Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Instrumentation and Process Control

Module #1 – Level Measurements

NAME – VIVEK BISHT

ST ID - 991569717

Purpose:
Students will gain a familiarity with level systems and measure the water level in a tank
using different instruments.

Note: Make sure to download and install Virtual Labs software.

Procedure:
1. In the figure below, use the manual to identify the parts of the trainer.

1 Level cylinder with intake, outlet and overflow.

2 Level Sensor(pressure transducer)

3 Outlet cock(for setting disturbance)

4 Pump

5 Tank with Inspection glass

6 Control Valve

7 Filter/Pressure regular unit

 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD
8 Switch Cabinet with E-Stop.

2. Launch Virtual Lab software and move towards the Level station shown below.

3. The measure stick (black and white blocks) beside the glass level cylinder can be
used to manually measure the level of water in the cylinder. Each block measures 5
cm.
4. Switch on pump by pushing the Start button.
5. Turn on the Graph by pushing the Graph button.
6. Set SV to zero (default value) and Kp to 1 (default value) and wait until the liquid
level has reached a state of stability. Use the measuring stick to read the level
measurement and record it.
Ans 0
7. Gradually increase the set value by an increment of 10% (SV) to collect around 10
readings. Every time you need to start SV from zero.
Ans in each case time was constant for all the graphs.
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 75.6
Time constant =0.99

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 151.2
Time constant =0.99
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 226.8 Time constant =0.99

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 302.4 Time constant =0.99
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 378 Time constant =0.99

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 453.6 Time constant =0.99
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 529.2 Time constant =0.99

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 604.8
Time constant =0.99
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 680.4
Time constant =0.99

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 756 Time constant =0.99
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

8. Then for setpoint change from zero to 50%, get 7 more results by changing PID
parameters for the following parameters.
• Kp=10, Ti=0. Td=0

Time constant was 63% of final value

Looking at the graph at point 378 Time constant =0.09

• Kp=100, Ti=0,Td=0

The whole system become unstable

 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

• Kp=1, Ti=0.01, Td=0

Different time zone because of the fluctuation

• Kp=1, Ti=0.1, Td=0

System oscillating
No time constant
 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD
• Kp=1, Ti=1, Td=0

Time constant is not constant high rise and fall

• Kp=1, Ti=0, Td=1

System become unstable

• Kp=1, Ti=0, Td=0.1

 Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD

378
Time constant approximately =1

9. Turn off the trainer by pushing the Stop button and the Graph button.

10. Close the software by pressing ESC on your keyboard or the “X” on the upper right
corner.
11. Plot the water level measurements (output) available in the CSV file. You can find
the CSV file of the collected data in your computer in a path similar to this:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Virtual Labs\Virtual Labs Data\Report Level*. Note that the
new data will continue amending to the existing file until your stop it by pressing
the Graph button on the trainer or press F12 on your keyboard to start over a new
set of data (maximum of 100000 set).
12. Compare your manual readings to the actual readings.
ANSWER Actual values and manual readings are hardly ever the same. When
reading the values manually, the likelihood of error increases. Because manually
inspecting the machine's graph is difficult, differences between manual and actual
readings can be detected. The error  could be observe due to many reason in the
system like filling wrong data, filling the tank incorrectly, software problem and
could by human error.
13. Calculate the time constant, overshoot, undershoot of the flow system for each
16 graphs. The dt (time) for each count in the time axis is 0.02 sec.
TIME CONSTANT FOR ALL THE VALUE FROM 10% T0 100% SV IS 0.99.

14. Discuss the importance of time constant in system measurement.

When it comes to process modelling and PID controller tuning, the Process Time
Constant is essential. It denotes how quickly the measured Output Signal (PV)
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reacts to changes in the Controller Output (CO). It represents the amount of

time it will take the PV to achieve 63.2 percent of the total and ultimate
change.

15. Discuss the effect of changing the PID parameters.

Kp, Ki, and Kd are three parameters of a PID controller that can determine power
output. The PID controller can control the heading information so that it
follows a given direction. Explain the effect of increasing each of the three
parameters independently, on the differential driving robot performance.

As Kp rises, the system's rate rises as well. As a result, the Time constant

decreases.
If the Kp is adjusted to 100, the device becomes unsteady.

If Ti is set to a minimal value, oscillations can be noticed in the graph.

By raising the Ti value, these fluctuations can be eliminated.

16. Submit your findings in a formal lab report to your instructor.

17. Discuss the different sources of errors and the difference between actual
readings and the manual readings.

Instrumental, environmental, procedural, and human errors are all common

sources of error. Depending on where and how they effect the outcomes, all
of these faults might be random or systematic.
For examples elements like as viscous fluid flow,  that play a vital role in
readings, but these elements are lacking in this virtual play, and so errors may
occur. Sometimes, water supply to the appliances becomes loose, resulting in
a leak. Some environmental error could be observed when pipe and hoses
expand in summer due to increase in temperature. While a human errors
comes as a result from filling wrong data in excel, taking wrong reading ,or
when operator not following the procedure in a appropriate way.

18. *You should have full control of your folders. Please check the image below for
directions. You only need to do this once.
Daryoush Mortazavi, PhD