Glossary
Controls and ancillaries
Distributed Control System
Also known as DCS, distributed control system, plant control system.
A DCS (Distributed Control System) is the plant-wide process-automation system that combines operator workstations, controllers, network infrastructure and field-device interfaces into a single integrated platform. Major DCS suppliers include Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion, Yokogawa Centum VP, ABB 800xA, Siemens PCS 7 and Schneider Foxboro Evo.
Sonic-horn / DCS integration
Modern sonic-horn installations typically integrate to the existing plant DCS to provide:
- Operator visibility — horn-running status, last-fire time, air supply pressure on the operator HMI
- Operator control — manual start, manual silence, mode change
- Alarm reporting — stuck valve, low pressure, controller fault
- Process-condition response — fire-rate increase if ΔP rises, or opacity excursion
Integration is via fieldbus (Modbus, Profibus, Profinet) or hardwired discrete I/O.
Related terms
Related terms
- Programmable Logic ControllerA PLC is a ruggedised industrial computer running programmed control logic. Sonic-horn sequencing can be a dedicated PLC or a subroutine inside the plant's existing PLC.
- Cycle controller and sequencerA cycle controller programmes the firing pattern of one or more sonic horns — duration, interval, sequence, zone grouping. Either a dedicated standalone unit or a PLC subroutine.
- Modbus, Profibus and ProfinetModbus, Profibus and Profinet are the three dominant industrial fieldbus protocols. Sonic-horn cycle controllers typically support at least one for DCS integration.