What Is a Distributed Control System?

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Distributed control systems (DCS) are applied in industrial production plants with the aim of standardizing and guaranteeing the control of complex industrial processes. Although they have existed for decades, as they can be applied to mechanical and electrical control systems with multiple machinery, computers and programmable automata, today industrial robotics and the growing advancement of the IoT play a determining role in these models. DCS use a database that includes all signals, variables, alarm systems and events that may occur within the system . Through DCS control software, all the data provided by the production plant can be managed, allowing it to be integrated with other systems in the production chain. The sectors in which distributed control systems are most applied are environmental control systems, the manufacturing sector, chemical factories and water management systems, among others.

These are systems aimed at promoting industrial automation, which is key to promoting the safety, quality, profitability and productivity of factories. Characteristics of a distributed control system There are several aspects that should be taken into account in a distributed control system. Let's see what its main characteristics are. The elements are distributed on the production floor A DCS is an automated control system. The different elements that are part of it are distributed in the control area. It is the opposite of a centralized control system, which USA Phone Number List will not have the same degree of reliability and redundancy, and depends on the central unit for its automated operation. In the case of DCS, there is a specific controller for each group of machines, robots or processes, located in different places in the production plant.



DCS have different levels of automation Distributed control systems have different levels of automation, which are usually called as follows: Field level: here are the sensors that allow data to be collected that will be transmitted to the central single register. Control level: this is where the automation stations or PLCs (programmable controllers) are located. Supervision level: which is where the operating stations are located. MES level: the area in which all the information of the production plant is located. ERP Level: Where ERP solutions are used to plan and manage industry production. Through sensors, digital systems and devices, maximum integration between systems is sought so that there is maximum efficiency.