Towards Increased Flexibility and Interoperability in Distributed Process Control Applications

Abstract

The modern process automation plants are changing into flexible designs, which raises the requirements for distributively controlled logic, a high degree of interoperability, dynamic reconfiguration and software reusability. Thus, creating an opportunity to integrate the distributed control system standards and platform independent communication protocols. In this paper, we propose the use of OPC UA to increase interoperability of communication and the utilization of Arrowhead Framework to enhance interoperable service compositions of control applications implemented in IEC 61499. The concept is outlined for the integration and modeling of a distributed control system for a FESTO laboratory batch process system. A control application example is provided to create distributed control of Cyber-Physical Systems using services that are connected using IEC 61499 in accordance to Industry 4.0 for improved interoperability and flexibility.