Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Higher Education

King Abdulaziz University
Faculty of Engineering (Rabigh) ‫كلية الهندسة برابغ‬
Department of Chemical and
‫قسم الهندسه الكيميائية وهندسة المواد‬
Materials Engineering

Process Control CHEN 341

Tutorial # 6
𝐻(𝑠)
1. Derive the transfer function 𝑄(𝑠) for the liquid-level system of Fig. 1 when:

a. The tank level operates about the steady-state value of hs = 1 ft

b. The tank level operates about the steady-state value of hs = 3 ft

The pump removes water at a constant rate of 10 cfm; this rate is independent of head. The cross
sectional area of the tank is 1.0 ft2, and the resistance R is 0.5 ft/cfm.

Fig. 1

2. A liquid-level system, such as the one shown in Fig. 1, has a cross-sectional area of 3.0 ft2.
The valve characteristics are q = 8√h.

where q = flow rate, cfm, and h = level above the valve, ft. Calculate the time constant for this
system if the average operating level above the valve is:

(a) 3 ft
(b) 9 ft

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3. 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 Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
4. The liquid-level process shown in Fig. 3 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 min, 2 ft3 of water is added suddenly to the tank. Sketch the response of the level in the
tank versus time, and determine the level at t = 0.5, 1, and 1.5 min.

Fig. 3
𝐻(𝑠)
5. Derive the transfer function for the liquid-level system shown in Fig. 4. The resistances
𝑄(𝑠)
are linear; H and Q are deviation variables. Show clearly how you derived the transfer
function.

Fig. 4

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