WM273-15 Instrumentation & Control
Introductory description
Instrumentation and control is the nervous system of industrial complexes, power generation, and basically all the processes that require some intelligence to accomplish the task of producing a product or process.
Module aims
This module aims to provide the students with an understanding of concepts, components, analogue systems and digital systems for industrial measurements and for process control. It will equip students with knowledge on how different sensors, controllers and actuators, with their limits, can form different open-loop and closed-loop control systems. Examples, simulations and analytical work underpin the learning of simple and moderately complex control systems: discrete (ON/OFF, floating, multi-level) and continuous (proportional, integral, PID).
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Instrumentation for control purposes:
- Industrial data representation, analogue and digital signal processing, passive circuits,
- Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters,
- Operational amplifier circuits in instrumentation, comparators, amplifiers, instrumentation amplifiers,
- Thermal, mechanical and optical sensors; associated measurement circuits,
- Actuators: heaters, relays, electric motors, pressure modulators,
Process-control systems - Introduction to process-control systems,
- Block diagrams and transfer functions of continuous systems,
- Open-loop and closed-loop systems: basics & modelling,
- Proportional, integral and derivative mode controllers,
- Steady-state and transient performance - comparison with simulation studies.
Analysis of feedback systems - Basic concepts of feedback control,
- Transfer functions, Bode diagrams, polar plots,
- Steady-state and transient response of linear systems to impulse, ramp and step inputs.
PLC systems - Basics of PLCs and ladder diagrams, .
- Design and simulation.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- describe, classify and analyse the performance of various sensors and associated electronics found in both analogue and digital instrumentation systems
- compare the main characteristics of simple and moderately complex control systems
- apply mathematical techniques to design and analyse analogue measurement and control systems
- undertake the simulation work related to control systems
Indicative reading list
- C.D. Johnson: "Process control instrumentation technology", (Pearson), ISBN: 9781292026015, (2014).
- N. Storey: “Electronics: A Systems Approach” (Pearson), ISBN: 9781292114118, (2017).
- T. A. Bigelow: “Electric Circuits, Systems, and Motors” (Springer e-book), ISBN: 978-3-030-31357-9, (2020).
- R.C.Dorf, R.H.Bishop: “Modern control systems” (Pearson,) ISBN: 9781292422374, (2022).
- A.S.Morris, R. Langari: "Measurement and instrumentation: theory and application", (Waltham e-book) ISBN: 9780128171417 (2021).
- E. Lipiansky: "Electrical, Electronics, and Digital Hardware Essentials for Scientists and Engineers", (Wiley E-book) ISBN: 9781118414552, (2012).
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
Design analogue electronic instruments.
Analyse the stability of a system.
Design controllers.
Design ladder diagrams.
Transferable skills
Technology literacy.
Teamwork.
Critical thinking.
Problem-solving.
Simulation and analysis.
Report writing.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Seminars | 12 sessions of 1 hour (8%) |
| Online learning (scheduled sessions) | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Online learning (independent) | 15 sessions of 1 hour (10%) |
| Private study | 45 hours (30%) |
| Assessment | 60 hours (40%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
On-line forum discussions and support: 5 hours
Self-study (to include additional seminar-type questions, exam revision, software exercises): 65 hours
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group C1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | 50% | 30 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
Written individual report on a numerical and simulation study. |
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| Exam | 50% | 30 hours | No |
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Formula sheets available during the exam. |
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Feedback on assessment
Feedback given as appropriate to the assessment type:
- verbal formative feedback given during seminar/tutorial sessions,
- written individual formative feedback on the assignment reports,
- written cohort-level summative feedback on the exam.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 2 of UWMS-H7C3 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Control/Technical Support Engineer)
- Year 2 of DWMS-H7C7 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Control/Technical Support Engineer) (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Year 2 of UWMS-H7C2 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Electrical/Electronic Support Engineer)
- Year 2 of DWMS-H7C6 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Electrical/Electronic Support Engineer) (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Year 2 of UWMS-H7C1 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Manufacturing Engineer)
- Year 2 of DWMS-H7C5 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Manufacturing Engineer) (Degree Apprenticeship)
- Year 2 of UWMS-H7C4 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Product Design and Development Engineer)
- Year 2 of DWMS-H7C8 Undergraduate Applied Professional Engineering (Product Design and Development Engineer) (Degree Apprenticeship)