Apr
09
Many control system manufacturers and third party companies now offer tools that are designed to monitor process control and instrumentation performance. In addition to providing on-line information that summarizes control utilization, the user may access other information that may be helpful in determining the cause of, and solution to, poor control utilization. In section 3.4 …
Mar
11
When a control loop is placed in automatic control, it is easy to detect if a valve or actuator is not responding correctly to the control system. As discussed in Chapter 3 of Advanced Control Foundation – Tools, Techniques and Application, this can be done by observing the response of the controlled parameter to control …
Feb
25
One of the most obvious reasons for poor control utilization is a broken or unreliable transmitter or sensor. As addressed in Chapter 3 of Advanced Control Foundation – Tools, Techniques, and Applications, if the control system is designed to be consistent with the international function block standard, IEC 61804, the status attribute is always communicated …
Feb
18
When the utilization of a control loop is found to be low during normal plant operation, the measurement or control problems that prevent the control loop from functioning in its normal (designed) mode of operation should be further explored. In Chapter 3 of Advanced Control Foundation – Tools, Techniques, and Applications we outline the steps …
Feb
11
It can be shocking to examine control utilization in a plant where performance tools have not been installed and/or not used. For example, in the mid-1980s a control survey was conducted at a major pulp and paper plant where the control system had recently been updated to the latest distributed control system. At that time …
Feb
04
A plant operator is usually responsible for managing one or more process areas, with (potentially) hundreds of control loops and process measurements in each area. The operator’s job is made easier if the control loops in these process areas are in automatic mode and can compensate automatically for disturbances and maintain the operating conditions the …
Jan
28
To achieve the maximum benefit, the performance monitoring tools that are installed in control systems to evaluate plant control performance should contain features to support both analysis and diagnostics. Process Analysis is the examination of a process, its elements, and their relationships. Process Diagnostics is the investigation of the cause or nature of a process …
Dec
12
At Emerson Exchange, 2011, I had the pleasure of working with James Beall, Principal Control Consultant, Emerson Process Management to host a workshop that addresses how to get the maximum return from your control investment. The design and commissioning of the controls associated with a continuous or batch process directly impact plant operating efficiency and …
