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Distributed Control System (DCS) Applications, Selection & Troubleshooting

Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are advanced automation systems used to manage and control industrial processes in a wide range of applications, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing. A DCS divides the control functions among multiple controllers distributed throughout the plant, enabling centralized monitoring and decentralized execution. This course is a comprehensive overview of DCS applications, selection criteria, and troubleshooting techniques.

Audience

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

Course objectives

  • To review sensors, instrumentation, and process control systems
  • 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

Course contents

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 compared

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:
  • Signal Transmission
  • Physical Network Structures
  • Logical Network Structures
  • Communication Standards
  • 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

Day-5

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 Variables and Bits of DCS
  • Diagnostics of Communication faults
  • 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