DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : E. Sunil Kumar
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : A.E.I.E
Institute : K.D.R.G.P.T, WNP,MBNR
Semester :V
Subject : Process Control
Subject code : AEI-504
Topic : Introduction to Control System
Configuration
Duration : 100 mins

Subtopic : Characteristics of Single variable,

Independent variable, Interactive
variable, Compound variable control
Teaching Aids : PPTS, Animations, Diagrams
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 Objectives
On completion of this topic, you would be able to know:

• Introduction to control system configuration

• Single variable control system

• Independent Variable control system

• Interactive Variable control system

• Compound Variable control system

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 Introduction

• The control system configurations are encountered in

typical industrial applications and this concept is used by

the process designers based on the goal of the process,

relative to production requirements, and the physical

characteristics of operations under control

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 Introduction…

• Consideration is given to the various ways of setting up a

process-control loop system and tuning this system for
optimum performance

• These objectives provide the process control

technologist with general back-ground in the practical
considerations of process-control loop implementations.

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 Single Variable

• The elementary process-control loop is a single-variable

loop

• The loop is designed to maintain control of a given

process variable by manipulation of a controlling

variable, regardless of the other process parameters

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 Independent Single Variable

• In many process-control applications, certain regulations

are required regardless of other parameters in the

process.

• In these cases, a set point is established, controller

action is started, and the system is left alone

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 Independent Single Variable…

• As shown in the figure.1, a flow control system is used to

regulate flow into a tank at a fixed rate determined by the
set point.

• This system then makes adjustments in valve positions

as necessary following a load change to maintain flow
rate at the set point value.

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Figure.1. Two variable process control loops that interact

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 Interactive Single Variable

• A second single variable control loop, is shown in the

figure, regulates the temperature of liquid in the tank by
adjustment of heat input

• This is also a single-variable loop that maintains the

liquid temperature at the set point value.

• Under normal conditions, the flow into the tank is held

constant and the temperature is also held constant, both
at their respective set point values.
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 Interactive Single Variable…

• However, a change in the set point of the flow-control

system appears as a load to the temperature-control
system, because the fluid level in the tank or rate of
passage through the tank must change.

• The temperature system now responds by resetting the

heat flux to accommodate the new load and bring the
temperature back to the set point

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 Interactive Single Variable…

• Thus we see that these two loops interact.

• Almost any process where several variables are under

control shows such interactive behavior.

• Any cycling or other instability of the flow-control loop

causes cycling in the temperature system because of
this interaction

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 Compound Variable

• In some cases, a single process control loop is used to

provide control of the relationship between two or more
variables

• This can be accomplished by using measurements from,

say, two sensors as input to the process controller.

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 Compound Variable…

• A signal-conditioning system must scale the two

measurements and add them prior to input to the
controller for evaluation and action.

• The analysis of such systems can become quite

complicated

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 Compound Variable…

• A common example is when the ratio of two reactants

must be controlled.

• In this case, one of the flow rates is measured but

allowed to float (not regulated), and the other is both
measured and adjusted to provide the specified constant
ratio.

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 Compound Variable…

• An example of this system is shown in the figure.2.

• The flow rate of reactant A is measured and added, with

appropriate scaling, to the measurement of flow rate B.

• The controller reacts to the resulting input signal by

adjustment of the control valve in the reactant B input
line.
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Figure.2. A compound system for which the ratio of two
flow rates is controlled
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 Summary
We have discussed about

• Introduction to control system configuration

• Single variable control system

• Independent Variable control system

• Interactive Variable control system

• Compound Variable control system

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 Quiz

1. The elementary process-control loop is a

a) Interactive variable loop

c) Compound variable loop

e) Multivariable loop

d) single-variable loop

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 Quiz

1) A flow control system used to regulate flow into a tank

at a fixed rate determined by the set point is a

a) Interactive variable loop

c) Compound variable loop

e) single-variable loop

g) Multivariable loop

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 Quiz

1) When a flow-control system appears as a load to the

temperature-control system, it is a
a) Interactive variable loop

c) Compound variable loop

e) single-variable loop

g) Multivariable loop

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 Quiz

1) A single process control loop is used to provide control

of the relationship between two or more variables

a) Interactive variable loop

c) Compound variable loop

e) single-variable loop

g) Multivariable loop

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 Frequently Asked Questions

2. Explain Single variable control system

4. Explain Independent Variable control system with an

example

6. Explain Interactive Variable control system with an

example

8. Explain Compound Variable control system with an

example

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