Demystifying Process Control through Real-Time Simulation | Imagine Simulation Technologies | Imagine

Demystifying Process Control through Real-Time Simulation

Demystifying Process Control through Real-Time Simulation

In chemical plants, process control plays a pivotal role in safe, efficient and optimal operations. We routinely work with PID controllers to regulate variables such as flow, pressure, temperature, level and so on.

In process industries, more often than not, the need for precise control over process variables extends far beyond the capabilities of basic PID control. In such situations, one or more of control strategies such as cascade control, feedforward control, ratio control, split-range control, or override control is chosen to address the complex process requirements.

Understanding how each control strategy works, and where they are best applied, enables operators and engineers to maintain optimal conditions in demanding processes.

Reading about them is one thing. Experiencing in action is another.

This is where real-time simulation can make a significant difference.

With real-time simulation of process control strategies, the learners can:

Understand the process control terms such as PV, SP, OP, control loops, etc.
Experience process control dynamics as against learning through only static diagrams.
Know how a controller responds to a change in set point or operating condition.
Experience the individual effects of proportional, integral, and derivative actions.
Experiment with controller tuning, and see the impact on stability, overshoot and settling time.
Understand impact of process gain, time constant and dead time through practical exercises.
Diagnose problems such as oscillations, sluggish response, offset, and poor control performance.
Experience the interaction between process conditions and control system performance.
Practice troubleshooting control loops in a safe, risk-free environment.

While interactive learning modules can take learners beyond the fundamentals and help them understand the theory and applications of each control strategy, simulation-based modules can provide the much-needed virtual experience.

The real value of simulation-based learning is that it allows learners to experiment, observe, understand and troubleshoot, thus preparing them to better handle the real-world complexities of process plant automation.

Real-time simulation turns process control from something to be studied into something to be experienced.