The general maintenance needs of a distributed control system (DCS) are covered in this course. It covers safe and appropriate component replacement processes for cards, modules, and power supplies in addition to troubleshooting techniques employing DCS self-diagnosis and the different diagnostic displays available to the technician. Additionally, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and disk and tape drives are covered in the lesson on DCS peripheral devices.

Course Objectives:

By attending this online training course, the delegates will be able:

Identify proper tools and test equipment for troubleshooting
Interpret diagnostic software from the operating console and the engineering workstation
Demonstrate proper troubleshooting methods
Identify typical communication malfunctions
List symptoms of communication faults
Identify a proper cable connection
List indications of power supply failure
Check power supply voltages

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed to provide Knowledge of automation using distributed control. Control Engineers, Electronic Engineers. Instrumentation Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Process Engineers Technologists, and technicians in supervisory positions would benefit from the material presented. The course is a high level and covers the broad spectrum of distributed control system technologies and implementations. High-level troubleshooting will be possible from the knowledge gained from this course.

Course Outlines:

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, Were used
Functions, Architecture, I/O, components,
Hardware, software, system interfacing
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) – a brief overview
supervisory control and direct digital control
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) – a brief overview
DCS, PLC, and SCADA compared

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)

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 philosophy, 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

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Maintenance Considerations
Maintenance Requirements: System and Components
Procedure for Checking Control Loop Calibration
Identify proper tools and test equipment for 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

Process Control

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