PLC replacement

[PdB]

I'm replacing an outdated SCADA-PLC system by PC-LabVIEW MMI.
There are strict safety-issues since the application runs at high temperatures with flammable gasses, so PC-control is NO option.
The worrying thing is the PLC, which is kinda old.
I could not find a decent LV-driver to the PLC.
LV-coders at the supplier company hadn't even heard of the model.
So I either have to do the coding myself or select a replacement to the HW.

One of the HW alternatives to a PLC seems to be a FP-RT system.
That should be easy to program for me since I have lots of LV experience. Besides that, I can avoid the PLC learning-curve (have little experience with them).

Can anyone give me an opinion if FP-RT is a good PLC replacement. (please no NI-sales answers)

[gbush]

If you have hazardous situations, I try to avoid pc solutions and go with dedicated devices. PC's can hang up at the worst posible moments. I have done projects for companies in similar environments. If cost is an issue, Toshiba makes a nice little unit that is EASY to program and won't slow you down at all. Allen-Bradley has a few different PLC's that tend to be more expensive, more of a learning curve, but work forever.
I come from a electrical/programmer background. This is my opinion, which won't even get you a bus ride.
🙂

[pravin b]

PdB_Serenity_nl,
Just out of curiosity, what PLC you are trying to use? One more option for you would be to configure a OPC server for the PLC and then use LV Datasocket to communicate with the PLC. Having used LV, this should be a cakewalk for you.

Pravin

[PdB]

A Honeywell S9000 series, S9100 E to be exact.

[Vinnygalbo]

I'd recommend toshiba plcs also. their software is more intuitive than allen bradely and i think their quality is better too. for a cheaper solution go with panasonic, especially their new fp-x series.

http://www.ctiautomation.net/Toshiba-PLCs.htm

[Wayne.C]

PdB,

You could replace with either a cFP or a cRIO.  I use a lot of cFP myself and have found them to be very reliable and rugged.  The big question as usual is overall cost of the project.  NI hardware might cost a bit more up front, but you may be able to justify that based on the fact that you are already familiar with LV environment.  Will you need to purchase any additional develpment tools for either option?  cFP/cRIO will require LV Realtime Module.

[RavensFan]

Vinny,

Do you realize the thread is over 6 years old?

[PdB]

Some words on what I did about 6 years ago:

The application is succesfully created using 2 cFP slave systems (one for each oven) communicating with a master application on a PC that runs the UI stuff.

I ended up creating two LabVIEW applications, one with strict safety- and real-time constraints, the other with easy of use in mind.

In the test-fase, a normal PC ran the cFP LV-code for debugging purposes.

The results were a 10-fold decrease in overshoot of the oven (due to the 16 bit temp resolution and increased speed) at 1000 degr. C and a happy customer.