Ideal for classroom use or self-study, this best selling text has provided thousands of students, technicians, sales people, and others with a practical introduction to the technologies, systems, and strategies involved in industrial process control. The third edition takes the same proven intuitive approach of previous editions.
Each chapter begins with basic definitions and mathematical concepts that allow readers to become well-versed in the principles necessary to understand the variables that affect process control systems. New features in the third edition include coverage of advanced control-loop tuning methods; magnetostrictive displacement pressure transducers; infrared, microwave, nuclear, radar and thermal level instruments; radiation, optical, and infrared pyrometers; oxidation-reduction potential measurement; and a completely updated chapter on programmable logic controllers, PC-based control, and human-machine interfaces.
The book also includes, for the first time, solutions to exercises that make it more suitable for self-study. The text introduces process and instrument drawings to illustrate concepts. An appendix outlines standard graphic symbols used in piping and instrumentation diagrams.
Thomas A. Hughes, a Senior Member of ISA - The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society, has over 30 years of experience in the design and installation of instrumentation and control systems.
Mr. Hughes received a B.S. in engineering physics from the University of Colorado and a M.S. in control systems engineering from Colorado State University. He holds professional engineering licenses in the states of Colorado and Alaska, and has held engineering and management positions with Dow Chemical, Rockwell International, EG&G Rocky Flats, Topro Systems Integration, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Mr. Hughes has taught numerous courses in electronics, mathematics, and instrumentation systems at the college level and in industry. He is currently the Principal Consultant with Nova Systems Engineering Services in Arvada, Colorado.