technical system

טֶכנוֹלוֹגִיָה

2022

We explain what a technical system is and what function it has. Also, how it is composed and some examples. Technical system of units.

A nuclear power plant is an example of a technical system.

What is a technical system?

A technical system is understood as a complex mechanism of actions intentionally oriented to the transformation, control or transport of some type of concrete objects, using physical entities and human agents, to achieve a determined and considered valuable result.

Technical systems are part of the daily life of humanity and fulfill various economic, logistical, political and even social tasks. For this, the interrelation or interconnection between the various elements that make up the system is vital. If there is a good communication Among them, there are older odds that the final mission is successful.

Technical systems are distinguished from artifacts in their degree of autonomy and automation, since the former require human agents to operate.

Components of a technical system

Every technical system has the following types of components, often used as categories for process analysis:

  • Material components. In this category comes the raw material essential to start the process, the energy applied in its transformation and the technical equipment (technology) that allow to act on it.
  • agent components. The people involved in the process, which gives it a load of culture, values, skills Y knowledge, and play a vital role in their interaction with the system, as operators, supervisors, regulators, controllers, etc.
  • System structure.This refers to the specific way in which the other components of a system are arranged and interconnected. Based on this, it is possible to identify two types of process: management and transformation. The former exercise control over the process, while the latter are the ones who actually carry out the work.
  • Results. The results are the objects and actions obtained at the end of the process, whether they are the desired ones (successful process) or not. It is possible that two technical systems that have similar components and structures give different results.

Function of a technical system

Technical systems can have any type of function, based on three categories:

  • Transformation. A raw material is taken and subjected to processes of physical, chemical or other change, and a different product is obtained.
  • Transportation. A material (raw or elaborated) is received and it is positioned in other places according to a production plan. distribution or specific marketing.
  • Control. Another process is taken into account as an initial input and is controlled or managed from its beginning to its end, resulting in its success, or its increase in effectiveness or performance.

Examples of technical system

Waste from a nuclear plant is put into lead barrels.

A nuclear power plant:

  • Material components. Technological equipment for nuclear reaction treatment; enriched uranium as raw material; the territorial location on which to build the plant; lab coats and other daily work materials; radiation detectors for staff and environments; the Water to boil; turbines to generate electricity with water vapor.
  • agent components. The different levels of human operators: technicians, cleaning staff, scientists, administrators, managers, operators, etc.
  • Structure. It comprises a series of transformation processes of uranium enriched in radioactive elements, by means of a controlled atomic reaction that generates much Energy. This energy is transmitted to the water that boils and mobilizes the turbines. The waste must then be collected, moved and disposed of properly.
  • Results. Energy and radioactive plutonium (toxic waste) in barrels of lead.

A book distributor:

  • Material components. The books and publications that must be distributed in the different commercial offices of the city, as well as the essential transport vehicles to cover the distances quickly, the warehouse where all the printing material is received and the boxes to load it.
  • agent components. Warehouse operators, carriers, supervising administrators and managers.
  • Structure. The material is received in massive packages and is divided into smaller sets destined for each of the specific sales centers. Then they are delivered and the entire operation is recorded in receipt forms.
  • Results. The books available in each bookstore.

Technical System of Units

A technical system of units consists of a methodology to measure magnitudes of some kind, made up of fundamental units and a proportion and convertibility ratio between them.

There are several systems of this type, although the most accepted is the so-called International System of Weights and Measures (YES), or metric-decimal system. Here kilograms are used to measure the dough, the meter or centimeter to measure the length, the second as a unit of time, the kilogram-force or kilopond as a unit of strength and the calorie as a unit of heat. This is based on the terrestrial gravitational attraction, which is why it is sometimes called the gravitational system or the terrestrial system of units.

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