INTERACTING AND NONINTERACTING PROCESSES

Many processes consist of individual units that are connected

in various configurations that include series and parallel
structures, as well the recycle of material or energy.

It is convenient to classify process configurations as being

either interacting or noninteracting. The distinguishing
feature of a noninteracting process is that changes in a
downstream unit have no effect on upstream units.

By contrast, for an interacting process, downstream units

affect upstream units, and vice versa.
For example, suppose that the exit stream from a chemical
reactor serves as the feed to a distillation column used to separate
product from unreacted feed. Changes in the reactor affect
column operation but not vice versa-a noninteracting process.

But suppose that the distillate stream from the column contains
largely unreacted feed; then, it could be beneficial to increase the
reactor yield by recycling the distillate to the reactor where it
would be added to the fresh feed. Now, changes in the column
affect the reactor, and vice versa-an interacting process.
The system of two liquid
surge tanks in series
shown in figure is an
example for a system
that does not exhibit
interaction.

The two storage tanks were

connected in series in such a
way that liquid level in the
second tank did not influence
the level in the first tank.
Each tank level has first-order dynamics with respect to its
inlet flow rate. Tank 2 level h2 is related to qi by a second-
order transfer function that can be obtained by simple
multiplication:

Generalization:
 Interacting System

Two tanks in series whose liquid levels interact.

This process is called an interacting system because

h1 depends on h2 (and vice versa) as a result of the
interconnecting stream with flow rate q1.
Therefore, the equation for flow from Tank 1 to Tank 2 must
be written to reflect that physical feature:

For the Tank 1 level transfer function, a much more

complicated expression:
ζ > 1 by analyzing the denominator of; hence, the transfer
function is overdamped and second-order, and has a negative
zero at -1/τa , where τa = R1R2A2/(R1 + R2).
The transfer function relating h1 and h2,

is of the form K2/(τas + 1).

Consequently, the overall transfer function between H’2 and Q’i is: