Course syllabus for Process control and measurement techniques

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-08 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameReglerteknik och mätteknik
  • CodeESS217
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKKMT
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering
  • DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 53122
  • Maximum participants70
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0116 Examination 4.5 c
Grading: TH		 4.5 c
  • 17 Jan 2025 pm J
  • 14 Apr 2025 am J
  • 27 Aug 2025 pm J
0216 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Multivariable mathematical analysis. Basic matrix theory, in particular eigenvalues. Complex numbers. Linear ordinary differential equations. Elementary thermodynamics, transport processes and mechanics. Basic course in programming.

Aim

A primary purpose of the course is to introduce the concept of dynamical systems, in particular with applications in process engineering. Another key concept is feedback. Particularly it is focused on properties of feedback systems, such as stability, theory and methods for designing controllers of PID-type. The course also introduces different sensors of importance for the process industry. Since measurement of physical entities generally involves electrical signal processing, the course also covers DC and AC circuits, such as RC-circuits and measurement bridges.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Understand and explain the function of a linear control system, and be able to define basic control terminology.
  • Describe and explain the most important properties of linear dynamical systems.
  • Formulate models for dynamical systems, frequently encountered in the process industry. The models take the form of transfer functions as well as state equations.
  • Transform in both directions between linear state equations and transfer functions, especially for single-input single-output systems.
  • Linearize nonlinear state equations.
  • Analyse feedback dynamical systems, emphasizing stability assessment based on the Nyquist criterion.
  • Describe and explain the principle of P-, I-, PI-, PD- and PID-controllers in a control loop, as well as being able to carry out design for such controllers, in particular by use of Bode plot techniques.
  • Analyse feedback systems, using sensitivity functions, particularly to estimate how large modelling errors a control system can handle without risking instability.
  • Describe and explain the principles of feedforward control and cascade control.
  • Explain and apply the concepts of controllability and observability, and to carry out design of state feedback controllers and observers, using the pole placement method.
  • Discretize analog controllers, explain the function of a computerized control system, and explain the sampling principle. Explain the function of simple linear digital filters.
  • Describe and explain the principle of some different sensor types, common in the process industry.
  • Perform simple calculations on DC circuits and AC circuits.
  • Deduce balance condition for some common bridge networks.

Content

The course can be described as a fundamental course in dynamics and control of linear continuous time systems:
  • Formulation of state space models for linear and nonlinear systems. Linearization of state equations and obtaining transfer functions.
  • Analysis of linear dynamical systems in open loop as well as feedback systems.
  • The Nyquist criterion. P-, I-, PI-, PD- and PID-controllers and their most important properties.
  • Bodediagrams. Non-minimum phase systems. Design of control systems, particularly using compensation in frequency domain. Sensitivity functions and robustness.
  • Feedforward control, cascade control.
  • Computer control, sampling, and time discretization.
  • Sensors, continuous-time and digital filters.
  • Simple DC and AC circuits. Bridge networks.

Organisation

The course is organised as a number of lectures and problem sessions, complemented by three laboratory assignments.

Literature

T. Glad and L. Ljung: Reglerteknik - Grundläggande teori, Studentlitteratur, 2006, ISBN 91-44-04308-2.

B. Lennartson: Reglerteknikens grunder. Studentlitteratur.

Exercises with solutions

Compendium in measurement techniques

Examination including compulsory elements

Written exam with grades (not pass, 3, 4 or 5)
Hand-in assignment may generate bonus credits to the exam.
Completed laboratory assignments (pass/not pass)

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.