Webutation - Reputation & Security
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Introduction
The advent of powerful and friendly integrated software has moved advanced process control (APC) from the realm of consultants into the arena of the average process control engineer. The obstacles of infrastructure and special skill requirements have started to disappear and we are poised for an accelerated application of APC.
It is well known that APC seeks to discover, incorporate, and exploit knowledge about raw materials, process, product, equipment, instrumentation, and final elements. What is not often recognized is the significant increase in the knowledge base of both plant and field operations that occurs as the APC system is developed. In fact, an appreciable portion of the benefits are achieved by improvements made in operating procedures, set points, sensors, and control valves as a result of the methodical analysis, testing, modeling, and prototyping that are part of the best practices used in the implementation of APC systems.
Until recently, most of this knowledge ended up with consultants, and the success of the application often deteriorated once they departed. There is now an opportunity for the engineers closest to the process and daily operations to take a much more active role in the development and support of APC applications. It is a win-win situation in that the cost of APC can be reduced by using consultants primarily in a higher-value-added role of conceptual design and optimization. Even more importantly, greater understanding, support, and involvement of onsite engineers can increase the success rate, the on-stream time, and the longevity of an APC application. This decrease in the cost and increase in the benefits will in turn lead to a larger number of successful APC installations and a greater interest in APC as a method of improving process efficiency and capacity.
1
2
Advanced Control Unleashed
However, much of the purpose and use of APC has been clouded in theory. The theory is
Introduction
The advent of powerful and friendly integrated software has moved advanced process control (APC) from the realm of consultants into the arena of the average process control engineer. The obstacles of infrastructure and special skill requirements have started to disappear and we are poised for an accelerated application of APC.
It is well known that APC seeks to discover, incorporate, and exploit knowledge about raw materials, process, product, equipment, instrumentation, and final elements. What is not often recognized is the significant increase in the knowledge base of both plant and field operations that occurs as the APC system is developed. In fact, an appreciable portion of the benefits are achieved by improvements made in operating procedures, set points, sensors, and control valves as a result of the methodical analysis, testing, modeling, and prototyping that are part of the best practices used in the implementation of APC systems.
Until recently, most of this knowledge ended up with consultants, and the success of the application often deteriorated once they departed. There is now an opportunity for the engineers closest to the process and daily operations to take a much more active role in the development and support of APC applications. It is a win-win situation in that the cost of APC can be reduced by using consultants primarily in a higher-value-added role of conceptual design and optimization. Even more importantly, greater understanding, support, and involvement of onsite engineers can increase the success rate, the on-stream time, and the longevity of an APC application. This decrease in the cost and increase in the benefits will in turn lead to a larger number of successful APC installations and a greater interest in APC as a method of improving process efficiency and capacity.
1
2
Advanced Control Unleashed
However, much of the purpose and use of APC has been clouded in theory. The theory is