Computer digital controller

C. L. Smith, Digital Computer Process Control, International Textbook Co., Scranton, Pa., 1964. 

Although digital control technology was first apphed to process control in 1959, the total dependence of the early centralized architectures on a single computer for all control and operator interface functions resulted in complex systems with dubious rehability. Adding a second processor increased both the complexity and the cost. Consequently, many installations provided analog backup systems to protect against a computer malfunction. 

It may be useful to point out a few topics that go beyond a first course in control. With certain processes, we cannot take data continuously, but rather in certain selected slow intervals (c.f. titration in freshmen chemistry). These are called sampled-data systems. With computers, the analysis evolves into a new area of its own—discrete-time or digital control systems. Here, differential equations and Laplace transform do not work anymore. The mathematical techniques to handle discrete-time systems are difference equations and z-transform. Furthermore, there are multivariable and state space control, which we will encounter a brief introduction. Beyond the introductory level are optimal control, nonlinear control, adaptive control, stochastic control, and fuzzy logic control. Do not lose the perspective that control is an immense field. Classical control appears insignificant, but we have to start some where and onward we crawl. 

The ideal variable to measure is one that can be monitored easily, inexpensively, quickly, and accurately. The variables that usually meet these qualifications are pressure, temperature, level, voltage, speed, and weight. When possible the values of other variables are obtained from measurements of these variables. For example, the flow rate of a stream is often determined by measuring the pressure difference across a constriction in a pipeline. However, the correlation between pressure drop and flow is also affected by changes in fluid density, pressure, and composition. If a more accurate measurement is desired the temperature, pressure, and composition may also be measured and a correction applied to the value obtained solely from the pressure difference. To do this would require the addition of an analog or digital computer to control scheme, as well as additional sensing devices. This would mean a considerable increase in cost and complexity, which is unwarranted unless the increase in accuracy is demanded. 

Direct digital control systems appeared in the mid-1980s and displaced older analog closed-loop schemes for temperature control. These digital systems improved both accuracy and reliability. The earlier systems were modeled after existing system architectures and did not contain intelligent, standalone field devices. There were numerous interfaces to the various building systems and the major decisions were made at a central computer. 

Thirty years ago these computed variables were calculated using pneumatic devices. Today they are much more easily done in the digital control computer. Much more complex types of computed variables can now be calculated. Several variables of a process can be measured and all the other variables can be calculated from a rigorous model of the process. For example, the nearness to flooding in distillation columns can be calculated from heat input, feed flow rate, and... 

The development of digital control computers and of chromatographic composition analyzers has resulted in a large number of control systems that have discontinuous, intermittent components. The nature of operation of both of these devices is such that their input and output signals are discrete. 

Figure 18.3h shows a DDC (direct digital control) system. All the control calculations are done in the digital computer. The computer outputs go, through holds, directly to the control valves. 

The sampling rate of these digital control computers can vary from several times a second to only several times an hour. The dynamics of the process dictate the sampling time required. The faster the process, the smaller the sampling period must be for good control. One of the important questions that we will explore in these three chapters is what should the sampling rate be for a given... 

Like chromatography, the FFF instrument consists of a pump to deliver the carrier fluid, a separation medium (FFF channel), a detector responding to the eluting species, and a computer to control the operative parameters (e.g., field, flow) and to acquire the digitized fractogram (see Figure 12.1). 

Smith, Cecil L. "Digital Computer Process Control", International Textbook, 1972. 

The computer can control the mass spectrometer by introducing the values and variations of different parameters. As the computer treats digital data, whereas the mass spectrometer produces and receives analogue data, an interface is necessary to convert one type of data into another. 

---