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CL 309: Process Control and Instrumentation

Practice Problem Set-5

Instructions

 Solve the following list of problems for practice and to supplement material covered in the

lectures and problems solved in the class.

 You do not have to submit these problems; they do not carry any grade.

 If you have questions or unable to solve the problems you can raise questions in the class on

or after the appropriate lectures. You can also see me during my office hours for questions

on these problems. In either case, do not EXPECT a complete solution from me; these

problems are meant to encourage you to attempt and solve these on your own. You should

come well prepared and show me your attempt at solving these problems. Only then, I will

try to help you suitably.

Q1. Two cylindrical tanks operate in series in a non-interacting mode as shown in the figure

below.

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The initial steady-state fluid flow rate is q s  q1s  q 2 s  10 ft / min, producing the steady-
3

state tank levels h1s  6 ft and h2 s  8 ft. The cross-sectional area A of each tank is 20 ft2.

Assume that the outlet flow rate from both the tanks are proportional to the cube-root of the

head of the liquid i.e. q1{t}   1 h1 and similarly that q 2 {t}   2 h2

1/ 3 1/ 3
. An operator decides

to dump an extra 50 ft3 of fluid into Tank 1 over a very short period of time.

 Does Tank 1 overflow? If it does, at what time does it start over flowing?

 Does Tank 2 overflow? If it does, at what time does it start over flowing?

Q2.

A second order process has the following transfer function.

5
1 2 1

For a unit step input in its setpoint, find the offset, overshoot, decay ratio, period of

oscillation, natural period of oscillation, damping coefficient, response time and rise time.

Q3. Derive the time domain response of a second order critically damped process, with

gain 1 and natural period of oscillation 1, under sustained oscillatory input, .

Q4. Refer the figure. This is the response of a process under unit step change in its input.

Find the transfer function of the process and its response time.

4.5

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

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Q5.

d2y dy
(a) Find the transfer function of a second order system  2 2
 2  y  Kx .
dt dt
(b) What are the poles of the transfer function?
(c) What is the response of the system for a unit impulse?

Q6.

The feed composition to a reactor (located downstream) comes from a process occurring upstream.
It is not possible to reduce the fluctuations in the upstream process and hence the feed varies with
amplitude larger than what is acceptable. To overcome this problem, a tank of volume V is used in
between the two sections to reduce the fluctuations, as shown in the following figure. Assume that
the tank has well mixed liquid, the system is of constant density and that the flow rate is constant
(at 1 m3/min). The concentration coming in from the upstream process (CA0) is well represented
by a sine wave of amplitude 200 g/m3, has an average value of 200 g/m3 and a period of 5 minutes
(frequency = 2 /5). What is the minimum value for volume of the tank (V), such that the
variation in concentration (CA2) of the stream entering the downstream process (after a long time
operation) is less than or equal to 20 g/m3. (Hint: Do not attempt to apply final value theorem!)

F
Upstream
plant CA0

V F Downstream
plant
CA2

Q7. In the previous question if there are two tanks each of volume V (instead of one tank).
F
Upstream
CA0
plant

V F
CA1

Downstream
V F
plant
CA2

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Hint: Break the overall transfer function into partial fractions and consider only the applicable
terms necessary to obtain the solution at long time.

a1 cos x  a 2 sin x  a3 sin( x   ), where a3  a12  a 22 ,   a tan 2( a 2 , a1 )

sin(   )  sin  cos   cos  sin 

Q8. A second order system has transfer function G given by the following expression. For a unit
step change in the input, what is the value of its output at t = 0.6 and at t  ∞?
25( s  1)
G
s 2  2s  4

Q9. A thermal well has a time constant of 30 seconds. A thermocouple has a time constant of 2
seconds. The mass of thermocouple is 8 g and that of the well is 40 g. Assume that the specific
heats of thermocouple and the thermal well are equal. When the thermocouple is inserted into the
thermal well to measure the temperature of the process fluid in contact with the well, the device can
be considered as a two capacitance system. Use the following balances for the thermal well part and
thermocouple part respectively: accumulation in the well = energy in from surrounding fluid – energy
dTw 1 1
out to thermocouple. Cw  (T f  Tw )  (Tw  Tc )
dt Rw Rc
accumulation in the thermocouple = energy in from thermal well
dTc 1
Cc  (Tw  Tc )
dt Rc
where C denotes capacitance given as product of mass and specific heat capacity; resistance R is
the inverse of the product of the heat transfer coefficient and the area. (a) What is the ratio of the
two resistances?
(b) Find the natural period of oscillation and the damping factor.
(c) For a unit change in the temperature of the process fluid, what is the change in thermocouple

reading after 30 seconds?

d 2 y dy
Q10. What is the solution of the differential equation   0.25 y  0 given y = 0 at t = 0
dt 2 dt
dy
and  1 at t = 0 ?
dt

Q11. What is the transfer function of a second order process with a period of oscillation 1 unit
and a decay ratio of 0.25?

Problems from your Textbook: III. 48,50,51,52,55,56,57,58

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