Introduction

The art of cigar curing demands precise control over environmental conditions. This article explores a cutting-edge solution that employs IoT technologies and advanced automation to create an optimal curing environment for cigars. The system is designed to monitor and control temperature and humidity levels with high accuracy, ensuring consistent quality and flavor.

System Architecture

At the heart of the system is a Siemens S7-200 SMART PLC, which serves as the central control unit. Numerous wireless temperature and humidity sensors are strategically placed within each cigar stack, providing real-time data. An RS485 MODBUS RTU controller collects data from these sensors and transmits it to the PLC. The PLC processes the data and adjusts the heating system using PID control to maintain the desired temperature and humidity levels.

Data Acquisition and Processing

The system employs a distributed sensor network to gather data from hundreds of sensors. This data is then aggregated and transmitted to a cloud-based server for centralized monitoring and analysis. A SCADA system, such as Wonderware, is used to visualize the process and provide operators with a user-friendly interface.

Cloud-Based Data Management

The cloud-based platform plays a crucial role in storing, analyzing, and visualizing the vast amounts of data generated by the system. By leveraging a relational database, historical data can be easily queried and analyzed. Additionally, data is presented in a user-friendly format, such as Excel spreadsheets, to facilitate data exploration and anomaly detection.

Benefits of the System

• Precise Control: PID control ensures accurate maintenance of temperature and humidity levels.
• Real-time Monitoring: Wireless sensors provide continuous monitoring of environmental conditions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Cloud-based data analysis enables data-driven decisions to optimize the curing process.
• Scalability: The system can be easily scaled to accommodate a growing number of cigar stacks.
• Remote Access: Cloud-based monitoring allows remote access to the system, enabling operators to monitor and control the process from anywhere.

Conclusion

The IoT-enabled cigar curing system presented in this article demonstrates the power of advanced automation and data analytics in optimizing industrial processes. By combining hardware and software components, the system provides a robust and scalable solution for ensuring the highest quality cigars. As IoT technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the manufacturing industry.