Distributed Control System DCS; Architecture, communication, and Configuration

Course Objectives

  • To review sensors, instrumentation, and process control
  • To cover DCS Organization and operation
  • To summarize the most important Networking, HMI, and Alarm features of DCSs
  • To highlight Maintenance and Troubleshooting procedures and issues
  • To review Advanced Process Controllers in DCSs
  • To cover Latest trends related to DCSs

Participant profile

This course is intended for managers, engineers, and technicians requiring knowledge of sensors, instrumentation, control, and automation in a distributed control environment. A section on maintenance and troubleshooting methods is also included. Personnel in operations will also find this an invaluable.

Course duration                  

5 days course

Day 1

  • Review of Process Control and Introduction to DCS
  • Review of sensors, instrumentation, and process control systems
  • Control Algorithms
  • Proportional (P)
  • Proportional and Integral (PI)
  • Proportional, Integral, and Derivative (PID)
  • Distributed Control Systems: Introduction
  • Overview, Features, Advantages, Where used
  • Functions, Architecture, I/O, components,
  • Hardware, software, system interfacing
  • Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) – brief overview
  • supervisory control and direct digital control
  • Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) – brief overview
  • DCS, PLC and SCADA compare
  • Day 2

       DCS Configuration and Networking

  • Distributed Control Systems: Structure and Configuration
  • DCS block diagrams, components, architecture, redundancy concepts
  • DCS hardware configuration
  • DCS Hardware & Software Internals
  • Process variables, software variables, tags
  • Human Machine Interface (HMI)
  • Alarms, Trends
  • Databases
  • Basic DCS Controller Configuration
  • Sequential Controllers for Batch Processing
  • Controllers for Continuous Processes: Function Blocks
  • Hierarchical Structure of control systems: ISA-95
  • Data Communications and Networking
  • Signal Transmission
  • Physical Network Structures
  • Logical Network Structures
  • Communication Standards
  • Fieldbus Operation: Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus
  • Wide Area Network (WAN) communications: Modbus
  • Control in the Field (CIF)
  • DCS applications and case study (Oil & Gas)

Day 3

  • HMI, Alarms, and DCS Operation
  • Human Machine Interfaces: Introduction, features, requirements
  • Plant mimic and animation
  • DCS Operator Stations
  • Interface Categories
  • Recorders, Loggers, Trend Displays, and Data Archiving
  • HMI in the Control Room and in the Field: Mobile and remote devices
  • Alarm Management
  • Key Requirements
  • Alarm System Functions
  • Alarms phylosophy, control & Management
  • Development and Applications, Logs, trends and reports
  • DCS Operation
  • Operational view of DCS
  • Role of operators
  • Integration and Optimization of DCSs
  • DCS Configuration
  • DCS Integration

Day 4

  • Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  • Maintenance Considerations
  • Maintenance Requirements: System and Components
  • Procedure for Checking Control Loop Calibration
  • Identify proper tools and test equipment for troubleshooting
  • Troubleshooting
  • Proper troubleshooting methods
  • Identify typical communication malfunctions and faults
  • Identifying failures, malfunctions, and faults
  • Diagnostics through DCS Modules, and Programs (code)
  • Diagnostics through Internal internal Variables and Bits of DCS
  • Diagnostics of Communication faults

Day 5

  • Advanced Process Controllers
  • Feed forward Control
  • Cascade Control
  • Statistical Process Control
  • Basics of advanced process control and optimization
  • Latest DCS Trends
  • Monitoring and control in the Field
  • Industrial Internet
  • Internet of Things
  • Mobile and remote devices
  • Cloud Processing
  • Monitoring and control in the Cloud