EP328: Chemical Engineering Laboratory VI

Process Dynamic and Control Lab

Case Study: Couple Tanks Control

Part 1 (Individual Assignment)

No Student ID Name
1. 1001955087 Vincent Arthur Soesanto

Name of Assessor: MOHD FAUZI ZANIL

Submission Date (Part 1):

Purpose......................................................................................................................................1

Process Diagram........................................................................................................................1

Procedure...................................................................................................................................2

Result & Discussion...................................................................................................................2

Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5

Appendix.....................................................................................................................................6

Rubric ........................................................................................................................................9
Assignment 1

Purpose
The purpose of this report is to determine the height of each tank with respect of time,
which involves 2 interacting tank and 1 non-interacting tank. This report will also be
discussing the steady state and stability value for each variable, whereby the variable that will
be discussed will be the height level of the interacting tank and the output flow of the non-
interacting tank. This investigation will be done by using Matlab Simulink simulation.

Process Diagram

Figure 1. Process Diagram

Figure 2. Transfer Function Graph

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Procedure
1. Derive the transfer function of the interacting tank to get H 1(s)/Q(s) (R1 was set to
be an independent variable).
2. Derive the transfer function of the non-interacting tank to get H 2(s)/Q(s) (R2 was
set to be an independent variable).
3. Combine the transfer function obtained from the interacting tank with the non-
H 2 Q2 H 3 Q3 Q2
interacting tank to get H3(s)/Q(s) by using chain rules ( x x x );
Q H 2 Q2 H 3 H 2
Q3 h2 h3
& were obtained from deriving the transfer function of q 2= ;q3 = (R3 &
H3 R2 R3
Q2 were set to be an independent variable).
4. The transfer function obtained of each tank were drawn in term of process
diagram by using Simulink to obtain the graph height of each tank with respect of
time.
5. By using Simulink, the graph height of each tank with respect of time can be
obtained.

Result & Discussion

Figure 3. Time Constant For Tank 1

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 For tank 1, the K value (gain) is 4, and the time constant value can be obtained from
the graph of 63% of the K value; 4*0.63 = 2.52. Hence, by adjusting the graph the time
constant value is 6.274s.

Figure 4. Time Constant for Tank 2

For tank 2, the K value (gain) is 2, and the time constant value can be obtained from
the graph of 63% of the K value; 2*0.63 = 1.26. Hence, by adjusting the graph the time
constant value is 6.274s. This time constant value is the same as tank 1 value although the K
value (gain) is different for both tanks, this is because the tank 1 and 2 are an interacting tank,
therefore, it shares the same time constant value despite of different K value.

Figure 5. Time Constant for Tank 3

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 For tank 3, the K value (gain) is the same as tank 1 which is 4, this however, doesn’t
indicate that both tanks have an equal amount of time constant. From the graph observed, the
time constant obtained for tank 3 is 9.525.
Next, to observe the changes of observe the steady state and stability value, the step
change of the system was manipulated by changing it to 5, 10, 20.

Figure 6. Graph when Step Change 5

Figure 7. Graph when Step Change 10

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 Figure 8. Graph when Step Change 20
From the 3 graphs (figure 6,7,8), it can be observed that the value of the K value
(gain) is affected as the step change value changes, these findings show that the increment of
the K value is directly proportional to the step change value.

Conclusion
In conclusion, interacting tank share the same time constant value despite different K
value (gain), this can be seen from tank 1 and tank 2, which have a K value of 4 and 2
respectively but still have a same time constant value 6.274s. Whereas, for non-interacting
tank the time constant is 9.525s and the K value (gain) is 4. In addition, the K value (gain) is
directly proportional to the step change value.

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Appendix

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Rubric