| Aim of Module | To provide students with an understanding of the characteristics of process control. |
| Credits | 7 |
| Student Learning hours | 70 |
| Content Revised | 1998 |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2007 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 Control Concepts | A | 35 | |
| 2 Modes of Control | R | 10 | |
| 3 Process Characteristics | C | 10 | |
| 4 Process Control Software | A | 45 | |
| 100 | |||
| 1 | Control Concepts |
| R | 1.1 | Outline standard control terminology. |
| R | 1.2 | State the objective of a control system. |
| R | 1.3 | Identify the basic elements of a control system. |
| R | 1.4 | Define the term "open loop control". |
| R | 1.5 | Define the term "closed loop control". |
| R | 1.6 | Distinguish between accuracy and stability in open and closed loops. Reference should be made to hunting and damping. |
| R | 1.7 | Describe the improvement in linearity by the application of negative feedback. |
| R | 1.8 | Describe the basic concepts of sampling theory. |
| A | 1.9 | Apply sampling theory to real applications. |
| A | 1.10 | Scale inputs. |
| A | 1.11 | Perform reasonableness testing on figures. |
| A | 1.12 | Apply statistical analysis to results. |
| A | 1.13 | Produce output or controlling signals. |
| R | 1.14 | Describe polling techniques and sampling. |
| R | 1.15 | Describe interrupt techniques in control. |
| 2 | Modes of Control |
| R | 2.1 | Define two step control. |
| R | 2.2 | Define hysteresis. |
| R | 2.3 | Describe proportional control. |
| R | 2.4 | Describe integral action. |
| R | 2.5 | Describe derivative control. |
| 3 | Process Characteristics |
| R | 3.1 | Define time constants in reaction rate. |
| C | 3.2 | Explain how to recognise transfer lag. |
| C | 3.3 | Explain how to recognise multiple lags making up a reaction curve. |
| 4 | Process Control Software |
| R | 4.1 | Describe real time process control. |
| A | 4.2 | Write a program which reads inputs into a buffer, sums and averages the results, and produces an output to regulate the process if figures fall outside tolerances. |
| A | 4.3 | Draw a time diagram of input --> response. |
| C | 4.4 | Outline the real time problem of processor speed vs sampling speed. |
| C | 4.5 | Contrast multi-tasking as opposed to time sharing, and describe the benefits of each. |