CONTROLLING

OPERATION OF A
STIRRED TANK
HEATER

Consider the tank heater system shown in

figure.
A liquid enters with a flow rate Fi (ft 3/min)
& a temp Ti ( F ), where it is heated with
steam having a flow rate (Fst lb/min)
Let F and T be the flow rate and temp of
the stream leaving the tank.
The tank is considered to be well stirred,
so that effluent temp is equal to the inside
liquid temp.
OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Keep the effluent temp T as a desired
value Ts
Keep the volume of liquid in tank at a
desired value Vs

FACTORS
Heater operation is disturbed by external
factors, changing in flow rate F and temp
T.
If nothing changes T= Ti & V = Vs, then
the system can be run without any
supervision and control.
But it is clear that this cant be true since
Ti & Fi are subjected to frequent
changes.
Obviously ,some sort of control action is
to be needed to reduce the impact of
disturbances and keep T and V at the
desired values

In figure 2, we see such a control action to

keep T = Ts, when Ti or changes.
A thermocouple measures the temperature
T of the liquid in the tank. Then T is
compared with the desired value Ts, yield an
error E=Ts T
The value of deviation E is sent to a control
mechanism which decides what must be one
in order for the temperature T to return back
to the desired value Ts.
If, E>0, means T< Ts, the controller opens
the steam valve so that more heat can be
supplied.
If , E<0, means T> Ts, the controller closes
the steam valve

When the error is zero, the

controller does nothing, means T =
Ts and E=0.
This control system, which measures
the variable of direct importance (T
in this case), after the disturbance
had its effect on it, is called the
FEED BACK SYSTEM.

The

desired value Ts is called the set

point and is supplied externally by the
person in charge of production.
A similar configuration can be used if
we want to keep the volume V, or
equivalently the liquid level h, at its set
point hs when Fi changes.
In this case, we measure the level of the
liquid in the tank and we open or close
the valve that affects the effluent flow
rate F or inlet flow rate Fi.
In the figure 3, is also called feed back
system.

We realize that we can use a different

control arrangement to maintain T = Ts,
when Ti changes
Measure the temperature of the inlet
stream Ti and decides to open or close
the steam valve to provide more or less
steam.
Such control system is called the Feed
Forward control system, shown in figure
5.
Control system does not wait until the
effect of the disturbances, has been felt
by the system

SUM OF ALL
FEED BACK
SYSTEMS

THANK
YOU