TOPIC
Continuous versus discrete control system
Contents
Continuous versus discreet control systemComparison between continuous and discrete
control systems.Continuous control systems.Categories of continuous control system.Discrete control systems.Types of discrete control system.
Continuous versus discrete control
Continuous control: control system in which variables and parameters are continuous and analogDiscrete control: control system in which variables and parameters are discrete. They are mostly binary discrete.
Comparison between continuous and discrete control
Comparison factor Continuous control in process industries
Discrete control in manufacturing industries
Typical measure of product input
Typical quality measures
Typical variables and parameters
Typical sensors Typical
actuators Typical process
time constants
Weight measures, liquid volume measures, solid volume measures
Concentration of solution ,absence of contamination , conformance to specification
Temperature , volume flow rate , pressure
Flow meters , thermocouples
Valves , heaters , pumps
Seconds, minutes , hours
Number of parts, number of products
Dimensions , surface finish , appearance , absence of defects , product reliability
Position , velocity , acceleration , force
Photoelectric sensors , strain gaugesSwitches , motors , pistons
Less than a second
Continuous control systems
Objective is to maintain the value of an output variables at a desired level
Operation is similar to the feedback control system
Consists of many feedback loops which control and coordinate to maintain the output variable at the desired value
For example • Control of a chemical reaction
Categories of continuous process
Regulatory control: Objective is to maintain process performance at certain value or within a
tolerance band of that level Performance measure of the process is called index of performance Problem with regulatory control is that action is taken when disturbance
has effected the process Due to error , the output of the process is different from the desired value
Feed forward control: Strategy is to foresee the disturbance by sensing them and
compensate for them before they effect the process In ideal case compensation is completely effective In real complete, compensation is impossible because of
imperfection of feed forward control, actuators operation etc. Regulatory and feed forward control more closely associated with the
process industries
Steady-state optimization. The term refer to the class of optimization techniques in which the process
exhibits the following characteristics1. There is a well defined index of performance such as product cost, production
rate.2. The relationship between the process variables and the index of performance is
known3. The value of system parameters that optimize the index of performance can be
determine mathematically. When these characteristic apply the process moves towards optimal state . The control system is open loop. It works successfully when there is no disturbance .
Adaptive control : A self correcting form of optimal control is called adaptive control. Adaptive control combines the feedback control and optimal
control. It measures the relevant process variables during operation It use a control algorithm that attempts to optimize some index of
performance . Adaptive control system performs three function
Identification function: The value of the index of performance is determined on the
basis of the measurement taken from the process . As environment changes with time so system performance
also changes. Identification functions must be more or less continuously
over the time during operation.
Decision function. Decision function decides what changes should be made to improve performance This function is implemented by the help of adaptive system’s programmed
algorithm. Depending upon algorithm one or more input parameter to the process are
change.
Modification function. Modification function implements the decision. Decision is a logic function and modification is concerned with physical changes in
the system It involves hardware rather than software. System parameters are altered using actuators to drive the system towards more
optimized state.
On-line search strategies. on-line search strategies can be used when decision function
cannot defined properly . Therefore it is impossible to decide on the changes in the internal
parameter of the system to produce desired performance . So small experiments are performed . Small changes are made to observe the effect of the changes on the
output variables Based on the results large change are made to improve
performance. On-line strategy is more used in continuous process.
Other specialized techniques. Includes strategies that are currently evolving in control theory and
computer science. Examples are experts systems and other artificial intelligence
method for process control.
Discrete control systems
• Parameters and variable of the systems are changed at discrete moments in time.
• The changes are defined in the program of instruction .• The change of system occur when the state of the system changes or
time is elapsed.• Discrete control is associated with batch processing.• The objective of batch processing is to manage the sequence and timing
of the processing steps Event drive changes: It is executed by the controller when due to some event, state of the
system is changed . The change can initiate or terminate the operations such as start or stop
a motor.
Examples : Counting of parts moving along a conveyor belt with The help of an optical sensor.
Time drive changes: It is executed by the controller either at specific point in time . The change consists of starting or stopping of something . Time when the change occurred, is important. Example In factories with specific starting and ending time of the shift is set to sound a bell at specific moments during the day.
Types of discrete control system.
Combinational logic control: it is used to control the execution of event-drive changes . Sequential logic control: it is used to control to manage time-drive changes .