OPT FOR SECURITY AND PERFORMANCE
Improve the security and performance of your plant with alarm management, performance supervision, asset supervision, web-based data visualisation, optimisation, advanced control, and tuning with the new TaiJi tool.
Rethink your working methods and obtain immediate results thanks to our services, trainings, and consulting expertise. Manage changes intelligently with our proven solutions.
certified service providerJune 2010
In this issue
Trick
Automate the best operator's actions
Control systems should be used at their maximum all the time.
Unfortunately, in many cases, operators do better than the control system. For example, in difficult times, they replace the control system; similarly, at start-up and shutdown, they act to improve performance and perform better than the control system.
Sometimes, optimizing control loops and control strategies suffices. When certain situations happen only at specific production rates or under particular conditions, it is necessary to program parameters based on these conditions.
If operators' actions are more effective than control loops and strategies, the solution could be to mimic these actions in the control system. For example:
- Case 1: an operator places a level controller in manual mode temporarily when flow is too low, because this usually happens when pieces or particles accumulate in the valve; then he strokes the valve to remove undesired material.
- Solution: low flow is detected, and the system automatically executes a similar sequence and sends a warning to the operator.
- Solution: low flow is detected, and the system automatically executes a similar sequence and sends a warning to the operator.
- Case 2: an operator reduces production rate when a conveyor motor reaches maximum current.
- Solution: a constraint current controller is used to reduce production rate automatically; this approach can handle many constraints from different pieces of equipment.
- Solution: a constraint current controller is used to reduce production rate automatically; this approach can handle many constraints from different pieces of equipment.
- Case 3: an operator adds water to avoid process failure.
- Solution: a logic block detects unacceptable process conditions and, if needed, starts equipment (shower, pumps, etc.) and then executes a sequence. The quantity of water to add to the recipe is measured or estimated.
- Solution: a logic block detects unacceptable process conditions and, if needed, starts equipment (shower, pumps, etc.) and then executes a sequence. The quantity of water to add to the recipe is measured or estimated.
Learn to identify opportunities and transfer your best operator's actions into the control system. Operators will become more efficient, and process performance will increase.
Optimization is a very good investment! Usually, within few weeks, money invested is recovered.
Do not hesitate to contact us; we can help you.
Contact us!
Courses
See our calendar: we offer workshops on control strategies, performance supervision, advanced process control, alarm management, etc.
Next classes:
WS-100-2E
Workshop on PID Troubleshooting and Tuning, with Cascade and Feedforward
Houston TX, July 14-15, 2010
Modern Methods in Process Control Bangkok, Thailand, August 16-18 2010
At the Chulalongkorn University
Advanced Process Control Workshop Bangkok, Thailand, August 19-20 2010
At the Chulalongkorn University
Control System Performance Assessment-Best Practices
Automining 2010, Automation in the Mining Industry,
Santiago, Chili, By Michel Ruel, 10 -12 November 2010.
Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center, Chili
Managing Assets Using Modern Tools
Control System 2010
Stockholm, Suède, By Michel Ruel, Thursday September 16 2010
Loop Tuning, One Size does not Fit All! (Panel-Debate, Tuning Competition)
ISA Expo 2010,
Houston, USA, Michel Ruel and 3 other panellists on Wednesday October 6 2010
