Application of OPC technology in the software about PLC virtual simulation

ZHOU Yajun, ZENG Yang, YU Wujia
（School of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China)

Abstract: To solve the problem of the communication between the programmable logic controller(PLC) and the PLC virtual simulation software, the communication mechanism between the OLE for process controll(OPC) client and server was analyzed. The OPC technology was applied in the connecting experimental program with PLC. Besides, a generalpurpose data acquisition OPC client was designed, which can connect with many types of PLC used in the modern industrial controlling and which adopts the realtime feedback data transfer mode. Finally, the OPC client was tested by using virtual elevator experiment of simulation software based on the platform of Siemens PC access server and S7200 PLC. The result of the test show that OPC technology can improve the efficiency and realtime performance of the system.
Key words: OLE for process controll(OPC); programmable logic controller(PLC); experimental software