Implementation of industrial automation water distribution system utilizing PLC: a laboratory setup

Abstract

In this paper, an automated process control utilizing programmable logic controller (PLC) is implemented to a laboratory setup of a water distribution system. A common implementation of water transference in the local water utility company in a water distribution network is controlled manually, the process of distributing clean water to customer to meet the customers’ demand is not efficient, thus difficult to achieve. Therefore, in this paper, an automated water distribution system is proposed by controlling the water level of the reservoir tank, representing demand from customers. The automation process is achieved through the utilization of OMRON CP1H PLC, the central processing unit of the system. The water level is measured by water-level sensors and monitored by flow rate meter for high accuracy measurement. The speed of the water pumps is regulated by the variable speed drive (VSD) based on several set-points of the water level of the reservoir tank for low, medium, and high level. The automated system is then monitored and controlled through a SCADA system using OMRON CX-Supervisor. From the results obtained, it can be observed that the proposed system able to control the water level automatically, continuously thus improving the efficiency of the water distribution system.