Plant-Wide Distributed Control Systems

Distributed Control Systems (DCS), with the advent of High Speed Data Highways and locally collected plant data, are being used to reduce cabling costs, and to allow the implementation of advanced control strategies. Control strategies such as coordinated control, main steam temperature control, three element drum level control and plant master control are provided as part of our standard control system offerings.

Over the years, FPS has taken advantage of advances in technology to enhance our systems. We have used these technologies only after they were mature (standard) and cost effective. This has allowed us to offer integrated systems that were previously only available from the large "DCS suppliers" with their proprietary systems.

FPS’s experience enables us to offer systems that use standard front end equipment allowing for an "open architecture" arrangement, the problem of obsolescence that has plagued traditional proprietary systems. FPS provides a PC-based front end to our integrated DCS systems which allow for a relatively inexpensive upgrade path as new technologies emerge.

FPS control systems are designed to provide continuous, reliable and precise control of all plant processes with an aim to satisfying the customer’s specific requirements. Modifications to the process control and graphical configurations are straightforward, able to be performed online and are transparent to the operator. Reliability and security are ensured through the strategic use of redundant equipment.

Combustion Control Systems

Precise control of the ratio of boiler heat input to boiler air input is one of the most critical issues in providing a safe, reliable, and efficient set of boiler operating conditions. FPS will ensure that the customer’s combustion control system properly controls the boiler fuel to air ratio per the boiler manufacturer specifications. This will help ensure that the boiler fires as safely as possible.

FPS will provide the customer with a combustion control system that will quickly respond to demands placed upon it by the unit operating conditions, and will rapidly respond to changes in load or to runback situations by safely modulating both the fuel and air inputs. The FPS combustion controls will always ensure that the boiler air flow will lead the boiler fuel flow to ensure that a fuel rich mixture will never exist in the boiler.