A Real-Time Approach to Process Control, 3rd Edition

Preface

For decades, the subject of control theory has been taught using transfer functions, frequency-domain analysis and Laplace transform mathematics. For linear systems – like those from the electromechanical areas from which these classical control techniques emerged – this approach is well suited. As an approach to the control of chemical processes, which are often characterized by non-linearity and large doses of dead time, classical control techniques have some limitations.

In today's simulation-rich environment, the right combination of hardware and software is available to implement a ‘hands-on’ approach to process control system design. Engineers and students alike are now able to experiment on virtual plants that capture the important non-idealities of the real world and readily test even the most outlandish of control structures without resorting to non-intuitive mathematics or to placing real plants at risk.

Thus, the basis of this text is to provide a practical, hands-on introduction to the topic of process control by using only time-based representations of the process and the associated instrumentation and control. We believe this book is the first to treat the topic without relying at all upon Laplace transforms and the classical, frequency-domain techniques. For those students wishing to advance their knowledge of process control beyond this first, introductory exposure, we highly recommend understanding, even mastering, the classical techniques. However, as ...