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The Automation Engineer's Handbook: Design, Build, Troubleshoot, and Optimize PLC, SCADA, DCS, and Industrial Control Systems with Real-World Confiden
Paperback
Series: The Titan Engineer Series: Mastering the Systems That Power, Control, and Automate the Modern World
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Apr 20 2026
Pages: 346
Weight: 1.77
Height: 0.72 Width: 8.50 Depth: 11.00
Language: English
In the high-stakes world of industrial automation, good enough isn't an option. Whether you are managing an oil refinery, a pharmaceutical plant, or a high-speed packaging line, you need technical precision to ensure systems are safe, stable, and optimized.
The Automation Engineer's Handbook is a comprehensive, 700-page guide designed to take you from the foundations of control theory to the cutting edge of Industry 4.0. Written by Alexander Mercer, this handbook provides the real-world confidence needed to design, build, and troubleshoot PLC, SCADA, and DCS systems.
What's Inside This Comprehensive Manual:- The Foundations of Automation: Dive into the ISA-95 Enterprise-Control framework, fluid mechanics, and the essential physics required for precise process control.
- Mathematics for Control: Master Laplace transforms, Boolean algebra, and the PID algorithms that serve as the workhorse of modern industry.
- Field Instrumentation & Final Elements: Technical deep-dives into pressure, level, flow, and temperature measurement, alongside expert guidance on control valve sizing and actuator selection.
- Advanced Control Strategies: Move beyond basic PID with Model Predictive Control (MPC), Cascade control, and Fuzzy Logic to handle complex, multivariable systems.
- Systems Architecture: Detailed hardware breakdowns of modern PLC, PAC, and Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
- Networking & Cybersecurity: Build secure, deterministic Industrial Ethernet networks using ISA/IEC 62443 standards to protect critical infrastructure.
- Functional Safety (SIS/SIL): Implement rigorous safety lifecycles, LOPA, and HAZOP studies to ensure your plant fails to a safe state.
- Operational Excellence: Expert advice on project management, FAT/SAT testing, and predictive maintenance (PdM) to maximize system availability and MTBF.
Whether you are a student at or a professional engineer, this book is built for you.
- CAP & CSE Exam Prep: This handbook is specifically aligned with the Body of Knowledge required for the Certified Automation Professional (CAP) and Control Systems Engineer (CSE) exams.
- Field-Ready Reference: Includes an extensive appendix of unit conversion tables, wire sizing charts, and engineering checklists for immediate use on the plant floor.
- Cross-Industry Insights: Features practical case studies from Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Water Treatment, and Power Generation.
Don't just react to system failures-predict and prevent them. The Automation Engineer's Handbook is the only reference you need to navigate the convergence of IT and OT with confidence.
Order your copy today and engineer with real-world confidence.Also from
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