Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition(SCADA) systems are described as being an industrial computer scheme for measuring,controlling,and interfacing with a manufacturing process.SCADA systems exist in nearly all types of manufacturing of products,be it oil and gas,power,automotive,water systems.It is a technology that can be deployed to improve a process.That help may be defined as speeding up or increasing the yield of a process,improving safety,acquiring data for accounting purposes,controlling a process with minimal to no human interaction among other things.SCADA systems are created in several basic layers.The first layer is the measurement and control layer.This layer is built from components interfacing with the process.These might be measurement devices that include variable or analog measurements such as product flow,temperature,pressure,level,etcetera as well as discrete measurements of on or off,open or close,running or stopped,whatever is necessary.The next layer is the intelligence system.This intelligence system does all thinking for the process.There are several products that can provide this next level depending on the application.Two of the most defined product classes are Remote Terminal Units(RTU) for simple applications that are usually located in isolated or inaccessible locations.Programmable Logic Controllers(PLC) are used in applications that involve much more complicated systems,typically in a plant type environment.The following layer is communication.The communication layer can be very simple or very complex.There are numerous ways to communicate,it may be simple solutions such as lights,sirens and gauges,or more complex systems of sending data across various network types all around the world if need be.Beyond the communication layer is the interface with the intelligence system,commonly referred to as Human Machine Interface or HMI.This interface is a way for operators to interact with the system.These interactions can be locally at the process or remotely through a control room or even office.These interfaces show measurement and data from the devices in the first layer as well as alarms and events as defined by the intelligence system.
展开▼
