Data Hub – Central PLC Data Management
Central data management for control systems – collecting, processing, and providing PLC signals for code generation.
Project Description
The Data Hub is a central data management application for industrial control systems, developed for BKW Energie AG. The application collects, manages, and harmonizes control and system data from various sources and stores it in an open database. This data is subsequently used to generate code for PLC control systems.
A key focus is the management of KKS codes (Power Plant Classification System), which ensure a unique identification of all plant components and signals across multiple power plants. The application supports both "Classic" and "TIA" project types and offers interfaces to existing systems such as Hydrolog and Ignition.
Challenges
- Central management of control data from various plants and systems
- Unique identification of plant components across multiple power plants using KKS
- Consistent database for automatic code generation (SCL, TIA Data Blocks)
- Integration of heterogeneous systems: Siemens TIA Portal, Ignition (Inductive Automation), Hydrolog
- Management of complex data structures (UDTs) for PLCs and SCADA systems
Scope
- Desktop application based on WPF with MVVM architecture
- Project tree navigation with hierarchical plant structure (power plants, PLCs, signal lists)
- DataGrid with advanced filtering, sorting, and paging functions for data display and management
- Edit Data Panel with dynamic PropertyGrid for editing individual records
- KKS Library with complete KKS standard numbering system and automatic validation
- Import/Export Interfaces:
- Excel import and export for signal lists and messages
- TIA Portal integration: UDT import, DB export, SCL code generation
- Ignition UDT import and export (JSON-based)
- Hydrolog export for process data
- Data Validation with real-time KKS checking for uniqueness and formal correctness
- User Authentication via LDAP integration
Technologies
- C# / WPF / MVVM
- PostgreSQL with Entity Framework Core
- Ignition (Inductive Automation) – UDT and Tag generation
- Siemens TIA Portal – UDT and DB structures
Results
- Centralized and harmonized control data in an open database
- Real-time synchronization and clear visualization of PLC signals
- Validated KKS management with checks for uniqueness and formal correctness
- Automatic code generation (SCL) for Siemens PLC systems
- Seamless integration of Ignition UDTs with bidirectional import/export
- Seamless integration into existing automation environments (Hydrolog, TIA Portal, Ignition)
- Significant time savings during commissioning and maintenance of power plant controls
