Description
This unit introduces students to the important principles, components and practices of instrumentation in the controlling of a process system, together with the terminology, techniques and components that are used in such a system.
Among the topics included in this unit are: instrumentation systems, instrumentation signal terminology, signal conversion and conditioning, process control systems, process controller terminology, system terminology and concepts, system tuning techniques and application of predicted values to a control system.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to explain why the measurement of system parameters is critical to a successful process control performance, describe when and how such measurements are carried out, and develop skills in applying predicted values in order to ensure stability within a control system for a range of input wave forms.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Identify the instrumentation systems and devices used in process control.
Instrumentation systems:
Sensors and transducers used in instrumentation including resistive, inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic, pressure, semiconductor, thermocouple and optical
Instrumentation signal terminology:
The importance of instrumentation signal terminology, including accuracy, error, drift, repeatability, reliability, linearity, sensitivity, resolution, range and hysteresis
Signal conversion and conditioning:
Conversion and conditioning of signals, including analogue, digital, optical, microprocessor, wireless and industry standard signal ranges
2. Investigate the industrial process control systems.
Process control systems:
The need for process control systems, including quality, safety, consistency, optimisation, efficiency, cost and environmental considerations
Process controller terminology:
Defining deviation, range, set point, process variables, gain, on-off control, two step control and three term control PID (proportional, integral and derivative)
3. Analyse the control concepts and technologies used within an industrial process.
System terminology and concepts:
Recognise system terminology and concepts, including distance velocity lags, capacity, resistance, static and dynamic gain, stability, feedback types, open and closed loop, feed forward control and control algorithms
System tuning techniques:
Investigate system tuning techniques, including Zeigler-Nichols, continuous cycling, reaction curves, decay methods and overshoot tuning
4. Apply predicted values to ensure stability within a control system.
Predicted values:
Apply predicted values to a control system using simulation to investigate system response accuracy, responses to a range of input signal types, stability of the system and possible improvements