Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects are a critical part of the infrastructure and construction industry. These projects involve the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of facilities such as power plants, oil and gas processing plants, and chemical plants. Instrumentation and control (I&C) engineering plays a crucial role in EPC projects by providing the means to measure, control, and automate the various processes that occur within these facilities.
The role of I&C engineering in EPC projects begins with the identification of instrument and control requirements for the project. This includes determining the specific measurements and control functions that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the facility. Once these requirements have been identified, the I&C engineer proceeds to design the control systems, which includes the selection of equipment and software. This design should take into account the safety and cyber security aspects of the control systems.
After the control systems have been designed, the I&C engineer is responsible for the procurement of the necessary instrumentation and control equipment. This includes the selection of vendors and the negotiation of contracts. The engineer also works with the construction team during the installation and commissioning of the control systems to ensure that they are installed correctly and function as intended.
Once the facility is operational, the I&C engineer is responsible for the ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting of the control systems. This includes the development of procedures for monitoring and maintaining the systems, as well as troubleshooting any issues that may arise.
In addition to these traditional roles, I&C engineers are also playing an increasingly important role in the use of new technologies in EPC projects. For example, advances in digitalization and the Internet of Things (IoT) are allowing for new ways of monitoring and controlling processes. This is allowing for increased automation and more efficient operations. Additionally, with increasing concern about safety, security, and cyber security in control systems, I&C engineers are playing an important role in ensuring that these facilities are protected from potential threats.