Pressestimmen
?I owe my career to a process control book. In 1978 I joined a process control group at a UK petrochemicals site. It was a great job, but I had a distinct lack of process control knowledge. I needed to learn advanced process control (APC) fast. Luckily, a colleague suggested Process Control Systems by Greg Shinskey. I read it cover to cover and, as a result, I approached my first underperforming temperature controller knowing what to do.
Myke King's book is such a book for a new hire. It is, first and foremost, a study of proportional, integral, derivative (PID) based regulatory control, what works and what, in his experience, does not.
Re starts with a review of process dynamics - how dependent measurements move when we change something in the process. Re discusses steady state and integrating responses along with techniques to identify process responses from experimental plant test data. The author's derivation of a simple graphical technique to approximate a first order plus dead-time response deserves a place in every engineer's toolbox.
The immortal PID control algorithm is reviewed in detail with examples of the common variants and tuning techniques. The author makes a reasoned argument that an effective load response is far more important than a fast setpoint response and that engineers should use the ideal 'proportional on PV' PID form.
After a review of the published methods of tuning PID loops, the author focuses on a tried and tested method based on first order plus dead-time approximations of the open loop process response. Users can tune loops directly from the graphs in the book.
A separate chapter is devoted to integrating variables (often levels) covering measurement characterisation, tight/averaging level control and some variants of the PID algorithm. A tuning method is given and methods of tuning to achieve 'average' level control to reduce downstream disturbances are discussed. Further sections on signal characterisation, feedforward control and dead-time compensation close the analysis of single PID loops.
The multi variable control chapter introduces decoupling, signal selectors, valve position controllers and other constraint control techniques as methods of dealing with interactive and constrained processes. The general principles of multivariable predictive control (MPC) are introduced, and there is a discussion of inferentials (soft sensors) and online analysers.
After discussing common processes we arrive at the book's largest chapter, Distillation columns, reflecting the challenges that these units present. Pressure control, column mass balance, tray temperature control, internal reflux, inferential development and analysers are covered. The example of an MPC for distillation control is worth reading. The book closes with discussions about APC and real-time optimisation (RTO) benefit estimation, ideal APC organisations, APC project bid requests and vendor selection.
The book focuses on using practical techniques to achieve an effective base regulatory control layer, and it should be read in this light. The author is experienced and he doesn't hesitate to tell you what he thinks, making this a good book to increase your practical knowledge of regulatory control.?
TCE - The Chemical Engineer, March 1, 2012
Kurzbeschreibung
So why another book on process control?
Process Control: A Practical Approach is a ground-breaking guide that provides everything needed to design and maintain process control applications.
The book follows the hierarchy from basic control, through advanced regulatory control, up to and including multivariable control. It addresses many process-specific applications including those on fired heaters, compressors and distillation columns. Written with the practicing control engineer in mind, the book:
* Brings together proven design methods, many of which have never been published before
* Focuses on techniques that have an immediate practical application
* Minimizes the use of daunting mathematics - but for the more demanding reader, complex mathematical derivations are included at the end of each chapter
* Covers the use of all the algorithms, common to most distributed control systems
This book raises the standard of what might be expected of even basic controls. In addition to the design methods it describes any shortcuts that can be taken and how to avoid common pitfalls. Proper application will result in significant improvements to process performance.
Myke King's practical approach addresses the needs of the process industry, and will improve the working practices of many control engineers.
"This book would be of value to process control engineers in any country." - Mr Andrew Ogden-Swift, Chairmain, Process Management and Control Subject Group, Institution of Chemical Engineers, UK
"This book should take the process-control world by storm." - Edward Dilley, Lecturer in Process Control, ESD Simulation Training
