PDC Chapter1
PDC Chapter1
University of Cantabria
Introduction to Process
Control
Chapter 1
Introduction to Process
Control
Chapter 1.
Chapter 1
Textbook
Process Dynamics and Control, 4th Ed. Seborg et al.
Wiley 2017 (or previous editions)
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Illustrative Example: Blending system
Notation:
• w1, w2 and w are mass flow rates
• x1, x2 and x are mass fractions of component A
Assumptions:
1. w1 is constant
2. x2 = constant = 1 (stream 2 is pure A)
3. Perfect mixing in the tank
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Control Objective:
Keep x at a desired value (or “set point”) xsp, despite variations
in x1(t). Flow rate w2 can be adjusted for this purpose.
Terminology:
• Controlled variable (or “output variable”): x
• Manipulated variable (or “input variable”): w2
• Disturbance variable (or “load variable”): x1
Design Question. What value of w2 is required to have
x xSP ?
Overall balance:
0 w1 w2 w (1-1)
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Component A balance:
w1x1 w2 x2 wx 0 (1-2)
xSP x1 t
w2 t w1 (1-5)
1 xSP
2 x1 w2 FeedForward
(FF)
Feedback Control:
• Distinguishing feature: measure the controlled variable
• Advantages:
Corrective action is taken regardless of the source of the disturbance.
• Disadvantages:
No corrective action occurs until after the disturbance has upset the
process, that is, until after x differs from xsp.
Very oscillatory responses, or even instability… (let’s think about the
origin of instability)
Feedforward Control:
Distinguishing feature: measure a disturbance
variable
• Advantage:
Correct for disturbance before it upsets the process.
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• Disadvantage:
Must be able to measure the disturbance.
No corrective action for unmeasured disturbances.
Control Terminology
controlled variables - these are the variables which
quantify the performance or quality of the final
product, which are also called output variables.
Chapter 1