SIGNAL FLOW

GRAPHS
Process Analysis and
Optimization

Engr. Danish Iqbal

Department of Chemical
Engineering
NFC IET, Multan
 ABOUT SIGNAL FLOW
GRAPHS (SFG)
A signal flow graph is a representation of linear algebraic
(and sometimes differential) equations in form of diagram
that consists of nodes that are connected by branches.
Similar to Network Modelling
Few important terminologies involved in SFGs are,
 Node
 Branch
 Source
 Sink
 Loop
 Mixed Node
CONVERSION OF LINEAR
ALGEBRAIC EQUATION TO SFG
CONVERSION OF SFG TO
ALGEBRAIC EQUATION
 PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Convert following sets of equation to signal flow graphs

X1 is source, and X4 is sink

X1 is source, and X4 is sink R1 and R2 both are source nodes

 PRACTICE PROBLEMS
(SOLUTION)
Convert following sets of equation to signal flow graphs

X1 is source, and X4 is sink

 PRACTICE PROBLEMS
(SOLUTION)
Convert following sets of equation to signal flow graphs

R1 and R2 both are source nodes

 APPLICATION OF SFG IN
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
A very prominent application of SFG in chemical engineering is in process control and dynamics, for
calculation of transfer function of a control block diagram.

R(s) C(s) R(s) C(s)

G(s)
G(s) c c
 DETERMINATION OF
TRANSFER FUNCTION
After conversion of block diagram of a control system to corresponding SFG,
transfer function for that system can be determined by applying Mason’s
Gain Formula on the SFG.

But first, few more important terms to keep in mind,

Path: Collection of branches linked together in same direction
Forward Path: The path that exists from the input node to the output node is
known as forward path.
Gain: Value of a branch in SFG
Forward Path Gain: the product of all branch gains of the forward path.
Loop Gain: the product of all branch gains of a loop.
MASON’S GAIN FORMULA
 DETERMINATION OF
TRANSFER FUNCTION
Example 1: Determine the transfer function for
following system,

R(s) G(s) C(s)

c c c c

H(s)
Pi = G(s)
Δ = 1 + G(s)H(s)
Δi = 1
Transfer Function becomes,
 DETERMINATION OF
TRANSFER FUNCTION
Example 2: Determine the transfer function for
following system,

No. of forward paths = 2

No. of individual loops = 5
Loop gains are - l1=bj , l2=gh , l3=cdh , l4=di and l5=f
No. of two non-touching loops = 2
DETERMINATION OF
TRANSFER FUNCTION