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Control System Design

Control System Layout

 

The Control System normally resides in a separate location to the main power components. This could take the form of:
 

  • A separate electrical panel remote from power switchboards

  • Several separate panels sharing system control but remote from power switchboards

  • An integral part of an MCC but residing in a location remote from power switching (the ICA Section)

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Either way, the Control System deals with smaller voltages and much smaller currents compared to a power system and therefore, we separate to exclude induction issues and switching issues (which can generate high voltages and corrupt volatile processor memory)

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We also separate because the ICA Technician may not have the requisite permissions to work adjacent higher voltages

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Additionally, the prevalence of PLC's and electronic instrumentation within control systems, is increasingly upcoming, hence the need for separation

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Control System Design

 

The Control System would include such equipment as:

  • Surge Protection

  • Power Supply units

  • PLC System Equipment

  • I/O Cards

  • Relays

  • Terminals

 

It may also cater for any DSEAR zoned areas and any particular equipment for such areas. Although situated within the ICA Section, DSEAR equipment is normally de-marked and separated from non DSEAR equipment

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The Control System interfaces with the PLC system. Relays are used to switch various circuits. It is not normal to use the PLC output cards to directly interface with the "outside world" since any site issues (short circuits etc) could cause the PLC system to totally fail and, hence the process is lost.

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Relays are also used to interface with safety systems in such a way as to cause a system failure to "fail to safety"

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Connections with the outside world need to be considered. Site instrumentation is wired to the ICA section. However, site installation cabling is normally more robust (and inflexible) than ICA wiring so, a system of terminal rails are employed to accept the site cabling as it enters the ICA Section, negating the need to run site cabling around the ICA section

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Again, DSEAR cabling will be separate from non-DSEAR cabling

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