1 Automation Task

1 Automation Task
1.1 Application environment
In this configuration example the functions and features are explained using the
application example of a waste water treatment plant.
A continuous filling level measurement takes place in the inspection shaft.
Furthermore, the status of pump P1 installed in the inspection shaft is detected.
This information shall be sent in defined time intervals (send cycle) and be
visualized in the central station. The central station must be a decentralized PC
connected to the INTERNET.
Apart from visualization an option of archiving with date and time stamp must be
realized.
The state of pump P1 and the send cycle of the remote station shall be controlled
via the user interface of the central station.
Figure 1-1

Inspection Shaft
Remote Station 256

Remote Station 2
Copyright ¤ Siemens AG 2011 All rights reserved

GPR
Remote Station 1

GP

S
RS
P1

GPRS
Central Station

WinCC
flexible *1
*1
*2
*2 CSV SINAU
file Micro T
SC
Real-time stamp Value 1 Wert 2
22.02.2010 15:10:00 123 456 DSL
22.02.2010 15:09:00 789 193

... ... ... *1) Actual value visualization

*2) Archiving

The following requirements apply for archiving the filling level or pump status in a
csv.-file in the central station.
Table 1-1
No. Function
1. The system time of the remote station must be synchronized using the central
station, where the central station gives the system time.
2. In normal mode (GPRS connection active) the process values with the local
system time of the remote station shall be acquired and sent to the central
station. These system times must be adopted in the archive file.
3. In buffer mode (GPRS connection cancelled) the process values with the local
system time shall be filed non-volatile in the controller. After restoring the GPRS
connection, the process values + historic system time stamps shall be sent to
the central station in correct sequence.

S7-1200 and GPRS

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 1 Automation Task

1.2 Product-related environment

Remote Station
A GSM/GPRS modem SINAUT MD720-3 (4) shall be coupled with a SIMATIC S7-
1200 controller (3) using a RS232 communication module (2). A SINAUT ST7
connecting cable (7) is used for the connection.
In SINAUT MD720-3 a SIM card (6) has been inserted and a quadband antennae
ANT 794-4MR (5) is used for signal reception.
The power supply of all components is provided via a SIMATIC PM1207 Power
module (1).
Figure 1-2
Line protection switch

L1
N
PE
DC24V+
DC24V-

5
Copyright ¤ Siemens AG 2011 All rights reserved

1 2 3 4 6
7

Central station
The central station consists of a SIMATIC MicroBox 427B (2). The software
components SINAUT Micro SC (3) and the visualization system WCC flexible (4)
have been installed on the MicroBox.
The power supply is provided via a SIMATIC PM1207 Power module (1).
The MicroBox is connected to the internet via a router (5).
Figure 1-3

Line protection switch

L1
N
PE
DC24V+
DC24V-

WinCC
flexible 4
SINAU
Micro T
SC 3

1 2

S7-1200 and GPRS

V1.1, Entry ID: 39863979 7
 2 Automation Solution

2 Automation Solution
Please also note the documents listed in Table 6-1.

2.1 Transferring process values between the stations

Functions implemented in the application example
x Cyclic process data transfer from remote station to central station (2.1.1)
x Central station updates date through manual trigger (2.1.3)

2.1.1 Remote station sends process data to central station, trigger: S7-1200
controller

The remote station actively sends process data to the central station. The trigger
for this action occurs event-controlled or cyclical through the user program.
Figure 2-1
Central Station
OPC-Server OPC-Client
SINAUT MICRO SC WinCC
oder
WinCC flexible
Copyright ¤ Siemens AG 2011 All rights reserved

Remote Station

send

Trigger

2.1.2 The central station fetches data from the remote station, trigger:
SINAUT Micro SC

The central station actively fetches process data from the remote station using the
SINAUT Micro SC software. This action is triggered cyclically.
Figure 2-2
Central Station
OPC Server OPC Client
SINAUT MICRO SC WinCC
Properties – RS001
or
RS001 WinCC flexible
1

fetch modem1
secret1
Remote Station

15 Minutes

Kommentare

Trigger

In the example on hand all tags created in the OPC client are updated every 15
minutes. At the same time the connection status of S7-1200 controller and MD720-
3 modem is reevaluated.
This mechanism works since the OPC server SINAUT Micro SC automatically
creates an OPC item for each tag created in the OPC client. Therefore the current
tag management is always known to SINAUT Micro SC and the tag update can be
performed.

S7-1200 and GPRS

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 2 Automation Solution

2.1.3 Central station fetches data from the remote station, trigger: OPC
client

The central station actively fetches process data from the remote station using the
OPC client. The trigger of this action is the operator of the visualization software or
a script. The script or the operator (using a configured interface) set a system-
generated BOOL-type tag. Process data are fetched from the remote station
analog to the process described in chapter 2.1.2.
Figure 2-3

Central Station

OPC Server OPC Client

SINAUT MICRO SC WinCC
or
WinCC flexible

fetch MSC:[RS001]GPRSConnected
MSC:[RS001]PLCConnected
Remote Station MSC:[RS001]BytesReceived
MSC:[RS001]BytesTransmitted
MSC:[RS001]RefreshValues
.
.
.
.

Trigger
Copyright ¤ Siemens AG 2011 All rights reserved

2.1.4 Remote station sends data to remote station, trigger: S7-1200

The remote station actively sends process data to another remote station. The
trigger for this action occurs event-controlled or cyclical through the user program.
The sent frames are first transferred to the central station and there forwarded to
the respective remote station. There is no tag update in the OPC client.
Figure 2-4

Remote Station 1 Central Station

OPC Server OPC Client

fetch SINAUT MICRO SC WinCC
or
WinCC flexible

Trigger

Remote Station n

Note This functionality has not been realized in the example on hand.

S7-1200 and GPRS

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 2 Automation Solution

2.1.5 Remote station fetches data from a remote station, trigger: S7-1200

The remote station actively fetches process data from another remote station. The
trigger for this action occurs event-controlled or cyclical through the user program.
The sent frames are first transferred to the central station and there they are
forwarded to the respective remote station. The response frame with the process
data is returned to the remote station in the same way. There is no tag update in
the OPC client.
Figure 2-5

Remote Station 1 Central Station

OPC Server OPC Client

SINAUT MICRO SC WinCC
or
WinCC flexible

fetch
Trigger

Remote Station n
Copyright ¤ Siemens AG 2011 All rights reserved

Note This functionality has not been realized in the example on hand.

2.1.6 Comparison of trigger mechanisms

Table 2-1
No. Trigger Pros/cons and application cases
1. S7-1200 x Various send cycles can be implemented
controller x Prioritized sending of frames (e.g. for alarm messages)
x Buffering of process data
x Sending of subsets possible
x Full flexibility
x Highest workload compared with other trigger mechanisms
2. SINAUT x Most simple implementation of all trigger mechanisms
Micro SC x No programming necessary
x Updating of subsets of the configured process values is not
possible (everything will always be updated)
3. OPC x Manual trigger for value update (for configured button in the
client visualization software)
x Script-based update (as far as the visualization software supports
script languages)
x Value update upon request through higher-level process
connection
x Updating of subsets of the configured process values is not
possible (everything will always be updated)

S7-1200 and GPRS

10 V1.1, Entry ID: 39863979