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 : 50 mts

Subtopic : Characteristics of Multivariable

control
Teaching Aids : PPTS, Animations, Diagrams
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 Objectives

On completion of this topic, you would be able to know:

• Introduction to Multivariable control systems

• Analog control in multivariable systems

• Supervisory and Direct Digital control in multivariable

systems

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 Introduction

• Any complex industrial process is multivariable because

many variable exits in the process and must be
regulated.

• Many of these are either non interacting or interaction is

not a serious problem in maintaining the desired control
functions.

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 Introduction…

• In such cases, either single-variable controls or cascade

loops sufficient to effect satisfactory control of the overall
process.

• Then multivariable refers to those processes wherein

many strongly interacting variables are involved.

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 Introduction…

• Such a multivariable system can have such a complex

interaction pattern that the adjustment of a single set
point causes a profound influence on many other control
loops in the process.

• In some cases, instabilities, cycling, or even runaway

result from the indiscriminate adjustment of a few set
points.

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 Analog Control

• When analog control loops are used in multivariable

systems, a carefully prepared instructional set must be
provided to the process personnel regarding the
procedure for adjustment of set points.

• Generally, such adjustments are carried out in small

increments to avoid instabilities that may result from
large changes

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 Analog Control…

• Consider a situation where there is a reaction vessel in

which two reactants are mixed, react, and the product is
drawn from the bottom.

• We are now concerned with controlling the reaction rate.

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 Analog Control…

• It is also important to keep the reaction temperature and

vessel pressure below certain limits, and finally, the level
is to be controlled at some nominal value.

• If the reactions are exothermic-that is, self-sustaining

and heat-producing- then the relation among all of these
parameters can be critical.

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 Analog Control…

• If the temperature is low, then an indiscriminate increase

in steam-flow set point could cause an unstable runaway
of the reaction.

• Therefore, in this case, the level and reaction flow rates

must be altered as the steam-flow rate is increased to
maintain control.

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 Analog Control…

• The necessary steps are empirically determined or from

numerical solutions of complicated control equations.

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 Supervisory and Direct digital Control

• The computer is ideally suited to the Supervisory and

Direct Digital Control problem presented by the
multivariable control system.

• The computer can make any adjustments of system

operating points in an incremental fashion, according to
a predetermined sequence, while monitoring process
parameters for interactive effects.

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SUPERVISORY CONTROL

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 Supervisory and Direct digital Control…

• The problem in such a system is determining the

algorithm that the computer must follow to provide the
control function of setpoint sequence.

• In some cases control equations are used.

• In complex interactions, these relations are not

analytically known.

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 Supervisory and Direct digital Control…

• In some cases, self adapting algorithms are used,

causing the computer to sequence through a set of
operations and letting the result of one operation
determine the next operation.

• As an example, if the temperature is slightly raised and

the pressure rises, then the drop the temperature and so
on.

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 Supervisory and Direct digital Control…

• The computer can sequence through micro adjustments

of setpoints looking for the optimum adjustment path

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 Quiz

1) Any complex industrial process is

a) Interactive variable

b) Multivariable

c) Compound variable

d) Single variable

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 Quiz

2) In analog control systems adjustments are

carried out in

a) small increments

c) Large increments

e) Random increments

g) None

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 Quiz

3) In Supervisory and Direct Digital Control ………

…… are used

a) control equations

c) Algorithms

e) Algorithms & Control equations

g) none
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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Multivariable control systems

• Analog control in multivariable systems

• Supervisory and Direct Digital control in multivariable

systems

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Briefly explain multivariable control systems

3. Briefly explain analog control in multivariable systems

5. Briefly explain Supervisory and Direct Digital control in

multivariable systems

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