The presented paper concerns the issues of communication networks applied to monitoring and control of reactive power compensator for small hydroelectric plants installed in areas distant from urban agglomerations. Ethernet, CAN, Modbus and GPRS transmission protocols has been used. Industrial programmable controller as a data collector has been used also.
The paper undertakes an important topic of evaluation of effectiveness of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems,
used for monitoring and control of selected processing parameters of classic green sands used in foundry. Main focus was put on process
studies of properties of so-called 1st generation molding sands in the respect of their preparation process. Possible methods of control of
this processing are presented, with consideration of application of fresh raw materials, return sand (regenerate) and water. The studies
conducted in one of European foundries were aimed at pointing out how much application of new, automated plant of sand processing
incorporating the SCADA systems allows stabilizing results of measurement of selected sand parameters after its mixing. The studies
concerned two comparative periods of time, before an implementation of the automated devices for green sands processing (ASMS -
Automatic Sand Measurement System and MCM – Main Control Module) and after the implementation. Results of measurement of
selected sand properties after implementation of the ASMS were also evaluated and compared with testing studies conducted periodically
in laboratory.