COMPUTER AIDED PROCESS CONTROL

Course objectives

The course introduces advanced digital control strategies in process industry. Typical chemical engineering concepts are recalled, such as instrumental technical drawing and details on chemical units. This part of the course includes exercises. In addition, typical elements of controlled systems, such as measuring elements and control valves, will be introduced. Successively, the controller was introduced, starting from the basic one (feedback controller) up to more advanced ones. At the same time, the concepts of digital control, applied in different operations, will be presented. Finally, the control will be discussed not only with insight to its basic function of monitoring elements of production processes, but as an element capable of achieving technical, technical-economic and safety optimization. At the end of the course, the student should acquire a basic knowledge of P&I and of typical chemical units characterizing the framework of process engineering; moreover, the ability of a correct application of measuring elements and controls to ensure best operation should result as established.

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MARCO STOLLER Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Introduction to the course, control systems, block schemes and understanding the P&I Measurement devices and Regulation valves Introduction to analogue feedback controllers, Laplace transform, open loop and closed loop feedback control schemes Brief description of process units and their control Going from analogue to digital controllers: Z-transform and digital feedback controllers Quality and stability of control loops, coupling and digital decouplers Digital feedforward controllers and digital feedback-feedforward controllers Digital inferential, adaptive, predictive and neural controllers Digital multivariable controllers Safety devices in controlled processes Distributed control systems Use of simulation software for controller tuning purposes (freeware) Exercises on the written part of the exam
Prerequisites
None
Books
Process Control, Designing Processes and Control Systems for Dynamic Performance, 2nd Edition by Thomas Marlin
Frequency
In presence
Exam mode
The written exam will last 100 minutes and will cover the topics of drawing a P&I and optionally perform some design calculations. At the same day, after 30 min from the end of the written exam, or in a different day depending on the number of candidates, oral exams will start according to the order of booking of admitted candidates (not by alphabetical order). The test consists of three questions, which focus on knowledge and problem solving. The students should send by e-mail the solved exercise on controller tuning as reported on e-learning (course acronym: CAPC), at least 2 days before sitting the written exam. The exercise can be solved in group with other colleagues (max 3 people) or alone.
  • Lesson code10592819
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseChemical Engineering
  • CurriculumChemical Engineering for innovative processes and products - in lingua inglese
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDING-IND/25
  • CFU9
  • Subject areaIngegneria chimica