*Article* **PLC Automation and Control Strategy in a Stirling Solar Power System**

**Dan-Adrian Mocanu 1,2,\*, Viorel Bădescu 2, Ciprian Bucur 1, Iuliana S, tefan 1, Elena Carcadea 1, Maria Simona Răboacă 1,3,4 and Ioana Manta 1,5,\***


Received: 23 March 2020; Accepted: 12 April 2020; Published: 14 April 2020

**Abstract:** The Stirling engine together with a solar concentrator represents a solution for increasing energy efficiency. Thus, within the National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, an automation system was designed and implemented in order to control the processes inside the solar conversion unit using a programmable logic controller from Schneider Electric. The acquired parameters from the installed sensors were monitored using Unity Pro L software. The main objective of this paper is to solve the starting, operating, and shut-down sequences in safe conditions, as well as monitor the working parameters.

**Keywords:** Stirling engine; solar concentrator; automation system; human–machine interface; sensors
