Overview
IEC 60050-351:2013, titled International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 351: Control Technology, is a key standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This fourth edition provides comprehensive terminology essential for control technology, covering general terms as well as those relevant to specific applications and associated technologies. As a horizontal standard under IEC Guide 108, it serves as a foundational reference that supports uniformity and clarity in the field of control and automation systems worldwide.
The standard consolidates and updates terms from its previous editions to promote consistent understanding across the electrotechnical community. It is widely used by engineers, researchers, and professionals involved in industrial process measurement, control, and automation.
Key Topics
IEC 60050-351:2013 encompasses an extensive range of topics vital to control technology terminology, organized into detailed sections, including:
- Variables and Signals: Definitions for measurement and communication parameters in control systems.
- General Concepts: Basic principles and foundational terminology used across control technology.
- Tasks and Functions: Common control tasks and functional descriptions applicable to various control applications.
- Control System Structures: Terminology related to architecture and organization of control systems.
- Transfer Elements & Control Behavior: Terms describing system components and their dynamic characteristics.
- Control Types: Classifications of control methods including feedback, open-loop, and advanced control strategies.
- Functional Units & Characteristics: Details on sub-components and their properties within control and switching systems.
- Process Computer Systems & Hierarchies: Definitions related to supervisory control and hierarchical control mechanisms.
- Safety Aspects: Terminology addressing safety considerations integral to control technology design and operation.
The standard also provides multilingual definitions in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Portuguese, facilitating international collaboration.
Applications
IEC 60050-351 is crucial for:
- Industrial Automation: Providing a clear and common vocabulary for the design, implementation, and maintenance of automation systems in manufacturing and processing plants.
- Control System Engineering: Assisting professionals in specifying system requirements, integrating components, and troubleshooting by ensuring consistent communication.
- Technical Education and Research: Serving as a validated reference for academic courses, theses, and scientific studies in control theory and applications.
- Standards Development and Compliance: Supporting alignment among international and national standards by offering harmonized terminology for conformity and certification processes.
- Safety Engineering: Offering common language for describing and managing safety features and risk mitigation in control installations.
By adopting IEC 60050-351 terminology, organizations ensure improved interoperability, reduced ambiguity, and enhanced quality in control technology projects worldwide.
Related Standards
The IEC 60050 series is a comprehensive collection of international electrotechnical vocabularies covering diverse fields. Related parts relevant to this standard include:
- IEC 60050-351 Series: All sub-parts delving deeper into specific control technology aspects like switching systems, functional units, and safety terminology.
- IEC 61131: Programming languages for programmable controllers, often used alongside control system terminologies.
- IEC 61508: Functional safety of electrical/electronic systems, closely linked through safety aspects covered in IEC 60050-351.
- IEC 60204: Safety of machinery - electrical equipment, which integrates control technology terminology for safety compliance.
- IEC Guide 108: Guidance on horizontal standards emphasizing consistency and applicability across multiple IEC technical committees.
Users of IEC 60050-351 are encouraged to consult these interconnected standards to ensure comprehensive understanding and application in electrotechnical projects.
By providing a unified vocabulary, IEC 60050-351:2013 plays an essential role in advancing control technology standards, facilitating innovation, safety, and global interoperability in electrical and automation engineering industries. Access to the latest edition and official IEC resources ensures best practice alignment across international markets.
