A Distributed Control System (DCS) is an automated control system based on microprocessors, employing a distributed control function and centralized display and operation design. It is also known as a distributed control system.
Its core architecture includes a process control level and a process monitoring level. The hardware consists of field control stations, operator stations, and engineer stations, achieving both distributed hazard and centralized management through a hierarchical structure.
This system is widely used in power, metallurgy, and petrochemical industries, with a penetration rate exceeding 95%. In 2024, the market size reached 14.8 billion yuan, with a domestic production rate exceeding 45%, and domestic companies holding a 40.4% market share in the petrochemical sector.
DCS typically adopts a hierarchical structure, with each level consisting of several subsystems. Each subsystem achieves several specific finite objectives, forming a pyramid structure.
Reliability is the lifeblood of DCS development. Ensuring high reliability in DCS primarily involves three measures: first, the widespread application of highly reliable hardware and production processes; second, the widespread adoption of redundancy technology; and third, the extensive implementation of fault-tolerant technology, fault self-diagnosis, and automatic processing technology in software design. Most distributed control systems today have an MTBF of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of hours.
