KONGSBERG K-Chief 600 Control Room Panel (CRP) for Ship Automation System

KONGSBERG K-Chief 600 Control Room Panel (CRP) for Ship Automation System

Overview of K-Chief 600 System

K-Chief 600 is a modular ship automation system launched by Kongsberg, covering core functions such as alarm monitoring, power management, pump control, and liquid level telemetry. The system adopts a distributed architecture, connecting various remote I/O units, controllers, and operation stations through a network to achieve comprehensive monitoring of ship power equipment and auxiliary systems. The control room panel, as an important component of the operation station, is usually installed on the platform of the control room, providing round the clock interaction means for the engineers.

CRP panel design concept

The design of CRP panel follows the principle of user centeredness, aiming to simplify the operation process and reduce the risk of misoperation. Its layout is divided into functional zones, with commonly used controls and status indicators arranged in a centralized manner, combined with high brightness LEDs and built-in buzzers, to ensure clarity and recognizability under normal lighting conditions in the control room. The surface of the panel is made of wear-resistant materials, suitable for long-term industrial use. The installation method is flexible and supports embedded tabletop installation. It is fixed with four corner bolts for easy integration into existing consoles.

Detailed explanation of panel functional areas

The front of the CRP panel is divided into four main functional areas: Alarm area, Panel status area, Command area, and Input area. In addition, there is a trackball and matching mouse buttons in the center of the panel for cursor positioning and menu operations.

Alarm Zone

The alarm area contains three indicator lights and three buttons for indicating and confirming alarm events:

Alarm indicator lights: usually divided into red (emergency alarm), yellow (warning), and green (normal), but the specific color definition may vary depending on the system configuration.

Confirm button: The operator can press it to mute and confirm the current alarm. The system records the confirmation time and operator information.

Reset/Test button: Used to reset processed alarms or initiate panel self-test.

Panel status area

Power indicator light: Green constant light indicates that the panel power supply is normal.

Fault indicator light: When the red light is on, it indicates that the communication between the panel and the host is interrupted. At this time, the panel cannot be operated and the network connection needs to be checked.

Command area

CMD CTRL button: One click to open the command control dialog box, facilitating quick execution of device start stop and other operations.

1 and 0 buttons: used to directly start (1) or stop (0) the selected pump, valve, or compressor. Combined with menu selection, it can greatly improve operational efficiency.

Input area

The input area contains multiple buttons to meet different input needs:

Function keys: used to activate specific functions on the screen.

Number keys: used to input numerical parameters.

Alpha numeric keys: support text input, used for tagging or searching.

Cursor control keys: The four directional keys can replace the trackball for cursor movement, suitable for high-precision operations.

Trackball and mouse buttons

CRP uses an industrial grade mechanical trackball, which is smooth and wear-resistant. With three mouse buttons (left, center, and right), it can achieve functions such as selection, dragging, and right-click menu. The trackball also integrates four directional keys, providing redundant cursor control.

Built in buzzer

Buzzer is used for sound prompts:

An intermittent sound is emitted when a new alarm occurs.

When there is a power failure or command execution, a specific tone is emitted to help operators perceive changes in the system status in a timely manner.

Technical specifications and performance parameters

The design of CRP panel meets the strict requirements of marine environment, and the technical parameters are as follows:

Power supply: 18-32 Vdc (allowing ± 5% ripple), fully isolated through DC/DC converter to ensure that power interference does not enter the internal circuit.

Power consumption: nominal 10W, maximum 20W (depending on USB peripherals).

Protection level: IP22, can prevent finger contact and vertical dripping, suitable for indoor environments such as control rooms.

Environmental standards: comply with IACS E10, IEC 60945, covering temperature, humidity, vibration, impact, etc.

Working temperature: -25 ° C to+70 ° C, same storage temperature (requires dry environment).

Relative humidity: up to 96% without condensation.

Signal interface:

2-channel relay output (conversion contact, maximum 3A 24Vdc inductive load)

4-channel digital input (dry contacts)

2-channel analog input (0-5V, used for dimming)

1 PWM output (used for dimming other devices)

Analog input accuracy: ± 1%.

Communication interface: USB 2.0 HID, supports external keyboard, mouse, or storage devices.

Built in self-test: Real time monitoring of module temperature to ensure normal operation.

Dimensions and Weight: Width 240mm, Height 192mm, Depth 80mm; Net Weight 1.3kg.

Installation method: Embedded from the top of the console, holes need to be made according to the drawing.

Material: Aluminum alloy shell, sturdy and lightweight.

Classification Society Certification

The CRP panel has obtained type approval from mainstream classification societies worldwide, including DNV, LR, BV, GL, RINA, NK, ABS, KR, RMR, CCS. This means that it can be installed in suitable cabinets near equipment such as engines and compressors, meeting strict vibration and temperature requirements.

Operation and usage scenarios

daily monitoring

In the cabin control room, the engineers access various monitoring screens of K-Chief 600 through the CRP panel. Move the trackball cursor and click on the icon to view parameter trends, alarm lists, and device status. When an alarm occurs, the buzzer sounds and the red light in the alarm area flashes. The operator can immediately press the confirm button and bring up the relevant screen for processing.

Quick Command

By pressing the CMD CTRL button in the command area, the operator can quickly access the device control dialog box and use the numeric 1/0 button to directly start and stop the device without the need for multiple menus. This significantly improves efficiency in emergency situations or frequent operations.

data input

The alphanumeric keys support inputting set values, modifying parameters, or adding comments. For example, modifying alarm thresholds or inputting tank capacity.

dimming function

The lighting in the control room may vary with day and night. CRP supports external dimming signal input (0-5V) and can output PWM signals to synchronously dim other panels, ensuring that night operations are not dazzling.

USB peripheral

The protected USB port on the front panel can temporarily connect a mouse, keyboard, or USB flash drive for system maintenance and data export. The USB port can be protected with a dust cover when not in use.

Installation and Maintenance

CRP is designed to be installed from the top of the console by simply opening a rectangular hole, inserting the panel, and securing it with square bolts. The wiring terminal is located on the back and supports plug-in wiring, making it easy to prefabricate cables. The built-in self-test function (BIST) on the panel can monitor the internal temperature and communication status, and in case of a fault, it can be indicated through the Fault light or system alarm. Daily maintenance mainly involves cleaning the surface of the panel and checking the reliability of the wiring.

Integration with K-Chief 600 system

CRP, as an HID device, communicates with the operation station host through USB, and the host runs K-Chief 600 software. The operation station can be an industrial PC or embedded computer that exchanges data with various distributed processing units through a network. CRP does not require separate configuration, it is plug and play, and the system automatically recognizes it. Multiple CRPs can be used in parallel, for example, installed separately in the control room and the driver's cab.

Summary of Advantages

Highly integrated: integrates display, control, and alarm functions to reduce table space occupation.

Intuitive operation: partition layout, one click commands, trackball navigation, reducing learning costs.

Environmental adaptation: wide temperature range, anti vibration, anti-interference, meeting the highest standards for marine use.

Flexible expansion: USB interface, multiple I/O, suitable for different ship needs.

Global certification: recognized by mainstream classification societies, simplifying the process of ship naturalization.