Analog Controllers
How controller modes are implemented
using electronic circuits?
FIGURE 10.1 Typical physical appearance of a controller.
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Curtis Johnson
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Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Modern Controllers
Control Panel
GENERAL FEATURES
An analog controller is a device that implements the
controller modes described previously, using analog signals
to represent the loop parameters. The analog signal may be in
the form of an electric current or a pneumatic air pressure.
Because the controller does solve equations, we
think of it as an analog computer.
The controller must be able to add, subtract, multiply,
integrate, and find derivatives.
It does this by working with analog voltages or
pressures.
Electronic Controllers
Error detectors
Error detection for systems using a floating power supply
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Error detector using a ground-based current and a differential amplifier
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Single Mode Controller
ON/OFF Controller
FIGURE 10.4 A mercury switch on a bimetal strip is often used as a two-position temperature controller.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Mercury switch
FIGURE 10.5 A two-position controller with neutral zone made from op amps and a comparator.
Can a two position controller be implemented using a single op-amp ?
.
FIGURE 10.6 The circuit of FIGURE 10.5 shows the characteristic two-position response in terms of voltage.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Proportional Mode
Remember!
Proportional Control Equation
If we consider both the controller output and error to be expressed in terms of
voltage, we see that the given equation is simply a summing amplifier.
Comparing the previous two equations, we can see that:
FIGURE 10.7 An op amp proportional-mode controller.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
Integral-mode controller
This function is easy to implement when op
amps are used as the building blocks
FIGURE 10.8 An op amp integral-mode controller.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
The actual value of G I, and therefore of R and C, is determined
from KI and the input (measurement) and output voltage ranges
GI =KI * Vout/Vm
Problems of Ideal Integrator
• For dc input (f = 0), reactance of
capacitance, Xc is infinite. Because of this
op-amp goes into open loop configuration.
In open loop configuration the gain is
infinite and hence the small input offset
voltages are also amplified and appears at
output as error.
Practical Integrator
Derivative-Control Mode
Ideal Differentiator
What is the problem?
• Vout = - RC dVi/dt
• For high frequency, the output ‘ll be ??
• The solution?
Limit the high frequency gain
The actual value of GD and therefore of R2 and C, is
determined from KD and the input and output voltage ranges
GD=KD * Vout/Vm
FIGURE 10.9 A practical derivative-mode op amp controller.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] All rights reserved.
The circuit exhibits a derivative response provided the
following inequality is satisfied, 2πfR1C << 1
Design guidelines
