Donna Mae L.

Daniot
BS ChE 5
Tutorial No. 6: Selecting Controlled and Manipulating Variables
Brief Description:
Given that we already know the control objectives, in designing a feedback control system,
selection of controlled and manipulated variables as well as the sensors used in measuring these
controlled variables are necessities. Aside from these, knowing the possible disturbances that
might occur in our process is also important to design a control system having a good dynamic
performance.
This tutorial focuses on the selection of variables to be controlled in a certain system to
satisfy the seven control objectives. The system chosen was a CSTR. The selection was achieved
by tabulating the control objectives and completing the table by filling in the selected control and
manipulated variables, the sensor principle for the measurement and the possible disturbances
occurring in the CSTR. Valves and sensors were also added when necessary.
Engineers must be able to quickly determine whether feedback control is possible. For many
straightforward process systems, this determination can be made by qualitative analysis of the
process behavior. If we dont have sufficient insights, mathematical models and identification
experiments can be developed and perform, respectively. In this tutorial, the ability to use
modeling principles to predict the behavior of a process system was built. Also, it required the
application of qualitative reasoning to determine whether feedback control is possible.
Technical Generalization:
A feedback control is a management system that regularly examines the process it is in charge of
in order to make changes that will improve its output efficiency. It constantly monitors its effect
on the system it is controlling and modifies its output accordingly. A controlled variable is a
variable which we tried keep constant at a certain set point while a manipulated variable is an
independent variable that is changed to achieve a particular effect.