In general about the book

Electronic process measurement and control systems have become complicated machines able to perform complex tasks in a large variety of environments. Moreover, such systems are found in every area of technology and science. The term control relates to force parameters in the environment to have specific values, while all the elements necessary to accomplish the control objective are described by the term control systems. From other side, measuring systems are realisations of technical concepts able to gather, handle, modify, store, retrieve and present information. The purpose of this book is to examine the basic building blocks and methods of measuring and control system operation used in industry to control industrial processes. The book has been written to enable readers with a passing knowledge and experience of measurements, sensors, presentation of data, data communications, process adjustment and automatic control to extend their knowledge into the composite area of contemporary process measurement and control systems. The book is divided into six chapters, six appendices, Glossary and Index. The chapters are short, and deal with a specific topics.

Chapter content

Chapter 1 is devoted to the basic main forms of process control: continuous and discrete. Principle of operation of a control loop is briefly explained, and its constituents are described.

Chapter 2 considers measuring sensors. Details concerning instrument calibration concepts are given. Instruments for sensing temperature, pressure, flow, level, humidity, and electrolytic conductivity are shortly described.

Chapter 3 deals with presentation of process control information for human operators and for machines.

Chapter 4 concentrates on techniques intended to how to achieve reliable and secure data communications around the control loops. This chapter covers material including selection of communication media, analogue and digital formats of control loop signals, influence of environmental factors, and basic concepts of communication networks.

Chapter 5 treats details related to the application of control valves for process adjustment. Liquid-flow and gas-flow adjustments are considered.

Chapter 6 presents a discussion of automatic control. Proportional, integral and derivate controllers are explained. In addition, ratio control and cascade control of a process are also given.

Six appendices are included to support the material in the text:

Appendix A describes ISA symbols

Appendix B displays photos of control valves

Appendix C list answers to selected problems

Appendix D gives ASCII symbols and codes

Appendix E describes calculations for liquid pressure drops in piping

Appendix F lists a table of thermocouple millivolts versus temperature and a table of RTD resistance versus temperature

Useful Book

The organisation of individual chapter is almost identical: It begins with objectives that present the concepts covered, after that follows the central part where the main topics are discussed and concludes with Problems \& lab assignments, and References. The strengths and weaknesses of the book are best understood in the context of purpose for which it is being intended. The text is adapted to concrete applications designed to stimulate an understanding of the material; it is easy to read even for those who do not have a strong mathematical background required by the theory of automatic control.

In conclusion, this is a useful and well written book. It is a recommended addition to the libraries of anyone who has to deal with the basics of process measurement and control.