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Design and research of elevator control system based on PLC

To cite this article: Xiaohu Han 2020 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1449 012101

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ISPECE 2019 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1449 (2020) 012101 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1449/1/012101

Design and research of elevator control system based on PLC

Xiaohu Han
PetroChina West Pipeline Company, Urumqi, 830013, Chnia

Abstract: With the gradual popularization of high-rise buildings in China, the elevator control
system has also achieved rapid development, and the relevant design is constantly improving
and optimizing. For the elevator system, the advantage of PLC control system is that it can use
the elevator control system of PLC, and its later maintenance cost is lower. In this paper, the
hardware and software design of the elevator control system based on PLC are tested, and the
operation of the implementation process is carried out.

1. Introduction
With the development of modernization in our country, the number of high-rise buildings is increasing,
more and more high-rise buildings come into our life, and the elevator has become an important part
of our life. The design of elevator system is the basic part of high-rise building, and the design of
elevator system has become an important part of high-rise building design. In the past design of
elevator control system, relay control is mostly used. Generally speaking, the control system mainly
includes two parts: logic control system and drag control system. Among them, the logic control
system is mainly realized by PLC system software. However, the relay control system has the
disadvantages of too many control lines and large volume of components. In addition, it is easy to
have faults in the use process and increase the maintenance workload. How to control our elevator
system more precisely under the condition of safety is our consideration. Using PLC to design elevator
control system has become a popular trend. The application of PLC technology in the design of
elevator control system can improve the efficiency of elevator use and reduce the investment of human
resources. Therefore, the design and research of PLC elevator control system is of great significance.

2. PLC technology introduction

2.1 Basic structure of PLC elevator control system

PLC is the acronym of PLC, which combines the automation technology, computer technology and
micro processing technology to develop a controller. Its main structure consists of power supply,
central processing unit, function module, memory and communication module. In operation, it can not
only store internal programs, perform logical operations, control sequence information and carry out
various user-oriented counting and operation instructions, but also exchange and control the
production process of machinery through digital simulation. Elevator system is a complex product
produced by the combination of various specialties. From the perspective of the whole macro and
micro elevator system, we divide the elevator into the following aspects. The elevator system can be
divided into machine room part, hoistway part, floor station part and elevator case part.
The core control system of elevator control system based on PLC is the main phase l of PLC. Our
signal input is transmitted to the PLC host through the PLC interface. When the signal is transmitted to
the PLC host, our own software in the PLC host system performs relative operation processing, and

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ISPECE 2019 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1449 (2020) 012101 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1449/1/012101

then outputs through the corresponding output interface, and then judges and processes according to
the input signal information, and then displays in the phase In terms of the number of corresponding
layers, the corresponding instructions are then executed according to the processing results, and finally
the instructions are sent to the control system for operation.

2.2 Advantages of PLC technology in elevator control.

As the research and development of industrial controller, PLC has strong adaptability. The equipment
constitutes the elevator logic control system and drag control system. The main function of the
elevator logic control system is PLC programming direction layer selection, speed change,
determining the position of the elevator, opening and closing the elevator door. In this process, PLC
control system is used to monitor the working state. When PLC technology is applied to the elevator
system, the elevator system can be controlled automatically, the accuracy is improved, the
anti-interference ability is greatly enhanced, and the operation is more stable. The application of PLC
technology reduces many layer selectors and relays in the original control system, simplifies the
structure of the control system, makes the line arrangement more clear, and the control system also
develops towards miniaturization and intelligence. PLC has very strong functions. Even if the control
system is very complex, PLC can cope with it. When the system functional requirements change, PLC
can change or add its own functions to adapt to the new system.
Manual
Power Relay
switch
Supply
Input
Limit switch interf Out
CPU Electronic valve
ace put
and inter
funct face
Sensor
ion System program User program and Frequency
func conversion input
tion
Proximity
switch Digital display
Interface

Digital Indicator light

switch
The
prog Prin Mo
Power Supply ram ter Power Supply
nito
mer
r

Figure 1. PLC hardware structure system

PLC system also has the function of automatic detection, which can monitor in real time and give
alarm prompt. Once there is a fault, it will give alarm prompt in the first time, which greatly improves
the safety of elevator control system. In addition, PLC system installation is more convenient,
operation and maintenance are more convenient, even if you change the control scheme, you do not
need to change the hardware wiring. In the group control deployment and management work, PLC
technology can also play a full role in improving the operation efficiency of the elevator. The elevator
control system using PLC technology is more reassuring in the operation process, and the comfort is
also improved.

2.3 Basic mode of PLC technology in elevator application

The function requirements of PLC technology in elevator control system are shown in several aspects.
The motor part can complete the lift function of the elevator, and the elevator can make response

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ISPECE 2019 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1449 (2020) 012101 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1449/1/012101

action at a certain speed. In the process of elevator operation, the control system will play a role to
ensure that the elevator can normally open the elevator door in case of delay. After the elevator starts
to run, there will be many different operation instructions in the same time. PLC control system can
judge the instructions, and make a reasonable response quickly, so that each instruction is effective,
and ensure the normal operation of the elevator.
The basic algorithm flow is as follows. First, when the elevator is running, if there is signal input
outside the elevator, and the elevator must pass through the secondary floor, and the direction of input
is the same, the elevator will stop running through this floor. The elevator moves according to the
original route. First, it displays whether there are people or objects in the elevator according to the
weight. If not, it moves according to the corresponding number of floors, so as to reach the maximum
or minimum state all the time. Then it runs according to the opposite direction of the device. Finally,
judge whether there is anyone in the elevator. If there is no one to operate the elevator, it will
automatically run to the lowest floor. When the elevator is abnormal, we immediately change the
running state of the elevator to braking, and ignore any customer's request, and notify the
corresponding maintenance personnel to make timely rectification.

3. Design of elevator system based on PLC

In this paper, a simple three-layer elevator control as the research object, elevator function
requirements are mainly as follows. Call buttons and position switches are installed on each floor of
the building. If the elevator stops at the lower floor and the user at the upper floor presses the elevator
call button, the elevator will rise to the user's floor. If a user has pressed the call button of the elevator,
the call indicator of the elevator will not light up until the elevator rises or falls to the call floor. In the
process of elevator ascending or descending, if two users press the elevator call button, i.e. the elevator
receives two call signals, the elevator first completes a call action, and finally ascends or descends to
the final target floor, and stops standby.

3.1 Hardware design

The hardware system of elevator PLC control system mainly includes CPL, memory (RAM, Rom),
input and output equipment, as well as power supply equipment. CPL is the core processor of PLC
system. PLC host is the core of elevator control system. PLC and frequency converter constitute the
control system. It can be seen from the figure that there are many components in the system, among
which the frequency converter is mainly used to control the control speed of the elevator. When
detecting the motor speed, the photoelectric encoder is applied to set it as a relatively closed loop
control system.

The 3 level

Panel 3

The 2 level

Panel 2
Car
The 1 level Counterweight
Panel 4
Panel 1

Figure. 2 Structure of elevator control system

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ISPECE 2019 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1449 (2020) 012101 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1449/1/012101

3.2 Software design

Software design is an important part of PLC elevator control system design. When designing software,
we should fully consider all kinds of situations in elevator operation, to ensure the elevator function is
perfect and safety after being put into use. In the process of elevator operation, it is often a mechanical
repetitive work. Its cycle is to receive the call signal, the elevator goes up and down, the user selects
the floor signal reception, the elevator operation status judgment, the elevator starts, reaches the target
floor, opens and closes the door. Before the operation of the elevator, PLC will carry out self
inspection on the overall operation condition of the elevator, and the elevator will start to run if any
fault is found.
When the elevator is in a static state, the elevator will receive two kinds of signals. If the call signal
from other floors is received, PLC will control the lift based on the signal response program. When the
elevator is in operation, if the elevator is going down at this time, the elevator will only feedback the
received down call signal, otherwise, it will only respond to the up call signal.
The program design of elevator control system mainly includes the registration of signal, the
determination of action direction, the function design of signal queuing and forward loading, the drive
and stop of elevator car. If there is a call signal in the process of elevator operation, no matter the
elevator is going up or down at this time, the elevator control system will make a comparison between
the current position and the end point, and then determine the running direction of the elevator. When
the elevator reaches the end point, the running direction of the elevator will not disappear, and the
running end point and direction of the next cycle will be determined according to the new call signal.
Call

The elevator is on The elevator is on

1 floor call the second floor the third floor

The elevator is
Elevator car 1 floor Open door
on the first floor Elevator uplink

Elevator downlink Elevator downlink Elevator uplink

Figure 3. Elevator response call signal

We use PLC to control the elevator system. On the premise of safe operation, we put forward
excellent control program and adjust the basic operation direction of the elevator in the control process.
In the process of debugging and monitoring the elevator monitoring system, we found some problems.
The solutions to these problems are as follows. When the working conditions are fixed, the elevator
door cannot be opened, so that the elevator cannot perform the car function of driving in this direction.
After analysis, after debugging and processing, "floor detection signal self-locking" is placed behind
"instruction signal and call signal registration in the car", then the elevator can work normally.
Therefore, the elevator control system based on PLC technology has very strong expansibility, and the
maintenance is simple and easy.

4. System implementation
The specific implementation process of elevator control system based on PLC is as follows. First
register the environment variable, then create a menu, set the registered environment variable to U < D,

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ISPECE 2019 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1449 (2020) 012101 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1449/1/012101

and the variable value is e. Create dialog boxes and file dialog boxes to store folders. Create a folder
for files in the e directory. After editing, select Save to generate the required process in the menu bar
First, input the process parameters of the equipment, and then select the equipment according to these
parameters. The structure flow chart is as follows:
Startup menu

Input equipment and process parameters

Forming equipment and process parameters

End
Figure 4. Design process of equipment and process parameters
Secondly, realize the function of equipment selection module. In the equipment selection function
module, it is stored in the database according to the model classification. The modeling is completed
by generating dialog box in the software. First, the database file is established and stored, and the
corresponding model parameters are input in the table, then the data source registration is completed.
Finally, the production line drawings are generated. The design of the production line needs to select
the appropriate proportion and size according to the layout of the production line equipment. After
initializing the program, input the information of the human equipment, draw the table of the parts list,
input the number, name and number of the human equipment in the parts list, and the overall 3D entity
diagram of the production line equipment will be generated in the software.

5. Conclusion
With the rapid development of social economy, elevator has become a necessary product for building.
The main characteristic of elevator system is huge and complex, so in the research process of elevator
control system, it is difficult to fully and deeply understand the elevator system from the outside. The
elevator control system based on PLC is easy to learn and operate, the language level control is
flexible and convenient, and the operation is reliable and stable. Therefore, not only the elevator
system, but also many large-scale equipment use PLC control system. The operation of the elevator is
controlled by PLC, which greatly simplifies the hardware structure of the control system and improves
the flexibility and reliability of the system to a large extent. Although in the early stage of PLC
operation, the cost is a little higher than the traditional relay, but in the later stage, the cost can be
reduced by saving the input point and other methods. Although the application of PLC technology has
been very extensive, but there are still some problems, still need to continue to study and explore,
further improve the application of PLC technology in elevator control system.

Reference
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Conversion Technology[C]// International Conference on Measuring Technology &
Mechatronics Automation. 2018.

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[2] Rangani D G, Tahilramani N V. Automation based elevator control system[C]// International

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