John W. Webb, Ronald A. Reis
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS: Principles and Applications, 5e
Prentice Hall, Pearson Education International,
Hardcover pp. 460, plus XV, $ 53,99,
Prentice Hall Inc., Upper Saddle River NJ. 07458, 2003
ISBN 0-13-041672-X
http://www.pearsoneduc.com

In general about the book

During the last three decades, in order to improve quality and increase productivity, industry was beginning to see a pronounced need for automation. Flexibility and permanent pressure to be able to change processes quickly to meet the needs of the consumer became imperatives. The modern solution for the problem how to provide an efficient process control is to use a computer-based device called programmable logic controller (PLC). PLCs are devices that are specifically designed to receive input signals and emit output signals according to the program logic. Today, PLCs become firmly established as the more popular means of controlling the operation of plant and machinery. In a very short period of time, PLCs have become an integral and invaluable tool in industry. This book provides a useful guide to all students and engineers who are interested in installing and programming PLCs in industrial process control systems. The book contains 28 chapters that are divided into eight sections. The first three sections of the book cover the basic concepts behind the design process control systems based on PLCs. The next two sections, IV and V, deal with basic and intermediate PLC functions. Sections VI and VII cover details concerning functions working with bits and advanced functions. Section VIII concentrates on general topics that involve programming, installing, and selecting a PLC. At the end of the book, four appendices, Glossary, Bibliography, and Index are given. The details of each chapter are as follows.

Chapter content

Section I (Chapter 1 through 4) provide the basic foundation for the use of PLCs. Chapter 1 gives an overall look at PLCs. Chapter 2 describes the PLC structure. Chapter 3 covers general PLC programming procedures, and Chapter 4 concentrates on specifics of input-output modules.

Section II (Chapters 5 trough 7) is devoted to the basic of PLC programming. In Chapter 5 details concerning programming on/off inputs in order to produce on/off outputs are given. Chapter 6 concentrates on relations that exist between digital logic circuits and switch contact logic. Chapter 7 deals with creating ladder diagrams.

The important aspects of basic PLC functions are considered in Section III (Chapters 8 through 10). Chapter 8 lists the five common types of PLC registers, describes the function of each register, and points out how the registers are used in PLC applications. Chapter 9 introduces the reader to PLC timer functions, while Chapter 10 focuses on counting as very important function in individual applications.

Section IV (Chapters 11 through 13) covers arithmetic functions, and in addition the number system conversion instructions. Chapter 11 discusses, firstly, how to apply the common arithmetic instructions including add, subtract, multiply, divide, and after that the more complex functions such as square root, trigonometric, and log. Chapter 12 introduces basic and advanced comparison instructions. Chapter 13 describes how PLC number conversion functions can be implemented.

Section V (Chapters 14 through 17) considers realization of data handling functions. Chapter 14 describes the operation of two powerful programming tools, SKIP and MASTER CONTROL RELAY functions, and points to the difference between the two functions. Chapter 15 explains the specifics of a JUMP instruction. Chapter 16 deals with the properties and typical applications of the MOVE function. Other PLC data handling functions, such as FIFO, FAL, ONE SHOT, CLEAR and SWEEP are involved in Chapter 17.

Section VI (Chapters 18 through 21) discusses PLC functions that manipulate with bits. Chapter 18 describes digital bit instructions and concentrates on some typical applications. Chapter 19 covers advanced programming related to PLC SEQUENCER function. Chapter 20 focuses on controlling two- and three-axis robot with PLC sequencer control. Chapter 21 involves PLC matrix operations and shows how they can be combined in order to perform special functions.

Section VII (Chapters 22 through 24) covers advanced PLC functions. Chapter 22 deals with analog modules and systems and points to specifics of PLC analog signal processing. Chapter 23 describes principles of proportional, integral, and derivate (PID) control, and explains characteristics of a PID module. Chapter 24 covers data communications and networking PLCs.

Several interesting and advanced topics are considered in Section VIII (Chapters 25 through 28). Chapter 25 involves Quickstep state language as a high level programming choice for the PLC. Chapter 26 presents PLC auxiliary commands and functions such as MONITOR, FORCE and PRINT. Chapter 27 focuses on the installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of PLC systems. Finally, Chapter 28 concentrates on selecting a PLC in process control applications.

The text includes four appendices. Appendix A provides addresses for various PLC manufactures. Appendix B briefly describes discrete and analog simulators used for simulating the operation of PLC to train users and test program sequences. Appendix C shows some commonly used circuit symbols, and Appendix D deals with major PLC instructions, functions, and word codes used by typical PLC manufacturers.

Useful book

In summary, Programmable Logic Controllers: Principles and Applications is a concise, easy-to-read undergraduate textbook. It is written at an appropriate level. Reading this book students with little programming experience can acquire the skills necessary to pursue more advanced course in programming industry process control systems. Any engineer who wants to begin to develop some understanding of automatic process control technology would do well start with this book. Therefore, I would certainly fully recommend it to automatic process control designers, graduate students, and researchers looking for a very up-to-date text on programmable logic controllers.