Distributed Control
System
Difference Between Centralized and Distributed Control
System:
Characteristics of Centralized Systems:
Single point Centralized Data Hierarchical Communication Simplicity in
control Management Structure Management
Flow
All data
central entity lower-level nodes Communication Simple because
processing,
typically makes storage, and
or entities within a centralized all control and
all decisions and retrieval activities reporting to and system typically decision-making
manages all occur within the receiving flows from are centralized.
resources. central system. instructions from peripheral nodes or
the central entities to the
authority. central node.
Centralized Control Systems:
Distributed Control System:
Decentralized Distributed DataPeer-to-Peer Fault Tolerence
Management Communication
Scalabiity
Control Allows the
Communication in a Since there is no single
Data and resources addition of new
control and distributed system can point of failure, the system nodes to
decision-making are distributed across occur directly between can continue to operate accommodate
authority are multiple nodes in the nodes without the need even if individual nodes increased
decentralized system. for a central experience issues or workload or user
intermediary failures. demand.
Basic Elements of DCS:
Engineering PC or controller
This controller is the supervisory controller over all the distributed processing
controllers. Control algorithms and configuration of various devices are
executed in this controller.
Distributed controller or Local control unit
It can be placed near to field devices (sensors and actuators) or
certain location where these field devices are connected via
communication link.
Operating station or HMI
It is used to monitor entire plant parameters graphically and
to log the data in plant database systems.
Communication media and protocol
Communication media e.g coaxial cables,
copper wires, fiber optic cables.
Distributed Control System:
• Categories:
• Modes of Computer Control:
• Supervisory Control:
Computer sets a set point and
accordingly Controller act.
• Direct Digital Control:
For DDC the computersamples
the flowmeasurement at
discrete instants of time and
sends as control signals step
changes in the control valve
stem position.
• Small Computer Network:
• Used for small processes such
as laboratory prototypes or
pilot plants, having a
relatively small number of
control loops
• All of the computers operate
with a multitasking operating
system and have local
memory
Commercial Distributed Control
Systems:
• High Performance Control System
• Designed in both hardware and
software
• Engineer or operator has an
immediate access to large amount of
data
• A control engineer can take new
online measurements with local
computer for data acquisition
• It is possible to change quickly
among standard control strategies
• Readjust controller parameter in
software
Example of DCS:
• Case study of any DCS :
Features:
• Enhanced Process Control
• Real Time Monitoring
• Scalability
• Data management
Appications:
• Agriculture
• Chemical plants
• Petrochemical and refineries
• Nuclear power plants
• Water and sewage treatment plants
• Food processing
• Automobile manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Fuzzy Controllers:
• Fuzzy Logic:
• Fuzzy Refers to the things that are not clear or certain.
• In the real world many times we encounter a situation when we can’t
determine whether the state is true or false.
• Fuzzy Logic is a form of many-valued logic in which the truth values of
variables may be any real number between 0 and 1, instead of just the
traditional values of true or false.
• What is Fuzzy Control?
1) It is a technique to embody human-like thinkings into a control
system.
2) Any uncertainties can be easily dealt with the help of fuzzy logic.
3) Work on degree of membership
[Link] Conditioners
Washing Machine
Traffic signal Controller
