HOMEWORK 2

Question 1.

A jacketed vessel is used to cool a process stream as shown in the Figure below. The
following information is available:
(i) The volume of liquid in the tank V and the volume of coolant in the jacket
VJ remain constant. Volumetric flow rates qF is constant but qJ varies with
time.
(ii) Heat losses from the jacketed vessel are negligible.
(iii) Both the tank contents and the jacket contents are well mixed and have
significant thermal capacitances.
(iv) The thermal capacitances of the tank wall and the jacket wall are
negligible.
(v) The overall heat transfer coefficient for transfer between the tank liquid
and the coolant varies with coolant flow rate:

U =K q0.8
J

Btu 2 ft 3
where :U [ ¿ ] ft ℉ ; q J [ ¿ ] ; K =constant
h h

Derive a dynamic model for this system (state any additional assumptions that you
make).

Question 2
In class, we developed the mathematical model of a liquid storage system:
 dh
A =q i−CV √ h
dt
g
where C V =C V
¿

√
gC
Solve this nonlinear differential equation for qi=0 numerically and plot h(t). Assume
¿ g
that A=2, C V =0.5, ρ=60, =1, and h(0)=10 and that units and parameters are
gC
consistent. Will the process reach a new steady state and if yes how long will it take
to reach it? Is the process stable or unstable?

Question 3

A process tank has two input streams- Stream 1 at mass flow rate w 1 and Stream 2
at mass flow rate w2. The tank’s effluent stream, at flow rate w, discharges through a
fixed valve to atmospheric pressure. Pressure drop across the valve is proportional
to the flow rate squared. The cross sectional area of the tank A is 5 m 2 and the mass
density is 940 kg/m3.
(a) Draw a schematic diagram of the process and write an appropriate dynamic
model for the tank level. What is the corresponding steady-state model?
(b) At initial steady-state conditions, with w1=2.0 kg/s and w2=1.2 kg/s, the tank
level is 2.25 m. What is the value of the valve constant (give units)?
(c) A process control engineer decides to use a feed forward controller to hold
the level approximately constant at the set point (hsp=2.25 m) by measuring
w1 and manipulating w2. What is the mathematical relation that will be used
in the controller?
(d) If something happens to our measuring device and the w1 measurement all of
a sudden is not very accurate and becomes 1.1 times the actual flow rate,
what can you conclude about the resulting level control? (Hint: consider the
process initially at the desired steady-state level and with the feedforward
controller turned on. Because the controller output is slightly in error,
w21.2, so the process will come to a new steady-state. What is it?) Plot the
h(t) that will result from this sudden mishap with the measuring device.

Question 4

The liquid storage tank shown in the figure below has two inlet streams with
mass flow rates w1 and w2 and an exit stream with flow rate w3. The cylindrical
tank is 2.5 m tall and 2 m in diameter. The liquid has a density of 800 kg/m 3.
Normal operating procedure is to fill the tank until the liquid level reaches a
nominal value of 1.75 m using constant flow rates: w1=120 kg/min, w2=100
kg/min and w3=200 kg/min. At that point, inlet flow rate w1 is adjusted so that
the level remains constant. However, on this particular day, corrosion of the tank
has opened up a hole in the wall at a height of 1 m, producing a leak whose
volumetric flow rate q4 (m3/min) can be approximated by
q 4=0.025 √h−1
where h is the height in meters.
(a) If the tank was initially empty, how long did it take for the liquid level to
reach the corrosion point?
(b) If mass flow rates w1, w2 and w3 are kept constant indefinitely, will the tank
eventually overflow? Justify your answer.

Question 5

Consider a blending tank that has the same dimensions and nominal flow rates
as the storage tank in Question 4 but that incorporates a valve on the outflow
line that is used to establish a flow rate w3=Cv√ h. (For this exercise there is no
leak in the tank as in Question 4). In addition, the nominal inlet stream mass
fractions of component A are x1=x2=0.5.

The process has been operating for a long time with constant flow rates and
their inlet concentrations. Under these conditions, it has come to steady state
with exit mass fraction x=0.5 and level h=1.75 m. Please answer the following
questions:
(a) what is the value of w3? What is the value of Cv?
(b) If w1 is changed from 120 kg/min to 100 kg/min without changing the inlet
concentrations, what will be the final value of the tank level? How long will it
take to come within 1% of this final value?

Question 6

The distillation column shown in the drawing is used to distill a binary mixture.
Symbols x,y and z denote mole fractions of the more volatile component, while B,
D,R and F represent molar flow rates. It is desired to control distillate
composition y despite disturbances in feed flow rate F. All flow rates can be
measured and manipulated with the exception of F, which can only be measured.
A composition analyzer provides measurements of y.
(a) Propose a feedback control method and sketch the schematic diagram.
(b) Suggest a feedback control method and sketch the schematic diagram

Question 7

Two flow control loops are shown in the drawing. Indicate whether each system
is either a feedback or a feedforward control system. Justify your answer. It can
be assumed that the distance between the flow transmitter and the control valve
is quite small in each system.
Question 9

Which of the following statements are true and which are false:
a) Feedback and feedforward control both require a measured variable.
b) The process variable to be controlled is measured in feedback control.
c) Feedforward control can be perfect in the theoretical sense that the
controller can take action via the manipulated variable even while the
controlled variable remains equal to a desired value.
d) Feedforward control can provide perfect control; that is, the output can be
kept at its desired value, even with an imperfect process model.
e) Feedback control will always take action regardless of the accuracy of any
process model that was used to design it and the source of the disturbance.
f) In Process Control we always have a direct measurement of the variables of
the process.
g) A Process Control engineer decides the shape and dimensions of the
equipment that will be used in the process.