Decoding Siemens PLC Applications in Industrial IoT

Hello everyone, I am Lao Jiao! Today we are going to talk about a technology that can leapfrog factory operational efficiency: Siemens PLC in industrial IoT for data collection and remote monitoring. Imagine being able to grasp every detail of the production line from your office, isn’t that cool?

Why Choose Siemens PLC?

The industrial site is like a complex robot team, with each device having its own “intelligence”. Siemens PLC is the “commander” of this team, efficiently and stably coordinating the work of various devices.

Technical Key Points Analysis

Data Collection Architecture

Core Components:

1. S7-1200/S7-1500 PLC
2. HMI Touch Screen
3. Industrial Switch
4. Cloud Platform/Server

Key Communication Protocols

• Profinet
  
  : Industrial Ethernet communication standard
• OPC UA
  
  : The “universal language” for device interconnection
• MQTT
  
  : Lightweight IoT communication protocol

Practical Case: Remote Monitoring System for a Chemical Plant

System Framework Diagram

[Field Sensors] -> [S7-1200 PLC] -> [Industrial Switch] -> [Cloud Server] -> [Mobile/Computer Remote Monitoring]

Code Practice: Core Logic for Data Collection (SCL Language)

// Temperature data collection and upload
FUNCTION FC_TemperatureMonitor
    VAR_INPUT
        RawTemperature : REAL;
    END_VAR
    VAR
        ProcessedTemp : REAL;
    END_VAR
BEGIN
    // Temperature data preprocessing
    ProcessedTemp := RawTemperature * 0.1 - 5.0;
    // Data validity check
    IF ProcessedTemp > 0 AND ProcessedTemp < 200 THEN
        // Upload to cloud platform
        MQTT_Publish(Topic := 'factory/temperature',
                     Payload := ProcessedTemp);
    END_IF
END_FUNCTION

Actual Application Scenarios

Case: Pipeline Temperature Monitoring in a Refinery

• Real-time acquisition of key equipment temperature
• Automatic alarm for overheating
• Remote emergency handling

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Solution
Communication interruption	Redundant communication, hot backup
Data delay	Optimize network architecture
Security vulnerabilities	Network isolation, encrypted transmission

Precautions

⚠️ Important Reminder:

• Field wiring must strictly adhere to protection levels
• Regularly conduct network security assessments
• Backup critical configurations and data

Practical Suggestions

1. Start with small projects for practice
2. Learn Siemens TIA Portal software
3. Follow the development of industrial communication standards
4. Build a simple monitoring demo

Lao Jiao’s Note: Industrial IoT is not just technology, but a revolution in productivity!

Author Bio:Lao Jiao, with 15 years of frontline experience in industrial automation, specializes in PLC system integration and industrial communication. He has participated in multiple large-scale industrial automation projects.