DCS (Distributed Control System)
A DCS is a control system that distributes controllers across a large continuous process — refineries, power and chemical plants — rather than centralising them. It is built for tightly-coupled, safety-critical processes that run continuously for years.
Where PLCs suit discrete machine control, a DCS is designed for large, continuous process plants with thousands of control loops, high redundancy and integrated operator consoles. The choice of DCS vs PLC/SCADA shapes how data is gathered for analytics. DCS historians are a primary data source for process optimization and predictive analytics.
Related reading
- AVEVA Predictive Analytics
- AspenTech (aspenONE)
- PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)
- SCADA
- Process Historian
Related terms
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) · SCADA · Process Historian · Distributed I/O
Software
AVEVA Predictive Analytics
Early-warning analytics for critical process and power assets.
AspenTech (aspenONE)
Process simulation, optimisation and asset performance software; an Emerson company.
Where this applies
Hot versus cold commissioning · Schneider Harmony HMI vs Honeywell Experion Station