Methods and apparatus for an improved motor control center
AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.
InventorsDale R. Hrachovec, Pablo A. Medina Rios, Jason A. Cange, Seshagiri R. Marellapudi, Barry E. Powell, Ayman S. El-Dinary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for operating a motor control center. The invention includes determining a hardware configuration of functional modules within a motor control center; downloading the hardware configuration to a programmable logic controller; configuring a program to run on the programmable logic controller based on the hardware configuration; and executing the program. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
Claims21
A method of operating a motor control center comprising:
- determining a hardware configuration;
- downloading the hardware configuration to a programmable logic controller;
- configuring a program to run on the programmable logic controller based on the hardware configuration, the hardware configuration includes one or more function module installed in the motor control center, the programmable logic controller is adapted to determine a status of the one or more functional module in real time from a memory space of stored operational data of the one or more functional module;
- and
- executing the program.
A motor control center system comprising:
- a frame adapted to provide a plurality of functional module slots;
- a busbar coupled to the frame and the functional module slots;
- a network coupled to the frame and the functional module slots;
- a programmable logic controller module adapted to couple to a functional module slot;
- and
- a plurality of functional modules adapted to couple to functional modules slots,
- wherein the programmable logic controller module includes a programmable logic controller adapted to:
- receive a hardware configuration;
- download the hardware configuration into a memory of the programmable logic controller;
- configure a program to run on the programmable logic controller based on the hardware configuration, the hardware configuration includes the plurality of function modules installed in the motor control center, the programmable logic controller is adapted to determine a status of the one or more functional module in real time from a memory space of stored operational data of the plurality of functional modules;
- and
- execute the program.
A programmable logic controller module for a motor control center, the programmable logic controller module comprising:
- a programmable logic controller adapted to:
- receive a hardware configuration;
- download the hardware configuration into a memory of the programmable logic controller;
- configure a program to run on the programmable logic controller based on the hardware configuration, the hardware configuration defines one or more function module including a motor overload module, a variable frequency drive module, or a soft start module that are installed in the motor control center;
- store operational data of the one or more functional module into at least one data structure that correspond to the one or more functional module, the programmable logic controller is configured to determine a status of the one or more functional module in real time from a memory space of stored operational data of the one or more functional module;
- and
- execute the program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.