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CHE426: Problem set #71
1.The temperature of a CSTR is controlled by an electronic (4 to 20 mA) feedback control
system containing (1) a 50 to 300oF temperature transmitter, (2) a PI controller with integral
time set at 4 minutes and proportional band at 25, and (3) a control valve with linear trim, airto-open action, and Cv = 20 gpm/psi0.5through which cooling water flows. The pressure drop
across the valve is a constant 20 psi.
a) If the steady state controller output, CO, is 10 mA, how much cooling water is going
through the valve?
b) If a sudden disturbance increases reactor temperature by 10 oF, what will be the immediate
change on the controller output?
2. A thermometer having a time constant of 0.2 min is placed in a temperature bath, and after
the thermometer comes to equilibrium with the bath, the temperature of the bath is increased
linearly with time at a rate of 1oC/min. Determine the difference between the indicated
temperature and the bath temperature in the Laplace domain.
3.1Considerthefollowingsystem:

G1
_

+
G2

Y
C
G3

C
B
Determine R = and Y

4.1 The overhead vapor from a depropanizer distillation column is totally condensed in a
water-cooled condenser at 120oF and 230 psig. The vapor is 98 mol % propane and 2 mol %
isobutene. The vapor design flow rate is 30,000 lb/h and average latent heat of vaporization is
128 Btu/lb. Cooling water inlet and outlet temperatures are 75 and 100oF, respectively. The
condenser heat transfer area is 1000 ft2. The cooling water pressure drop through the
condenser at design rate is 50 psi. A linear-trim control valve (air-to-closed) is installed in the
cooling water line. The pressure drop over the valve is 25 psi at design with the valve half
open. The process pressure is measured by an electronic (4-20 mA) pressure transmitter
whose range is 150-350 psig. An analog electronic proportional controller with a gain of 4 is
used to control process pressure by manipulating cooling water flow. The electronic signal
from the controller (CO) is converted into a pneumatic signal in the I/P transducer.

Vapor
C o o lin g
w a te r

C o n tr o l v a lv e

C ondenser
PV
I/P
R e f lu x d r u m

PT

PM

PC

CO

SP

a) Calculatethecoolingwaterflowrate(gpm)atdesignconditions.Waterdensityis62.3
lb/ft3and1ft3=7.48gal.
b) If the cooling water flow rate is 300 gpm at design conditions, calculate the size
coefficient (Cv) of the control valve.
c) Calculate the value of the signal PM at design conditions.
d) Calculate the value of the signal PV at design conditions.
e) Suppose the process pressure jumps 20 psi, determine value for CO.
5.1Determinethetransferfunctionsforthefollowingsystem:

6. Determine the transfer functions for the following system at s = 1:

7. A pneumatic PI temperature controller has an output pressure of 10 psig when the set point
and process temperature coincide. The set point is suddenly increased by 15 oF (i.e. a step
change in error is introduced), and the following data are obtained:
Time, s
psig

010

Determine the actual gain (psig/oF)

0+
8

20
7

60
5

90
3.5

8. Determine the transfer functions for this system:

s 12

2
9. Find the inverse of F (s) = s 4 s 29

10 . The two-tank liquid-level system shown in Figure E-3 is operating at steady state when a
step change is made in the flow rate to tank 1. The transient response is critically damped,
and it takes 1.0 min for the change in level of the second tank to reach 50 percent of the total
change.
If the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the tanks is A1/A2 = 2, calculate the ratio R1/R2.
Calculate the time constant for each tank. How long does it take for the change in level of the
first tank to reach 90 percent of the total change? Note: 1 = 2 for critical damping.
Q

R
A

h2
A
Figure E-3
References

R
2

1. D.R. Coughanowr and S. LeBlanc, Process Systems Analysis and Control, McGrawHill, 3nd edition, 2008.