ENCH391-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023

Process Systems and Control

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2023
End Date: Sunday, 12 November 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 30 July 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 1 October 2023

Description

An introduction to process dynamics and process control technology.

• Dynamic process modelling
• Process dynamic elements such as resistive, capacitive, first-order, oscillatory and dead-time elements
• Behaviour of systems of dynamic elements using Python and Excel
• Control hardware including controllers, sensors and valves
• Basic feedback control concepts and the Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller
• Closed loop stability and empirical tuning of controllers
• Cascade, ratio and feed-forward control
• Control of unit operations
• Process automation and PLC logic

The course will be taught using a real-time approach involving the hands-on use of dynamic simulation using Excel and Python. It builds on Python and Excel skills from previous courses. (The course does not use the classical Laplace Transform approach).

Learning Outcomes

Students should:
• Fully understand the need to name, date and clearly document all files, spreadsheets and computer programs.
• Understand the elements that affect the dynamics of a process such as first-order response, dead time, and capacity.
• Be able to simulate using Excel and Python, the dynamics response of systems made up of typical dynamic elements.
• Become familiar with some typical items of control hardware that are used in industry.
• Understand PID control well enough to be able to simulate and tune a real process.
• Be able to simulate more complex control including cascade, ratio and feed forward.
• Know which control loops might be suitable for a range of unit operations.
• Be able to define and simulate automation of a simple process with many steps.

Prerequisites

ENCH298 (from 2016)

Timetable Note

36 lectures, 3 assignments, 2 labs, and 1 test. Attendance at all lectures is highly encouraged. Students who do not complete all assignments and the exam are much less likely to pass.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Ken Morison

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Computer Exam 28%
Final Exam 28%
Tuning Lab completion 2%
Dynamics with Excel, and Python 04 Aug 2023 8%
Process Dynamics Lab 15 Sep 2023 8%
Assignment 2 with computer test 22 Sep 2023 10% Jack Erskine 33, 35
Control loop specification 06 Oct 2023 8%
Automation 20 Oct 2023 8%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Svrcek, William Y. , Mahoney, Donald P., Young, Brent R; A real-time approach to process control ; Third edition; Wiley, 2014.

The approach used in the recommended text is followed

Notes

This is a compulsory course. It provides preparation for ENCH494 and for graduate employment. The prerequisite is ENCH298.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,030.00

International fee $5,750.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Chemical and Process Engineering .

All ENCH391 Occurrences

  • ENCH391-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023