Process Field Bus Research Articles

Experimental Hardware-in-the-Loop Centrifugal Pump Simulator for Laboratory Purposes

A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental test-bench is suggested for a rotodynamic pump in this paper. The HIL simulator is composed of two separate modules and two variable-speed drive (VSD) systems that are connected with the help of a programmable logical controller (PLC) and a process field bus unit. One of the fundamental components of the suggested simulation approach is the mathematical representation of a rotodynamic pump system embedded into HIL. A number of tests were conducted in order to study the suggested simulation approach. The experiments demonstrated the developed system’s adaptability and precision in replicating the behavior of the rotodynamic pump in various operation modes. A special user interface for the HIL simulation allows for changing the types of preloaded pump characteristics, reading the output data, and controlling operational parameters. The obtained simulation results showed that the proposed approach can be suitable for research purposes.

Correction Mechanism for Balancing Driving Torques in an Opencast Mining Stacker with an Induction Motor and Converter Drive System

This article describes a correction mechanism for balancing torques in moving drives. The steering system is controlled by a programable logic controller (PLC), a field-oriented control (FOC) algorithm in the drive inverter system, Process Fieldbus (PROFIBUS), and a Decentralized Peripherals (DP) network. The mechanism was applied in an opencast mining stacker with an induction motor and converter drive system. The mechanism was realized using SIMOLINK (Siemens Motion Link, SL) via fiber optic cables. Motor torque correction was applied in each electrical drive of the stacker machine. The main results presented in this paper were obtained directly from the machine. Selected digital control problems related to open mining stackers are discussed.

Induction motor control system with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Profibus communication for industrial plants — An experimental setup

Existing monitoring and control of an induction motor systems must be interoperable with next generation products to ensure smart integration in order to update existing system by reducing the cost and increasing the reliability. The best method must be chosen for efficient use of energy in some cases such as speed control, switching-on or switching-off, or in controlling the speed of induction motors, which make up a large part of the load group in industrial field. In this study, the controlling and monitoring of an induction motor parameters were carried out over a computer by using the Profibus (Process Field Bus) communication method through the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal program used to program all Siemens PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). The induction motor parameters were obtained over the frequency converter without using additional cards such as current, voltage, frequency and speed measurement. In this way, cables and electronic cards confusion were avoided and a safer, faster and more functional application was implemented compared to classical methods. KEPServerEx OPC (Ole-for Processing Control) Server program by OPC Foundation was preferred for the communication of computer with a PLC. Profi-Lab editor program was used for monitoring and controlling the system over a computer.

Integration of Sensor and Actuator Networks and the SCADA System to Promote the Migration of the Legacy Flexible Manufacturing System towards the Industry 4.0 Concept

Networks of sensors and actuators in automated manufacturing processes are implemented using industrial fieldbuses, where automation units and supervisory systems are also connected to exchange operational information. In the context of the incoming fourth industrial revolution, called Industry 4.0, the management of legacy facilities is a paramount issue to deal with. This paper presents a solution to enhance the connectivity of a legacy Flexible Manufacturing System, which constitutes the first step in the adoption of the Industry 4.0 concept. Such a system includes the fieldbus PROcess FIeld BUS (PROFIBUS) around which sensors, actuators, and controllers are interconnected. In order to establish effective communication between the sensors and actuators network and a supervisory system, a hardware and software approach including Ethernet connectivity is implemented. This work is envisioned to contribute to the migration of legacy systems towards the challenging Industry 4.0 framework. The experimental results prove the proper operation of the FMS and the feasibility of the proposal.

Research and Development on the Fault Diagnosis System of Automatic Production Line Based on PROFIBUS

The YL-221 automatic production line is complex in structure, low in utilization and hard to maintain, which makes it unsuitable for teaching. So a fault diagnosis system based on PROFIBUS (Process Field Bus) on the basis of original device is developed. This paper firstly introduces the structure and working principle of the automatic production line, determines the common fault points of the slave station with the blanking station being the example and then employs the PLC and touch screen technology to design and develop fault setting and diagnostic devices of the slave station to meet the working requirements of setting faults in touch screen and monitoring the operation condition. Ultimately, a centralized control on the whole system and distributed control on field devices based on the PROFIBUS bus technology is realized. Real-time data monitoring is made through WINCC interface on the host computer.

Building an interconnection between PROFIBUS and ATM networks

In this paper, a method describing connection between PROcess Field BUS (PROFIBUS) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) systems is presented. The proposed method reveals the usage of ATM at the cell level of the CIM architecture. This leads to the fact that a new bridge based on PROFIBUS and ATM features should be designed. This study is concerned with not only PROFIBUS and ATM interconnection requiring worst-case translation and solution issues (unmatched services, flow diagram, etc.) but also the performance analysis of the model provided CACI Network II.5.

Design, implementation and performance analysis of the PROFIBUS/ATM Local Bridge

PROcess Field BUS (PROFIBUS) has successfully proven itself in many thousands of applications in production, building and process automation. ATM LAN is a recently developed technology, and it is believed to be the ideal solution for B-ISDN. This type of network is so versatile that it can be used in any kinds of environment. Considering the fact that applications involving both a PROFIBUS and an ATM are to be commonly used, the need for a PROFIBUS to communicate with an ATM network attracts attentions. This leads to the fact that a new bridge based on PROFIBUS and ATM features should be designed. The new bridge is called PROFIBUS/ATM Local Bridge. This study is concerned with not only building an interface device that interconnects a PROFIBUS and an ATM LAN but also the performance analysis of the designed bridge.

The PROFIBUS formal specification: a comparison between two FDTs

Formal description languages, like ESTELLE [7], Language Temporary Of Ordering Specification (LOTOS) [8] or Specification Description Language (SDL) [9], allow us to specify complex system requirements in an ambiguities free and complete way [26]. The choice of what formal language to use in a particular system specification must be taken a priori by the system designer [5]. It would be useful to have comparative information about systems described with some of these languages, to know which one would fit better to that system. The literature published on this topic [1,14,22] compares too simple systems. This paper deals with this aspect and compares the formal specification of the PROcess FIeld BUS (PROFIBUS) communications protocol in both languages LOTOS and SDL.

Integrating fieldbuses and factory intranets

Field networks (also known as fieldbuses) are becoming the preferred means for interconnecting devices at the lowest hierarchical level in modern distributed manufacturing systems, particularly to support the real-time communication requirements between controllers, sensors and actuators. On the other hand, internet and intranet solutions are more and more used in the industrial automation scenario at the factory and cell level, and a new generation of applications for manufacturing and process control environments is appearing on the market which is based on popular internet tools and protocols. Very likely, in the near future, a pressing need for interconnecting intranets and fieldbuses in a factory environment will arise, so that the whole production process can be fully integrated. This paper deals with some technical issues that must be considered for accessing fieldbus networks by means of conventional web-based applications in order to enable the remote invocation and execution of configuration, management and control services on field devices. The cases of two international standard fieldbuses which are very popular in Europe, i.e. Process Fieldbus (Profibus) and CANopen, are analysed in detail.

PROFIBUS — Open On-site Communication

In 1988 15 German manufacturers and 5 university institutes formed a group in the research project "PROFIBUS" (PROcess Field BUS). The object of the joint project is to realize and propagate a bitserial fieldbus for use at the lower levels of an automation hierarchy and for the networking of field devices. PROFIBUS realizes layers 1/2 (physical layer. data link layer) and layer 7 (application layer) of the ISO/OSI-ReferenceModel. This paper gives a general idea of the characteristics of layer 1. 2. 7 and the application of PROFIBUS in automation of larger buildings. In addition, test equipment is described for conformance and interoperability tests. Using these tests will avoid the incorrect implementation of the standard as well as other programme errors.