Brendan Burr

BTEC National Certificate in Electronics

Understanding Selection Of Hardware and Software

Task 1
1.1 Describe the selection criteria and a practical application for a unitary, modular and rack-mounted plc. For the given plant state which system (unitary, modular and rackmounted plc) you believe would best suit the customers needs and why? Plant 1 An oil rig motor control centre which requires 400 digital inputs, 240 digital outputs 38 analogue inputs, 42 analogue outputs and 5 HMI interfaces. Rack mounted PLC I chose this type of PLC, due to the extensive range of inputs and outputs required. There is room for expansion to meet any future specifications. Based on my research from the Allen-Bradley website I/Os can be expanded to 128,000 digital or 4,000 analogue. This shows that there are adequate inputs and outputs potentially available for the oil rig motor control centre. Plant 2 A local plastic manufacturer with an injection moulding machine which requires 10 digital inputs, 7 digital outputs and 3 analogue inputs. Modular PLC I chose this type of PLC due to the option of being able to configure the PLCs I/Os to meet the customers demand. The availability of configuring the I/Os means that the local plastics manufacturer could expand and integrate the existing system to work with two or more injection moulding machines, offering a much lower cost than purchasing a new PLC altogether. Plant 3 A local shop front window display which requires 3 digital inputs and 12 digital outputs. Unitary PLC unitary PLCs have a limited amount of inputs and outputs and cannot be expanded. For this reason they tend to be used on smaller control systems, and are ideal for the local shop front window. This unit would cost less which would most likely suit the shop owner as the income of the shop would not be large enough to compensate on advertising in the shop window.

Brendan Burr

BTEC National Certificate in Electronics

Understanding Selection Of Hardware and Software

Task 2
2.1 Explain the system hardware and software requirements for a PLC. Number Required 1

PLC System PLC-5 System By Allen Bradely PLC-5 Ethernet Processor

Part Number

Description Gives an adequate amount of I/Os and processor speeds. Allows the PLC-5 to communicate to other PLC5s and also a Host computer. Only fills one chassis slot, minimising room loss. Further benefit of being housed inside the chassis is there is no need for extra mounting. (1 chassis is required) Allows the PLC to be programmed. Operates at 24V AC/DC. Has 16 digital inputs. Uses power from the power supply, so needs no extra source. Has 16 single-ended inputs.

PLC-5 Power Supply

1771-P6S1

Software Digital Modules Analogue Modules

9324RL5300ENE 1771-IND

1 25

1771-IFF

Brendan Burr

BTEC National Certificate in Electronics

Understanding Selection Of Hardware and Software

Task 3
3.1 Having given the benefits and/or limitations of the unitary, modular and rack-mounted system describe why plant 1 could only use one type and not the other two? Plant 1 could only use a Rack Mounted PLC as there is a large amount of digital and analogue inputs and outputs required for successful operation. There is a major benefit for the oil company in purchasing a rack mounted plc. This is because the operations may alter slightly, for example new EU Regulations may affect the extraction of oil, the main advantage of PLCs is the ability to be re-programmable, allowing the current software to be erased and rewritten. The rack mounted PLC hardware can also be upgraded to include more inputs and outputs, enabling users to broaden the range of operations the PLC can monitor. This would be done by adding another module to the existing rack mounted PLCs. If Plant 1 used either of the remaining two types of plc, there may not be a sufficient amount of inputs and outputs, required for all of the oil pumps specifications to be met, and therefore compromise the operating parameters of the pump. The other two would not be cost effective either, as a potential upgrade would force the Oil Company to renew the whole (Hardware and Software) PLC system, rather than simple upgrading it. 3.2 For the local shop front window display (Plant 3) what benefits and/or limitations would he/she have over a more conventional relay system? The local shop window would not require a large PLC system set up. This is because it is not necessary to have a large amount of inputs and outputs. The PLC system would have many advantages over a simple relay system such as the ability to be able to reconnect the hardware differently to create different results, whereas the shop owner would have to drastically change the relay system, costing more money in the long term. If new products or offers are put on show in the shop window, then the display can have the details entered and the information can be displayed with graphics. It would be a lot more difficult to do this if the system were composed of relays, as a the program would have to be re-written every time there are new products available. The initial cost of the PLC would be significant, however over time the system would be more cost effective, due to the necessity of having to constantly re-write the relay system software.