Principles of Constructing a HIL Simulation Stand for Debugging Automated Process Control Systems based on the Baget PLC

Abstract

The problem of constructing a HIL simulation stand for researching a technological process using programmable logic controller (PLC) "Baget" is described in this article. Issues of modeling technological processes are currently extremely relevant, since modeling is a mandatory stage in the automated process control systems development. An adequate model of the technological process allows debugging and verification of automated process control system algorithms without using real equipment, reducing financial costs and the probability of emergency situations. The HIL modeling method involves partial use of real equipment as part of the model. The inclusion of standard components of the original object in the model does not require detailed mathematical model and at the same time provides a more complete correspondence to the original. Due to using a computer from the original object, the stand software operates under conditions close to the real technological process, which improves the quality of the simulation results. The HIL modeling stand includes the following components: control computer of automated process control system; programmable logic controller PLC "Baget"; simulation computer. The stand for the basic element of an automated process control system allows to speed up the process of prototyping and debugging even in the case of complex systems, because it will be easier to build the entire system from correctly functioning elements. Another advantage of this approach is that the stand is not tied to a specific type of technological process or to a narrow area of production — the stand allows the use of ready-made models, the development of new models, and the inclusion of various function libraries. The simplicity of the stand design with this approach is combined with a full range of functionality. By connecting additional software, you can create more complicated and detaild model. This stand is also capable of serving both for debugging PLC algorithms and as a simulator for maintenance personnel of a real control object, because the stand operator can simulate failures and errors of standard equipment, emergency situations at the control object. Using C and JavaScript programming languages for development ensures portability and ease of expanding the capabilities of the modeling software. The development of complex systems based on HIL modeling allows saving resources and effectively solving assigned problems, therefore the proposed approach to building stands will be in demand in the process of developing an automated process control system based on the PLC "Baget".