Practical control and instrumentation (2024)

Course manager

Simon Craige

Semester schedule

Autumn (13-week period)

ECTS

Language of instruction

English

Course type

Compulsory

Qualifications

Competences corresponding to the participation in the following courses: Project 1, 2 and 3, Chemical engineering, and Chemical unit operations

Objectives

There is practically no production that is not monitored, controlled and regulated. The main objective of a control system is to secure optimal operation and provide constant and reliable product quality. The course provides basic proficiencies in the theory behind process control and automation systems, and the practical application of this knowledge. Experience will be gained in common control techniques and the application of simulation models to describe the dynamic response and behaviour of system.

Content

Presentation of relevant theory and selected basic knowledge in analogue and digital control systems (e.g. including binary digitisation and elementary electrical engineering)
The principles and design of common instrumentation components (e.g. thermometers, pressuregauges and control valves)Control techniques(On-Off, PWM, FF & FB, PID, and multi-stage control)
Evaluating system response to step changes and process disturbances.
Practical equipment control via automated controllers
An introduction to transfer functions, and their use in complex system control
Setting up control flow charts (block diagrams) and the simplification of complex systems
The use of computational based process simulation models
Introduction to more advanced control principles, such as statistical process control (SPC) and machine learning control (MLC)
Introduction to robotics

The purpose of the practical elements of the course will be to illustrate, explicate and entrench the theoretic principles through practical exercises comprising e.g. selected control techniques, data collection, processing and modelling.

Learning targets

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge

Understand the fundaments of common equipment used as process instrumentation
Understand and explain the principles of control flow-charts. Understand and explain the theory of selected control techniques (e.g. PID regulation)
Understand and explain the design and application of control circuits

Skills

Set up the necessary differential equations (e.g. FOPDT equations) in order to simulate the dynamics of the system
Apply a simulation tool in the prediction of a system's response when subject to change
Specify relevant control settings for a simple control system (PID)
Apply simple forms of control and adjustment in practice

Competences

Be able to determine whether a process is in control or not
Assess operational process and quality data in connection with analysis
Determine model selection in connection with data description
Explain trends and evaluate process systems on the basis of collected data

Teaching method

Lectures, problem solution, and case studies and exercises in practical application

Qualifications for examination participation

Participation in assignments and practical exercises and acceptance of mandatory papers in connection with these.

All course work shall be executed and submitted pursuant to guidelines set out by the course manager

Examination and aids

Written examination. Duration of the examination: 2 hours.

Permitted aids: Textbook, notes, laboratory reports and mathematical programs/spreadsheets supplied and applied specifically to the exam. No access to the internet.

Marking

Internal

Grading

The 7-point grading scale