KRITERIA CASCADE

CONTROL

CASCADE DESIGN CRITERIA

Cascade is desired when

1.

Single-loop performance unacceptable

2.

A measured variable is available

A secondary variable must

3.

Indicate the occurrence of an important

disturbance

4.

Have a causal relationship from valve to

secondary (cause effect)

5.

Have a faster response than the primary

Very
important

Class exercise: Design a cascade control structure to improve

performance.
heating stream

Performance
not acceptable

F
2

F
1

T
2

feed
T
1

0.2
CV1

T
3

A
2

packed bed
reactor

AC

0.15

maximum

0.1

AC
1

0.05
0
-0.05
0

Disturbance in heating
medium temperature

100

200

300

400

500

product

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cascade design criteria

Single-loop not acceptable
Secondary variable is measured
Indicates a key disturbance
Causal relationship, valve secondary
Secondary dynamics faster than primary

Lets use the

cascade design
rules!

A2

F1

F2

T1

T2

Remember: The disturbance is the

heating medium inlet temperature
and the primary is AC-1.

T3

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cascade design criteria

Single-loop not acceptable
Secondary variable is measured
Indicates a key disturbance
Causal relationship, valve secondary
Secondary dynamics faster than primary

Lets use the

cascade design
rules!

A2
Y
Y
N
N
N/A

F1
Y
Y
N
N
N/A

F2
Y
Y
N
Y
N/A

T1
Y
Y
N
N
N/A

T2
Y
Y
Y
N
N/A

T3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

T2 is the disturbance but

cannot be used in
cascade!

T3 satisfies all of the rules and

can be used as a secondary in a
cascade.

heating stream

F
2

MV2
F
1

feed

T
1

T
2

secondary

CV2

A
2

packed bed
reactor

TC
3

SP2 = MV1

primary

CV1

AC
1

SP1 from
person
product

CHAPTER 14: CASCADE CONTROL

heating stream

F
2

MV2

How does the system

respond to the
following?

F
1

feed

T
1

T
2
TC
3

CV2

A
2

secondary

SP2 = MV1
packed bed
reactor
primary

A disturbance in T1

CV1

Cascade better

product

A disturbance in heating medium inlet pressure

A disturbance in feed pressure

Cascade better

Cascade better, but not perfect

A disturbance to feed composition, A2

A change to the AC-1 set point

SP1 from
person

AC
1

Both the same

Both the same