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Unit outline_

CHNG3802: Process Dynamics and Control

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The scope and importance of process control technology expands continuously with the growth of industrial automation. Knowledge of process control tools and theory is vital for chemical engineers involved in plant operation or design. This unit covers the development of linear models, control system analysis, the design and performance of feedback control systems, and the use of control related software. Skills developed in the unit include: - Designing a feedback control system. - Analysing the system's performance for a range of process applications using both traditional and software-based techniques. - Designing common control enhancements. - Appreciating the role, possibilities and limitations of process control tools and methods.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
CHNG2802 or AMME2960 OR BMET2960
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Enrolment in this unit of study assumes that all core 2000 level chemical engineering units have been successfully completed

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ali Abbas, ali.abbas@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Ali Abbas, ali.abbas@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1
Group Work - Meetings via Zoom
10% Week 04 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8
Supervised test
? 
Mid-semester exam
In-Semester test
40% Week 08
Due date: 20 Apr 2023 at 11:00

Closing date: 20 Apr 2023
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2
Group Work - Meetings via Zoom
20% Week 10 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8
Assignment group assignment Assignment 3
Group Work - Meetings via Zoom
30% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

Note 1: The mid-semester exam assessment task must be repeated if a student misses it due to special consideration. 

Note 2: Additional details of these assessments will be announced in lectures. It is your responsibility to keep up to date with these announcements. Announcements will also be placed on the Learning Management System site. Further, it may eventuate that during this unit of study, we may ask you to submit additional items for evaluation – if this happens, announcements will be made in lectures well in advance, and complete instructions will be given.

Note 3: There may be moderation and/or scaling of the raw marks in each assessment component when combining them to get the final mark in this unit of study.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to process modelling and control Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 02 Modelling and dynamics of process systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Empirical modelling; working with Loop-Pro Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 04 Stability analysis of dynamic systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 05 Stability analysis of dynamic systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 06 Dynamics performance Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO8
Week 07 Basic elements of feedback control Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 08 Stability analysis of closed-loop systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 09 Stability analysis of closed-loop systems Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 10 Feedback control design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 11 Feedback control design Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 12 Assignment work Independent study (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 13 Assignment work Independent study (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

Attendance and class requirements

It is important to appreciate that content in this unit of study builds knowledge in a ladder manner. Each module introduces concepts linked or founded on its predecessor modules. As such, keeping up with the learning on a week-by-week basis is essential to ensuring you succeed in this unit of study overall, and specficially in being prepared for the mid-semester examination. 

It follows that attendance in the class is essential and is an important point of contact with the lecturer and the tutors. You are highly encouraged to use class attendance to ask clarify concepts and ask questions. There will be a significant onus on individual students to carry ownership of learning of fundamentals and concepts. The lecturer and tutors will strictly not attend to students rushing in with requests for appointments in the days/week prior to individual mid-semester examination. Working in teams is a key requirement in this unit of study and your individual understanding of concepts is built through the group-based assignment work. Therefore it is essential you work as an individual but also as an effective contributor to your team. 

Your individual time management in this semester is of the essence.      

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCES

  • Coulson and Richardson, Chemical Engineering Volumes 1 and 6.
  • George Stephanopolous, Chemical Process Control: An Introduction to theory and practice. Prentice hall Int. Series, 1983.
  • D. E. Seborg, T. F. Edgar and D. A. Millichamp, Process Dynamics and Control. Wiley, 1989.
  • B. A. Ogunnaike and W. H. Ray, Process Dynamics Modelling and Control. Oxford University Press, 1994. 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply technical report writing skills with the ability of professionally presenting solutions to engineering problems
  • LO2. understand and develop models of various chemical engineering processes using a systematic approach, and to apply above concepts to the development of models for chemical and other engineering systems
  • LO3. understand the differences between various model types and uses
  • LO4. understand, design and tune conventional process controllers using a systematic approach
  • LO5. understand the roles of modelling in process engineering and specifically in process control
  • LO6. relate control concepts and terminology to understand the roles of process control in process systems engineering
  • LO7. understand the differences between various conventional controller types and to understand the consequences arising from their implementation
  • LO8. use modern software tools for process control analysis and design
  • LO9. achieve a good understanding of feedback control design, analysis and tuning.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No major changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.