NEORSD CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS

PROCESS CONTROL NARRATIVES

digital format for transpotability, accessibility and ease of use on the business network,
portable maintenance PCs, and on-line within the control system.
A draft process narrative must be prepared during the process conceptual design stage of projects.
The PCN must form a part of any process design report and its preparation must precede detailed
design. This will ensure that the process design can be accommodated within the District’s control
hierarchy and philosophy. Appendix A contains a sample PCN that depicts the expected style and
content.

In summary, the purpose of a PCN is to ensure that the process control system is programmed and
configured to support the intended operation of the process. The PCNs must convey to control
logic programmers and control system configuration specialists how the logic must work, how the
process data must be handled, and how the operator must be able to interact with the process
equipment.

To achieve this functionality, process control narrative development must be an integral component
of the process design phase of each project. As such, it requires the participation of both process
designers and control system designers. To help establish an ownership role and operator
acceptance of the process control system and its capabilities, and to provide designers with greater
insight into operators needs and potential issues under operating conditions, the end users should be
involved in PCN development and review during the design process, and refinement and testing
during implementation.

It is essential that all designers understand and utilize the District’s instrumentation, control and
electrical standards, and apply the standards to all control system design products including the
PCNs. The District’s standard formats, content requirements and terminology must be used rather
than alternate terminology that may be more commonly used by a particular designer or design
firm. The District will provide its designers and contractors with access to design, configuration
and programming standards that are relevant to each project.

PROCESS CONTROL NARRATIVES OCTOBER, 2013

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