Container Site Crane Control System Simulation

This paper belongs to the projects that Port Simulation Laboratory of Marine Simulation Center (MSC) in Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) undertakes. These projects are sponsored by Ministry of Communications. And I participated in these projects.Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) are widely used good-sized loading and unloading equipments in stack yard of ports. The purpose in developing the simulation software is to monitor and control RTGs using modern remote monitoring and control methods via network, to know the running state of RTGs, to improve safety and the automation of container-loading and unloading. Furthermore, port enterprises can reap the benefit of the software, for instance, lowering cost of maintenance, raising productivity and improving their competitive abilities. Besides, the college students can have a perceptual knowledge of RTGs in our Port Simulation Laboratory tutorial.In Chapter II, the structure, parameters and electric single-line graph of RTGs is introduced. The modeling part, as academic base, deduces the running control model, rotate speed control model, motor model and its load characteristics.Chapter III focuses on two methods for monitoring and controlling RTGs remotely via network, i.e. PLC controlled semi-object simulation and whole software simulation. Further discussion about logic control block diagram and the control flow charts of RTGs' main organs are presented later.Chapter IV gives details of programming for the control systems of RTGs using GE PLC. Modularization designing is applied. The main program calls subprograms to accomplish functions of three major parts that are logic control, device simulation and signal generator. And several typical PLC ladder programs are explained in details.In Chapter V, the concepts of PLC Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Touch Panel (TP), which are followed by the steps in making the local monitoring interfaces using TP software ProPB3, are brought forward firstly. These steps include control interface drawing, PLC address allotting, and animation making, etc.After introducing the history and trend of remote monitoring and control systems, Chapter VI puts forward the remote monitoring and control projects for RTGs using configuration software InTouch. To develop the software, we took the following steps: being familiar with necessary application software, organizing the whole system, constructing the interfaces and making the relevant linkage. What is more, the alarm interface, trend graphs, communicationswith database and PLC are also considered. And the solving of some problems we encountered is illustrated too.Finally, we basically achieved our aim and acquired the relevant knowledge. I believe the simulation software has much meaning in technical renovation to port enterprises.Bao Qinglong (Power Electronics and Drives) Directed by Prof. Gu Wei and Prof. Chu Jianxin...