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This course will cover the applications of the modern Distributed Control System (DCS). Whilst all control systems are distributed to a certain extent today and there is a definite merging of the concepts of a DCS, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and SCADA and despite the rapid growth in the use of PLC’s and SCADA systems, some of the advantages of a DCS can still be said to be Integrity and Engineering time. Abnormal Situation Management and Intelligent Alarm Management is a very important DCS issue that provides significant advantages over PLC and SCADA systems. Few DCSs do justice to the process in terms of controlling for superior performance; most of them merely do the basics and leave the rest to the operators. Operators tend to operate within their comfort zone. If more than one adverse condition developed at the same time and the system is too basic to act protectively, the operator would probably not be able to react adequately and risk a major deviation. Not only is the process control functionality normally underdeveloped but on-line process and control system performance evaluation is rarely seen and alarm management is often badly done. Operators consequently have little feedback on their own performance and exceptional adverse conditions are often not handled as well as they should be. This course gives suggestions on dealing with these issues.

By the end of this course delegates will be able to:

• Understand the architecture and operation of Distributed Control Systems (DCSs)
• Ability to design the overall DCS and process control system
• Better specification of planned DCSs
• Gain improved process performance for your plant
• Understand of the key ergonomic issues in design of operator displays
• Apply advanced control strategies to your plant control system
• Gain effective use of your existing DCS process control capabilities
• Design and create a consistent and effective alarm philosophy for your installation
• Recognize and deal with human problems in interfacing to alarm systems

Automation engineers, control technicians, design engineers, electrical and instrumentation technicians, electrical engineers, instrumentation and control system engineers, instrumentation technologists and engineers, IT managers working with networks, maintenance engineers and supervisors, metallurgists, operations managers, operators and control room personnel, plant engineers, process control engineers, designers and technicians, process engineers, production engineers, project engineers, systems engineers, anyone involved in the design, implementation and upgrading of industrial control systems who wish to gain a solid introduction to Distributed Control Systems (DCS) should attend this course .

Introduction to Computer Based Control Systems

·     Introduction to computer based measurement and control systems

·     Role of computers in measurement and (process) control

·     Basic components of computer based measurement and control systems

·     Architecture: computer based process control system

·     Human Machine Interface (HMI), Hardware for computer based process control system

·     Interfacing computer system with process, Economics of computer based system for industrial application

Overview of Distributed Control Systems

·     Introduction, Basic concepts of a Distributed Computing System (DCS)

·     Evolution of a DCS, Present market trends in DCSs

·     Basic DCS specifications, General description of a commercial DCS

·     Advantage of DCSs, DCS selection criteria, DCS architecture

An Overview of SCADA Systems

·     Introduction, Basics of SCADA system, SCADA key features

·     Remote terminal units (RTUs), Typical requirements for an RTU system

·     PLCs used as RTUs, Consideration and benefits of SCADA system

·     DCS versus SCADA terminology, SCADA software package

The Basic Controller

·     Introduction, Identification of the controller boards

·     Discrete and logic control, Sequential and batch control

Basic DCS Controller Configuration

·     Historical, Control modes, Tracking and initialization in control slots used for cascade control

·     Control functions, Control algorithms, Sequential programs for batch processing

·     Defining equipment procedures, Phase logic programming

·     Phase logic interface, Logic block functions in advanced controller, DCS controller configuration

Introduction to Communications for DCS AND SCADA Systems

·     Purpose, Basic communications principles

·     Balanced and unbalanced transmission lines

·     EIA-232 interface standard (CCITT V.24 interface standard)

·     The EIA-485 interface standard, Open systems, Interoperability

·     ModBus protocol, HART protocol, The promise of FieldBus and DeviceNet, Benefits

Programming of DCSs

·     Block configuration

·     IEC 61131-3 “open” programming languages (structured text, function block, ladder, sequential)

·     Tips and tricks in programming

Alarm System Management

·     Philosophies of alarm management, Design overview

·     Human and ergonomic factors, Structure of good alarm system

·     Safety Integrity Level (SIL), Analyze the alarms

·     Design of alarm system, Measurement of performance

Distributed Control System Reporting

Distributed Control System Configuration

Maintenance Considerations

Typical Distributed Control Systems and SCADA Systems

Distributed Control System Applications

Distributed Control Systems Implementation