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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

INSTRUMENTATION AND PROCESS CONTROL

1. A control system has the transfer function as given below:

Y ( s )  1s  

X ( s)  2 s  

 1  5 , the maximum value of y(t) is

A unit step change is applied to the system. If 2
a. 0 b. 5 c. 1 d. 4

2. What will be the minimum value of k such that a closed loop system having the
following characteristic equation is stable?
s3+ks2+(k+1)s+4=0
1 2 1 5
a. b.
2 2
1 2 1 5
c. d.
5 3

3. The thermometer follows first order dynamics with a time constant of 0.2 min. It is
placed in a temperature bath at 100C and is allowed to reach steady state, it is
suddenly transferred to another bath at 150C at time t=0 and is left there for 0.2
min, it is immediately returned to the original bath at 100C. What will be is reading
at t=0.1 min.

a. y(t) = 100(1-e-0.1/0.2) b. y(t) = 50(1-e-0.1/0.2)

c. y(t) = 75(1-e-0.1/0.2) d. y(t) = 50(1-e-0.2/0.1)
Problems 4 & 5 are based on the illustration below:
Us
+ +
R(s) 3 1 C(s)
24
Kc S 1
+ - S 1

4. Maximum gain for stable operation will be

a. 64 b. 62 c. 60 d. 63

5. The corresponding frequency of oscillation will be

a. 2 b. 3 c. 2 d. 5

6. The transfer function of a process, a measuring element and a control valve is given
respectively:
2 1.5 1
Gp  ; Gv  ; Gm 
2s  1 3s  1 5s  1

A proportional controller with gain of kc = 1.

What is the steady state error in the output for a unit step in the set point?
a. 20% b. 25% c. 30% d. 35%

7. A mercury thermometer having a time constant of 0.1 min is placed in a temperature

bath at 100F and allowed to come to equilibrium with the bath. At time t=0, the
temperature of the bath begins to vary sinusoidaly about its average temperature
100F with an amplitude of 20F. If the frequency of oscillation is 10/ cycles/min,
plot the ultimate response of thermometer reading as a function of time, what is the
phase lag?
a. 63.5 b. 66.7 c. 65.3 d. 66.3

Problems 8 to 10 are based on the following information:

A thermometer having a time constant of 0.2 min is placed in a temperature bath,

and after the thermometer comes to equilibrium with the bath, the temperature of the
bath is increased, linearly with time at a rate of i/min. What is the difference between
the indicated temperature and the bath temperature.

8. 0.1min,
a. -0.0787C b. -0.0877C c. -0.0878C d. -0.0967C

9. 1.0 min after the change in temperature begins.

a. -0.1986C b. -0.02000C c. -0.1896C d. -0.2010C

10. What is the maximum deviation between indicated temperature and bath
temperature and when does it occur.
a. 0 b.  c. 100 d. 1000
Problems 11 & 12 are based on the following information and illustration:

A tank having a cross-sectional area of 2 ft2 is operating at steady state with an inlet
flow rate of 2.0 cfm. The flow-head characteristics are shown in the figure.

2.1

20ft /min
3

2.0
0.3 1.0

11. What will be the transfer function H(s)/Q(s).

1 1 2 1
a. b. c. d.
s 1 2( s  1) s 1 s  2)

12. If the flow to the tank increases from 2.0 to 2.2 cfm according to a step change,
what is the level h 2 min after the change occurs?
a. 0.886 ft b. 0.896 ft. c. 0.868 ft d. 0.869ft

13. The liquid-level process shown in the figure is operating at steady-state when the
following disturbance occurs: at time t=0, 1 ft3 water is added suddenly (unit
impulse) to the tank; at t=1, 2 ft3 of water is added suddenly to the tank. What will be
the level at t=0.5, 1 and 1.5?

10 cfm Disturbance

---------------
- - - - -- - - - - - - - - -
---------------
---------------
-  = 1min
h

X
R=0.5

a. 0.303 ft b. 0.309 ft c. 0.301 ft d. 0.302 ft

14. A thermometer of time constant 10 seconds initially at 30C is suddenly immersed

into water at 100C. How long will it take for the thermometer reading to reach
90C?
a. 19.5 sec b. 10.5 sec c. 15.9 sec d. 25 sec
Problems 15 & 16 are based on the following information:

A pneumatic proportional controller is used to control the temperature within the range
of 60°F to 100°F. The controller is adjusted so that the output pressure goes from 3 psi,
with the valve fully open, to 15 psi with the valve fully closed, as the measured
temperature goes from 71°F to 75°F with the set point held constant.

15. The gain of the control element in psi per °F is

a. 6 b. 3 c. 1/3 d. 10

16. The proportional band of the above controller is

a. 20% b. 15% c. 10% d. 40%

17. A thermometer with a time constant of 0.2 min is placed in a temperature bath, and
after the thermometer comes to equilibrium with the bath, the temperature of the
bath increased linearly with time at a rate of 1°/min. The difference between the
indicated temperature and the bath temperature after 1.0 min is
a. 0.075° b. 1.0° c. 0.20° d. 0.5°