Design of Lift Group Control Systems based on PLC

Aims and Study Design: Lifts are presently inevitable requirements in modern day building complexes especially multiple floor buildings to keep up with human transportation. Due to this fact, efficient, cost-effective and reliable lift systems are required in these buildings. In this work, the design of a robust lift group control system based on programmable logic controllers (PLC) is introduced.

Methodology: To achieve this goal, good choices of a hardware platform comprising a PLC complex and a software platform to feed instructions (ladder logic) to the PLC are needed. These platforms are linked via a network connection over an Ethernet. The development of the control network based on fuzzy control is illustrated, which the lift controller uses to recognize traffic and respond to the detected traffic patterns. A simplified form of the algorithm from the moment of a hall call to the point of execution of this call command is presented with simulations demonstrating lift prioritization and scheduling based on dependence on interplay between the input fuzzy variables.

Results: The presented design method shows advantages in accounting for numerous factors such as priority fitting, space availability and lift proximity when calculating and implementing quicker hall call responses, which helps in minimizing waiting time of passengers as demonstrated with the 5 floor double lift system. .

Conclusion: The work is believed to set a basis for future PLC-based lift group control systems (PLC-LGCS).