Control of Hydraulic Pulse System Based on the PLC and State Machine Programming

In this paper, we deal with a simple embedded electronic system for an industrial pneumatic–hydraulic system, based on a low-cost programmable logic controller (PLC) and industrial electronic parts with 24 V logic. The developed system is a hydraulic pulse system and generates a series of high-pressure hydraulic pulses with up to a max. 200 bar output pressure level and with up to a max. 2 Hz output hydraulic pulses frequency. In this paper we are describing requirements, the concept of the embedded control system in a diagram, security features and its industrial network connectivity (CAN bus, MODBUS). In description of the software solution we describe the implementation of the program threads approach in this low-cost PLC. The PLC programming with threads generate two layers of services—physical and application layer, and as a result, the threads create the main control state machine. In conclusion, we describe the calibration method of the system and the calibration curves. For further study we offer readers the full programming code written in sequential function charts to be used as PLC language. The cost of the described industrial networked control system with industry standard optoelectronic insulated interfaces and certified industrial safety relay does not exceed €1000 Euros