Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

Basrah Gas Company and Southern Technical University Partnership

Learning Objectives:

1. Learner can explain how a PLC replaces a group of control relays. The PLC senses the
opne/closed position of switches mounted in the field process and then starts/stops/runs the
equipment needed. A program running in the processor determines what
pumps/lights/motors/valves with start or stop based upon the position of the switches
monitoring the system.
2. Learner can determine if a particular field device is analog or digital (switch, transmitter,
shutdown valve, control valve, motor, light, etc)
3. Learner can explain the difference between discrete and analog signals and when/why each is
used for process control.
4. Learner can read and understand basic ladder logic including contacts, coils, timers, counters,
and basic math functions. If given a copy of ladder logic can read and determine when the
equipment would run or stop.
5. Learner can write a simple program in a PLC simulator (like LogixPro) to control a simple process
(open and close the garage door, for instance).
6. Given a basic process need, learner can write on paper a ladder logic program to provide
control.

Resources:

Youtube.com: Many videos on PLC hardware, programming techniques, and system operations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlsJxSK8tPE

http://www.plcs.net/contents.shtml

http://www.thelearningpit.com/

http://www.thelearningpit.com/plc/psim/psim.html (free PLC simulator)