Programmable Logic Controller Optical Fibre Sensor Interface Module
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publisher
SPIE
Editor(s)
Saulius Juodkazis, Min Gu
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Engineering / Centre for Communications Engineering Research
RAS ID
13290
Abstract
Most automated industrial processes use Distributed Control Systems (DCSs) or Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) for automated control. PLCs tend to be more common as they have much of the functionality of DCSs, although they are generally cheaper to install and maintain. PLCs in conjunction with a human machine interface form the basis of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, combined with communication infrastructure and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs). RTU's basically convert different sensor measurands in to digital data that is sent back to the PLC or supervisory system. Optical fibre sensors are becoming more common in industrial processes because of their many advantageous properties. Being small, lightweight, highly sensitive, and immune to electromagnetic interference, means they are an ideal solution for a variety of diverse sensing applications. Here, we have developed a PLC Optical Fibre Sensor Interface Module (OFSIM), in which an optical fibre is connected directly to the OFSIM located next to the PLC. The embedded fibre Bragg grating sensors, are highly sensitive and can detect a number of different measurands such as temperature, pressure and strain without the need for a power supply.
DOI
10.1117/12.903235
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Allwood, G. A., Wild, G. , & Hinckley, S. (2011). Programmable logic controller optical fibre sensor interface module. Paper presented at the SPIE Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices. Melbourne, Australia. Available here