ENCH 450
PROCESS CONTROL
Course Content
The course provides an introduction to automatic control applied to the process industries.
The motivation for process control will be covered. A block diagram representation of
dynamic systems will be reviewed. Process control hardware will also be introduced to the
students. Students will be introduced to the Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller (PID),
still the most common form of process controller in use today. They will learn how to find
the best tuning parameters for PID controllers by theoretical and empirical techniques along
with practical modifications to account for real world situations. They will also learn when
and how to use cascade and feed forward control for the more dynamically difficult processes.
The control of common loops and unit operations will be discussed. The course will be taught
both via a real-time approach involving the hands on use of dynamic simulation and building
on classical process dynamics knowledge developed in earlier years.
Relation to Other Courses
Students should have completed ENCH 350 Process Systems Engineering, as understanding
process control relies heavily on the Process Dynamics section of that course. ENCH 451
Advanced Process Control (if offered) can only be taken by students who have successfully
completed ENCH 450.
Course Requirements:
Lectures as follows:
10.00 am Tuesday: E14
10.00 am Friday:
E14
Workshops/Tutorials as required held in the CAPE Computer Lab.
The workshops are tackled in groups of 2 with only one report required per group.
Laboratory classes:
One afternoon in the week of 10 May - 14 May (subject to change). The laboratory class is
tackled in groups of 4 with only one report required per group.
Workload
Workshop Reports and Assignments, Laboratory Report and Mid-year Examination.
Assessment
Workshop Assignments
25%
Due Date
Mar. 19
May 11
May 28
due according to the schedule below:
Workshop
3: Process capacity and dead-time (5%)
4: Feedback control (10%)
6: Advanced topics (10%)
Document1 08 Feb. 16
LCO ENCH 450
Initial collaboration outside your group on assignments is fine,
but direct copying is not acceptable and will lead to zero credit
on the whole assignment for all parties involved.
Laboratory Report
Classical Control Assignment
Mid-year examination
10%
10%
55%
2 weeks after the laboratory class.
(Due 30/4)
TBA
Materials
Textbook
Marlin, T. E.; Process Control, 2nd Ed. McGraw-Hill, 2000
I strongly recommend you purchase this book both for use in this class and as future reference
source when out in industry.
Additional Reading
Svrcek, W.Y., D.P. Mahoney & B.R. Young; A Real-time Approach to Process Control,
John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, UK, 2000. This was the textbook used in 2005 for the
course and is the source of the workshop assignments.
Ogunnaike & Ray; Process Dynamics, Modelling and Control,
This was also a previous textbook for the course
Åström and Hägglund.PID controllers 1995.
Very good information on this very common type of industrial controller.
Lecturers
Dr Chris Williamson (Course Coordinator/Lecturer), Room D460, S R Siemon Bldg
Telephone: 364-2865
e-mail: Chris.Williamson@canterbury.ac.nz
My webpage http://www.cape.canterbury.ac.nz/people/williamson_chris.shtml
Course webpage http://www.cape.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/Ench450/index.html
Topics (subject to change)
Introduction to process control
Basic Feedback Control Concepts
Empirical tuning
Process Control Modes
On-off control
Proportional, Integral, Derivative
Controller implementation
Loop components
Transducers, sensors,
Valve selection and sizing
Closed loop transfer function
Analytical design
Limits of analytical design
Tank temperature example
Complex control
Cascade, ratio and Feedforward
control
Control of process variables
Stability
Control of unit operations
ENCH 450
Concerns about the Course
Dr. Williamson or the HOD should be approached for discussion on any aspect of the course.
General Policies of the Department
Students may obtain the general policies of the University on matters such as the aegrotat
applications, appeals procedures, reconsideration of grades and special provision for students
with disabilities from the University Calendar. The Departmental assessment details,
Departmental Safety Handbook, Electrical Safety Supplement and Disposal of Chemical
Wastes Policy are distributed to the students at the beginning of the new year.
ENCH 450