The telecontrol center for the outstations (RTU) is integrated into the process control of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system in the form of an operator station in single station or server design (also redundant as option). No additional automation system for conditioning and connecting telecontrol-specific data need be planned in the SIMATIC PCS 7 system. With large quantity frameworks, a PCS 7 TeleControl operator station (single station/server) is preferably responsible only for the telecontrol mode (dedicated). With small quantity frameworks, a server or a single station can also control SIMATIC PCS 7 automation systems in central plant areas in addition to the RTUs (dual-channel mode).

To enable engineering of the PCS 7 TeleControl operator station (single station/server), the functions of the engineering station of the SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system are expanded by DBA technology (Data Base Automation) and the SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl block library.

For communication with the RTUs, SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl uses the telecontrol protocols SINAUT ST7, DNP3 and Modbus RTU (via serial as well as TCP/IP communication connections) and also IEC 60870‑5‑101 (serial) and IEC 60870‑5‑104 (Ethernet TCP/IP).

With serial RTU interfacing, the telecontrol connection can be implemented cost-effectively at the control center end (PCS 7 TeleControl OS as single station or server) using the following components:

• SINAUT TIM communication modules
  (SINAUT ST7 telecontrol protocol)
• TCP/IP serial converter
  e. g. devices from the companies MOXA or Lantronix (telecontrol protocols DNP3, Modbus RTU, IEC 60870-5-101)

Remote stations can be connected either directly via Ethernet TCP/IP or via TCP/IP WAN routers to the SIMATIC PCS 7 plant bus (telecontrol protocols SINAUT ST7, DNP3, Modbus RTU, IEC 60870‑5‑104). When using the SINAUT ST7 telecontrol protocol, the SINAUT TIM communication module can be used in addition to the TCP/IP WAN router or as an alternative.

The table "Integrable outstations" shows the current connection possibilities depending on the type of RTU and type of communication.

The telecontrol protocols used by SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl for remote communication are matched to the conditions of the widely distributed communication infrastructure.

The WAN transmission media suitable for communication between the RTUs and the telecontrol center are diverse, e.g.

• Private networks
  • Wireless
  • Dedicated line
  • WLAN
• Public networks
  • GPRS
  • EGPRS
  • UMTS
  • DSL

Based on the four basic topological forms (point-to-point, multipoint, star and ring), differently structured telecontrol networks can be implemented with these media versions, e.g. star over wireless, dedicated line or DSL. Through a combination of several basic topologies of the same or different media versions, it is also possible to design more complex network topologies, even with redundant communication paths. Optimum adaptation to the local conditions and the infrastructure which may already exist is possible in this manner.

Migration of existing telecontrol systems

SINAUT ST1 stations based on SIMATIC S5

For migration of existing plants, RTUs based on SIMATIC S5 can also be integrated via SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl into the process control system. In the process, the ST1 telecontrol protocol is converted into the ST7 protocol in the central TIM communication module.

Units with Modbus RTU communication

Existing plant sections that have a Modbus infrastructure, even those outdoors, can be integrated into SIMATIC PCS 7 using SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl. These sections can be integrated into SIMATIC PCS 7 using the Modbus RTU protocol via serial lines or TCP/IP connections.

Whereas RTUs with Modbus TCP/IP interface can be integrated directly, third-party RTUs require special interface converters for telecontrol communication.

Third-party stations with telecontrol protocols

In addition to the Modbus RTU telecontrol protocol, the DNP3 (serial and TCP/IP), IEC 60870-5-101 (serial) and IEC 60870-5-104 (TCP/IP) telecontrol protocols also support the control center interfacing of third-party RTUs for migration. A prerequisite is that the RTU supports the corresponding protocol and that the required interface converters are available.

Third-party stations with OPC

Third-party RTUs for which an OPC server exists can be integrated into the process control with the PCS 7 TeleControl operator system using additional engineering services on the basis of the DBA technology. SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl then supports data exchange between the operator system (OPC client) and the RTU (OPC server) per OPC DA.

SINAUT LSX systems

Existing SINAUT LSX systems can also be migrated with SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl. The SIMATIC S7 controllers with the EDC telecontrol protocol (Event Driven Communication) installed in the SINAUT LSX system are integrated into SIMATIC PCS 7 TeleControl with PCS 7 TeleControl S7 EDC drivers (for ordering data, refer to the following catalog section PCS 7 TeleControl operator system). Because the SINAUT LSX system can coexist at all levels next to the new system architecture as long as necessary, step-by-step modernization is possible without short-lived intermediate solutions.