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A PLC-Based System for Advanced Control

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Part of the book series: Advances in Industrial Control ((AIC))

Abstract

The chapter presents a PLC-based system for advanced control called ASPECT. The ASPECT controller was designed to be an efficient and user-friendly engineering tool for the implementation of parameter-scheduling nonlinear control in the process industry, which is achieved by partial automation of the commissioning procedure. The key to the concept is the self-tuning mechanism. The controller parameters are automatically tuned from a nonlinear process model. The model is determined on the basis of operating process signals by experimental modelling, where an online-learning procedure is used. This procedure is based on model identification using the local learning approach. The two main components of the ASPECT system are the Run-time Module (RTM) and the Configuration Tool (CT). The RTM runs on a PLC or an embedded controller, performing all the main functionality of real-time control, online learning, and control performance monitoring. The CT, used on a personal computer (PC) only during the initial configuration phase, simplifies the commissioning procedure by providing guidance and default parameter values. The performance of the system is demonstrated with simulation experiments on a pH control process and with experimental application to an industrial valve-testing apparatus. In the conclusion, the lessons learned during the development and implementation of the system are discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The concept of IDR BLOK is closely related to the more recent “Function Block Diagram” of the IEC 61131-3 standard. An IEC 61131-3 compliant version of IDR BLOK has been developed recently.

  2. 2.

    Generally, the ASPECT controller is intended to be tuned empirically through experimentation, and process modelling is not required for simpler scheduling control applications.

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Acknowledgements

The contributions of all other partners in the ASPECT project are gratefully acknowledged. The ASPECT project was financially supported by the EC under contract IST-1999-56407. ASPECT ©2002 software is the property of INEA d.o.o., Indelec Europe S.A., and Start Engineering JSCo. This chapter is based on: Gerkšič S. et al. (2006) Advanced control algorithms embedded in a programmable logic controller, Control Engineering Practice, 14:935–948 ©Elsevier.

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Gerkšič, S. et al. (2013). A PLC-Based System for Advanced Control. In: Strmčnik, S., Juričić, Đ. (eds) Case Studies in Control. Advances in Industrial Control. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5176-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5176-0_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

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