A Scada system used for monitoring virtual chemical plants via Modbus communication

Abstract

Many chemical processes commonly use many instruments to meticulously gauge and regulate critical system variables. Automation within the industrial sector hinges upon deploying a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. However, the software typically employed for this purpose is endowed with substantial added value, rendering its application in smaller-scale projects economically impractical. In the context of this study, our primary objective was to develop a SCADA system tailored for a virtual plant. To realize this aim, we simulated a heat exchanger network process unit using UniSim®. We integrated it with the ScadaBR software through a Python script, capitalizing on the Modbus communication protocol. It encompasses essential functionalities such as real-time variable supervision, dynamic graph and report generation. For the proposed example, 28 variables were monitored. The results revealed that statistical analysis of the variables could be performed graphically and computationally, evidencing that the ScadaBR tool was successfully connected to the Unisim® simulator.