Glossary of Control Terms

Accuracy The ratio of the error to the full-scale output or the ratio
of the error to the output, as specified, expressed in
percent.
Actuator A fluid powered or electrically powered device, which
supplies force and motion to a valve closure member. A
part of the final control element that translates the
control signal into action of the final control device in
the process.
Actuator, diaphragm A fluid powered device in which the fluid acts upon a
flexible component, the diaphragm.
Actuator, piston type A fluid powered device in which the fluid acts upon a
movable piston, to provide motion to the actuator stem.
Adaptive control A control system, which adjusts its response to its
inputs, based on its previous experience. Automatic
means are used to change the type or influence (or both)
of control parameters in such a way as to improve the
performance of the control system.
Alarm A device or function that signals the existence of an
abnormal condition by means of an audible or visible
discrete change, or both, intended to attract attention.
Alarm severity A selection of levels of priority for the alarming of each
input, output, or rate of change.
Analog control Implementation of automatic control loops with analog
(pneumatic or electronic) equipment. Contrast with
direct digital control.
Analog signal An analog signal is a continuously variable
representation of a physical quantity, property, or
condition such as pressure, flow, temperature, etc.
Backlash A relative movement between interacting mechanical
parts resulting from looseness when motion is reversed.
Beta ratio The ratio of the diameter of the constriction to the pipe
diameter, ß = Dconst/Dpipe.
Binary A term applied to a signal or device that has only two
discrete positions or states.
Bode diagram In process instrumentation, a plot of log gain
(magnitude ratio) and phase angle values on a log
frequency base for a transfer function.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Bonnet That portion of the valve pressure-retaining boundary,

which may guide the stem and contains the packing box
and stem seal.
Booster relay A volume or pressure amplifying pneumatic relay that
is used to reduce the time lag in pneumatic circuits by
reproducing pneumatic signals with high volume and
/or high pressure outputs.
Bourdon tube A pressure-sensing element consisting of a twisted or
curved tube of non-circular cross section which tends to
be straightened by the application of internal pressure.
Cage A part in a globe valve surrounding the closure member
to provide alignment and facilitate assembly of other
parts of the valve trim.
Capacity, CV The rate of flow through a valve under stated test
conditions.
Cascade control A control technique that incorporates a primary and a
secondary loop. The primary loop controls the primary
control parameters and establishes the set point to the
secondary loop. The purpose of the secondary loop is to
reduce the effect of disturbances on the primary control
parameter and to improve the dynamic performance of
the loop.
Cavitation A two-stage phenomenon of liquid flow. The first stage
is the formation of voids or cavities within the liquid
system (vapor bubbles); the second stage is the collapse
or implosion of these cavities back into an all-liquid
state.
Characteristic, equal The inherent flow characteristics which, for equal
percentage increments of rated travel, will ideally give equal
percentage changes of the existing flow coefficient.
Characteristic, linear An inherent flow characteristic, which can be
flow represented by a straight line on a rectangular plot of
flow coefficient (CV) versus percent rated travel.
Choked flow The condition that exists when, with the upstream
conditions remaining constant, the flow through a valve
cannot be further increased by lowering the
downstream pressure.
Control action, In process instrumentation, control action in which the
derivative output is proportional to the rate of change of the input.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Control action, Control action in which the output is proportional to the

integral time integral of the input; i.e., the rate of change of
output is proportional to the input.
Control action, Control action in which there is a continuous linear
proportional relation between the output and the input.
Control algorithm A mathematical representation of the control action to
be performed.
Controlled variable A process variable which is to be controlled at some
desired value by means of manipulating another process
variable.
Controller A controller which produces proportional control action
proportional (P) only.
Control loop A regular oscillation of a feedback control system
instability caused by excessive loop gain.
Corner frequency In the asymptotic form of Bode diagram, that frequency
indicated by a break point, i.e., the junction of two
confluent straight lines asymptotic to the log gain curve.
Dead band In process instrumentation, the range through which an
input signal may be varied, upon reversal of direction,
without initiating an observable change in output
signal.
Dead time The interval of time between initiation of an input
change or stimulus and the start of the resulting
response.
Digital controller A control device, which consists of a microprocessor plus
associated A/D input converters and D/A output
converters. It receives one or more analog inputs
related to current process variables, uses the digitized
information to compute an output signal using a
predetermined control algorithm, and converts the
result to an analog signal which operates the final
control element. The device also may be adapted to
furnish additional outputs such as alarms, totalizer
signals and displays.
Digital signal A discrete or discontinuous signal, with various states
discrete intervals apart.
Direct acting A controller in which the value of the output signal
controller increases as the value of the input (measured variable
or controlled variable) increases.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Distributed control That class of instrumentation (input/output devices,

system control devices and operator interface devices) functions
also permits transmission of control, measurement, and
operating information to and from a single or a plurality
of user specifiable locations, connected by a
communication link. Comprised of operator consoles, a
communication system, and remote or local processor
units performing control, logic, calculations, and
measurement functions.
Dithering The application of intermittent forces just sufficient to
minimize static friction within the component.
Drift An undesired change in output over a period of time,
which change is unrelated to the input, environment, or
load.
Dynamic A technique used in control to compensate for dynamic
compensation response differences to different input streams to a
process. A combination of lead and lag algorithms will
handle most situations.
Dynamic response The behavior of the output of a device as a function of
the input, both with respect to time. The behavior of an
output in response to a changing input.
Eccentric orifice An orifice whose center does not coincide with the
centerline of the pipe or tube.
Error In process instrumentation, the algebraic difference
between the indication and the ideal value of the
measured signal.
Fail-close A condition wherein the valve-closure member moves to
a closed position when the actuating energy source fails.
Fail-in place A condition wherein the valve-closure component stays
in its last position when the actuating energy source
fails.
Fail-open A condition wherein the valve-closure member moves to
an opened position when the actuating energy source
fails.
Fail-safe A characteristic of a particular valve and its actuator,
which upon loss of actuating energy supply, will cause a
valve closure member to fully close, fully open, or
remain in fixed position.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Feedback control An error driven control system in which the control

signal to the actuators is proportional to the difference
between a command signal and a feedback signal from
the process variable being controlled.
Feedforward control A method of control that compensates for a disturbance
before its effect is felt in the output. It is based on a
model that relates the output to the input where the
disturbance occurs.
Fieldbus A standard under development in ISA SP50 for a bus to
interconnect process control sensors, actuators, and
control devices.
Final control The device that directly controls the value of the
element manipulated variable of a control loop. Often the final
control element is a control valve.
First-order system A system definable by a first-order differential equation.
Frequency response A measure of the effectiveness with which a circuit or
device transmits signals of different frequencies,
usually expressed as a graph or magnitude or phase of
an output signal as a function of frequency. Also known
as amplitude-frequency response; sine-wave response.
Frequency, With proportional control action only, the un-damped
undamped frequency of a linear system may be obtained in most
cases by raising the proportional gain until continuous
oscillation occurs.
Gain Ratio of output signal magnitude to input signal
magnitude; when less than one this is usually called
attenuation.
Hysteresis The maximum difference in output, at any measurand
value within the specified range, when the value is
approached first with increasing and then with
decreasing measurand. Hysteresis is expressed in % of
full-scale output, during any one calibration cycle.
Friction error is included with hysteresis unless
dithering is specified.
Instrument A device used directly or indirectly to measure and/or
control a variable.
Instrument loop A loop diagram contains the information useful to
diagram engineering, construction, commissioning and startup,
and maintenance work. Loop diagrams are extension of
P&ID’s.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Integral orifice A differential pressure measuring technique for small

flow rates in which the fluid flows through a miniature
orifice plate integral with a special flow fitting.
Interlock To arrange the control of machines or devices so that
operation is interdependent in order to assure their
proper coordination. Instrument which will not allow
one part of a process to function unless another part is
functioning.
Intrinsic safety A method to provide safe operation of electric process
control instrumentation where hazardous atmospheres
exist. The method keeps the available electrical energy
low so that ignition of the hazardous atmosphere cannot
occur.
Lag A relative measure of the time delay between two
events, states, or mechanisms. The dynamic
characteristic of process giving exponential approach to
equilibrium.
Limit of error In an instrument or control device, the maximum error
over the entire scale or range of use under specific
conditions.
Load The process load is a term to denote the nominal values
of all variables in a process that affect the controlled
variable.
Logic A means of solving complex problems through the
repeated use of simple functions which define basic
concepts. Basic logic functions are “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”,
etc. The basic principles and application of truth tables
and interconnection between logical elements required
for arithmetic computation in an automatic data
processing system. Related to symbolic logic.
Logic diagram In data processing, a diagram that represents a logic
design and sometimes the hardware implementation.
Graphic method of representing a logic operation or set
of operations.
Loop A combination of two or more instruments or control
functions arranged so that signals pass from one to
another for the purpose of measurement and/or control
of a process variable.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Manipulated In a process that is desired to regulate some condition, a

variable quantity or a condition that is altered by the control in
order to initiate a change in the value of the regulated
condition.
Measured variable The part of the process that is monitored to determine
the actual condition of the controlled variable.
Measuring range The extreme values of the measured variable within
which measurements can be made within the specified
accuracy. The difference between these extreme values
is called “span.”
Multivariable control A control system involving several measured and
controlled variables where the interdependencies are
considered in the calculation of the outputs.
Noise In process instrumentation, an unwanted component of
a signal or variable, which obscures the information
content. It may be expressed in units of the output or in
percent of output span. Any spurious variation in the
electrical output not present in the input.
Offset A sustained deviation of the controlled variable from set
point.
ON-OFF control A simple form of control whereby the control variable is
switched fully ON or fully OFF in response to the
process variable rising above the set point or falling
below the set point respectively. Cycling always occurs
with this form of control.
Open loop control A system in which no comparison is made between the
actual value and the desired value of a process variable.
Optimization Making a design, process or system as nearly perfect in
function or effectiveness as possible.
Output variable A variable delivered by a control algorithm, e.g., the
signal going to a steam valve in a temperature control
loop.
Override control Generally, two control loops connected to a common
final control element – one control loop being normally
in control with the second being switched in by some
logic element when an abnormal condition occurs so
that constant control is maintained.
Packing box The chamber, in the bonnet, surrounding the stem and
containing packing and other stem sealing parts.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Permanent pressure The unrecoverable reduction in pressure that occurs

drop when a fluid passes through a nozzle, orifice or other
throttling device.
Phase shift A change in phase angle between the sinusoidal input to
an element and its resulting output.
PI control Proportional plus integral control, used in combination
to eliminate offset.
PID control Proportional plus integral plus derivative control, used
in processes where the controlled variable is affected by
long lag times.
Port The flow control orifice of a control valve.
Positioner A position controller, which is mechanically connected
to a moving part of a final control element or its
actuator, and automatically adjusts its output pressure
to the actuator in order to maintain a desired position
that bears a predetermined relationship to the input
signal.
Precision The degree of reproducibility among several
independent measurements of the same true value.
Predictive control A type of automatic control in which the current state of
a process is evaluated in terms of a model of the process
and controller actions modified to anticipate and avoid
undesired excursions.
Primary loop The outer loop in a cascade system.
Process control The regulation or manipulation of variables influencing
the conduct of a process in such a way as to obtain a
product of desired quality and quantity in an efficient
manner. An operation that regulates parameters by
observation of the parameter, comparison with some
desired value, and action to bring the parameter as
close as possible to the desired value.
Process reaction A method of determination of optimum controller
method settings when tuning a process control loop. The
method is based on the reaction of the open loop to an
imposed disturbance.
Process variable Any variable property of a process. Common variables
are flow, level, pressure and temperature.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Quadrant-edged An orifice having a rounded contour at the inlet edge to

orifice yield more constant and predictable discharge
coefficient at low flow velocity (Reynolds number less
than 10,000).
Range The region between the limits within which a quantity
is measured, received, or transmitted, expressed by
stating the lower and upper range values.
Range-limit, lower The lowest value of the measured variable that a device
can be adjusted to measure.
Range-limit, upper The highest value of the measured variable that a
device can be adjusted to measure.
Ratio controller Maintains the magnitude of a controlled variable at a
fixed ratio to another variable.
Repeatability The ability of a transducer to reproduce output readings
when the same measurand value is applied to it
consecutively under the same conditions, and in the
same direction. Repeatabiltiy is expressed as the
maximum difference between output readings; it is
expressed as “within+ ____ % of full scale output.”
Reproducibility In process instrumentation, the closeness of agreement
among repeated measurements of the out put for the
same value of input made under the same operation
conditions over a period of time, approaching from both
directions.
Reverse-acting A controller in which the value of the output signal
controller decreases as the value of the input (measured variable
or controlled variable) increases.
Seat The area of contact between the closure component and
its mating surface which establishes valve shutoff.
Secondary loop The inner loop of a cascade system.
Sequential control A class of industrial process control functions in which
the objective of the control system is to sequence the
process units through a series of distinct states (as from
continuous control).
Servomechanism A transducer type in which the output of the
transduction element is amplified and fed back so as to
balance the forces applied to the sensing element or its
displacements. The output is a function of the feedback
signal.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Set point An input variable which sets the desired value of the
controlled variable.
Signal amplitude Action in which two or more signals are generated or
sequencing two or more final control elements are actuated by an
input signal, each one responding consecutively, with or
without overlap, to the magnitude of that input signal.
Signal selector A device, which automatically selects either the highest
or the lowest input signal from among two or more
input signals. This device is sometimes referred to as a
signal auctioneer.
Stability A measure of the controllability of a process.
Stem The rod, shaft or spindle which connects the valve
actuator with the closure member.
Step response The time response of a device or process when subjected
to an instantaneous change in input from one steady-
state value to another.
Terminal pair A set of two associated terminals, arranged as to be
accessible for connecting a pair of associated leads.
Throat The narrowest point along a constricted duct or
passage, as in a venturi or nozzle.
Time constant For the output of a first-order system forced by a step or
an impulse, T is the time required for 63.2% of the total
rise or decay to occur.
Transient In process instrumentation, the behavior of a variable
during transition between two steady states.
Transmitter A transducer which responds to a measured variable by
means of a sensing element and converts it to a
standardized transmission signal which is a function
only of the measured variable.
Travel The amount of movement of the closure member from
the closed position to an intermediate or the rated full
open position.
Trim The internal parts of a valve, which are in contact with
the controlled fluid.
Tuning The adjustment of control constants in algorithms or
analog controllers to produce the desired control effect.
Twisted pair Two insulated wires (signal and return) which are
twisted around each other.

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 Glossary of Control Terms

Two-out-of-three A logic circuit that employs three independent inputs.

logic circuit The output of the logic circuit is the same state as any
two matching input states.
Wheatstone bridge A four-arm resistance bridge, usually having three fixed
resistances and one variable resistance.
Windup Saturation of the integral mode of a controller
developing during times when control cannot be
achieved, which causes the controlled variable to
overshoot its set point when the obstacle to control is
removed.
Zero elevation For an elevated-zero range, the amount the measured
variable zero is above the lower range-value.
Zero shift A shift in the instrument calibrated span evidenced by a
change in the zero value. Usually caused by
temperature changes, over-range, or vibration of the
instrument.
Zero suppression For a suppressed-zero range, the amount the measured
variable zero is below the lower range-value.
Ziegler-Nichols A method of determination of optimum controller
method settings when tuning a process-control loop (also called
the ultimate cycle method). It is based on finding the
proportional gain, which causes instability in a closed
loop.

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