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What is a Control Panel and its types?

 Control panel is used to accommodate instruments for the purpose of measurement, monitoring, protection, detection, control and manage the processes.

The panels are located in a control room as well as a field termed as a local control panel (LCP) for operational convenience.

Table of contents

Control Panel

Types of Control Panels

Flat Control Panel

Breakfront Panel

Console

Control Panel


The control panels are designed based on the type of energy and dynamics associated. Panels are named based on a functional media such as electrical, electronic, air, and oil.


  • The panel is called PLC control panel with a PLC installed, associated wiring, power supplies.
  • If the panel is Pneumatic controller/ Indicators which are operated by air is called pneumatic control panel with associated controllers, transducers gauges, etc.,
  • If a panel is called hydraulic, if it is operated by oil with associated pressure gauges, directional control valves, etc.,

The modern industry uses instruments for the management of various parameters such as electrical (voltage, current, power) process temperature, pressure, flow, acceleration, density, level mass, volume compositions.


The electronic instrument panels are needed to be placed away from high switch noise-producing elements such as VFD, motors, and pumps. Signal noise effects the measurement.


Types of Control Panels

  • There are three basic types of control panels.

  • Flat Control Panels
  • Breakfront Control Panels
  • Console type Control Panels

The dimensions of a particular panel type are as per the suitability of the application.

Flat Control Panel

The flat control panel is the least expensive and easiest to construct and simple design of all types.


The straight and vertical plane of the panel allows an orderly layout of tubing, electrical ductwork, and miscellaneous equipment.

Instruments can be arranged as per the operator’s convenience and requirement. Flat control panels are best suitable for PLC/DCS system installation.

Breakfront Panel

Breakfront panels allow greater use of the front plane of the board.


The top portion of the panel is swung downwards to an angle normal to the line of sight allowing better visibility.

Console

The Console appears to be eye-catching and very pleasing to most people.

Normally their length is set by the operator’s unit responsibility limits. i.e operator for one console and one console for one operator.

The length varies from 4 to 12 feet.

Consoles are often coupled with ‘’flat backup” panels which contain large-sized instruments and auxiliary components.

Auxilliary equipment such as pressure switches, transducers. As the console is built with limited area, troubleshooting of instruments becomes a real problem with limited area to work for the maintenance team.

-END-


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