Automated Generation of Modular PLC Control Software from P&ID Diagrams in Process Industry

Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) are commonly used in the process industry’s detailed engineering to describe process flows and to serve as a basis for the systems design of processing plants. These diagrams (documents) serve as a basis for upcoming engineering activities, especially the development of control software. Changes in P&IDs often entail adaption of the respective control software. Although these adaptions often realized manually, the development of control software is characterized by painstaking effort and a tendency to prolong projects. This paper therefore proposes an approach that segments P&IDs according the ISA-88 standard. An implemented prototype subsequently generates modular control software based on the PLCopen standardized exchange format. Within an implemented prototype, the approach was evaluated on a sample P&ID derived from a representative lab-size demonstrator, which highlighted the ability to reduce time and costs during the development of control software.