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2.37 Tuning Interacting Loops, Synchronizing Loops: M. Ruel
2.37 Tuning Interacting Loops, Synchronizing Loops: M. Ruel
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are being mixed. The expensive process fluid is controlled speeds that differ by a factor of three to five. If speeds are
by FC1 at a flow rate of 100 GPM. The second flow controller closer than 3:1, loops may one day start to oscillate. In case
(FC2) adds water to dilute the process fluid by maintaining of loops that are highly interactive, a speed ratio of up to
the total flow between 200 and 400 GPM. 10:1 may be required to fully decouple them.
All three of these loops have the potential to be fast. A For the control system described in Figure 2.37a, this
response time of less than 30 seconds is attainable on all three means that the response time of the pressure loop will deter-
loops, but which loop should be the fastest? What is the logic mine the response time of flow loop #1, and the response
behind this decision and why should one be faster than the time of flow loop #1 will determine the response time of flow
others in the first place? loop #2. In tuning interacting loops, one would do that by
The reason why the speeds should be different is because placing the downstream loop in manual while tuning the
if they are not, the loops can oscillate whenever an upset upstream loop; once the upstream loop’s speed of response
occurs because the correction generated by one loop upsets is determined, use a multiple of that to set the downstream
the others and this generates cycling. As to which loop should controller.
be the fastest, one should evaluate the process to determine So, for the control system in Figure 2.37a, one would
which controlled variable needs to be constant in order for place FC1 and FC2 in manual, while aggressively tuning
the other loop(s) to operate properly. the pressure controller to provide a high speed of response.
In Figure 2.37a, by observing the process we would The response time of the pressure control loop will determine
conclude that in order for the flow loop (FC1) to function the system response time. Once the PC is tuned, one would
properly, the upstream pressure to its control valve has to be place the pressure loop in automatic so that to the rest of the
constant. Because that upstream pressure has to be constant control system, it would seem as if it were part of the process.
regardless what the flow is, therefore, the pressure loop must Flow controller FC1 is tuned next, while FC2 is still in
be faster than flow loop #1. manual. FC1 must be tuned for a response time that is at least
If this was not the case, if the pressure loop and the #1 three times slower than that of the pressure loop response time.
flow loop were tuned to have the same speed of response, For ideal separation it should be 5 to 10 times slower. Once
they may work for a while, but eventually, when a disturbance FC1 is tuned, both the PC and FC1 are left in automatic, while
occurs, it will cause the two loops to oscillate. For example FC2 is being tuned. Again, FC2 should be tuned for a response
the following sequence of events could cause oscillation in time which is at least 3 times (ideally 5 to 10 times) slower
this control configuration: than flow loop FC1.
Therefore, one can sum up the tuning of the three inter-
1. Another user valve is suddenly closed and this distur- acting loops into the following three steps:
bance causes the line pressure to increase.
2. If the pressure control loop is not faster than the flow Step 1. Tune PC for quick response, while other loops
loop, the flow through FC1 will increase. are in manual mode. For the purposes of an example,
3. To correct for the flow increase, FC1 will close down assume that the settling time of this fastest loop turns
its valve, which in turn will cause the pressure to rise. out to be 30 seconds (Figure 2.37b).
4. Eventually the pressure loop will slow down the pump, Step 2. Tune FC1 for moderate response, while PC
which will cause the flow to decrease. remains in automatic and FC2 in manual mode.
5. As the flow drops, FC1 will open its valve to compen- Tune FC1 for a settling time of at least three times
sate, which will cause the pressure to decrease. that of the PC, or at least 90 seconds (Figure 2.37c).
6. In response to the drop in pressure, the PC will speed Step 3. Tune FC2 for a slow response while PC and
up the pump, causing the flow to increase again. FC1 both remain in the automatic mode. The settling
time of FC2 should be at least three times that of
In this configuration, if PC is not faster than FC1, steps 3, 4, the FC1, or at least 270 seconds (Figure 2.37d) .
5, and 6 will repeat continuously and the two loops will
oscillate and potentially resonate.
30 s
Likewise, since FC1 controls the process fluid feed to the
Process variable
50
flow loop controlled by FC2, flow loop 1 must be faster than
2. If this is not the case, a disturbance in flow 1 could cause
both flow controllers to react, and oscillation would result.
42
Tuning to Eliminate the Interaction
40 80 120 160 200 240 280
When loops interact, it is necessary to make sure that their
response speeds are not the same and not even similar FIG. 2.37b
because speeds that differ but are close also have the potential After the fastest loop is tuned, measuring its response time (settling
to oscillate. To be on the safe side, one should select response time), which in this case is 30 seconds.
90 s TABLE 2.37e
Process variable
Fast
42
Slow
Steps Loop1 Loop2 Loop3 ... Loopn
40 80 120 160 200 240 280
50
10"
42
LC LT
40 80 120 160 200 240 280
FIG. 2.37f
FIG. 2.37d In order to keep the ratio of ingredients constant during load
Tuning the least fast loop for a response time (settling time), which changes, the loops have to be synchronized (their speed of response
is three times that of the less fast loop or in this case is 270 seconds. has to be the same).
2 Slowest Astrom, K. J., PID Controllers: Theory, Design, and Tuning, 2nd ed.,
Research Triangle Park, NC: Instrument Society of America, 1995.
3 Tune at Corripio, A. B., Tuning of Industrial Control Systems, Research Triangle
maximum
speed Park, NC: Instrument Society of America, 1990.
Gerry, J. P., “Tune Loops for Load Upsets vs. Setpoint Changes,” Control
4 Tune at same speed Magazine, September 1991.
Levine, W., The Control Handbook, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1996.
5 Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic Lipták, B. G. (Ed.), Instrument Engineers’ Handbook: Process Software and
Digital Networks, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2002.
McMillan, G. K., Tuning and Control Loop Performance, 3rd ed., Research
Triangle Park, NC: ISA, 1994.
2. From the responses of the loops, determine which is
Ruel, M., “Loop Optimization: Before You Tune,” Control Magazine, Vol.
slowest. 12, No. 3 (March 1999), pp. 63–67.
3. Tune the slowest loop for maximum speed of response Ruel, M., “Loop Optimization: Troubleshooting,” Control Magazine,
and measure the response time that results. Vol. 12, No. 4 (April 1999), pp. 64–69.
4. Adjust the tuning parameters of the other loops so that Ruel, M., “Loop Optimization: How to Tune a Loop,” Control Magazine,
Vol. 12, No. 5 (May 1999), pp. 83–86.
they will also have approximately the same response
Ruel, M., “Plantwide Control Loop Optimization,” Chapter 5.9 in B. G.
time. Lipták, Ed., Instrument Engineers’ Handbook, 3rd ed., Boca Raton,
FL: CRC Press, 2002.
When tuning loops that need to work in harmony, select tuning Shinskey, F. G, Process Control Systems, 4th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill,
parameters that give similar response times. If this is done using 1996.