Title: Modelling PLC characteristics for resource allocation

Authors: L. Ngalamou, L. Myers

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. ' National Environmental and Planning Agency, 10 & 11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston, Jamaica

Abstract: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) characteristics for automatic dimensioning and allocation in process control. The automation of an industrial process is invariably faced with the decision of the optimal resources for implementation. It is important to find a way of selecting the most efficient programmable logic controller that is suitable to facilitate a particular control process. Variables such as the number of inputs or outputs, program memory size, data memory size, auxiliary memory, timers and counters have to be given the requisite consideration. The method undertaken considers the use of ladder diagrams and XML in the process of modelling PLC characteristics which are organised in form of a database. Criteria for PLC selection are used to provide a list of PLCs or embedded controllers that best fits the control process envisioned.

Keywords: programmable logic controllers; PLC characteristics; ladder diagrams; XML model; database; resource allocation; process control; automatic dimensioning; PLC modelling; PLC selection; PLCs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2008.018162

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2008 Vol.31 No.3/4, pp.263 - 274

Published online: 05 May 2008 *

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