ADVANCED CONTROL STRATEGIES

A. OVERRIDE AND SELECTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM

In a process control, a situation may be encountered where two or more variables

must not exceed specified limits for reasons of economy, efficiency or safety (Svrcek,
Mahoney and Young, 2000). For most process control applications, the number of controlled
variables and manipulated variables are equal. However, if fewer manipulated variables than
controlled variables are available, it is impossible to eliminate offset in all the controller
variables. To address this situation, selection must be made for control purposes.

A selector is used in choosing the appropriate measurement from among a number of

available measurements. The two basic selector systems are high selector and the low
selector (Seborg, Edgar & Mellichamp, 2004). The high selector will select the highest value
from the multiple inputs and sends it as output. The low selector, on the other hand, will
select the lowest value from the inputs and sends it as output. From these basic building
blocks, other types of selectors, such as median value selector, can be built.

High Selector Low Selector

Median Value Selector

Applications:

 PROTECTION OF EQUIPMENT
o Surge protection: when Pin drops below a certain minimum value,
close the valve.
 o High temperature: when the temperature of the pump exceeds a certain
maximum temperature, close the valve.
o Excessive downstream pressure: when Po exceeds a certain maximum
pressure, close the valve.

Figure from Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process Control. John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.

In surge protection, when the Pressure in begins to drop, the output m will also
decrease. Since, there are selectors (low selectors) installed, the minimum value of m will be
selected and passed through as the manipulated variable. When the output m that manipulates
the valve decreases, the valve will eventually closes.
In high temperature and excessive downstream pressure, as the pump temperature or
outlet pressure begins to increase, the m2 and m3 will begin to decrease (because of the
Increase/Decrease action of their controllers). Again, the low selectors will select the lowest
value as output m, thus closing the valve.
When selectors are not installed in the system, the output m will be the accumulated
output from the controllers (m1+m2+m3=m), and this m will be much higher than the needed
m to close the valve. This will result in a damaged system.

 AUCTIONEERING
This is used to protect against the highest temperature sensed by one of many
temperature transmitters.
Figure from Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process Control. John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.
Temperature control in an oven uses auctioneering. The temperature transmitters will
detect the temperature from the oven and these temperatures will pass through a high selector
in order to select the highest value and that will be used as the measurement for controlling
the fuel to the oven.
 ARTIFICIAL MEASUREMENT

Some processes require certain operating constraints to be set and these are referred to
as artificial measurements.

Figure from Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process Control. John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.

In a distillation column, there are constraints or limitations set by the selectors. If the
feed flow is within the accepted operating feed, the signal will pass through the high selector
since it is higher that the set limit of 10%. It will also pass through the low selector since the
feed flow is lower the high limit of 90% and this will act as the set point for the steam flow
controller.
 REDUNDANT INSTRUMENTATION

Figure from Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process Control. John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.

In the example reactor above, there are two composition transmitters that are
analysers and a high selector. From the analysers, the composition will be “analyzed” and the
highest value will be passed through the high selector and will be utilized by the composition
controller to control the catalyst flow. The maximum value from the analysers will be used in
order to achieve the desired product composition or quality.

In summary, override and selective control system is usually implemented for safety
and optimization considerations. Override control system is a control system used to
maintain process variables within limits. Selective control system, on the other hand, is used
to maintain the more important of the two variables. It will select the more important for the
process and that will be utilized.

B. ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM

Process control problems inevitably require on-line tuning of the controller settings to
achieve a satisfactory degree of control (Seborg, Edgar & Mellichamp, 2004). If operating
conditions or environment changes occur frequently, adaptive control technology should be
considered. An adaptive control system is one in which the controller parameters are adjusted
automatically to compensate for the changing process conditions. This is the attempt to “re-
design” the controller while on-line by looking at its performance and changing its dynamics
in an automatic way.

The following are examples that needed an adaptive control system (Seborg, Edgar &
Mellichamp, 2004):

1. Changes in equipment characteristics (heat exchanger fouling, catalyst

deactivation.
2. Unusual operational status (failures, start-up, shutdown)
3. Large, frequent disturbances (feed composition, fuel quality)
4. Ambient variations (rain storms, daily cycles)
5. Changes in product specifications or product flow rates
6. Inherent non-linear behaviour (the dependence of chemical reaction rates on
temperature)

When changes in a process cannot be predicted or measured, adaptive control strategy

must be implemented. One controller is referred as self-tuning controllers. In self-tuning
controllers, the parameters in the process model are updated as new data are received. Then it
will be the basis for the calculation in the controller (Seborg, Edgar & Mellichamp, 2004).
Figure from Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process Control. John Wiley
& Sons, Ltd.

Adaptive control system has the following functions (Britannica, 2018):

1. Identification Function
This is concerned with determining the current performance of the process or
system. It is providing continuous information about the present state of the
system.
2. Decision Function
After the performance is determined, the next function is to decide how the
control mechanism should be adjusted to improve the performance of the
process. The decision may change one or more of the controlled process.
3. Modification Function
Implement the decision. Modification function is concerned with the physical
and mechanical change in the system. It involves changing the system
parameters or variables to drive the process towards a more optimal state.

Bibliography

Britannica, T. E. (2018). Control System. Retrieved from Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/technology/control-system#ref199542

Seborg, D. E., Edgar, T. F., & Mellichamp, D. A. (2004). Process Dynamics and Control.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Svrcek, W. Y., Mahoney, D. P., & Young, B. R. (2000). A Real-Time Approach to Process
Control. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
 The University of Mindanao
Matina, Davao City

ADVANCED CONTROL STRATEGIES:

Selective and Override Control System
Adaptive Control System

Submitted by:
Rei Marie G. Recede
Bs ChE – 4th

Submitted to:
Engr. Ramiro Emerson Amon.
Instructor

July 2018