parent controller may control multiple dry chemical dispensing units over a network from a central location. In addition, the parent controller may directly control conventional liquid dispensers over the network. The parent and local controllers may be implemented using, for example, programmable logic controllers (PLCs).