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
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
Notification Show More
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
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

Procedure for Siemens S7-300 Download from PC to PLC
Functional Block Diagram PLC Example for Traffic Light System
What is PCS 7?
PLC Multiple Outputs Configuration
On/off Control Theory
Elevator PLC Ladder Logic
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
208kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

How to Add Unspecified CPU in Tia Portal?
PLC Analog Input Card Resolution Effects on Accuracy
XG5000 Example of Simple Conveyor Control PLC Program
CX Programmer Example: Perfume Mixing and Filling System
Allen Bradley RSLogix 500 PLC Programming
Design Counters in PLC Programming With a Move Instruction
Yokogawa DCS and SIS System Architecture
Industrial Automation Mobile Apps

Keep Learning

Layer-2 and Layer-3 Network Switches

Layer-2 and Layer-3 Network Switches

ControlLogix 5580 Controllers

Rockwell PLCs for Large Scale Applications

PLC Retrofitting Project

What is a PLC Retrofitting Project? – Importance, Procedure

PLC Program for Automatic Heating and Mixing of Products

Heating and Mixing of Products using PLC Example Tutorial

Networked SCADA Architecture

Types of SCADA System Architecture

List of 100 Questions Related to Distributed Control Systems (DCS)

List of 100 Distributed Control Systems Questions (DCS)

Siemens PLC-to-PLC Communication Project

GET Command – Siemens PLC-to-PLC Communication Project

Grounding or Earthing Scheme in DCS or PLC Systems

Grounding or Earthing Scheme in DCS or PLC Systems

Learn More

Closed-Tank-DP-Type-Level-Measurement-with-Dry-leg-and-transmitter-installed-below-tapping-point

Level Measurement with Dry leg and Installed Below Tapping Point

Van Stone Type Thermowell

Types of Thermowells

PLC FBD Programming for Burglar Alarm Security System

PLC FBD Programming for Burglar Alarm Security System

Wiring in PLC System

Wiring in a PLC Control Panel

Instrumentation Project Engineers Interview Questions

Instrumentation Project Engineer Interview Questions

Zero Interface Level Calculation

How to do Interface Level Calculation using DP Transmitter ?

PLC Boxes Sorting Based on Height

PLC Programming: Sorting and Distribution of Boxes by Height

thermocouple Transmitter Formula

Calculate Process Temperature using a Thermocouple

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?