The Forms of Process Control Systems
Process Control Techniques are widely applied in many applications in the industry and the human daily life. Process Control Systems are formed as the following types: discrete process control, batch process control and continuous process control. Below are the details for these forms.
1. Discrete Process Control.
This form of process control is found in many manufacturing, motion and packaging applications. Robotic assembly, such as that found in automotive production, can be characterized as discrete process control. And most discrete manufacturing involves the production of discrete pieces of product, such as metal stamping.
2. Batch Process Control.
Some applications require that specific quantities of raw materials be combined in specific ways for particular durations to produce an intermediate or end result. One example for such applications is the production of adhesives and glues, which generally require the mixing of raw materials in a heated vessel for a period of time to form a quantity of end product. Other important examples of this type are the production of food, beverages and medicine. Batch processes are generally used to produce a relatively low to intermediate quantity of product per year (a few pounds to millions of pounds). Batch process control are widely used here.
3. Continuous Process Control.
Very often, a physical system is represented though variables that are smooth and uninterrupted in time. For instance, the control of the water temperature in a heating jacket is an example of continuous process control. Some important continuous processes are the production of fuels, chemicals and plastics. Continuous processes, in manufacturing, are used to produce very large quantities of product per year(millions to billions of pounds). In such areas, continuous process control is required.
