Inferential Control

Selective Control
Nonlinear Control System
BITS Pilani Pratik N Sheth
Department of Chemical Engineering
Pilani Campus
Inferential Control

If Controlled variable can no t be measured online

Eg. Product composition measurement,
Feed back control using controlled variable measurement is not possible

One possible solution is

to identify a variable which can be measured online
To develop/find a relation of measured variable with controlled variable
This scheme is known as Inferential Control Systems
It is also known as soft sensor

Eg.Vapor & liquid phases of Binary mixture at equilibrium

If pressure is constant, a relation exist between composition and a temperature
based on thermodynamics

In the absence of theoretical relation

Based on plant data, simple algebraic relations can be developed between
measured and controlled variable
The parameter in the correlation may be updated time to time as and when we
receive the actual measured value of controlled variable from Analytical Lab
Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus
Structure of Inferential Control

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Selective Control Systems

For control problems with fewer manipulated variable

than controlled variable
Selectors are employed for sharing the manipulated variables among controlled
variables

Selectors
Chooses an appropriate measurement from number of measurements
In instrumentation diagram
( > ) denotes high selector
( < ) denotes low selector
It is also called as auctioneering
High selector application
To find Hot spot formation in catalytic exothermic reaction by selecting highest
measurements from number of measurements

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Selective Control Systems

Override
Second controller can take over or override from the first controller
Less extreme than SIS
Anti reset windup
Final control element saturation and integral error buildup

Split-range control
Several manipulated variable to control single controlled variable
Examples
Manipulation of inflow and outflow both to control a pressure in a chemical reactor
Manipulation of cold and hot water flow both to maintain the jacket temperature at set
point

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Split-range Control

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Constraint Control

Type of Selector or override

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Constraint Control

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Constraint Control

Alternative Arrangement
Single controller with high selector switch between level and flow rate
measurements
Disadvantage
Independent tuning not possible

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Non linear Control Systems

Method 1
Controller gain can be higher for large error and smaller for small errors
It is also known as error squared controller

Method 2
Linear transformation of input and output variable
Example: Logarithmic Product composition

Method 3
Controller parameter scheduling

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Gain Scheduling

Piece-wise constant controller gain

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Example: Once through boiler

Feed water passes through number of heated sections

before emerging as superheated steam
Steam temperature is controlled variable and
manipulated variable is hot flue gas
Open loop TF and Controller parameters

Dr Pratik N Sheth, Dept of Chemical Engg, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus