In a SCADA application it is often necessary to execute logical operations in order to calculate interdependences between PLCs. For this, independent HMI/SCADA package zenOn provides a Mathematics driver and support for VBA script integration. If the limits of the Mathematics driver are reached, or if the user is reluctant to program in VBA, COPA-DATA GmbH now offers an easy and powerful solution.

The IEC 61131-3 soft control platform STRATON can be used as the head controller in an application.  Whilst running as a background process, STRATON takes over the complex calculations required for control tasks. STRATON has no negative effect on the zenOn runtime, ensuring the safety of the application. The integration of STRATON in zenOn results in a SCADA system with integrated PLC logic, called SCADA Logic.

Users of SCADA Logic do not need to learn the VBA syntax, because STRATON is programmed using familiar IEC 61131-3 programming languages including FDB, LD, IL, ST and SFC.  A cyclic execution guarantees a valid process image for the SCADA system at all times.  If required, several instances of STRATON can run simultaneously to share tasks in a structured way.

SCADA Logic offers other new possibilities too. Capable of performing more than just calculations and control, STRATON also offers a variety of function blocks for communication, e.g. TCP/IP or direct serial connections. Thus, previously unsupported communication modes can be made available to zenOn based SCADA systems. There are also extensive possibilities for file-based data storage (e.g. XML) from STRATON.

An exciting application of SCADA Logic is the simulation of processes using PLCs in the field, allowing comparisons between the real situation and the desired situation to be made. Deviations are recognized and can be displayed e.g. as alarms in the SCADA system zenOn. SCADA Logic takes advantage of the proven zenOn availability model. The networking and operational redundancy of zenOn acts in concert with the STRATON redundancy, resulting in a highly available package.

COPA-DATA will present zenOn and their new integrated SCADA Logic offering at SPS/IPC/DRIVES, Nuremberg booth 7-594.

http://www.copadata.com