Control Loop Foundation: Batch and Continuous Processes reviews the fundamental principles of industrial process control in a clear and practical way. Designed for engineers, technicians and operators new to the field, this book explains how modern control systems monitor and regulate processes like temperature, flow, pressure and level using real-world plant examples, diagrams and hands-on web-based workshops. It covers measurement devices, final control elements (such as valves and drives), field wiring and communications, operator graphics, process characterization, single-loop PID control, tuning and an introduction to advanced model-predictive control.
The authors focus on practical skills rather than complex math. The chapters teach readers how to interpret standard plant documents (plot plans, PIDs, loop diagrams), and tune and test controllers and design operator interfaces for safety and efficiency. Interactive web exercises allow readers to run simulated processes, perform step tests and practice tuning controllers. This book also discusses control system goals, including economics, safety and environmental compliance and offers practical examples, such as boiler draft control and ammonia synthesis, to emphasize the importance of good control.
Terrence "Terry" Blevins has been actively involved in the application and design of process control systems throughout his career. For more than 15 years, he worked as a systems engineer and group manager in the design and startup of advanced control solutions for the pulp and paper industry. Terry was instrumental in the establishment of Emerson Process Management's Advanced Control Program. From 1998–2005, Terry was the team lead for the development of DeltaV advanced control products. He is the Fieldbus Foundation™ team lead for the development and maintenance of the Function Block Specification and editor of the SIS Architecture and Model Specifications. In this capacity, Terry is involved in the movement of Fieldbus Foundation function block work into international standards. Terry is the U.S. expert to the IEC SC65E WG7 function block committee that is responsible for the IEC 61804 function block standards. He is a voting member and chairman of ISA104-EDDL (Electronic Device Description Language) committee and is the technical advisor to the United States Technical Advisory Group (USTAG) for the IEC65E subcommittee. He is also a member of the USNC TAG (IEC/SC65 and IEC/TC65). Terry authored "An Overview of the ISA/IEC Fieldbus," Section 11, Standards Overview, Fifth Edition of the Process/Industrial Instruments and Controls Handbook and coauthored four sections in the Fourth Edition of the Instrumentation Engineer's Handbook, Process Control and Optimization. He coauthored the ISA bestselling book Advanced Control Unleashed. He has 36 patents and has written over 65 papers on process control system design and applications. Terry received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Louisville in 1971 and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1973. In 2004, he was inducted into Control Magazine's Process Automation Hall of Fame. Presently, Terry is a principal technologist in the future architecture team of DeltaV Product Engineering at Emerson Process Management.
Mark Nixon has been involved in the design and development of control systems throughout his career. Mark started his career as a systems engineer working on projects in oil & gas, refining, chemicals, and pulp & paper. He moved from Canada to Austin, TX in 1998 where he has held a variety of positions in both research and development. From 1995–2005, Mark was lead architect for DeltaV. In 2006, he joined the wireless team, taking a very active role in the development of the ixWirelessHART specifications and the development of the IEC 62591 standardization. Mark's current research includes control using WirelessHART devices, data analytics for batch process, use of wireless technology the process industry, mobile users, operator interfaces, and advanced graphics. He is currently active in the Center for Operator Performance (http://www.operatorperformance.org), WirelessHART, ISA-88 standard, Foundation Fieldbus standards (http:// www.fieldbus.org/), and ISA-101 standard. He has written numerous papers and currently holds more than 45 patents. He coauthored WirelessHART: Real-Time Mesh Network for Industrial Automation and has made contributions to the Industrial Instruments and Controls Handbook and Essentials of Modern Measurements and Final Elements in the Process Industry. Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1982.
