Looks to be taken straight from an old science fiction show , but works perfectly – the control room
relevant alert messages are sent to their smartphones . Furthermore , all operating data must be made available to the higher-level supervisory control room located at the Uniper power station in Wilhelmshaven .
New protection for critical infrastructure The requirements of the operator make it clear that compatibility between the new technical system and the existing control engineering is crucial . At the same time , the solution should support future technologies . This is why , when it came to implementing the plant expansion project , Uniper chose PLCnext Technology from Phoenix Contact .
PLCnext Control is a component part of this ecosystem . It is an open control platform based on a Linux operating system . In the Huntorf power station , the PLCnext Control device reads the key operating data from the existing power station controller and forwards it to the local web visualization , which can be accessed using a standard browser .
Power stations are part of the critical infrastructure . They therefore require special protection when it comes to IT security so that attackers do not have an easy time . A fully and deeply integrated security strategy is the basis for comprehensive protection . To ensure the integrity , availability , and above all confidentiality of all data , PLCnext Technology offers security by design . The hardware and software are therefore already developed to be as robust and impervious to cyber attacks as possible .
“ The PLCnext Control device is the ideal solution for connecting the Huntorf storage power station to the existing control system as well as for reading and forwarding the data ,” reports Uwe Krüger , Head of Operations Power Plant Group Wilhelmshaven . “ The open control platform enables us to flexibly combine the older existing communication paths with new solutions . This allows us to expand the power station without a great deal of effort and expense , ensuring that it is fit to handle future challenges .” ( js ) •
The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine UPDATE 6 / 20 31