Skov BlueControl Insect Manual

BlueControl Insect
Central in/out
Technical User Guide
614181 • 2023-05-31 Software version 8.0
English For other language variants of this document we refer to:
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Français Pour les versions dans d'autres langues de ce document veuillez consulter:
http://docs.skov.com/1437

BlueControl Insect
Technical User Guide 3
Product and Documentation Changes
SKOV A/S reserves the right to change this document and the product herein described without further notice.
In case of doubt, please contact SKOV A/S.
The date of change appears from the front and back pages.
IMPORTANT
Notes concerning alarm systems
Breakdowns, malfunctions or faulty settings may cause substantial damage and financial losses when regulat-
ing and controlling the climate in a livestock house. It is therefore essential to install a separate, independent
alarm system that monitors the house climate concurrently with the climate and production controller. According
to EU-directive No. 98/58/EU, an alarm system must be installed in all mechanically ventilated houses.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the product liability clause of general terms and conditions
of sale and delivery specifies that an alarm system must be installed.
In case of an operating error or inappropriate use, ventilation systems can result in production
losses or cause loss of lives among livestock.
We recommend that ventilation systems should be mounted, operated and serviced only by
trained staff and that a separate emergency opening unit and an alarm system be installed as well
as maintained and tested at regular intervals, according to terms and conditions of sale and deliv-
ery.
Installation, servicing and troubleshooting of all electrical equipment must be carried out by quali-
fied personnel in compliance with the applicable national and international standard EN 60204-1
and any other EU standards that are applicable in Europe.
The installation of a power supply isolator is required for each motor and power supply to facilitate
voltage-free work on the electrical equipment. The power supply isolator is not included.
Note
• All rights belong to SKOV A/S. No part of this manual may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
the expressed written permission of SKOV A/S in each case.
• All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this manual.
Should any mistakes or imprecise information occur in spite of this, SKOV A/S would appreciate being noti-
fied thereof.
• Irrespective of the above, SKOV A/S shall not accept any liability with regard to loss or damage caused or
alleged to be caused by reliance on any information contained herein.
• Copyright by SKOV A/S.

BlueControl Insect
Technical User Guide
1 Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
2 Product description ....................................................................................................................................... 7
3 Operating instructions................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Operation .................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1.1 Selection of language ................................................................................................................ 10
3.1.2 Search in menus ........................................................................................................................ 10
3.2 Operation............................................................................................................................ 12
3.3 Auxiliary.............................................................................................................................. 13
3.4 Activity log ......................................................................................................................... 14
3.5 Menu button ...................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.1 Strategy ............................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.2 Settings................................................................................................................................ 16
3.5.2.1 System ....................................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.2.1.1 Password ................................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.2.2 Alarms........................................................................................................................................ 19
3.5.2.2.1 Stopping an alarm signal ........................................................................................................... 19
3.5.2.2.2 Power failure alarm .................................................................................................................... 20
3.5.2.2.3 Alarm test................................................................................................................................... 20
3.5.2.3 About.......................................................................................................................................... 20
4 Climate .......................................................................................................................................................... 21
4.1 Central air intake...................................................................................................................... 21
4.2 Central exhaust ........................................................................................................................ 22
5 Alarms ........................................................................................................................................................... 23
5.1 Alarms for central air intake ................................................................................................... 23
5.2 Alarms for central exhaust...................................................................................................... 23
5.3 Auxiliary.................................................................................................................................... 24
5.3.1 Auxiliary sensor alarm................................................................................................................ 24
5.3.2 Auxiliary alarms.......................................................................................................................... 24
5.4 Master/Client alarms................................................................................................................ 24
5.5 Emergency control .................................................................................................................. 24
5.5.1 Emergency opening ................................................................................................................... 24
6 Maintenance instructions ............................................................................................................................ 25
6.1 Cleaning.................................................................................................................................... 25
6.2 Recycling/Disposal .................................................................................................................. 25
7 Work routine ................................................................................................................................................. 26
8 Installation guide.......................................................................................................................................... 27
8.1 Selecting components............................................................................................................. 27
8.2 Connecting components......................................................................................................... 27
8.2.1 The menu Show connection ...................................................................................................... 28
8.2.2 Manual I/O allocation ................................................................................................................. 28
8.3 View week number................................................................................................................... 29
8.4 Select type of Unit of measurements..................................................................................... 29
8.5 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 29
8.5.1 Central air intake........................................................................................................................ 29
8.5.2 Central exhaust.......................................................................................................................... 29
8.5.2.1 Air outlet..................................................................................................................................... 29
8.5.2.1.1 Speed control............................................................................................................................. 29

BlueControl Insect
8.5.2.1.2 Dynamic MultiStep ..................................................................................................................... 29
8.5.3 Active functions in the event of control failure............................................................................ 32
8.6 Management ............................................................................................................................. 32
8.6.1 Energy monitoring...................................................................................................................... 32
8.6.2 Auxiliary ..................................................................................................................................... 32
9 Calibration..................................................................................................................................................... 33
9.1 Calibration ................................................................................................................................ 33
10 Testing........................................................................................................................................................... 35
10.1 Testing basis components...................................................................................................... 35
10.1.1 Testing temperature and air humidity sensors........................................................................... 35
10.1.2 Testing Alarm............................................................................................................................. 35
10.2 Testing optional components: Manual control ..................................................................... 35
10.2.1 Testing climate functions ........................................................................................................... 36
10.2.1.1 Testing the central air intake...................................................................................................... 36
10.2.1.2 Testing of central exhaust.......................................................................................................... 36
10.2.1.2.1 Stepless fans ............................................................................................................................. 36
10.2.1.3 MultiStep .................................................................................................................................... 37
10.2.1.4 Testing relay functions ............................................................................................................... 38
10.2.2 Testing auxiliary functions.......................................................................................................... 38
10.2.2.1 Testing auxiliary sensor ............................................................................................................. 38
10.3 Testing network connection ................................................................................................... 39
11 Service........................................................................................................................................................... 40
11.1 Settings..................................................................................................................................... 40
11.1.1 Central air inlet........................................................................................................................... 40
11.1.1.1 Setting of heating ....................................................................................................................... 40
11.1.2 Central exhaust.......................................................................................................................... 40
11.1.2.1 Setting of exhaustion (MultiStep) ............................................................................................... 40
11.1.3 Network settings ........................................................................................................................ 41
11.1.4 UTC time.................................................................................................................................... 42
11.2 Display ...................................................................................................................................... 42
11.3 Backup ...................................................................................................................................... 42
11.3.1 Backup of historical data............................................................................................................ 43
11.3.2 SD card and USB stick .............................................................................................................. 43
11.4 Software update ....................................................................................................................... 45
11.4.1 Preparing for a software update................................................................................................. 45
11.4.2 Carrying out the software update............................................................................................... 46
11.4.3 Check after software update ...................................................................................................... 47
11.5 Control parameters.................................................................................................................. 47
11.5.1 Control parameters .................................................................................................................... 47
11.6 Adjustment of pressure........................................................................................................... 49
11.6.1 Adjustment of stepless unit ........................................................................................................ 49
11.6.2 Adjust pressure .......................................................................................................................... 50
11.7 System ...................................................................................................................................... 50
11.7.1 Resetting data............................................................................................................................ 50
12 Troubleshooting instructions ..................................................................................................................... 51
12.1 Temperature sensor control table.......................................................................................... 51
12.1.1 Table relating to DOL 114 temperature sensor control.............................................................. 51
12.1.2 Table relating to DOL 12 temperature sensor control................................................................ 52
13 Technical data .............................................................................................................................................. 53
13.1 Dimensioned sketch ................................................................................................................ 54
14 Functionality ................................................................................................................................................. 55
Technical User Guide

BlueControl Insect
6 Technical User Guide
1 Guidelines
This user manual deals with the daily operation of the controller and installation of the controller. The manual
provides fundamental knowledge about the functions of the controller that is required to ensure optimum use of
it.
The first part of the manual describes the general operation of the controller and all climate functions. The sec-
ond part of the manual describes the technical manual which deals with the installation of the controller. Installa-
tion guide [}27]

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Technical User Guide 7
2 Product description
BlueControl insect is a controller developed for insect farming systems with a focus on the soldier fly and meal-
worms. It is thus intended for breeding and growth of larvae and pupae, but can be adapted to most types of in-
sect farming systems.
Insect farming is an intensive form of production. The insects generate a lot of heat, just like the level of CO2
and NH3 can be high in the room. It requires efficient ventilation with high air change, which ensures good pro-
duction conditions throughout the house.
BlueControl insect meets the insects' special needs for climate control with recirculation, humidification, ventila-
tion boost and curve control on an hourly basis. The ventilation can be controlled as an equal pressure system
and as a central exhaust system.
The controller is available in two variants, both of which are used in a total insect ventilation system:
• BlueControl insect system (section ventilation)
• BlueControl insect central in/out (central exhaust and central air intake)
The controller is operated via a touch display with graphical views of the ventilation status, icons and curves,
among other things.
BlueControl insect central in/out is used for controlling the pressure in an exhaust duct for central exhaust venti-
lation system.
It can also be used in houses where fresh air needs to be heated up or cooled down before it enters the house.
Nursery, grow-out and pupa house
Central exhaust - fan bank
BlueControl insect central in/out
Air outlet
BlueControl insect system
Air inlet
BlueControl insect system
Recirculation unit
BlueControl insect system
Air inlet
BlueControl insect central in/out
Figure1: Ventilation components in an insect house with grow-out crates
In production systems for soldier flies, humidity control and removal of humidity with the ventilation air is crucial
in pupa, nursery and growth sections. The flies are produced here in a moist substrate, and the heat production
of the larvae is released especially in the form of water vapor.
During the growth-out period, the moisture content of the substrate changes. Typically, the substrate has a dry
matter content of approx. 30 % at the start, while at the end it must have a dry matter content of 50-60 %. Dur-
ing the production it is important to maintain such a high moisture content in the substrate that the larvae can
eat the dry matter. The larvae have no teeth and therefore they have to suck in the food. Likewise, it must be
avoided that the surface dries out, as this can make the substrate inaccessible to the larvae, and cause it to
form cakes/crusts, which will be sieved off together with the larvae at the end of production. At the end, it must
be so dry that the larvae can be sieved from the frass. See the section about Humidity.

BlueControl Insect
8 Technical User Guide
Fly houses
Air inlet
BlueControl insect system
Air inlet for recirculation
BlueControl insect central in/out
Air outlet
BlueControl insect system
Figure2: Ventilation components in an insect house with fly cages.
In fly houses, the focus is on good air quality. Here the flies hatch, after which they mate and lay eggs in fly
cages over a period of 10-14 days. They consume no nutrition and only a little moisture from a damp surface.
Therefore, they have a very modest heat and humidity production. However, it is also important to avoid humid
areas inside the fly cages.

BlueControl Insect
Technical User Guide 9
3 Operating instructions
3.1 Operation
Each page is composed by different types of cards that provide information about the operation and quick ac-
cess to operation.
B
F
A DC E
Shortcut buttons in the top bar of the page allow you to switch between the main pages Operation (C) , Auxil-
iary (D) and Activity log (E).
AThe icon and name of the page.
BThe house name, time, and possibly week and day number.
CThe Operation page provides an overview and the ability to operate the functions most needed for
your daily work.
DThe Auxiliary page displays the consumption figures and auxiliary equipment status (if installed).
EThe Activity log page displays active alarms and a complete log of operations, events, and alarms.
FThe menu button gives access to language selection (see section Selection of language) and other
pages: Between batches, Strategy, and Settings.
Navigation menus provide access to sub-menus.
The right arrow displays a sub-menu.
The left arrow in the upper left corner allows you to take one
step back in the menu.

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10 Technical User Guide
Scroll
If the page is higher or wider than the display, you can scroll.
This is shown in the display as arrows or a scroll bar.
Scroll by pressing the arrows or letting your finger slide across
the display.
3.1.1 Selection of language
Press the Menu button.
A dot indicates the selected language.
Press More if the requested language is not displayed.
Select the language from the list. Press Confirm.
Note that function names (such as 24-hour clocks, water me-
ters, and programs the user can name) are not translated into
the selected language.
The factory setting for the names is English.
3.1.2 Search in menus
It is easy to search for the individual functions of the controller. There are search fields on the pages: Auxiliary,
Between batches, Strategy, and Settings.
The search takes place within the individual page, and it may be necessary to search for the same several
times.
Use the search field to the left to search in menus.
Enter at least 3 characters to search.

BlueControl Insect
Technical User Guide 11
The result is shown below the search field. The path for the in-
dividual menus is also shown, for example, under Settings:
General | Alarms | Climate.
Press a search result to go directly to that menu.
Press the X in the search field to remove the search results
again.

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12 Technical User Guide
3.2 Operation
The page Operation contain selected views and settings relevant to the daily work.
C
D
A
B
A Shortcut to the main page Operation.
BStatus view for the climate control and access to the ventilation equipment menus.
The card also provides a shortcut for manual control of the climate equipment. This is intended for situ-
ations where equipment must be stopped.
CDisplays the current Air inlet temperature and Outside temperature. Provide furthermore access to
set the desired Air inlet temperature and to view history.
DDisplays the current Duct pressure. Provide furthermore access to set the desired Duct pressure and
to view history.

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Technical User Guide 13
3.3 Auxiliary
The page provides access to recordings from different types of equipment (auxiliary sensors and energy me-
ters), which can be used for monitoring, as an example.
A
B
C
AShortcut to the page Auxiliary.
BThe Auxiliary sensors menu provides an overview of the controller recordings supplied by the auxiliary
sensors in a graphical view.
The auxiliary sensors do not influence the regulation.
The controller records the content of CO2, NH3, O2 in the air as well as humidity, pressure, and tem-
perature. You can also connect air velocity and wind direction sensors that can measure the wind di-
rection and wind velocity outside the house.
The values measured by each sensor are viewed in intervals of 24 hours to 2 months.
CThe menu Energy consumption shows the current consumption in W and total consumption in kWh.
The menu content depends on the type and the setup of the controller.

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14 Technical User Guide
3.4 Activity log
The page displays a log of all recorded alarms, operations, and events.
Alarm status colors:
• Red – hard active alarm
• Yellow – soft active alarm (warning)
• Gray – deactivated alarm
D
C
B
A
AShortcut to the page Activity log.
The icon for the Activity log indicates the number of active alarms as long as an alarm situation has not
ceased.
BEach line shows an activity.
Press the activity line to see details, such as when an alarm was activated and acknowledged. Also,
when a value/setting was changed.
Press Close to close the details screen again.
CFiltering options for the various types of activities:
All: shows all types
Alarm: shows alarms
Operation: shows the operation of the controller
Event: shows, for example, reset of the controller
DSearch the field for the activity log.
Enter at least 3 characters to search. It is also possible to combine filtering and search.
Several alarms often follow each other because one defective function also affects other functions. For instance,
a flap alarm can be followed by a temperature alarm as the controller cannot adjust the temperature correctly
with a defective flap. Thus, the previous alarms allow you to follow an alarming course back in time to detect the
error that caused the alarm.
See the description of alarms in the section Alarms [}19].

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Technical User Guide 15
3.5 Menu button
The menu button gives access to language selection and general settings pages.
A
B
D
C
E
AMenu button
BDisplaying house name, day number, time, week number, if required, variant name, and software ver-
sion.
CSelect language. Access other languages under More.
Note that function names (such as 24-hour clocks, water meters), and programs the user can name
are not translated into the selected language. The factory setting for the names is English.
DShortcut to the page Strategy.
The page provide access to pressure curves according to which the climate function is regulated.
EShortcut to the page Settings.
The page provides access to the user settings for House info, Alarm settings, and Password. See the
sections System, Alarms [}19], and Password [}17].
In addition, you have access to the technical menus used for setup and service. See the Technical
Manual.

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16 Technical User Guide
3.5.1 Strategy
The page provides access to the more constituent function settings that you typically do not need to change dur-
ing a batch. The strategies are thus determined in light of the overall requirements for the production.
It is e.g. here the batch curve for pressure is set so that the regulation automatically adapts in relation to the out-
side temperature.
The regulation changes gradually between the curve points. If
the pressure e.g. set to 15 Pa at 5 °C and 20 Pa at 10 °C, then
the pressure regulation of 7.5 °C will be 17 Pa.
3.5.2 Settings
The page provides access to general settings and alarm limits.
3.5.2.1 System
Menu button | Settings | System
Adjust date and time Setting current date and time.
Correct clock setting is important for several control functions and alarm recording.
Thus, all controller programs use date, time, and day number.
The clock will not stop in the event of a power failure.
Summer and wintertime
There is no automatic adaptation in summer and winter, as some animal types are
very sensitive to changes in their circadian rhythm. If you want the controller to fol-
low the local time for summer and winter, you must manually change the time set-
ting by +/- 1 hour.
Day number Select whether the day number should show the time since the batch start or the
actual age of the animals. When the actual age of the animals is required, the day
number must be adjusted until it matches the life expectancy.
Setting day number. At midnight, the day number counts up 1 every 24 hours after
the house has been set to active house.
Please note that if the day number is changed during a batch, it will shift/destroy the
historical data of the batch (feed consumption, etc.).
The function Day number can also be used to preheat the house by setting a num-
ber of minus days.
Week day Viewing week day.
House name Setting house name.
Each livestock house must have a unique name when the controller is integrated
with a LAN network. The house name is transferred through the network, and the
livestock house should be identifiable based on the name.
Set up a plan for naming all controllers connected to the network.
Password Decide whether the controller must be protected against unauthorized operation us-
ing passwords.
See section Password [}17].

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Technical User Guide 17
3.5.2.1.1 Password
This section is only relevant to houses where the Password function is activated.
The controller can be protected against unauthorized operation using passwords.
In order to have access to changing a setting, a password must be entered that corresponds to the user level
which the relevant function is found at (Daily, Advanced and Service).
Menu button | Settings | General | System | Pass-
word to access the activation of the function.
Enter a service password.
After entering the password, the controller can be operated at
the corresponding user level. After 10 minutes without opera-
tion, the user is automatically logged out.
Select a page after an operation. After 1 minute, the controller
will request the password again.
Activate the function Use password for technical menu only to make the controller require the Service
password only when the user wants to change settings in the menus Installation, Calibration, and Ser-
vice.
Change password for each of the 3 user levels.
To gain access to changing a password a valid password must first be entered.
Menu button | Settings | General | System | Password.
User level Gives access to Factory-set code
Daily view
(without login)
Entry of number of animals
Fine-tuning of temperature, humidity, and air quality
Manual climate control
Daily Daily:
Changing set values
1111
Advanced Daily + advanced:
Changing curves and alarm settings
Manual production control
2222
Service Daily + advanced + service:
Changing settings under Technical menu
3333

BlueControl Insect
18 Technical User Guide
Access limitation to operate the controller
We recommend that you change the default passwords and subsequently change the password
regularly.

BlueControl Insect
Technical User Guide 19
3.5.2.2 Alarms
Alarms only work when the status is Active house.
The only exceptions are alarm tests and alarms for CAN communication and temperature sur-
veillance at Empty.
The controller will record the alarm type and time when an
alarm occurs.
The information on the type of alarm will appear in a separate
alarm window, together with a short description of the alarm sit-
uation.
Red: hard alarm
Yellow: soft alarm
Gray: deactivated alarm (alarm state ceased)
You can choose whether the alarm should be hard or soft for
selected climate and production alarms.
Hard alarm: Red alarm pop-ups on the controller and genera-
tion through the connected alarm units, e.g., a horn. Only hard
alarms trigger the alarm relay.
Soft alarm: Yellow pop-up alert on the controller. Soft alarms
generate a pop-up in the display.
The controller will also trigger an alarm signal, which you can
choose to maintain.
The alarm signal will thus continue to sound until you acknowl-
edge the alarm. It also applies even if the situation that trig-
gered the alarm has ceased.
Menu button | Settings | Alarms
Alarms maintained: Selecting whether the alarm signal should
continue after the alarm condition has ceased.
Reminder
The controller can remind you of an ongoing alarm once you
have acknowledged a hard alarm. It should ensure that the
cause of the alarm is handled.
Reminder settings:
Active alarms reminder time: Setting how long after the alarm,
the reminder is to appear.
Repeat times: Setting how many times the reminder is to ap-
pear.
See section Climate for setting the alarm and alarm limits.
3.5.2.2.1 Stopping an alarm signal
The alarm window disappears, and the alarm signal stops when you acknowledge the alarm by pressing Ac-
knowledge.

BlueControl Insect
20 Technical User Guide
3.5.2.2.2 Power failure alarm
The controller will always generate an alarm and activate emergency opening in the event of power failure.
3.5.2.2.3 Alarm test
Regular alarm tests help to ensure that the alarms actually work when needed. Therefore you should test the
alarms every week.
Activate Alarm test to start testing.
Check that the alarm lamp is flashing.
Check that the alarm system alarms as intended.
Press Acknowledge to finish testing.
3.5.2.3 About
The menu item contains information about types and versions of software and hardware.
Furthermore, under CPU module you can see the license order
code, which must be used when ordering additional software,
e.g. production add-ons.