Design Electronical Control System
Design Electronical Control System
Level_5
PROCESS VARIABLE
• A process variable is a condition of the process fluid (a
liquid or gas) that can change the manufacturing process
in some way. In the example of you sitting by the fire,
the process variable was temperature. In the example of
the tank in Figure 7.1, the process variable is level.
Common process variables include:
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Common process variables include:
• Pressure
• Flow
• Level
• Temperature
• Density
• Ph (acidity or alkalinity)
• Liquid interface (the relative amounts of different liquids
that are combined in a vessel)
• Mass
• Conductivity
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Process Control Terms
• The set-point is a value for a process variable that is desired to be
maintained. For example, if a process temperature needs to kept within 5
°C of 100 °C, then the set-point is 100 °C.
• A temperature sensor can be used to help maintain the temperature at set-
point.
• The sensor is inserted into the process, and a controller compares the
• temperature reading from the sensor to the set-point. If the temperature
• reading is 110 °C, then the controller determines that the process is
• above set-point and signals the fuel valve of the burner to close slightly
• until the process cools to 100 °C. Set points can also be maximum or
• minimum values. For example, level in tank cannot exceed 20 feet.
A Pressure Loop
PRESSURE CONTROL LOOPS
• Pressure control loops vary in
speed—that is, they can
respond to changes in load or to
control action slowly or quickly.
• The speed required in a
pressure control loop may be
dictated by the volume of the
process fluid.
• High-volume systems (e.g., large
natural gas storage facilities)
tend to change more slowly
than low-volume systems
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FEEDBACK CONTROL
FLOW CONTROL LOOPS A Flow Loop
• Generally, flow control loops are regarded as fast
loops that respond to changes quickly.
• Therefore, flow control equipment must have fast
sampling and response times.
• Because flow transmitters tend to be rather sensitive
devices, they can produce rapid fluctuations or noise
in the control signal.
• To compensate for noise, many flow transmitters have
a damping function that filters out noise.
• Sometimes, filters are added between the transmitter
and the control system.
• Because the temperature of the process fluid affects
its density, temperature measurements are often
taken with flow measurements and compensation for
temperature is accounted for in the flow calculation.
• Typically, a flow sensor, a transmitter, a controller, and
a valve or pump are used in flow control loops
– Disadvantages:
• FB control takes no corrective action until a deviation in the controlled variable
occurs.
• FB control is incapable of correcting a deviation from set point at the time of its
detection.
• Theoretically not capable of achieving “perfect control.”
• For frequent and severe disturbances, process may not settle out.
– Advantages:
• Takes corrective action before the process is upset (cf. FB control.)
• Theoretically capable of "perfect control"
• Does not affect system stability
– Disadvantages:
• Disturbance must be measured (capital, operating costs)
• Requires more knowledge of the process to be controlled (process model)
• Ideal controllers that result in "perfect control”: may be physically unrealizable. Use
practical controllers such as lead-lag units
– FF Control
• Attempts to eliminate the effects of measurable disturbances.
– FB Control
• Corrects for unmeasurable disturbances, modeling errors, etc.
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5. BATCH CONTROL
• Batch processes are those processes that are taken from start to finish in
batches.
• For example, mixing the ingredients for a juice drinks is often a batch process.
• Typically, a limited amount of one flavor (e.g., orange drink or apple drink) is
mixed at a time.
• For these reasons, it is not practical to have a continuous process running.
• Batch processes often involve getting the correct proportion of ingredients
into the batch.
• Level, flow, pressure, temperature, and often mass measurements are used at
various stages of batch processes.
• A disadvantage of batch control is that the process must be frequently
restarted.
• Start-up presents control problems because, typically, all measurements in
the system are below setpoint at start-up.
• Another disadvantage is that as recipes change, control instruments may
need to be recalibrated.
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6. SELECTIVE CONTROL
• Selective control refers to a control system in which
the more important of two variables will be
maintained.
• For example, in a boiler control system, if fuel flow
outpaces air flow, then uncombusted fuel can build
up in the boiler and cause an explosion.
• Selective control is used to allow for an air-rich
mixture, but never a fuel-rich mixture. Selective
control is most often used when equipment must be
protected or safety maintained, even at the cost of
not maintaining an optimal process variable setpoint.
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PRIMARY ELEMENTS/SENSORS
• In all cases, some kind of instrument is
measuring changes in the process and
reporting a process variable measurement.
• Some of the greatest useful in the process
control field is apparent in sensing devices.
• Because sensing devices are the first element
in the control loop to measure the process
variable, they are also called primary elements.