C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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Licensing and Technological Value of the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) and Control Module Types (CMT)

Licensing and Technological Value of the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) and Control Module Types (CMT)

In SIMATIC PCS 7 (including V9.0 SP2 and industrial applications like cement manufacturing), the Advanced Process Library (APL) is an included, standard component of the engineering system and does not require an independent software purchase license. It is supplied standard with the PCS 7 Engineering software media. Operating APL blocks online consumes standard AS Runtime Process Objects (AS RT PO) and OS Runtime Process Objects (OS RT PO). Siemens strongly mandates APL for all modern engineering because it natively supports Control Module Types (CMT), streamlined WinCC faceplate integration, feature bit customization, and seamless migration to modern control platforms. Validate plant Process Object licensing tiers with an authorized Siemens distributor or the Siemens Industry Mall.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

When initiating greenfield automation projects or modernizing legacy installations (such as cement shipping, milling, or chemical batch facilities), engineering teams frequently evaluate block library options. Practitioners often inquire whether the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) carries separate software license fees, or if older legacy libraries (like the PCS 7 Standard Library) should be retained to save costs. This technical guide clarifies the licensing model of the APL, demonstrates why APL is the definitive engineering standard in PCS 7, and explains how combining APL with Control Module Types (CMT) accelerates engineering, reduces testing cycles, and guarantees long-term plant maintainability.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

The technological framework of the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) represents a modern paradigm shift over legacy libraries:
1. Licensing Architecture:
- Engineering Software: The APL block library, symbols, and WinCC faceplates are included on the standard SIMATIC PCS 7 installation media without separate engineering license keys.
- Runtime Process Objects (PO): Like all technological blocks in PCS 7, instantiating an APL technological block (e.g., MotL, VlvL, PIDConL) that communicates with operator stations consumes one AS RT PO in the controller and one OS RT PO on the WinCC OS Server.
2. Standardized Operating Philosophy and Feature Bits:
- APL standardizes operator interactions across motors, valves, analog monitors, and dosers.
- Every technological block incorporates configurable Feature Bits (32-bit DWORD parameters), allowing engineers to customize operational behavior (e.g., motor restart behavior, local mode lockouts, reset after trip) purely through parameterization without modifying internal code.
3. Native Integration with Control Module Types (CMT):
- APL blocks are designed specifically for Control Module Types (CMT) in the Master Data Library.
- CMT allows modular, type-instance engineering: modifications made to an APL-based CMT template propagate automatically to hundreds of instantiated plant control modules, enabling rapid mass engineering via the Process Object View (POV) or Plant Automation Accelerator (PAA).
4. High-Performance Graphics and Ergonomics:
- APL integrates ergonomic, gray-scale high-performance HMI faceplates conforming to modern alarm and human factors standards (ASM / ISA-101), highlighting active alarms in vivid color while reducing operator visual fatigue.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

  1. Verify APL Availability in SIMATIC Manager:
    a. Open SIMATIC Manager on the Engineering Station.
    b. Select File -> Open -> Libraries.
    c. Locate and open PCS 7 AP Library V90 (or installed version).
    d. Verify the library contains standard block families: Control (PIDConL), Drives (MotL, VlvL), Operate (OpDi01), and Channel (Pcs7DiIn, Pcs7AnIn).

  2. Copy APL Blocks into Master Data Library (MDL):
    a. Open your Multiproject and navigate to the Master Data Library.
    b. Copy required APL function blocks from the APL library into the MDL Blocks folder.
    c. In the MDL, copy APL block icons and faceplate templates into the OS graphics folder.

  3. Engineer Standard Control Module Types (CMT):
    a. In the Master Data Library, open the Templates or Control Module Types folder.
    b. Create a new CMT (e.g., CMT_Motor_ConstantSpeed).
    c. Insert the APL MotL (FB1850) block, along with input channel drivers (Pcs7DiIn).
    d. Configure default Feature Bits (e.g., set Feature.Bit0 = 1 for startup characteristics, Feature.Bit2 = 1 for reset).

  4. Instantiate CMTs in the Plant Hierarchy:
    a. Drag and drop the CMT template from the MDL into the target Plant Hierarchy folder.
    b. Assign unique tag names (e.g., MTR_Kiln_Fan_01).
    c. In the Process Object View (POV), assign physical I/O signal addresses to channel drivers in bulk.

  5. Compile and License Verification:
    a. Execute AS chart compilation: observe the Process Object accounting summary.
    b. In SIMATIC Manager, select Options -> Process Objects -> Total Process Objects.
    c. Confirm that the total AS RT PO count remains within authorized System Expansion Card (SEC) and runtime license limits.

Verification

  1. Open an instantiated CFC chart: verify that the APL MotL block displays clean interconnections to channel drivers without compilation warnings.
  2. In WinCC Runtime, open the faceplate for the motor: verify that standard APL buttons (Auto, Manual, Local, Start, Stop) operate correctly.
  3. Verify that alarm messages appear in the WinCC Alarm banner with standardized APL alarm classes and time stamps.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Do not mix legacy PCS 7 Standard Library blocks with APL blocks in the same technological loop. Mixing libraries results in conflicting operator philosophies, incompatible faceplates, and desynchronized alarm generation.

Engineer FAQ

Is the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) free of charge?

Yes. APL is included standard with PCS 7 Engineering software; it does not require a separate library purchase license.

Do APL blocks consume Process Objects (POs)?

Yes. Technological blocks with operator control (e.g., MotL, PIDConL) consume standard AS RT POs and OS RT POs.

Why does Siemens recommend APL over the legacy Standard Library?

APL provides advanced ergonomics, standardized feature bits, high-performance faceplates, and native support for Control Module Types (CMT).

What are APL Feature Bits?

Feature Bits are 32-bit configuration words on APL blocks that enable or disable specific operational behaviors without modifying code.

Can APL blocks be used with Control Module Types (CMT)?

Yes. APL blocks are optimized for CMT engineering, enabling modular templating and mass parameterization across the plant.

Technical References

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Related Tags

  • APL Library
  • Control Module Types
  • CMT
  • Process Objects
  • Feature Bits
  • PCS 7 V9.0
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