Dec
01
At Emerson Exchange – 2014, Orlando, FL. I worked with Bailee Roach, University Of Texas, Austin and Willy Wojsznis, Emerson Process Management to co-host a workshop of Wireless Model Predictive Control (MPC). In this workshop we addressed how wireless measurements may be used in model predictive. Information was provided on a field trail of this …
Jun
09
This last week I gave a paper presentation at the American Control Conference, Portland, OR. The topic of this paper was PID Control Using Wireless Measurements. I co-authored the paper with Mark Nixon and Willy Wojsznis. Below is a picture taken during the presentation. This paper presents a wireless PID controller, known as PIDPlus. The …
May
05
A book goes through many reviews and edits before it can be published. Still, it is very difficult for the authors and reviewers to catch all the typo’s in the original text and those that are introduced during the type setting process (formatting for publication). ISA recently notified me that the book that Mark Nixon …
Apr
14
The international standards for industrial-process measurement, control and automation are developed through IEC TC65. As stated on the IEC web site, the standards developed by TC65 address systems and elements used for industrial-process measurement and control concerning continuous and batch processes. These standards address equipment and systems operating with electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical or other …
Mar
31
Something that all manufactures of wireless throttling valves must be concerned with in their design is battery power consumption. In a control application using a wireless throttling valve much of the power available to the actuator is used to track changes in target valve position. To minimize battery power consumption, the number of changes made …
Mar
24
Over the last five years a wide variety of WirelessHART transmitters have been introduced by the major manufacturers of field devices. The PIDPlus enables closed loop control using the slower update rate provided by a wireless transmitter. The broad acceptance of wireless transmitters has generated an interest in the application of wireless throttling valves in …
Mar
17
When using a positive displacement pump in flow control, then the minimum flow which may be achieved using a variable speed drive is limited by the motor low speed limit. It is possible to achieve a wider range of flow control by regulating flow using a fixed speed motor and a throttling valve in combination …
Mar
10
Positive displacement pumps may be used when it is necessary address flow requirements of 2GPM or less. The pump design ( e.g. vane, gear, peristaltic) selected for a particular application should be based on properties of the liquid and the expected operating condition. One characteristic of a positive displacement pump is that when it is …
Mar
03
Centrifugal pumps can be used to transfer large volumes of liquid between vessels in an industrial process. When a constant speed motor is used to drive the pump then the pump flow rate may be controlled by adjusting a throttling valve that is installed after the pump discharge, as illustrated below. The pump discharge pressure …
Feb
24
The 2014 American Control Conference, ACC, will be held Wednesday through Friday, June 4 – 6, at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, Portland, OR. As noted on the conference web site, the ACC is internationally recognized as a premier scientific and engineering conference dedicated to the advancement of control theory and practice. Last year …
