Control Talk Blog
Auto Tuners and Adaptive Control Perspective Tips
Automating any process can yield big improvements by eliminating human error and adding repeatability and predictability. The benefits are greatest when the best technology and practices are automated, the novice is protected against mistakes, and the specialist is enabled to capitalize on creativity and expertise.
Process Control Improvement Recommendations Tips
Here we look at how to make sure the measurement system is able to provide the analysis, metrics, and control needed for process control improvement. Also outlined is the opportunity sizing and assessment process, the use of statistical tools, the tracking down of the source of variability, and the finding...
Process Control Improvement Perspective Tips
The benefits from process control improvement originate from increases in process efficiency, flexibility, and capacity. Often, there is a tradeoff where an increase in flexibility or capacity is accompanied by a decrease in efficiency. Better measurements, process knowledge, online metrics, and an enhanced PID can provide a more intelligent and effective...
Compressor Surge and Stall Detection and Prevention Tips
A compressor going into stall is like jumping off a cliff with a bungee cord. If the bungee cord has no losses to dampen the oscillation, we have something akin to surge. A 0.5% drop in efficiency can occur for each surge cycle.
Startup, Career, and Mentor Humor Tips
How do you know when a startup has gone wrong, it is time to retire, your mentor is an endangered species and your mentor's book will become a college text? These and other questions you have not asked will be answered.
Advanced Regulatory Control Recommendations Tips
The power of the PID largely remains underutilized. Most of the options and parameters other than scale ranges and tuning settings remain at their defaults. Here we look how to tap into the incredible capability of the PID to minimize batch cycle time and start-up time and to maximize production...
Advanced Regulatory Control Perspective Tips
Advanced regulatory control seeks to incorporate knowledge of process dynamics, disturbances, constraints, and objectives to increase process efficiency and capacity. The PID power and flexibility enables an incredible spectrum of creative opportunities to achieve these goals.
Cascade Control Recommendation Tips
Given that cascade control loops are everywhere without much consideration as to dynamic requirements, what can we do to make the implementation effective? Here are some specifics by the way of detailed recommendations on the sequence, speed, and setup for tuning PID and digital valve controllers.
Cascade Control Perspective Tips
Did you know all loops today use cascade control? Do you understand how cascade control can correct for lower loop disturbances before they affect the upper loop and can make the upper loop faster? Do you know what to do to keep the system from oscillating if the lower loop...
Interactions Recommendations Tips
How do you know when interaction is going to be a problem? Why would the control loop design need to be changed? Are there hidden loops? What can you do with tuning to mitigate the problem? When do you need to move on to Model Predictive Control? Hopefully, this blog...
