Advanced process control for everyone with PCS7

Siemens Automation and Drives has enhanced Version 7 of its Simatic PCS 7 Process Automation System to include a comprehensive set of easy-to-use advanced process control (APC) capabilities

From basic to advanced process control, the PCS 7 system improvements give chemical, petrochemical, ethanol, glass, and other process plants the tools to increase throughput and yield, while minimising energy costs, raw material consumption and product variability.

Previously, advanced process control has been offered by companies as a complex optional extra.

PCS 7 now delivers an out-of-the-box, integrated set of tools that provides basic to sophisticated APC capabilities that are more accessible to process engineers.

The APC enhancements in Version 7 of PCS 7 are tightly integrated into the system, allowing users to choose from different proven methods to help optimise their processes.

The improvements include basic PID enhancements such as auto tuning and gain scheduling, through a more sophisticated model such as predictive control (MPC), fuzzy logic and neural network control.

At the most advanced level, Version 7 of PCS 7 now offers control performance monitoring, including statistical analysis of process variable, control error and manipulated variable.

APC functionality is delivered by a set of embedded function blocks, which run in the controller along side standard logic with pre-built faceplates for operation and monitoring through the HMI.

As with previous versions of the PCS 7 system, the enhanced version breaks traditional distributed control system limitations by offering the world's only platform that integrates new and existing automation systems (process, batch, discrete and safety) and devices (process, discrete, safety, and electrical) within the plant.

The system also boasts common tools for engineering, visualisation, and plant-wide asset and maintenance management.

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