Process Control

Hierarchical Process
Control
Hierarchical P

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 Objectives
Process Control

End of the lecture, you should be able

to:
• Explain the difference between
regulatory and advance process
Hierarchical P

control
• Recognise the role of advance
process control in a process plant

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 Hierarchical control systems
CLIENT TIME FRAME ACTIVITY HARDWARE
Process Control

Upper Level LEVEL 6

Corporate (Global)
Weeks-Months Planning
Management Computer Network

LEVEL 5
Plant Manager Plant Wide
Days-Weeks Scheduling
Information System

Process
ocess Engineer
g ee LEVEL 4 Process Control
Hours-Days
Hours Days
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Real time Optimization Computer

Process Engineer LEVEL 3 Process Control

Minutes-Hours
Dynamic Optimization Computer

DCS (Distributed
LEVEL 2
Control Engineer Computer System) or PLC
Seconds Regulatory Control
Local Area Network

Instrument LEVEL 1
Field Instruments
Engineer < 1 second Instrumentation Layer
Instrument Network

Raw Materials Process Plant Products

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 Lower layers
Process Control

LEVEL 2: Regulatory Control

Distributed Computer Control (DCS) or Programmable
Logic Control (PLC) Control Systems
Objectives: Regulate plant
Interface to operator
Maintain constraints
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Measurements Manipulated
Variables
LEVEL 1: Instrumentation Layer
Objectives: Insure safe operation (Safety Interlocks)
Interface to operator, Implement control action

Control Actions
Field Instruments (start, stop, on, off, valve position, etc.)

Process

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 Middle layers
Process Control

Scheduling Layer

LEVEL 4: Real-Time (Steady-State) Optimization

Objectives: Determine optimum steady/state operating conditions
Determine local cost factors
Update process models
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Measurements Target values for process outputs,

manipulated variables, constraints, costs

LEVEL 3: Dynamic Optimization

Objectives: Determine best operational constraints
Maintain outputs at target values while avoiding
constraint violation

Measurements Setpoints for low

level controller
Regulatory Layer

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 Higher layers
LEVEL 6: Planning Layer
Process Control

Objectives: Allocate resources globally

Forecast supply and demand
Forecast pricing schedule

Demand for products Plant availability

pp y of resources
Supply Plant capacity
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LEVEL 5: Scheduling Layer

Objectives: Determine production schedule
Determine allocation of resources within each plant

Cost factors Equipment Availability

Constraints Constraints
Real-time Optimization

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 Conclusions
Process Control

• Regulatory process control

layer
• Advanced process control
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layer
• Other layers

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