Desenvolvimento de uma bancada para o ensino de automação industrial em sala de aula

Abstract

Currently, automation has become essential, bringing more quality of life to people and increasing productivity, optimizing time and resources in various systems. It can be applied in several areas of industry, such as: production, inventory, human resources, finance, and others. In this work, a teaching workbench simulating an automatic control process of a mixer tank will be presented, with the possibility of inserting more processes, according to the functionalities of the project. The experience in programming and handling Programmable Logic Controllers is very important in an industry and, consequently, for Electrical Engineering students who may later work in one. A lack of knowledge in this area will mean a weak link in the professional's resume, putting him in an unwanted position in a job queue. The importance of benches in teaching industrial automation is to bring students into contact with control, monitoring, and power equipment, and to let theoretical and practical knowledge interact and stimulate the students' interest in pursuing extracurricular knowledge, also expanding the teachers' ability to instruct and define a lesson plan. Based on the exercises presented in the classroom, a didactic bench is proposed for teaching industrial automation. Bibliographic resources include published books, articles, theses, catalogs and studies, as well as oral sources and practical interactions with devices. To complete the automation teaching bench, the functionality, costs, specifications, dimensions of electronic and power components are ascertained, and electrical and automation diagrams and equipment layout are developed. The strategy used for programming the processes is through the use of timers and counters, using the Clic 02 software provided by WEG to control the operation together with the PLC CLW-02/20HR-A, interconnected with a dual command pushbutton switch, two level sensors, three submersible pumps and a motor.