Process Instrumentation 3 Tutorial 6: Control Strategies

1. Explain the main differences between feedforward and feedback control techniques.
2. Explain the concept of cascade control giving an example to aid your answer. Be sure
to clearly identify the primary and secondary variables.
3. A jacketed reactor is used to produce batches of chemical. Once a batch is produced
and is dumped from the reactor and the reactor is washed out. When the new batch is
loaded into the reactor, it is found that the temperature rapidly exceeds the setpoint
and then slowly returns to setpoint. Suggest why this happens and a possible solution.
4. Explain the concept of feedforward control using the example of the speed of a car
approaching a hill up which the driver has driven many times. Compare the
feedforward method of control clearly with the feedback method.
5. Explain why the combustion air system of a boiler could be described as consisting of
two tightly coupled loops. Explain also what problems this can lead to and suggest a
possible solution.
6. Chlorine and ammonia is added to drinking water. Sketch a diagram showing such a
process and the required instrumentation.
7. A large dam feeds a small storage dam 300km downstream. The level in the small
dam is to be controlled by valves in the large dam feeding the river. Why would
feedback control in this application be unsuitable? Suggest with the aid of a diagram
the solution to the problem.
8. Mention two advantages that cascade control has over single loop controller when
applied to temperature control of a water jacketed reactor vessel. Use a simple
diagram to aid in the answer.
9. A heat exchanger is fed from a large heated tank with an effective temperature
controller at a constant flow rate. Is feedforward control justified in this case?
Explain your answer.
10. A three element boiler drum level control is a good example of feed forward control.
Sketch a P&ID diagram of a three element drum level control system and then clearly
indicate the following:
feed forward part,
trim section and
closed loop control of the manipulated variable.