Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: DCS
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Control Systems > DCS

DCS

DCS uses a centralized supervisory control to mediate a group of localized controllers that share the overall tasks of production process.

Last updated: July 25, 2021 9:34 pm
Editorial Staff
Control Systems PLC Tutorials
No Comments
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

DCS are used to control production systems within the same geographic location for industries such as oil refineries, water and wastewater treatment, electric power generation plants, chemical manufacturing plants, automotive production, and pharmaceutical processing facilities. These systems are usually process control or discrete part control systems.

Contents
DCSDistributed Control System

DCS are integrated as a control architecture containing a supervisory level of control overseeing multiple, integrated sub-systems that are responsible for controlling the details of a localized process.

A DCS uses a centralized supervisory control loop to mediate a group of localized controllers that share the overall tasks of carrying out an entire production process. Product and process control are usually achieved by deploying feedback or feedforward control loops whereby the key product and/or process conditions are automatically maintained around the desired set point.

Also Read: What is DCS System?

To accomplish the desired product and/or process tolerance around a specified set point, specific process controllers, or more capable PLCs, are employed in the field and are tuned to provide the desired tolerance as well as the rate of self-correction during process upsets.

By modularizing the production system, a DCS reduces the impact of a single fault on the overall system. In many modern systems, the DCS is interfaced with the corporate network to give business operations a view of production.

DCS

An example implementation showing the components and general configuration of a DCS is depicted in Figure 1. This DCS encompasses an entire facility from the bottom-level production processes up to the corporate or enterprise layer. In this example, a supervisory controller (control server) communicates to its subordinates via a control network.

The supervisor sends set points to and requests data from the distributed field controllers. The distributed controllers control their process actuators based on control server commands and sensor feedback from process sensors.

Distributed Control System

DCS

Figure 1. DCS Implementation Example

Figure 1 gives examples of low-level controllers found on a DCS system. The field control devices shown include a PLC, a process controller, a single loop controller, and a machine controller.

The single loop controller interfaces sensors and actuators using point-to-point wiring, while the other three field devices incorporate fieldbus networks to interface with process sensors and actuators. Fieldbus networks eliminate the need for point-to-point wiring between a controller and individual field sensors and actuators.

Also Read: Industrial Control System

Additionally, a Fieldbus allows greater functionality beyond control, including field device diagnostics, and can accomplish control algorithms within the Fieldbus, thereby avoiding signal routing back to the PLC for every control operation. Standard industrial communication protocols designed by industry groups such as Modbus and Fieldbus are often used on control networks and Fieldbus networks.

In addition to the supervisory-level and field-level control loops, intermediate levels of control may also exist. For example, in the case of a DCS controlling a discrete part manufacturing facility, there could be an intermediate level supervisor for each cell within the plant.

This supervisor would encompass a manufacturing cell containing a machine controller that processes a part and a robot controller that handles raw stock and final products. There could be several of these cells that manage field-level controllers under the main DCS supervisory control loop.

Reference: National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-82, Revision

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for PLC and SCADA video tutorials.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive daily updates.

Read Next:

  • DCS Wiring Schemes
  • Instrumentation Quiz
  • Control System Security
  • Automation Remote Function
  • Industrial Communication
Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

CX-Programmer Products Sorting & Counting – Omron PLC
Schneider Electric PLC Timer Problem: Vacuum Cleaner
PLC Conveyor Ladder Logic Program
PLC Programming: Sorting and Distribution of Boxes by Height
PLC Analog I/O Potential Problems – Troubleshooting & Issues
Control Modes of Air Handling Unit (AHU) – HVAC Basics
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Contacts and Coils in PLC Ladder Logic
Understanding the Scan Cycle of SIEMENS PLC
PID Controller Loop Tuning Questions and Answers – Part 2
PID Controller Theory
Omron PLC Logic for Washing Machine Automation
What is Timeout in Communication Protocols?
Overview of Split Range Control
PLC Program to Separate Different Size Objects

Keep Learning

Electrical and Instrument Engineers Job Profile

Instrumentation and Electrical Teams Interactions (Detail Design Engineering)

PID Controller Responses to Two momentary step inputs

PID Controller Response with different Input Signals

How to Read an Electrical Wiring Diagram

How to Read an Electrical Wiring Diagram?

Normally closed input actuator as stop button.

Normally-Closed Contacts for Stop Buttons

Structured Text PLC Example for Motor Interlocking and Control

Structured Text PLC Example for Motor Interlocking and Control

If Else Statement in SCL Language

If Else Statement in SCL Language

PLC Instructions

Program Flow Control Instructions in PLC Programming

traffic light plc program

Traffic Light Control using PLC Ladder Logic

Learn More

Current-to-Pressure Transducer Calibration Table

Mechanical Torsion Meter Principle

Mechanical Torsion Meter Principle

Globe Valve Parts

What is Globe Valve ?

Spectrometers Questions and Answers

Fluorescent Spectrometer Questions & Answers

PLC Questions & Answers

Programmable Logic Controller Questions and Answers

Power Systems Questions & Answers

Power Systems MCQ Series 21

Analog Electronics Objective Questions

Analog Electronics Objective Questions – Set 4

DCS Commissioning Steps

DCS Commissioning Steps

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?