Petri net implementation in programmable logic controllers: methodology for development and validation

Abstract

Lead times are key to good market positioning of providers of automated solutions based on a programmable logic controller (PLC). Testing control software against a digital twin (DT) of the process, any programming errors that may have incurred are detected before commissioning, which reduces project duration. This work raises the possibility of reducing that probability of error when programming discrete event dynamic systems (DEDS), by implementing a Petri net (PN) managing algorithm. A framework is presented which combines the use of this algorithm, by means of pre-incidence and post-incidence matrices and initial marking vector of a net, with code validation through emulation. A use case is brought forward in which the control program of a sequential process with parallel operations is implemented, with both virtual (VC) and real commissioning.