CREATING A PLC PROGRAM WITH SIEMENS TIA TO FILL AND DRAIN A TANK AT VARIOUS LEVELS

PLC boxes in industry are an extremely valuable tool as they allow certain process to be automated and perform a task repeatedly in the field without reliance on a network. This creates a huge advantage if the network goes down, or main controlling computers cease operation. It also allows the PLC boxes to be dispatched into remote or dangerous locations. By working with one of our experts at PLC programming, I was able to design a program that turns on a faucet to fill a large tank to a user specified level, and once that level is attained, drain the tank to another specified level autonomously and continuously. I also designed a switch program so that this process could be operated manually as well. To do this, I used a Siemen PLC box, and utilized Siemen's TIA ladder logic program. Additionally, by repiping the PVC on the tank to stop a leak in the system, the lab became a safer place to operate experiments like this one.