Development and Implementation of a Control Algorithm for Industrial Pneumatic Sequences

Currently, programming sequences for pneumatic industrial processes are carried out using different methods: pneumatic programming (in disuse), electro pneumatic (using electrical contactors) and programming with a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). Among these, programming using Ladder Logic is the most commonly used and widely recognized for PLC devices. However, its implementation might take large periods of time, becoming a tedious task and increasing its level of complexity as a function of the number of cylinders, movements and phases that the process requires. This work develops and implements a control algorithm in the LabView graphical environment, which is subsequently connected to a Siemens PLC via an NI OPC (National Instruments OLE for Process Control) Server. The control algorithm is experimentally tested and proven successful in various scenarios of industrial pneumatic sequences.