Distributed Control System (DCS) Applications, Selection and Troubleshooting Course

Course Overview:

This course on DCS is detailed and provides a full understanding of hardware selection and DCS maintenance, further talking about integration of DCS with SCADA modules, alarm management devices, safety setups, redundancy systems and field communication devices.

Moreover, DCS operating and Automated Distribution Systems and protective relaying, distribution automation are also part of this course. 

The target audience for this course are engineers, technicians, and instrumentation experts, and as such, will find the information in this course is integrated with case studies, hence they are learning in a practical environment rather than just theoretically.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Apply in-depth knowledge and skills in DCS systems and implement systematic applications, selection, and troubleshooting techniques and methods
• Identify the DCS hardware & software particularly the traditional process controllers, programming, execution time, configuration, etc.
• List the parts and configuration of the SCADA system and determine its basic architecture and levels of hierarchy
• Differentiate DCS from PLC and SCADA and discuss their features and functions
• Determine the types of DCS used in petroleum refining processes and explain their specific function in each process
• Employ the concepts of alarm management system including its types, features, architecture, and functions
• Discuss the concepts of humans in control and identify the factors that contribute in the following concept
• Recognize the safety considerations involved in DCS such as intrinsic safety, explosion, approval standards, oxygen, etc.
• Identify types of redundancy and recognize how it works
• Appreciate the principles analogue and digital field communications and discuss its transmitter classifications, intrinsic safety, fieldbus communications & technologies, etc.
• Discuss the concepts of safety instrumented systems and explain its functions, integration and hazard and risk analysis
• Explain the maintenance considerations of DCS and identify the various types of failures and faults
• Select the proper DCS system for each application and determine the system specification, its functional description and diagrams

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for all Electrical Engineers, instrumentation staff, and highly qualified technicians who concerning DCS Control and Protection Systems Operation, Selection and Maintenance. Those who are working in electrical power and industrial processing control systems such as Electrical Power Grids and Electrical Generation Plants, Environmental Control Systems, Traffic signals, Radio Signals, Water Management Systems, Oil Refining Plants, Chemical plants, Sensor Networks.

Course Outlines:

General Introduction to Electrical Plant

• Power plants
• Turbines
• Generators
• Transformers
• Transmission lines
• Distribution lines
• Voltage level and standard
• Frequency standard
• Generator layout
• Transmission layout
• Distribution layout

Evolution of Distributed Control Systems

• Introduction
• Historical Background

Digital Processing Principles and Microcomputer Interfacing

• Introduction
• Microprocessor systems
• Microcomputers
• Microprocessors
• Program memory
• Input-output
• Software
• Languages
• Case study

Local Control Unit Architecture

• Introduction
• The local control unit (LCU)
• Low-level human interface (LLHI)
• Data input/output unit (DI/OU)
• High-level human interface (HLHI)
• The high-level computing device (HLCD
• Computer interface device (CID)
• Shared communication facilities
• Case study

Local Control Unit Languages

• Introduction
• Language Requirements
• Function blocks
• Language Alternatives
• Example of Continuous Control
• Example of Logic Control
• Example of Batch Reactor
• Ladder Diagram
• Case study

Communication Facilities

• Introduction
• Communication System Requirements
• Network Topologies
• Case study

Operator Interface

• Introduction
• Operator Interface Requirements
• Low-Level Operator Interface
• High-Level Operator Interface
•  Case study

Operator Displays

• Introduction
• Sample of Display Layout
• Elements in a Display
• Typical Display Hierarchy
• Design Considerations for Operator Input
• System Design Issues
• Case study

Distributed Control Systems DCS Troubleshooting

• Objectives for Control Loop Troubleshooting
• Control Diagram of a Typical Control Loop
• Components and Signals of a Typical Control Loop
• What is Control Loop Troubleshooting?
• Overall Approach to Troubleshooting Control Loops
• Checking the Actuator System
• Check the Controller
• Check the Sensor System
• Troubleshooting Example

Protective Relaying and Control System

• What is relaying
• The multilayered structure of power systems,
• Abnormalities,
• Basic Terms Used on Protection,
• Selectivity, Zones of protection
• Stability, Speed, Sensitivity,
• Primary and back up protection
• Methods of Discrimination
• Definitions,
• Indicators and Tripping circuits

Distribution Automation and Protection

• Introduction
• Over-current protection
• Time delay overcurrent relays
• Instantaneous overcurrent relays
• Settings
• Coordination
• Directional overcurrent relays
• Distance Protection Schemes
• Stepped distance protection
• Zones setting
• Case study
• RX diagram
• Three-phase distance relays

Applications

• Application on electrical power systems
• Application on industrial processing systems