1. What are the controlled variable, manipulated variable, and disturbances in an (a) electric oven in a typical kitchen?

(b) Automatic gas fired home hot water tank? a) In an electrical oven, in a typical kitchen, the controlled variable is the temperature inside the oven. The manipulated variable is the electric current that passes along the resistance existing inside the oven or the power flow into the heating element. Disturbances include the introduction or removal of food from the oven, etc. b) In an automatic gas fired hot water tank, the controlled variable is the temperature of the water in the tank. The manipulated variable is fuel gas supply to the gas-fired heater and the disturbances include the introduction or removal of water from the water tank, and change in ambient temperature. 2. Imagine you own a backyard swimming pool. Describe a manual control system to measure pH and to add an acidic solution to adjust pH. Define the controlled variable, the manipulated variable, and the disturbances. To measure the pH of a swimming pool, use a pH testing kit. These kits contain thin paper strips that are chemically treated to react to the acidity of the pool water. When the pH level of the pool is too high, an acidic solution is added. A small quantity of acidic solution must be added first, then after 24 hours, test and add again if necessary. In a backyard swimming pool, the controlled variable is the pH level of the water. The manipulated variable is the addition or the supply of acidic solution to the swimming pool. The disturbances include addition or removal of water, the number of persons using the pool, and the amount of sunlight that the swimming pool received. 3. Now automate the control of your swimming pool. Assume you have a tank of acid solution to pump into your pool to control pH. Use feedback control.

The pH level of the water in the pool will be read by the pH sensor. The pH sensor will then sent the signal to the controller where it is compared to a value representing the desired point or desired pH level. The difference between the two values is then computed, and

another signal is sent out to the final control element, in this case, a valve. This output signal is proportional to the amount of the corrective action necessary by the valve to bring pH level back to set point. For example, the pH sensor indicated that the pH level of the water in the pool is 8.7 and the desired pH level is 7.2, the amount of acidic solution that is allowed to flow to the swimming pool will be greater compared to when the pH sensor indicated 8.2 only. This is because the difference bet 8.7 and the desired pH level (7.2) is greater compared to the latter difference. 4. Consider a gas fired, home hot water tank being used in a house with heavy usage of hot water. This usage, of course, is the disturbance or load on the tank. How could such a tank be controlled using feedforward control?

In gas-fired water heater, a temperature sensing element is installed on the water inlet (as opposed to the feedback system where it is installed on the outlet). If the temperature of the incoming water changes a signal is sent to the measuring element, which is also a transmitter. The transmitter sends the signal to the controlling element, where it is then compared to the set point. If a difference is noted, the controlling element sends a proportional control signal to the final controlling element (the gas supply valve of the gas-fired heater), which then increases or decreases the temperature of the fire tube. 5. In many cases today, a home heating system s thermostat is coupled to a microprocessor so that the temperature set point maybe managed in a manner to save energy. Analyze such system in terms of process control and process management.

Figure 1.3 shows the typical home heating control system. The control objective for the process is to keep the house temperature at the set point value in spite of unmeasured disturbances. To achieve this objective, the house temperature is compared to the thermostat set point. The difference between the two is the controller error, which is used in a computation by the controller to compute a controller output adjustment (an electrical or pneumatic signal). The change in the controller output signal causes a response in the final control element (flow of fuel to the furnace). If the flow of fuel is moved in the right direction and by the right amount, the temperature will be maintained at set point, thus satisfying the control objective. In order to save energy, a home heating system s thermostat is coupled to a microprocessor so that the set point may be managed. For example, in winter months the house owner would like his home heated to 20 C in the mornings when rising. If the house is empty during the day there is no need to maintain this temperature and the temperature control system can be set to allow it to naturally fall to another preset temperature (15 C). In the morning, if the temperature of the house is below the set point (20 C), as read by the thermostat, the controller would compute a controller output adjustment due to the difference in the temperature. The change in the controller output signal causes the flow of fuel to the furnace. The furnace will produce heat that will cause the temperature of the house to increase until the set point value is reached. When the home owners left the house empty, the house temperature is higher than the set point value (15 C). The difference in the temperature will then cause the controller to compute for controller output adjustment. This time, the valve will be closed so not to allow the flow of fuel into the furnace since there would be no need to increase the temperature of the house. The

programmable thermostat could be preset to kick back on about 30 minutes before the family members normally arrive home. 6. Draw and label the instruments used in measuring variables using instrumentation symbols in the following equipment: a) b) c) d) Distilling unit Quadruple effect evaporator Extraction unit Piping system