The alcator C-MOD control system

The Alcator C-MOD experiment includes over 30 engineering and diagnostic subsystems. The control system hardware and software is a mixture of custom and commercial products which includes sensors, signal conditioners, hard-wired controls, programmable logic controllers, displays, a hybrid analog/digital computer, networked personal computers, and networked VAX workstations. This paper describes the computer-based portions of the control system. The control system coordinates all C-MOD systems including power, vacuum, heating and cooling, access control, plasma shape and position control, and diagnostics. Programmable logic controllers (PLC's) are located near each subsystem. The control room is isolated by fiber optics. Functions that are essential to personnel or equipment safety (e.g. access control) are implemented in hardwired logic and monitored but not controlled by the PLC's. The initial configuration will include over 25 Allen-Bradley PLC-5 units. The PLCs in each subsystem are connected to personal computers (PC's) in the control room. The PC's provide graphical displays and operator interface. The Pc's are networked and share process data with each other and with a master control console and a large mimic panel