Reduce Risks and Improve Performance with Packaged Unit Control Solutions

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Introduction

Turbomachinery control (TMC) applications such as antisurge and load-sharing, as well as hardware platforms on which they are deployed, have been evolving through faster system response, higher availability, and standardization. Packaged turbomachinery control solutions (often referred to as Unit Control Systems) horizontally integrate critical control and safety functions. This is considered important as such solution development and support requires a strong expertise that spans across in instrument and controls, process, and machinery.

At the same time, as end users continue to streamline plant operations through consolidation of resources, it is becoming increasingly important to have a consistent and well-integrated plant monitoring and control environment. This improves operators’ situational awareness – helping them to respond to abnormal situations quicker with less errors.

However, due to the typical project execution structures involving multiple contractors and suppliers, achieving deep and consistent integration between TMC and primary operator interface, typically provided as a part of distributed control system (DCS), can be challenging. Specifically, this can be attributed to each contractor and supplier executing highly segmented project scope, while communicating via the exchange of static design documents.

In this article we explore an optimum architecture for turbomachinery control (TMC) solutions that overcome these challenges and deliver truly integrated operator environment. By creating seamless bridges between Turbomachinery, TMC, and DCS, the solution achieves maximum process performance, reduces project execution risks, and continues to add value over its lifecycle.

Evolution of turbomachinery controls

Turbomachinery trains, often times consisting of various stages of centrifugal compressors with gas/steam turbine or electric motor drivers, are critical parts of continuous processes. Availability and efficiency of these turbomachinery trains directly impact the availability and efficiency of the respective process units. In other words, they are the heart of the process.