ChE Tulsa University

 
           

ChE 4113 Process Control
Required course for ChE program

Catalog Description:   Principles of the design of automatic control loops for the chemical processes including feed-forward, cascade, ratio and multivariable process control.  Design of computer control systems.  Emphasis on safety and P&ID diagrams.   Prerequisite:  ChE 3084 and ChE 3112.

Prerequisite: ChE 3084, ChE 3112.

Prerequisites by Topic:   mass/energy balances, reaction kinetics, differential equations

Recent Textbook:   Process Dynamics and Control, 2nd Edition, by Seborg, Edgar and Mellichamp, Published by John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

Other Required Materials:  None

Course Objectives:   By the end of the course the students should be able to demonstrate that they can:

  • specify equipment and draw P&IDs for feedback control systems with emphasis on safety and system stability;
  • tune PID controllers
  • implement feedback control techniques on physical systems;
  • specify equipment, draw P&IDs and implement on computer control systems automatic control loops that include feedforward, cascade, ratio, and multivariable process control; and
  • analyze processes for safety concerns and design solutions to potential problems. 

Major Topics Covered in the Course:   (1) hardware and tuning, (4) advanced control systems, (5) steady state vs. dynamic design, (6) safety and control systems

Class/Laboratory Schedule:  Lecture meets for two 75-minute sessions each week for 14 weeks.

Professional Component Contribution:  This course applies mathematics to mass/energy balances and control systems.  One design project is assigned in this course.

Relationship to Program Outcomes: 

  • Outcome a:  Problems in this course build on a background of mass/energy balances and differential equations.
  • Outcome b:   Several homework problems require analysis and interpretation of experimental data.
  • Outcome c:  Students designed a control system for either the AIChE design competition problem or a home swimming pool.
  • Outcome d:  The design project is done in teams. 
  • Outcome e:  Homework problems are designed to give the students experience in identifying engineering problems and formulating solutions to these problems.
  • Outcome f:  Class discussions frequently center on professional and ethical behavior in designing for safe chemical processes. 
  • Outcome g: In addition to the communication skills required to function on a team and successfully write an exam, two homework assignments required essays.
  • Outcome h: Students recognize the impact of their designs through analysis of both real and imagined incidents in the chemical industry.
  • Outcome i:  Students are reminded throughout the course that this is simply an introductory course and that there is more to learn in this field. 
  • Outcome j:   Current events relating to the course are introduced as appropriate.  For instance, in Spring 2006, students analyzed the April 2005 incident in Texas City. 
  • Outcome k:  Students are required to use computers to solve problems throughout the course.  Excel, MATLAB and Mathematica are required.