Course content

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the design and operation of larger industrial control and safety systems. Most examples are from the process industry, but methods, technologies, and principles are also applicable beyond that.

• This includes examples of regulatory requirements and standards that must be followed, typical technical solutions including user interfaces, equipment selection, types of industrial communication, configuration of logical operations in software and hardware, and how the design of systems is affected by cyber security threats.
• Parts of the course has focus on safety-instrumented systems, including design principles, risk and reliability analyses, and follow-up of reliability performance in operation. Even though the focus is primarily on the process industry, examples are also provided for railway traffic management, CO2 storage and injection facilities, and nuclear power plants. With this as basis, students should be able to highlight the role of instrumented safety systems, define requirements, and perform analyses as needed to reduce the risks of major industrial accidents.

The knowledge can be used to perform typical tasks of the instrumentation discipline if working with a control system supplier, in an engineering company or in a company that operates a facility. The knowledge can also be used to solve certain tasks that are normally carried out by the technical safety discipline.

The course can be selected by international students visiting NTNU, and the course is therefore thought in English if there are English speaking students.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of designing industrial control and safety systems, including network topologies, communication solutions, equipment roles, and system configurations (hardware and software).
• Basic knowledge about alarm systems, earthing systems, and the utility systems for hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical power.
• Basic knowledge of relevant standards and regulations within topics of the course and how to find them.
• In-depth knowledge on functional safety, including how safety integrity level (SIL) requirements influence design and operation of instrumented safety systems.
• In-depth knowledge of how to calculate the reliability of typical configurations for instrumented safety functions, and how the reliability and SIL requirements are anchored in risk analyses.
• In-depth knowledge on how the machinery directive and related harmonized standards influence design of safety-critical functions that protect personnel from being harmed when working close to or operating the machines.
• In-depth knowledge of how to use and interpret key technical drawings/documentation.
• In-depth knowledge of the detection principle for fire and gas and protection methods for electrical equipment installed in explosive environments.
• Basic knowledge about installation, operation, and maintenance of industrial control.
• Basic knowledge of how cyber-attacks can influence control and safety systems, and the methods used by industry to prevent them and mitigate their impacts.

Skills:

• Be able to identify requirements for instrumentation systems and explain different technologies and solutions used in large plants such as the process industry.
• Be able to apply (i.e., configure software and hardware) for some selected industrial control systems that each control a single process or safety function. The configuration involves connecting the control system to equipment in the physical process with associated network and communication, implementing logic based on programming languages for industrial controllers and creating simple user interfaces. As part of the work, one must learn to interpret technical documentation and drawings.
• Be able to explain the role of safety-instrumented systems, be able to independently conduct reliability analysis for such systems and apply the results when making decisions about design solutions and for operation and maintenance.

General competence:

• Be able to take part in professional discussions by being familiar with concepts, concepts and solutions that the industry uses.
• Be able to explain the role that instrumented safety systems in ensuring sustainability, by protecting people, the environment, and values from damage.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, semester project, laboratory work. The lecturer will inform if the semester project will be individual or carried out in groups, depending on the number of students taking the course and the type of project tasks.

Compulsory assignments

• Labøvinger

Recommended previous knowledge

Students having finished the first two years of the 5- year master program in cybernetics and robotics or have been admitted to the 2-year master's degree in "kybernetikk og robotikk" and in "industriell kybernetikk" have sufficient background.

Course materials

Course material (syllabus) is published on the course Blackboard page, and consists of individual chapters in a compendium developed for the course. Supplementary material, if used, is also notified through black board.

Topics from the group project and laboratory work are also part of the course material.

All material is available in English.