Real-Time Process Control Needs High Reliability (Download)
In process industries and applications requiring accurate real-time monitoring, control automation systems must be as failure-proof and degradation-proof as possible. Component choices and design practices can provide an extra measure of assurance and security. All of this must also be achieved within reasonable cost parameters.
Process-control system failures are usually relatively minor in nature and in their consequences, but they can result in cumulative losses that significantly impact businesses. And, of course, especially in industries involving inherently dangerous activities such as nuclear and petrochemical processing, process-control failures can lead to results like the Three Mile Island nuclear plant leak or the deadly Bhopal chemical disaster.