Introduction and theory

The Pressure Process Control helps hands-on training in the measurement and control of
pressure processes. Engineers raise and lower air pressure to preset levels using manual control
and auto-tuning methods. Students learn how the E/P converter with the control valve affects
a preset pressure in the air tank. They create variable demand and supply disturbances by
manipulating the panel’s valves (Intelitek, 2010).

Pressure control involves in processes such as dryers, gas distribution system, dryers,
furnaces, hydraulic system, gas or liquid separation, ventilation, throttle units, and also boiler
water treatment. There is some difficulty in pressure control are it is very sensitive towards
disturbances at high pressure of gases and it can be related to the wide range of pressure.
Pressure control is important due to the diverse nature of these applications because they are
varying greatly in their degree of difficulty and to this extent it is quite meaningless to
generalize about pressure control.

Mostly in process industry, it is preferable to use conventional control when they have
plenty of continuous control problems. Experience is gained during the long period of its use
has led to a detailed understanding of the properties of PI control in the systems. Satisfactory
performance of the algorithm in a large number of industrial applications has resulted in a high
degree of confidence in PI control (Ahmed, D.F. et al. 2008).

This experiment consists of two tank or also known as air vessels T91 and T92 with its
flow of piping, valves, fitting and air supply. Both of the tanks have its inlets and it is to be
operated with either continuous air inflow or outflow. Both the vessel has its own vent (V),
bottom drain (D), pressure relief valve (PRV) and pressure gauge (PG). Vessel T91 is consists
of process air from an external compressed air supply via the pressure regulator (AR91) and
the manual valve MV91 of the vessel T91.

This plant can either be operated as a single capacity system or as a two-capacity

system. For a single capacity system operation, tank T91 is used while the tank T92 acts as
bypass. Air is discharged from process vent (VP) to the atmosphere. The drain (D) which is
located at the bottom of both vessels T91 and T92 is to discharge the condensed pressure that
eventually turn to liquid due to high pressure in the vessels.
Control system and instrumentations

The control system consists of a microprocessor is based on PID controller with an

inbuilt ON and OFF controller. This is equipped with the necessary instrumentation and signal
transmission system. Below explains the description of the control system and the major
instrumentation:

Pressure control system at pipeline PLI

1. Measurement: PT91, gauge pressure transmitter, at vessel T91.
2. Controller: PIC91, panel mount PID controller.
3. Final control element: PCV91, Control valve, complete with pneumatic position (PP) and a
Current-to-Air converter (I/P Transducer), PCY91.

Pressure control system at pipeline PLII

1. Measurement: PT9I, gauge pressure transmitter, at vessel T91.
2. Controller: P1C92, panel mount ON/OFF controller.
3. Final control element: PCV92, ON/OFF control valve with a solenoid valve, PSV92.

Instrumentation
1. Pressure gauges: PG91, PG92, PG93, PG94.
2. Temperature gauges: TG91, TG92.
3. Flow meters: FI92, Variable area flow meter (Rotameter).

Closed loop Control System, also known as a feedback control system is a control
system which uses the concept of an open loop system as its forward path but has one or more
feedback loops or paths between its output and its input. The reference to feedback is simply
means that some portion of the output is returned back to the input to form part of the systems
excitation. The term closed loop control always implies the use of a feedback control action in
order to reduce any errors within the system, and its feedback which distinguishes the main
differences between an open-loop and a closed-loop system. The accuracy of the output thus
depends on the feedback path, which in general can be made very accurate and within
electronic control systems and circuits, feedback control is more commonly used than open-
loop or feed forward control.

Open-loop system, also referred to as non-feedback system is a type of continuous

control system in which the output has no influence or effect on the control action of the input
signal. In other words, in an open-loop control system the output is neither measured nor the
feedback for comparison with the input. Therefore, an open-loop system is expected to
faithfully follow its input command or set point regardless of the final result. Open-loop system
can be represented as multiple cascaded blocks in series or a single block diagram with an input
and output (Musaab, 2018).

Reference

Intelitek (2016). Pressure Process Control Trainer [online] (updated 2013). Available from
World Wide Web: http://www.intelitek.com/process-control-learning-systems/pressure-
process-control-trainer/ [accessed 8 September 2018].

Ahmed, D. F., Hasan, S. K., Karim, L. A. A. (2008). Stability Analysis and Design of Pressure
Control System, Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences. 15, P.p 64-76.

Musaab. (20188, September 19). Open Closed Loop System. Retrieved from Electronics
Tutorials : https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/systems/closed-loop-system.html