ERT 321 - Process Control & Dynamics Feedforward & Ratio Control
ERT 321 - Process Control & Dynamics Feedforward & Ratio Control
ERT 321 - Process Control & Dynamics Feedforward & Ratio Control
Parameter being
measured:
Controlled
Variable ( level of
the water in the
boiler)
Feedforward Control
Basic concept: to measure important disturbance variables and take corrective
action before they upset the process.
Parameter being
measured:
disturbance
variable (steam
flow rate)
Feedforward Control (cont.)
Feedforward control is normally used in combination with feedback controller.
Controller with
summing functions
are used in these
combined systems
to sum up the
input from both
the feedforward
loop and the
feedback loop, and
send a unified
signal to the final
control element.
MV
u
R
d
DV
Ratio Control (cont.)
FIC
FF
FT FT
Water Acid
2 part of water
1 part of acid
Ratio Control (cont.)
Typical applications of ratio control include:
Disadvantage: divider element makes the process gain vary in a non-linear fashion,
where: R 1
Kp
du d d
Method II
Sd
K R Rd
Su
Desired ratio
Transmitter
span for DV &
MV
Example 15.1
• A ratio control scheme is to be used to maintain a stoichiometric
ratio of H2 and N2 as the feed to an ammonia synthesis reactor.
Individual flow controllers will be used for both H2 and N2 streams.
Based on the following information:
• The spans of the flow trasmitters are 30L/min for H2 and 15 L/min for N2.
• The control valves have pneumatic actuators.
• Each required current-to-pressure (I/P) transducer has a gain of 0.75 psi/mA.
• The ratio station is an electronic instrument with 4-20 mA input and output signals.
From stoichiometric equation, it follows that the desired ratio is, R d =u/d =1/3
Sd
Substituting into K R Rd gives;
Su
1 30 L min 2
KR
3 15 L min u 3
Block diagram of Feedforward-
Feedback control system
Y s Gd Gt G f Gv G p
D s 1 Gc Gv G p Gm
Eq 15-21
Ideally, we want a perfect control, where the CV remains exactly at the set
point with any changes in DV. If the set point is constant, Ysp(s) =0 , Y(s) =0,
This condition can be satisfied by setting the numerator of Eq 15-21= 0.
Thus: Gd
Gf
Gt Gv G p
Stability Considerations
Consider the closed-loop system in Figure 15-11:
Stability Considerations
From the closed-loop transfer function in Eq 15-21,
Y s Gd Gt G f Gv G p
Eq 15-21
D s 1 Gc Gv G p Gm
Feedforwrad
control in this
strategy does
not affect the
stability of
feedback
control loop
Feedback-Feedforward Configuration
• Alternative configuration:
Feedback controller output serve as
the setpoint for the feedforward
controller.
point of the secondary controller (slave) as if it were the final control element.
• The output of the master controller being used to adjust the set point of the slave
controller.
Cascade control (cont.)
Split Range Control
Output of a controller is split to two or more control valves.
The diagram shows pH
adjustment; part of waste
water treatment process.
The process shall
CV-102 TK-102
maintained at pH 6. When
pHIC the process liquid states
(base feed tank)
below pH 6, CV-102 will be
opened to dosing NaOH to
the tank TK-100. When the
pHT 1 process liquid states above
pH 6, CV-101 will be
operated to dosing HCl.
CV-101
TK-100 TK-101
(pH adjustment tank) (acid feed tank)