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CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION

UEMK 3313
CHAPTERS 8 and 11 : FEEDBACK CONTROL AND STABILITY

TUTORIAL 4
Question 1

Determine the transfer function for C(s)/R(s) for the system shown in Figure 1

G2

R(s) +
Gc

C(s)
G1

Figure 1

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G3

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CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
UEMK 3313

Question 2

Determine the transfer function for C(s)/L(s) for the system shown in Figure 2

L(s)
G3
+

R(s) +
Gc

G1

G2
_

G4
H

Figure 2

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C(s)

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CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
UEMK 3313

Question 3

Consider a proportional-only control of the stirred-tank heater control system in Figure 3. The
temperature transmitter has a span of 50 oF and zero of 55 oF. The nominal design conditions are
T = 80 oF and Ti = 65 oF. The controller gain, Kc = 5, while the gain for control valve and I/P
transducer are Kv = 1.2 (dimensionless) and KIP = 0.75 psi/mA, respectively with both negligible
dynamics. Time constant for the tank, = 5 min. After the set point changes from 80 to 85 oF, the
tank temperature eventually reaches a new steady-state value of 84.14 oF.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

What is the offset?

What is the process gain, K2?
What is the output measurement after 10 min of the setpoint change?
What is the pressure signal, p to the control valve at the final steady-state?

Figure 3

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CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
UEMK 3313

Question 4

A block diagram of a closed-loop system is shown in Figure 4.

(a) Derive a closed-loop transfer function for disturbance changes, Y(s)/D(s).
(b) For the following transfer functions, what values of Kc will result in a stable closed-loop
system.

G1 ( s ) = 5

G2 ( s) =

4
2s + 1

Km = 1

G3 ( s ) =

1
s 1

Figure 4

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CHEMICAL PROCESS CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION

UEMK 3313

Question 5
A control system has Gv = Gm = 1 and a second order process Gp with Kp = 2, 1 = 4 min, and 2 =
1 min, which is to be controlled by a Proportional-Integral (PI) controller with Kc = 2 and I = 1
= 4 min (i.e., the integral time of the controller is set equal to the dominant time constant). For a
unit set point change
(a)

Determine the closed-loop transfer function and using the final value theorem
calculates the offset for a unit step change in set point.

(b)

Derive the characteristic equation, which is a quadratic polynomial in s. Determine

the damping characteristic (i.e. overdamped, critically damped, or underdamped).

(c)

Can a large value of Kc makes the closed-loop process unstable.

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