Chiviya Fariku - Week 5 Homework

Control strategies for interactive and coupled systems

+ Distillation (rates, component, feed tray selection, upset mitigation) Distillation rates are
controlled using flow controllers which measure the rate of flow for reflux and the feed and
determine the flow rates of the distillate and the reflux. Level controllers are used to ensure the
level in the reboiler and column are according to the set point. Column pressure controllers also help
in the control of the rates including cooling water rates. These controllers can be used in a cascade
control or feed forward which adjusts the rates based on the composition of the products. For that a
composition analyser might be used. The bottom flow rate is also controlled to maintain a material
balance.
+ Boiler Controls (firing controls cross limiting) Cross limiting controls for boilers make
use of different control loops for air and fuel as well as separate fuel and air control devices,
measurement and controllers. The two control loops get a firing rate signal from the master
controller which is the PID control for steam pressure. This signal becomes the set point for noth the
air and fuel loops. However in cross limiting the the fuel flow is limited by air flow if the air flow is
lower than the firing rate and if the fuel flow is higher than the firing rate the air flow ramps up to
match the fuel flow.
Drum level Control Drum level control can use feed forward and cascade control, In a cascade
control set up the level controller sends a signal to a flow control loop after getting a signal from a
measurement of steam flow which becomes its set point and hereby controls the amount of feed
water into the drum.
Emissions Controlling emissions involve setting limits for emissions of specific compounds and
having processes that change the compounds to substances less harmful to the environment. This
could include scrubbing the gasses, condensing them, absorbing, adsorbing and bio-degradation.
Some of this processes use chemicals that need to be put in certain proportions with catalysts to be
effective so a feedback system that measures the emissions and controls that rate at which the
emission mitigation/control strategy is implemented is needed.

Discussion on advanced controls

+ Multivariable Control / NOT-State-Space Control Multivariable control is a type of control

system with several control loops that control more than one variable.
+ Smith (Linear) Predictor Is used in controlling systems with time delay and acts as a dead
time compensator. It is an inner loop introduced to a typical PID Loop. The inner loop takes a
measurement before the dead time and predicts the output which is sent to the main controller to
generate a control signal.
+ Dead-Time compensation (Static and Variable Dead-Time) Dead time compensation is
the reduction of time between measurements and responses of a control system which can affect
the efficacy of the control strategy. Static dead time is a fixed time between measurements while
variable dead time changes.

+ Model-Based Control / Kalman Filter Model based control make use of predictive
simulation of what the process should be like to get a desired output. However this method is with
some errors and as a result a kalman filter which is a model based on a Linear Quadratic function will
help sort out through the inevitable noise in measurement and compare measurements for a level of
accuracy before deciding on the one with less error.
+ Linear Programming is the optimization of variables with linear relationships. It is
typically minimizing or maximizing a variable and in the case of control systems it could be used to
minimize time between responses.
+ Fuzzy-Logic Fuzzy logic is a type of logic that does not use the logic of 1 for true and 0 for
false. Instead it uses a degree of truth or false in the sense that the controller varies the level of
control effort according to a set of parameters. Hence we can have a logic response of 0.25 or 0.66.
it is a graded logic response that is akin to a valve that is opens by a certain percentage based on
values of the parameter to be controlled.
+ Neural Networks Neural networks make use of pattern learning algorithm which when it
gets inputs goes to a database of previously recognized patterns and its responses and applies the
appropriate output based on the input. It should have a learning/practice mode which allows it to
learn inputs and the appropriate outputs and the regular mode where it gets the inputs and based
on what it has learned gives an appropriate response.

Statistics and SPC

+ Sampled systems versus continuous measurement Sampled systems take measurements

in terms of snapshots over a period of time while continuous measurement measures while the
process is ongoing and gives a trend of production or the process. Sampled systems are idea for
batch processes while continuous measurement is better for continuous processes.
+ Discrete manufacturing versus continuous Discrete manufacturing is the production of
distinct products often in batches while continuous manufacturing involves the production of fluids
which involve process manufacturing and a consistent control of the process and adjustment of the
process to ensure optimum production.