Major DCS/PLC Platforms Reference
Platform Overview
| Platform |
Vendor |
Primary Use |
Engineering Tool |
HMI |
| Freelance |
ABB |
Small-mid process |
Control Builder F / EWP |
DigiVis |
| PCS 7 |
Siemens |
Large process |
SIMATIC Manager + CFC/SFC |
WinCC |
| TIA Portal |
Siemens |
PLC/HMI unified |
TIA Portal |
WinCC Unified |
| DeltaV |
Emerson |
Process DCS |
DeltaV Explorer + Control Studio |
DeltaV Operate/Live |
| Experion PKS |
Honeywell |
Large process |
Control Builder |
HMIWeb |
ABB Freelance
Key Characteristics
- Compact DCS for small-medium plants
- FBD/LAD primary programming
- File-based engineering (PRT, DMF, CSV)
- BST_LIB (standard) + BST_USER (custom) function block libraries
- MSR points as primary addressable entities
- DigiVis for operator displays
- DIGI protocol for internal communication
Motor Control: IDF_1 + MOT_T1
MOTOR1 Structure (11 signals):
IN: AC (auto cmd), PR0 (safety), MA (req auto), MM (req manual)
OUT: ILK (interlock), RDY (ready), RUN (running), LOC (local), AUT (auto), FLR (fault), SDS (shutdown)
Automation Approach
- PRT file templating (text replacement)
- CSV project parsing/generation
- No public API (file manipulation is the standard approach)
- Checksum can be set to 0; Freelance recalculates on import
Siemens PCS 7
Project Hierarchy
PCS 7 Project
+-- OS (Operator Station - WinCC)
+-- AS (Automation Station - S7-400/1500)
| +-- CFC Charts (Continuous Function Charts)
| +-- SFC Charts (Sequential Function Charts)
+-- Hardware Configuration
+-- Plant Hierarchy (technological view)
+-- Process Tag Management
Motor Control: MotL Block (APL)
Inputs: ModLiOp, AutModOp, ManModOp, FbkRun, Protect, Intlock01, CmdStrt, CmdStop, MonTiRun, MonTiStp
Outputs: ModLiOp_Out, StartOut, RunOut, StopOut, Trip, SwiToLoc
Other APL blocks: MotR (reversing), MotSpdL (speed), VlvL (valve), PIDConL (PID), Intlk02/04/08/16 (interlock), MonDi/MonAn (monitoring)
File Formats
.s7p / .s7l - S7 project/library.pdl - WinCC display.xml - SimaticML block export (proprietary schema).aml - AutomationML (PCS 7 V9+).scl / .awl - ST / IL source
Automation: TIA Portal Openness API (.NET)
using Siemens.Engineering;
TiaPortal tia = new TiaPortal(TiaPortalMode.WithUserInterface);
Project project = tia.Projects.Open(new FileInfo(@"Project.ap17"));
PlcSoftware sw = device.GetService<PlcSoftware>();
sw.BlockGroup.Blocks.Import(new FileInfo(@"Block.xml"), ImportOptions.Override);
Capabilities: create projects, import/export blocks as XML, create tags, generate HMI screens, compile, download.
HMI: SiVArc
Rules-based auto-generation: "For every MotL instance, create a faceplate." Reads PLC structure, generates WinCC elements.
Emerson DeltaV
Architecture
DeltaV System
+-- Plant Areas
| +-- Control Modules (CM) - individual loops
| +-- Equipment Modules (EM) - sequences
| +-- Phases - ISA-88 batch
+-- Controllers (M-series, S-series)
+-- I/O Subsystem
+-- Module Templates (reusable designs)
Motor Control: DC (Device Control) Block
Inputs: MODE_BLK.TARGET, IN_D1 (running fbk), IN_D2 (stopped fbk), IN_D3 (fault), IN_D4 (available), INTERLOCK, PERMIT
Outputs: OUT_D1 (start), OUT_D2 (stop), SP_D (setpoint), PV_D (process value)
Config: IO_OPTS, FBK_STRATEGY, FBK_TIMEOUT
Automation: Class-Based + Bulk Edit
- Module Templates: Define once, instantiate many. Change propagation on template update.
- Bulk Edit: Export to Excel, modify, import back.
- FHX Files: Text-based config format, parseable and generatable.
MODULE TEMPLATE "MT_MOTOR_1SPD" /
MODULE_CLASS = DEVICE /
{
FUNCTION_BLOCK "DC-1" / DEFINITION = "DC" /
{ ATTRIBUTE MODE_BLK.TARGET = AUTO ; ... }
}
Tag Structure
Area/ControlModule/FunctionBlock/Parameter
Example: PLANT/M_101/DC-1/PV_D
Honeywell Experion PKS
Motor Control: MOTOR Block
Inputs: SP (cmd), MODE, INTLK, FB_RUN, FB_STOP, FB_TRIP, LOCAL
Outputs: OP (output), STATUS, ALARM
Config: FB_TIME (monitor time), STRATEGY
Programming
- CL (Control Language): Proprietary ST-like language
- FBD: Graphical function blocks
- Custom Algorithms (CA): Complex logic
Automation
- CSV/Excel bulk point import
- COM-based API (Experion PKS API)
- OPC DA/UA interface
Cross-Platform Motor Block Mapping
| Concept |
ABB Freelance |
Siemens PCS 7 |
Emerson DeltaV |
Honeywell |
| Block |
IDF_1 / MOT_T1 |
MotL |
DC |
MOTOR |
| Start Input |
AC |
CmdStrt |
SP_D |
SP |
| Run Feedback |
RUN |
FbkRun |
IN_D1 |
FB_RUN |
| Fault |
FLR |
Protect/Trip |
IN_D3 |
FB_TRIP |
| Interlock |
ILK |
Intlock01 |
INTERLOCK |
INTLK |
| Auto/Manual |
AUT/MA/MM |
AutModOp/ManModOp |
MODE_BLK |
MODE |
| Local/Remote |
LOC |
ModLiOp |
IO_OPTS |
LOCAL |
| Monitor Time |
Lz (T#5s) |
MonTiRun |
FBK_TIMEOUT |
FB_TIME |
| Data Structure |
DBS:RECORD (MOTOR1) |
Instance DB |
Module params |
Point params |
Cross-Platform Function Block Mapping
| Function |
ABB Freelance |
Siemens PCS 7 |
Emerson DeltaV |
Honeywell |
| Motor |
IDF_1 / MOT_T1 |
MotL / MotR |
MOTOR_BASIC / DC |
MOTOR |
| On/Off Valve |
VLV_1 |
Valve |
DEVICE_DISCR |
DVALVE |
| Mod. Valve |
VLV_2 |
AnlgValve |
DEVICE_AO |
AVALVE |
| PID |
PID |
PIDConL |
PID_PLUS |
PID |
| Analog In |
M_ANA |
MEAS_MON |
AI |
AI |
| Digital In |
M_BIN |
MON_DIGI |
DI |
DI |
IEC 61131-3 Support Comparison
| Language |
ABB Freelance |
Siemens PCS7/TIA |
Emerson DeltaV |
Honeywell |
Schneider |
| LD |
Yes |
Yes (KOP) |
No |
Via ControlEdge |
Yes |
| FBD |
Yes (primary) |
Yes (FUP/CFC) |
Yes (primary) |
Yes |
Yes |
| ST |
Yes |
Yes (SCL) |
Partial (CALC) |
CL (similar) |
Yes |
| IL |
No |
Yes (AWL) |
No |
No |
Yes (deprecated) |
| SFC |
Limited |
Yes (S7-GRAPH) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| OOP |
No |
TIA V16+ |
No |
No |
No |
| PLCopen XML |
No |
Partial |
No |
No |
Yes |
Bulk Engineering Comparison
| Approach |
ABB Freelance |
Siemens TIA |
Emerson DeltaV |
Honeywell |
| Primary |
PRT file templating |
Openness API (.NET) |
Class-based + Bulk Edit |
CSV point import |
| File format |
PRT/CSV (text) |
XML (SimaticML) |
FHX (text) |
CSV |
| API |
None (file-based) |
TIA Openness (.NET) |
COM API |
COM API |
| Scripting |
Python file manipulation |
C#/VB.NET |
Python + FHX |
VBScript |
| HMI gen |
DMF templating |
SiVArc rules |
Auto-faceplates |
Template displays |
