Instrumentation and process control

Measurement is a fundamental requisite to process control. Either the

control can be affected automatically, semi automatically or manually. The quality
of control obtainable also bears a relationship to accuracy, re product ability and
reliability of measurement methods, which are employed. There fore , selection
of the most affect means of measurements is an important first step in design
and formulation of any process control system.

Temperature measurement and control

Temperature measurement is used to control the temperature of outlet
and inlet streams in heat exchangers, reactors, etc.
Most temperature measurements in the industry are made by means of
thermocouple to facilitate bringing the measurements to centralized location. For
local measurements at the equipment bimetallic or filled system thermometers
are used to a lesser extent. usually, for high measurement accuracy, resistance
thermometers are used.
all these measurements are installed with thermo wells when used locally. This
provides protection against atmosphere and other physical elements.

Pressure measurement and control

Like temperature pressure is a value able indication of material state
and composition.
In fact, these two measurements considered together are the primary evaluating
devices of industrial materials.
Pumps, compressers and other process equipment associated with pressure
changes in the process material are furnished with pressure measuring devices.
Thus pressure measurement becomes an indication of an energy decrease or
increase.
Most pressure in industry are elastic element devices, either directly connected
for local use or transmission type to centralized location. Most extensively used
industrial pressure is the Bourderi Tube or a Diaphram or Bellow gauges.

Flow measurement and control

Flow indicator are used to control the amount of liquid. Also all manually
set streams require some flow indication or some easy means for occasional
sample measurement.
For accounting purposes, feed and product streams or metered. In addition
utilities to individual and grouped equipment are also metered.
Most flow measures in the industry are/ by Variable Head devices. To a lesser
extent variable area is used as are many types available as special metering
situation arise.

Control scheme of distiallation column

General consideration
Objectives
In distillation column any of following may be the goals to achieve.
1. Overhead composition
2. bottom composition
3. Constant over head product rate.
4. Constant bottom product rate.
Manipulated variables
Any one or any combination of following may be the manipulated
variables.
1. Steam flow rate to reboiler
2. reflux rate.
3. Overhead product with drawn rate.
4. Bottom product withdrawn rate.
5. Water flow rate to condenser.
Loads or disturbances
Following are typical disturbances.
1. Flow rate of feed.
2. Composition of feed.
3. Temperature of feed.
4. Pressure drop of steam across reboiler.
5. Inlet temperature of water for condenser.
Control scheme
Overall product rate is fixed and any change in feed must be absorbed
by changing bottom product rate. The change in product rate is accomplished by
direct level control of reboiler if the stream rate is fixed feed rate increases then
vapour rate is approximately is constant and the internal reflux flow must
increase.
Advantage
Since and increase in feed rate increases reflux rate with vapour rate
being approximately constant, then purity of top product increases.
Disadvantage
The overhead change depends on dynamics of level control system
that adjusts it.