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#1
Start by
Rob Henley
10-21-2013 04:56 PM

PLCs vs. RTUs -- What's the difference?

I get this question ALL the time: when is it better to use a PLC over an RTU anbd vice versa? Any words of wisdom?
10-21-2013 07:34 PM
Top #2
Dennis Bell
10-21-2013 07:34 PM
Depends, dont you love that answer? In earlier times BI (before internet) thier was a clearer distinction now there capabilities overlap quite a bit.

If it is a stand alone application then I would go to with a PLC.

If it will interface with a SCADA network then the next question is what hardware and protocol level will be used and who has that as a native format? Modbus, BSAP, Fisher ROC, CIP, Profibus/Net, etc. Almost everbody has add ones that will get you there but they add cost and lower reliability as add ons.

Then there is aftermarket costs to consider such as support availibility (does a tech need a airplane ticket or passport to get there?).

Also of concern is the number of IO points the Higher counts would go to a PLC.Now where that point is why you hire qualified intregrators.

Another concern is execution times PLC's are typically faster because communication is typically handled by a separate proccessor. So motion control and packaging will probably be a PLC.

But if I was acquiring a few points and sending them back to a scada system I would use something like a bullhorn rtu.
10-22-2013 12:33 AM
Top #3
Dave Oakes
10-22-2013 12:33 AM
It depends so much on your application.PLC's benefit from mass manufacture and you can now get very competitively priced PLC hardware from Panasonic (http://www.powelectrics.co.uk/products/telemetry.asp?section=telemetry_telecontrol_with_versatile_communications_232) that will out perform most RTU's both technically and commercially for many applications. They have available function blocks supporting many communication protocols and media making system integration very quick & easy.

There is an increasing need for RTU's that are low in cost and able to operate from solar cells, or even just an integral battery, and you would be hard pressed to achieve this 'power optimised' performance with a PLC. Products such as www.powelectrics.co.uk/metron2 are taking a good market share where data collection and alarming are needed.
10-22-2013 03:05 AM
Top #4
Cristian Vanti
10-22-2013 03:05 AM
RTU often have communication link embedded (ethernet port, GPRS modem, ...) that are options for PLC. Sometimes they have a webserver on board to control them without an HMI or a SCADA.

I'm currently using PLCs and GSM modems to monitor a large number of remote water sites. We decided so because PLC that we use are signifcantly cheaper than RTU. But I had to program PLC to send SMS and unsolicited alarms. Moreover I had to write some code to interface PLC and the Scada system. Now system is very flexible but if we used RTU work would have been faster.

On the contrary, I struggled a week to program an RTU to send a monostable command.
10-22-2013 05:09 AM
Top #5
Kailash Tarte
10-22-2013 05:09 AM
Dear All,
I can give the best example as i worked on both system for same application development.
My previous organization we used to develop application on Siemens and Allen Bradly PLC for Wind Turbine Control. We done as per requirememnt as it works sucessful.
Allen Bradly PLC done better than Siemens. But in actual appication on field both PLC fail to acquire the target.
And the main reason is response time, scan time. Scan time set by pLC could not control the wind turbine.

And we leave that project.

In RTU, we used c language for programming and we can set scan time in micro sec for certain applications.

I think this is main reason we shift from PLC to RTU.
If any one has doubts , please continue discussion.

Thanks
Kailash
0082 10 9241 1965
10-22-2013 07:36 AM
Top #6
Rana Biswas
10-22-2013 07:36 AM
Basically, the PLC and RTU hardware is similar. It is the application that's different. PLCs are generally for applications that are processing and control intensive, whereas, RTUs I would say, are for management of data at multiple locations; where you have to gather a large number of data from many geographically diverse places.
10-22-2013 09:44 AM
Top #7
SANTHIRAJ SATHANNA
10-22-2013 09:44 AM
Hi All

One interesting piece of information to share with you all!!!

We specialize in system integration of RTUs for Water and Waste Water processes and have been exporting the same.

We use PLCs to build RTUs!!!!


The difference between PLC & RTU is configuration centric

For a process control application, we can divide the whole process into individual process blocks or sub units and we can assign the task of individual control of these blocks to an RTU.

Many RTUs can communicate with centralized control system.

Hope the above helps
10-22-2013 12:21 PM
Top #8
Ed Driscoll
10-22-2013 12:21 PM
@ Sani... Exactly correct. RTU is a "shit-pumping" term.
usually used by overpriced consultants that municipalities
in the US & Canada love to use... Remote Transmitting Unit
was the first acronym I used in the 80's when I did it with AB plc 2's.
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