Control Engineering

Figure 1: By integrating data into the cloud, an environment is created for cross-sectional analysis, with third-party consultants able to perform high-precision analysis and provide suggestions for optimizing production. Courtesy: Yokogawa Electric Corp.

PID, APC February 10, 2020

Control Engineering hot topics, January 2020

Control Engineering's most clicked articles in January 2020 included stories about the System Integrator Giants, Engineers' Choice finalists, robots in agriculture, subscription software, and advanced process control answers. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra

Industry expected model-predictive control (MPC) to naturally expand into the multi-loop control (MLC) region, but that never happened; MPC costs of ownership remain high and MPC remains primarily a high-end solution. MLC represents an important, but under-developed part of the APC matrix spectrum. Courtesy: Control Engineering webcast, Advanced process control: Past, present and future.

PID, APC January 27, 2020

Advanced process control: More answers

After a webcast on “Advanced process control: Past, present and future,” more answers to audience questions are provided by the webcast speaker covering advanced process control (APC) to help with process optimization.

By Allan Kern

Diagram of a spray dryer system. Courtesy: McEnery Automation

System Integrators December 20, 2019

System integrator upgrades spray dryer controls

Control system upgrade of spray dryer improves product quality and profitability.

By Michael McEnery

Figure 1: Multivariable control matrix for an atmospheric crude distillation column, based on operation-driven design practice. The matrix is smaller than traditional crude column applications. It addresses primarily column pressure and product inferential quality control, which are often the most valuable objectives of this application – and often the ones found “unclamped” in existing large-matrix applications. Courtesy: APC Performance LLC

PID, APC December 2, 2019

Operation-driven matrix design

A multivariable control matrix has manipulated variables (MVs) on one axis, controlled variables (CVs) on the other axis, and models in the matrix that indicate a relationship between that MV/CV pair. Effective multivariable controllers use the right models for various control and optimization needs.

By Allan Kern

Figure 1: Data acquisition network connections. Courtesy: Maverick Technologies

Data Acquisition, DAQ November 26, 2019

Eight data acquisition best practices

To discover which real-time data adds value to improve operational efficiencies and increase competitive edge in the marketplace, first understand data acquisition systems and consider the eight essential best practices for data acquisition success

By Brian E. Bolton

Figure 2: Real-time dashboards provide the information required for each level of the plant’s organization. Courtesy: Yokogawa Electric Corp.

Process Manufacturing November 4, 2019

Profit-driven operations require IT/OT integration

Maximizing process plant profits requires close integration across all levels of an organization.

By Yasunori Kobayashi

A study from Flow Research projects the worldwide flowmeter market will grow to almost $9 billion by 2023. Courtesy: Flow Research Inc.

Sensors, Actuators November 2, 2019

Flowmeter market growth expected thanks to oil and gas industry recovery

A study from Flow Research projects the worldwide flowmeter market will grow from $7 billion to almost $9 billion by 2023 as the oil and gas industry continues recovering. Flow measurement technologies advance.

By Mark T. Hoske and Chris Vavra

Factory automation and process control tag-naming matters for consistency, understanding, and troubleshooting. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Consulting, Automation Primer

Discrete Manufacturing November 1, 2019