The course provides the basic knowledge about the use of control devices in simple and complex equipment of chemical process plants. It also provides the basis for both the control strategies (feedback and feedforward) and the dynamic process simulation modeling.
D1 – Knowledge and understanding skills
At the end of the course, the student will have to know the criteria by which a control system is selected and tuned for an effective action to achieve the required performances.
D2 – Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The aim of the course is to provide to the student the ability in control strategy development, mainly for the process stability target. The student will also be able to apply the new technologies introduced by the latest process control components.
D3 – Autonomy of judgement
At the end of the course, the student will be able to assess the control system performances relating to the targets required to the same system.
D4 – Communicative skills
The student will have to have the necessary general and specific communicative skills about chemical processes and their control systems, and he will be able to use proper softwares.

D5 – Learning skills
The student will have the ability to understand, evaluate and discuss the characteristics of different control systems as well as to suggest improvements for greater efficiency, robustness and stability of the controlled response.

Material and energy balances in dynamic and steady state, unit operations of chemical plants, Laplace transform, numerical method for solution of differential equations.

Dynamic processes: definition and utilization of Laplace transform, introduction to transfer functions, representation of first and second order systems using building blocks. Non-conventional dynamic behavior: effect of poles and zeros, dead-time and inverse trends. Stability of regulated chemical systems. Linearization of non-linear systems.
Control of chemical systems: target of control, process variables, class of regulators, SISO, MIMO.
Structure of control system: process, analyzers, transmission wires, regulators, actuators and ancillery. Symbology. Regulation in series or in cascade.
Regulation schemes: flows, heat exchange, pressure, temperature, level, composition, reactors, columns.

Seborg, D.E., T.F. Edgar, D.A. Mellichamp and F.J. Doyle III, Process dynamics and control (4th edition). New York: Wiley, 2017.
Stephanopoulos g. "Chemical process control: an introduction to theory an practice", Prentice-Hall International Editions
Ogunnaike B.A., Ray W.A.: Process Dynamics, Modeling, and Control; Oxford University Press
Smith, C.A. and A. Corripio (2006). Principles and practice of automatic process control (3rd edition). Wiley, New York (U.S.A.).

Frontal lessons and example using laptop (Simulink)

The students will be involved in the production of reports concerning exercises related to the topics covered in class. These exercises will give a total of up to 2 extra points on the final project grade.

The written exam will consist in the design and tuning of a control system.

Alternatively, an oral test will deal with questions on the whole course topics.

Criterion for Evaluation: The assessment aims to ascertain the understanding of the topics listed in the program and the ability to apply this knowledge. Grades are given on a scale of thirty, following the following criteria:

- Excellent (30-30 cum laude): Excellent knowledge of the subjects, outstanding language proficiency, and excellent analytical skills; the student is able to apply theoretical knowledge brilliantly to real-world cases.

- Very Good (27-29): Good knowledge of the subjects, remarkable language proficiency, and good analytical skills; the student can correctly apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations.

- Good (24-26): Demonstrates good knowledge of the main topics and adequate language proficiency; the student shows a suitable ability to apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases.

- Satisfactory (21-23): The student does not fully master the main topics of the course, although possessing fundamental knowledge; nonetheless, the student demonstrates satisfactory language proficiency and sufficient capacity to apply theoretical knowledge to practical cases.

- Sufficient (18-20): Minimal knowledge of the main course topics and technical language, limited ability to adequately apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations.

- Insufficient (<18): The student does not possess an acceptable knowledge of the contents of the various program topics.

These evaluation criteria will allow students to understand the expectations regarding the assessment of their skills and performance in the course, reflecting the level of proficiency required to achieve each grade.

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)