Abstract:

This paper aims to focus on database configuration of process control systems during project engineering phase and the impact of initial configuration on their performances and lifetime. We will start by highlighting operation principle of such systems, taking as example DCS systems (Distributed Control Systems) where we discussed their hardware and software architecture evolution and then identify the most common problems encountered on these systems. Through a case study, we will focus on the optimization of database configuration and see how could bad configuration practices reduce the control system performances and then may affect industrial process operation. The case study discussed is about a DCS system installed to control oilfield processing facilities where hardware and software description on this control system is given. We will emphasize on system deficiencies which the most important of them is the problem of database memory saturation which causes significant system performances and lifetime decreases.

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