SAS-APC-Lec. i Automatic Process Control (ARC): Automatically adjusts one or more manipulated variables trying to maintain one or more process variables at desired values. Benefits of APC contro: - improved safety = process operates at desired conditions ~ economic benefits Example 1: objective: to maintain constant level of the tank Probable cause for variation: changes in inlet flow rate Eee Feedforward Control = measure inlet flowrate Fy ~ Control law: = F level ‘ime But what if the tank springs a leak?Feedback Control - measure the tank level ~ Controller will increase effluent rate if level is too high and decrease it if level is too low. level time Note: SPC should probably be based on the input flow rate instead of the level. Example 2: Temperature control of exothermic reactor t Feedforward Control: Q. = function (Fi, Ti, Cais Coir Tor Tansient) Feedback Control: Q: = f£(Taestsea ~ Taeasuced) = Pocontrol Law: Q = Qnosnai + Ko(Tassiced ~ Teossuced! where Ke ig the controller gain and the sign is very important For almost all processes (a possible exception is processes that are unstable without feedback control)if increasing the manipulated variable increases the measured output, K. must be positive; if it decreases the measured output (as in this example) K, must be negative. A2Alternative Feedback Control Law: F = Frome + Kelerrer) 7 where error = (Tassisea ~ Treasured) Classification of Variables vpapaanse ll cers PROCESS — Inputs - variables through which surroundings affect the process e.g. F(flowrate), Qz(coolant flow rate), T = subdivided into: manipulated inputs « disturbances outputs - measured « controlled variables state Variables - variables that completely specify current state of system. Feedforward a ow vs —— process = A