PowerFlow Paper Solutions

Installation Guide

On This Page

Prerequisites

Before installing the Dilution Control System, ensure the following requirements are met:

Hardware Requirements

Component Minimum Recommended
Processor Intel Core i3 or equivalent Intel Core i5/i7 or equivalent
RAM 4 GB 8 GB or more
Storage 500 MB free space 2 GB for logs and data
Display 1366 x 768 1920 x 1080 or higher
Network 100 Mbps Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet

Software Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or Windows Server 2016/2019/2022
  • Runtime: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2019 or later
  • .NET Framework: .NET Framework 4.8 or later (for some components)

Network Requirements

  • Static IP address for the control PC
  • Network connectivity to PLC system
  • Network connectivity to QCS/scanner system
  • Firewall rules allowing Modbus TCP (port 502) and S7 (port 102)
Industrial Network

The control PC should be connected to a dedicated industrial network, separate from office networks, to ensure reliable real-time communication with the PLC and QCS systems.

Download Software

Obtain the installation package from PowerFlow:

  1. Contact PowerFlow support to receive download credentials
  2. Download the installation package: DilutionControlSystem_Setup_vX.X.X.exe
  3. Verify the download integrity using the provided checksum
License Required

A valid license key is required to activate the software. Contact PowerFlow to obtain your license before installation.

Installation Steps

Follow these steps to install the Dilution Control System:

  1. Close Running Applications

    Close any running instances of the Dilution Control System and related applications. Also close antivirus software temporarily during installation.

  2. Run Installer

    Right-click the installer file and select Run as Administrator. The installation wizard will launch.

  3. Accept License Agreement

    Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) to proceed.

  4. Select Installation Location

    Choose the installation directory. The default location is:

    C:\Program Files\PowerFlow\DilutionControl

  5. Select Components

    Choose the components to install:

    • Core Application (required)
    • Documentation (recommended)
    • Sample Configurations (recommended for new installations)
    • Simulation Tools (optional, for testing)

  6. Configure Data Directory

    Specify the location for configuration files and log data. Default:

    C:\ProgramData\PowerFlow\DilutionControl

  7. Complete Installation

    Click Install to begin the installation. Wait for the process to complete.

  8. Restart if Required

    If prompted, restart the computer to complete the installation.

Network Configuration

Configure the network settings on the control PC:

Static IP Configuration

  1. Open Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings
  2. Right-click the network adapter connected to the industrial network
  3. Select Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
  4. Configure a static IP address in the same subnet as the PLC and QCS

Example Network Configuration

Device IP Address Subnet Mask
Dilution Control PC 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0
PLC Controller 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0
QCS Interface 192.168.1.50 255.255.255.0

Verify Connectivity

Test network connectivity to the PLC and QCS:

ping 192.168.1.100    # Test PLC connection
ping 192.168.1.50     # Test QCS connection

Firewall Settings

Configure Windows Firewall to allow communication:

Required Ports

Port Protocol Purpose
502 TCP Modbus TCP communication
102 TCP Siemens S7 communication
48898 TCP/UDP Beckhoff ADS communication
135 TCP OPC DA (if used)

Configure Firewall Rules

Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security:

  1. Create a new Inbound Rule
  2. Select Port as the rule type
  3. Specify TCP and the port numbers above
  4. Allow the connection
  5. Apply to Domain, Private, and Public profiles as appropriate
  6. Name the rule "Dilution Control System"

Repeat for Outbound Rules if outbound connections are restricted.

Application Rule

Alternatively, create an application rule to allow all traffic for the Dilution Control System executable.

Verify Installation

After installation, verify the system is correctly installed:

Launch Application

  1. Open the Start Menu
  2. Navigate to PowerFlow > Dilution Control System
  3. Or double-click the desktop shortcut

Check System Status

On first launch, verify the following:

  • Application starts without errors
  • Main window displays correctly
  • Status bar shows "Disconnected" (normal before configuration)

View Installation Log

If issues occur, check the installation log at:

C:\ProgramData\PowerFlow\DilutionControl\Logs\install.log
Next Steps

After successful installation, proceed to License Activation to activate your software license.