FUNDAMENTAL OF FEEDBACK

CONTROL

Block Diagram
and
Transfer function
Unit 1: Process Control Loop
Process control loop

Pressure
Flow
Level
Process Temperature
pH

dP cell
Capacitance I/P
Sensor Radar, Sonic
Magnetic
Resistance
IR/Laser

4-20 mA
Transmitter 1-5 Vdc

PID
Controller Fuzzy logic

4-20 mA
Transducer 3-15 psig

Control valve Linear

Equal percentage

© Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2009)

Unit 1: Process Control Loop
Process control loop
Pressure
Flow
Level
SP
Process Temperature
pH

SP
dP cell
Capacitance CONTROLLER
Sensor Radar, Sonic
Magnetic
Resistance
IR/Laser

Transmitter 4-20 mA CONTROL

1-5 Vdc
TRANSMITTER
Field/profibus
VALVE
Controller PID
Fuzzy logic

PROCESS
PV

4-20 mA
Transducer 3-15 psig

Control valve
Linear
Equal percentage *SP = set point PV
*PV = process value
© Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2009)
Unit 1: Process Control Loop
Process control loop: The Block Diagram

CONTROLLER Simulation mode SP

CONTROL

PROCESS
VALVE
CONTROLLER
SP PV

CONTROL
TRANSMITTER
VALVE

TRANSMITTER PROCESS

PV

© Abdul Aziz Ishak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia (2009)

Block Diagram and Signal Flow

• Rectangular block diagram-represents the cause-and-effect

relationship between the input and output of a physical
system.
• Control element-represents any of the system component
such as controller, process, sensor, transmitter, transducer,
control valve, metering pump, solenoid valve, etc.
• Arrow-represents the direction of signal flow
•Example SP

Steam in
TC

TT
Fluid in Fluid out
Heat Exchanger
Ti T desired

Steam out
Signal operation
• Circle block diagram represents the signals operation. A
negative or positive sign is placed inside the circle to
represent deduction or addition of the respective signals.
Takeoff point
• Takeoff point is a point where the signal is diverted into
multiple flows which has similar values to various
operators or control elements.

SP

Steam in
TC

TT
Fluid out
Heat Exchanger
T desired
• Example 1
Draw a block diagram for the following equation:

Step 1
a. Identify control elements: a1 and a2
b. Identify signals: x1, x2 and 5

Step 2
Identify summing junction and arrows
Step 3
Draw and label complete block diagram.
• Assosiative and commutative properties:

y(s)=G1(s)G2(s)x(s)

y(s)=G1(s) x1(s)- G1(s) x2(s)

*More info in Principles and Practice of Automatic Process Control 3rd

edition pg 80
• Draw a block diagram for the following equation:
• Determine the equation that relating y(s)
and x(s)
• Feedback loop
• Example
Reduce the following block diagram to canonical form,
isolating block K in the forward loop. Then, calculate C/R.
Reduce the block diagram below to canonical form.