Instrumentation and Control Systems

Introduction

Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies,

Basar
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

System
• arrangement of parts within some boundary which work together
to provide some form of output from a specified input or inputs

Output

System
Input
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

Electric motor
system
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Instrumentation/Measurement systems
• Input is the true value of the variable;
• Output is the measured value of the variable

• True value of variable (Input) = Measured value of variable (output)

Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

Example

• Pressure measurement
system

• Flow measurement
system
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Elements of Instrumentation System

Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

Sensing element
• It is in contact with the process and gives an output which depends in
some way on the variable to be measured.

• If there is more than one sensing element in a system, the element in

contact with the process is termed the primary sensing element, the
others secondary sensing elements
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

Signal conditioning element

• This takes the output of the sensing element and converts it into a
form more suitable for further processing, usually a d.c. voltage, d.c.
current or frequency signal.
• Examples:
• Amplifier which amplifies
millivolts to volts

• Deflection bridge which converts an impedance change into a voltage

change
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Signal processing element

• This takes the output of the conditioning element and converts it
into a form more suitable for presentation.
• Examples:
• Analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) which converts a voltage
into a digital form for input to a computer

• Computer which calculates the measured value of the variable

from the incoming digital data.
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Data presentation element

• This presents the measured value in a form which can be easily
recognised by the observer.
• Examples are:
• Simple pointer–scale indicator
• Chart recorder
• Alphanumeric display
• Visual display unit (VDU).
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Transducers
• Element that converts a change in some physical variable into
a related change in some other physical variable.
•
• It is generally used for an element that converts a change in
some physical variable into an electrical signal change.
• Thus sensors can be transducers.

• However, a measurement system may use transducers, in

addition to the sensor, in other parts of the system to convert
signals in one form to another form.
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Application of measurement system

1. Monitoring of processes and operations

2. Control of process and operations
3. Experimental engineering analysis
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Monitoring of processes and operations

• They simply indicate the value or condition of parameter and

do not serve any control function

• Example
• Engine temperature, fuel, speed indicators in bikes and cars
• Energy meter and water meter installed in homes
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Control of process and operations

• In order that process variables like temperature, pressure, humidity
may be controlled, the pre requisite is that they can be measured at
desired location in the individual plants.
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Experimental engineering analysis

• Measurements are required during following engineering analysis
– Testing the validity of theoretical prediction
– formulations of generalized empirical relationship
– determination of system parameters, variables and performance
indices.
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Control system
• collection of components working under the direction of some
machine intelligence.
• in most cases, electronic circuits provide the intelligence and
electromechanical components such as sensors and actuators
provide the interface to the physical world.
• Example.
– Rocket launching
– Automatic machining
– Washing machine
– Elevator
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Advantages of control system

• Greater accuracy of the product

• Reduced operating costs due to improved utilisation of plant
and materials and reduction in man power
• Greater safety for operating personnel
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what control systems can do?

• Control a variable to obtain the required value
– Refrigeration system
– Level in bottles filled in bottling plant
– A computer-numerical-control (CNC) machine tool
– Weights of biscuits Packets moving along a conveyor belt.
• Control the sequence of events
– Automated hydraulic press
– Automatic washing machine
• Control whether an event occurs or not.
– Door of automatic washing machine
– Door of elevator
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

• A control system can be thought of as a system which for some

particular input or inputs is used to control
– its output to some particular value (a)
– give a particular sequence of events (b)
– give an event if certain conditions are met. (c)
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar

Classification of Control System

(Depending on control action)

Open loop Closed loop

control system control system
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Open-loop control system

“A system in which the control action is totally independent of the
output of the system is called as open loop system”

Block Diagram of Open loop Control System

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Controller
This determines the action to be taken as a result of the input
of the required value signal to the system.
Correction element/Actuator
This has an input from the controller and gives an output of
some action designed to change the variable being controlled.
Process
This is the process of which a variable is being controlled.

There is no changing of the control action to account for any

disturbances which change the output variable.
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• In an open-loop control system, the controller

independently calculates exact voltage or current needed by
the actuator to do the job and sends it.

• The controller never actually knows if the actuator did what it

was supposed to because there is no feedback.

• This system absolutely depends on the controller knowing the

operating characteristics of the actuator.
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Examples
• Traffic light

• Toaster
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• Automatic washing machine

• Electric hand drier

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Closed-loop system
A system in which the control action is somehow
dependent on the output is called as closed loop system

Block Diagram of Closed loop Control System

Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar
• Comparison element
• This element compares the required value of the variable being controlled
with the measured value of what is being achieved and produces an error
signal:
error = required value signal - measured actual value signal
• Control law/ Controller
The control law element determines what action to take when an error
signal is received.
It may be
on-off control (Controller supplies a signal which switches on or off
when there is an error)
Proportional control (signal which is proportional to the size of the
error)
Integral control (control signal continues to increase as long as there
is an error)
Derivative control (control signal is proportional to the rate at which
the error is changing.)
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar
• Correction element
•it is often called, the final control element,
•produces a change in the process which aims to correct or change the
controlled condition.
•The term actuator is used for the element of a correction unit that
provides the power to carry out the control action.

• Process
•The process is the system in which there is a variable that is being
controlled, e.g. it might be a room in a house with the variable of its
temperature being controlled.

• Measurement element
•The measurement element produces a signal related to the variable
condition of the process that is being controlled.
• For example, it might be a temperature sensor with suitable signal
processing.
Instrumentation and Control Systems RGUKT Basar
Various paths through the system taken by signals:

Feedback path
Feedback is a means whereby a signal related to the actual condition
being achieved is fed back to modify the input signal to a process.
The feedback is said to be negative when the signal which is fed back
subtracts from the input value. It is negative feedback that is required
to control a system.
Positive feedback occurs when the signal fed back adds to the input
signal.

Forward path
The term forward path is used for the path from the error signal to the
output. In Figure these forward path elements are the control law
element, the correction element and the process element.
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Examples
• Automatic Electric Iron

• Perspiration
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(b) A simple open-loop position system

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(b) A simple closed-loop position system