Process monitoring/control technologies processes

Obviously, in the near future we will basically use chemical sensors and biosensors to analytically monitor environment, technological processes, and condition of people health [7]. They seem especially promising as means of rapid control. Modern analysis sensors are of small size, their ordinary weight is 100-200 g, the dimensions of a sensor sensitive element, e.g. for Zr02 is 5 x 11 x 1.5 cm. 

Technological advancements in process monitoring, control, and industrial automation over the past decades have contributed greatly to improve the productivity of virtually all manufacturing industries throughout the world. 

The second area, the implementation of a modem process monitoring and control system, is the most dramatic current appHcation of CAD/CAM technology to the chemical process industry. The state of the art is the use of computer graphics to display the process flow diagram for sections of the process, current operating conditions, and controUer-set points. The process operator can interact directly with the control algorithms through the... 

Thus, the systems used to monitor and control the process are conventional. Process materials (with the exception of agents and energetics), temperatures, and pressures used in this technology package are commonly used in other industrial applications, where they are routinely monitored and controlled. The usual collection of equipment for monitoring temperature, pressure, level control, flow, and other parameters normally measured in a chemical plant is used. The analytical procedures to be used to monitor certain streams will be new, and they present the greatest uncertainty. 

The FDA also introduces the concept of process analytical technology (PAT). PAT refers to systems that are used to analyze, monitor, and control manufacturing processes on a continuous basis. The quality attributes and specifications of raw materials, in-process intermediates, and processes are measured in real time and compared with predetermined parameters so that deviations can be rectified in a proactive nature to assure that the end products conform to the level of quality as expected. It is believed that a system based on PAT being implemented in a real-time manner would improve manufacturing efficiency and simultaneously retain or improve the product quality through these interactive measurements and controls. 

The first demonstration of solid state fluorescence of API dates back to 1961, while its in-line use for final drug product manufacturing was not demonstrated until recently." While in its infancy as a process analytical technology for real-time monitoring and product parametric real-time release, the applications identified and in some instances demonstrated include (i) blend endpoint API content nniformity detection " (ii) segregation monitoring or API content at various process critical control points and (iii) at-line tablet content uniformity determination. The fundamentals of solid-state luminescence spectroscopy for pharmaceutical solids has been covered by Brittain."... 

KDC, 1993. Us MDA-1000 Microwave Dielectric Analyze for Process Monitoring and Control. KDC Technology Corp., 2011 Research Dr., Livermore, CA. 

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