PRCO031/version 1/2019
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
PRCO031: PROCESS CONTROL III
LEARNER GUIDE
LEARNER GUIDE – PROCESS CONTROL III
1
, ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Lecturer 1 : TP Makhathini
Telephone : 031 907 7141
Fax No : 031 907 7307
E-Mail :
Name of Lecturer 2 : TP Lubisi
Telephone :
Fax No : 031 907 7307
E-Mail :
Head of Department : J Baah
Telephone : 031 907 7360
Fax No : 031 907 7307
Departmental Secretary : S Sosibo
Contact details : 031 907 7318
E-Mail :
2
, 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
With the complexity of processes growing every day, new products being manufactured with
new technologies, which are also ever-changing; the best tool to have is the firm understanding
of the fundamental principles governing the processes.
Processes and engineers are like everyday relationships, a symbiosis of some sort. The
relationship could either be for mutual benefit or simply where one party manipulates the other
for their own benefit. The latter requires a great deal of knowledge and understanding on the
beneficiary’s side. This is the core of process control: knowing and understanding processes so
that we can manipulate them at will to suit our production needs.
Process Control III is structured such that you able to understand the process through
mathematical modelling using basic principles obtained in subjects such as Chem. Eng Tech. II
& III, Chemical Plant III, and Thermodynamics: Chem. Eng. III and Mathematics. Of course
before getting this far, you are made eager to know more about the subject by painting a clear
picture of the rewards of using automatic control systems instead of manual control. This
picture also enables you to identify and formulate simple control loops, which may be either
feedback or feed forward, using appropriate devices for the control variable in question. Most
importantly, you are made aware of how to assess a process to see if needs a control system and
if so, which would be best suitable.
For this level, the course is very comprehensive in preparing you for the industry, either as
technicians working alongside engineers or individually. It is also a concrete foundation for
Process Control IV, which is covered in the B. Tech. or Advanced Diploma programme.
1.1 Purpose of study guide
This learner guide serves as an instrument for preparation. It will provide you with an overview
of the course and its prescribed syllabus. This course is subdivided into chapters/modules so
that you can plan your time and prepare adequately for lectures. Moreover, it will enable you to
follow a systematic manner in completing the syllabus.
3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
PRCO031: PROCESS CONTROL III
LEARNER GUIDE
LEARNER GUIDE – PROCESS CONTROL III
1
, ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Lecturer 1 : TP Makhathini
Telephone : 031 907 7141
Fax No : 031 907 7307
E-Mail :
Name of Lecturer 2 : TP Lubisi
Telephone :
Fax No : 031 907 7307
E-Mail :
Head of Department : J Baah
Telephone : 031 907 7360
Fax No : 031 907 7307
Departmental Secretary : S Sosibo
Contact details : 031 907 7318
E-Mail :
2
, 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
With the complexity of processes growing every day, new products being manufactured with
new technologies, which are also ever-changing; the best tool to have is the firm understanding
of the fundamental principles governing the processes.
Processes and engineers are like everyday relationships, a symbiosis of some sort. The
relationship could either be for mutual benefit or simply where one party manipulates the other
for their own benefit. The latter requires a great deal of knowledge and understanding on the
beneficiary’s side. This is the core of process control: knowing and understanding processes so
that we can manipulate them at will to suit our production needs.
Process Control III is structured such that you able to understand the process through
mathematical modelling using basic principles obtained in subjects such as Chem. Eng Tech. II
& III, Chemical Plant III, and Thermodynamics: Chem. Eng. III and Mathematics. Of course
before getting this far, you are made eager to know more about the subject by painting a clear
picture of the rewards of using automatic control systems instead of manual control. This
picture also enables you to identify and formulate simple control loops, which may be either
feedback or feed forward, using appropriate devices for the control variable in question. Most
importantly, you are made aware of how to assess a process to see if needs a control system and
if so, which would be best suitable.
For this level, the course is very comprehensive in preparing you for the industry, either as
technicians working alongside engineers or individually. It is also a concrete foundation for
Process Control IV, which is covered in the B. Tech. or Advanced Diploma programme.
1.1 Purpose of study guide
This learner guide serves as an instrument for preparation. It will provide you with an overview
of the course and its prescribed syllabus. This course is subdivided into chapters/modules so
that you can plan your time and prepare adequately for lectures. Moreover, it will enable you to
follow a systematic manner in completing the syllabus.
3
