Digital hardware in process control

A.3 Microprocessors and Digital Hardware in Process Control A.3.1 Single-Loop Controllers A.3.2 Programmable Logic Controllers A.3.3 Personal Computer Controllers A.3.4 Distributed Control System... 

In the control room, process control encompasses the selection and installation of panel-mounted alarms, switches, recorders, and controllers, as well as Program Logic Controllers (PLC) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS). These include analog and digital input/output hardware, software to implement control strategies. 

In the following sections, we provide an overview of the hardware and software used for process control. The distributed control system configuration is described first, followed by data acquisition for different signal types. Digital hardware is then considered, and concluding with a description of control system software organization and architectures. 

Process control systems should also be scalable, which means that the size of the control and instrumentation system is easily expanded by simply adding more devices. This feature is possible because of the availability of open systems (i.e., plug-and-play between devices), smaller size, lower cost, greater flexibility, and more off-the-shelf hardware and software in digital control systems. A typical system includes personal... 

---