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: Types of Industrial Control Systems
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 > Types of Industrial Control Systems

Types of Industrial Control Systems

Last updated: March 4, 2021 3:31 pm
Editorial Staff
Control Systems PLC Tutorials
No Comments
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Industrial Control Systems

Different Types of Industrial Control Systems are Distributed Control System (DCS), Remote terminal unit (RTU) and Programmable logic controller (PLC).

Contents
Industrial Control SystemsDistributed Control System (DCS)Direct digital control (DDC)Remote terminal unit (RTU)Programmable logic controller (PLC)

Distributed Control System (DCS)

Plant distributed control system (DCS) – While the term DCS applies in general to any system in which controllers are distributed rather than centralized, in the power generation and petrochemical process industries it has come to refer to a specific type of control system able to execute complex analog process control algorithms at high speed, as well as provide routine monitoring, reporting and data logging functions.

What is DCS (Distributed Control System)

Figure : Simple example of distributed control systems

In most applications, the input and output modules of the system are distributed throughout the facility, but the control processors themselves are centrally located in proximity to the control room.

These systems typically use proprietary hardware, software and communication protocols, requiring that both replacement parts and technical support be obtained from the original vendor.

Direct digital control (DDC)

The DDC directly interfaces to the process for data acquisition and control purpose.

  • That is, it has necessary hardware for directly interfacing (optoisolator, signal conditioner, ADC, etc.) and reading data from process.
  • It should also have memory and arithmetic capability to execute required P, P+I, P+I+D control strategy.
  • At the same time, the interface to control vale should also be part of DDC.

The below Figure shows the various functional blocks of a DDC system

What si DDC (Direct Digital Control)

The microprocessor performs the following tasks.

  1. It reads the various process variables from different transmitters through multiplexer and ADC.
  2. It determines the error for each control loop and executes control strategy for each loop.
  3. It outputs the correction value to control vale through DAC.

Direct digital control (DDC) systems are used in the commercial building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry to monitor and maintain environmental conditions.

Direct digital control (DDC) systems

They consist of local controllers connected to a network with a personal computer (PC) based central station which provides monitoring, reporting, data storage and programming capabilities.

The controllers are optimized for economical HVAC system control, which generally does not require fast execution speeds. Their hardware and control software are proprietary, with either proprietary or open protocols used for network communication.

Remote terminal unit (RTU)

Remote terminal unit (RTU) based SCADA : RTU-based systems are common in the electric, gas and water distribution industries where monitoring and control must take place across large geographical distances.

RTU

The RTUs were developed primarily to provide monitoring and control capability at unattended sites such as substations, metering stations, pump stations, and water towers. They communicate with a central station over telephone lines, fiber-optics, radio or microwave transmission.

Monitored sites tend to be relatively small, with the RTU typically used mainly for monitoring and only limited control. Hardware and software are proprietary, with either proprietary or open protocols used for data transmission to the central station.

Programmable logic controller (PLC)

Programmable logic controller (PLC) based systems: PLCs, which are described in greater detail in the next section, can be networked together to share data as well as provide centralized monitoring and control capability.

PLC Training Course

Control systems consisting of networked PLCs are supplanting both the plant DCS and the RTU-based systems in many industries. They were developed for factory automation and have traditionally excelled at high speed discrete control, but have now been provided with analog control capability as well.

Hardware for these systems is proprietary, but both control software and network communication protocols are open, allowing system configuration, programming and technical support for a particular manufacturer’s equipment to be obtained from many sources.

Reference : This material adapted from the “Department of the Army, TM 5-601, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems for Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Facilities, 21 January 2006.”

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:

What is DIN rail ?

PLC Multiple Choice Questions

Relation Control System

PID Controllers with Selection Logic

How to Avoid Bad Grounds ?

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

Automatic Door Operation PLC Programming and Simulation
Count the Number of Bottles in Packaging Carton PLC Logic
Flowmeter Control Strategy
How to Configure a Smart Transmitter Using a HART Communicator?
Various Causes for PLC Going in Stop Mode
Feedforward Control Principle
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

Wood Sawing and Blower System: PLC Control Design
PLC Project Examples for EcoStruxure Machine Expert
AENT Module in Rockwell PLC – Remote IO Adapter
Selection of Components Used In Electrical Earthing or Grounding
PLC Programming Course Online Free
STAR DELTA Programming using PLC Controller
Introduction to Modbus – Reading and Writing Data
Modbus Communication between Delta PLC with VFD

Keep Learning

Alarm Management System

What is Alarm Management System ?

4-20mA Current Loop for Flow Transmitter and Control Valve Positioner

4–20 mA Process Control Loops

Junction Box Wiring

4-20mA Junction Box versus Fieldbus (FF) Junction Box

Types of Switches

Electrical Switches Principle & Types

Seven Segment Display Programming with Structured Text

Seven Segment Display Programming with Structured Text

PLC Ladder Program for Automatic Car Wash

PLC Ladder Program for Automatic Car Wash using Siemens TIA Portal

Control Valve in PlantPAx Project

Configuration of Control Valve in Studio 5000

Two out of Three Logic Analogy

Learn More

Bottle’s Capping with Rotating Mechanism

PLC FBD Program for Bottle’s Capping with Rotating Mechanism

Safety Instrumented Systems Tutorials

High Reliability of Safety Instrumented Systems

Difference Between Optical Fibre and Coaxial Cable

Difference Between Optical Fibre and Coaxial Cable

Ultrasonic Level Transmitters Installation

Ultrasonic Level Transmitter Principle, Limitations, Calibration and configuration

Torque Measurement Objective Questions

Torque Measurement Objective Questions

redundant transmitters

SIS Sensors

Gas Detectors Practical Problems and Troubleshooting

Gas Detectors Practical Problems and Troubleshooting

Power Electronics Objective Questions

Single-Phase Half Wave AC-DC Converter Quiz

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?