EX40HC: PROCESS CONTROL (2018-2019)

Last modified: 22 May 2019 17:07

Course Overview

This course focuses on the fundamental principles of control theory and the practice of automatic process control. The basic concepts involved in process control are then introduced, including the elements of control systems, feedback/forward control, block diagrams, and transfer functions. The mathematical techniques required for the analysis of process control are covered, focussing on Laplace Transform analysis. Development to more general situations is made through the study of second order systems and the application of compensation including PID control. The control theory developed is applied to a range of chemical engineering problems using simulation tools.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	4
Term	First Term	Credit Points	10 credits (5 ECTS credits)
Campus	None.	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Panagiotis Kechagiopoulos

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of EG2002 Process Engineering (Passed) or EG2011 Process Engineering (Passed) or EG2580 Chemical Engineering Fundamentals (Passed)
Either EG3030 Heat, Mass & Momentum Transfer (Passed) or EX3030 Heat, Mass & Momentum Transfer (Passed)
Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Either Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering (Studied) or Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering (Studied)
Either EG3504 Process Modelling (Passed) or EX3504 Process Modelling (Passed)
EG3007 Engineering Analysis and Methods 1a (Passed)
Either EG3029 Chemical Thermodynamics (Passed) or EX3029 Chemical Thermodynamics (Passed)
Either EG3501 Chemical Reaction Engineering (Passed) or EX3501 Chemical Reaction Engineering (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

EG40HC Process Control (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

1. Need for process control.

2. Terminology in process control.

3. Elements of a control system.

4. Sensors and control valves

5. Dynamics of chemical processes. Unsteady and input/output models. Transfer functions. Laplace transform. Dynamics of first order processes. Dynamics of second order processes.

6. Feedback control. Proportional, integral and derivative control action.

7. Dynamics of controlled processes. Transfer function of controlled processes. Effect of P, I, D control actions on the dynamic response of controlled processes.

8. Stability of controlled processes. Tuning of controller parameters.

9. Cascade control.

10. Feedforward control.

11. Degrees of freedom of unit operations. Number and choice of controlled and manipulated variables.

Recommended textbook. George Stephanopoulos. Chemical Process Control. An introduction to Theory and Practice. Prentice Hall, 1984.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (80%), and continuous assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination paper (100%)

Formative Assessment

Solutions to tutorials are provided.

Feedback

Solutions to tutorials are provided. Students are expected to ask for feedback on their level of understanding at the weekly feedback/tutorial sessions.
Tutorial questions will be handed in each week.
Students requiring feedback on the exam should make appointments within this session to see the Course Coordinator.

Course Learning Outcomes