Definitions and Terminology​:

In controlling a process there exist two types of classes of variables.

1. Input Variable - This variable shows the effect of the surroundings on the process. It normally
refers to those factors that influence the process. An example of this would be the flow rate of
the steam through a heat exchanger that would change the amount of energy pul into the
process. There are effects of the surrounding that are controllable and some that are not. These
are broken down into two types of inputs.
Manipulated inputs: variable in the surroundings can be controlled by an operator or by a control
system in place.
Disturbances: inputs that can not be controlled by an operator or control system. There exist
both measurable and immeasurable disturbances.

2. Output variable- Also known as the control variable. These are the variables that are process
outputs that effect the surroundings. An example of this would be the amount of C02 gas that
comes out of a combustion reaction. These variables may or may not be measured.
As we consider a controls problem. We are able to look at two major control structure
.
1. Single input-Single Output (SISO) - for one control (output) variable there exist one
manipulate (input) variable that is used to affect the process.

2. Multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) - There are several control (output) variable that are
affected by several manipulated (input) variables used in a given process.

Cascade： A control system with 2 or more controllers, a "Master" and "Slave" loop. The output
of the "Master" controller is the setpoint tor the "Slave" controller.

Dead Time: The amount of time it takes for a process to start changing after a disturbance in the
system.

Derivative Control: The "D" part of a PID controller. With derivative action the controller output is
proportional to the rate of change of the process variable or error.

Error: In process controls, error is defined as: Error = setpoint - process variable.

Integral Control: The 'T part of a PID

controller. With integral action the controller output is proportional to the amount and duration of
the error signal.

PID Controller: PID controllers are designed to eliminate the need for continuous operator
attention. They are used to automatically adjust system variables to reduce error and hold a
process variable close to the setpoint.
Error is defined above as the difference between setpoint and process variable.

Proportional Control: The "P" part of a PID controller. With proportional action the controller
output is proportional to the amount of the error signal.

Setpoint: The setpoint is where you would like a controlled process variable to be.

​ ontrol loop:
C
A control loop is the fundamental building block of industrial control systems. It consists of all
the physical components and control functions necessary to automatically adjust the value of a
measured process variable (PV) to equal the value of a desired set-point (SP). It includes the
process sensor, the controller function, and the final control element (FCE) which are all
required for automatic control.

COMMON PROCESS VARIABLES :

● Pressure
● Flow
● Level
● Density
● Temperature
● Liquid Interface
● Mass
● Conductivity