Abstract: The heater control system of large-scale pipeline has undergone three-stage changes, that is, from initiatory man-control to auto-control of multi-loop controller, then to auto-control of PLC and industry computer. With the development and industrialization on modern control, intelligent control and image pro- cessing techniques, the heater control system in China will be improved on fault tolerant control capacity, fault diagnosis capacity, system integration analyzing capacity, intelligent capacity, security, high-effect, risk evaluating, which will make the heater control system more perfect.